The battered green scrapbook on eBay caught Pat Narcisi's eye.
The Avalon attorney had been buying memorabilia related to hishometown on the Internet for years: old license plates, photographsand postcards. But the book was different. Photos showed a thick,frayed tome fastened with a rubber band. Curiosity piqued, he bid $20and won.
The lot arrived several days later.
"I got it from a young guy in Mt. Lebanon. He mailed it to me. Isaid to him, 'Let me know if you find anything else.' " But Narciscinever heard from the seller again.
When Narcisi heard Avalon manager Harry Dilmore was puttingtogether a time capsule for the town last year, he took the book toDilmore's office. Inside the office were old police uniforms, schoolyearbooks, flags, a land surveyor's spyglass and other items donatedby residents.
Dilmore sat down at his desk and opened the book. It was stuffedwith newspaper clippings from 1910 to 1948 -- odd accounts, such as awell-regarded Avalon doctor suspected of poisoning his wife and twoservants. A popular local grocer jumping to his death from the McKeesRocks Bridge. Birth and wedding notices, old photographs.
But it was the yellowed letters tucked into the back of the bookthat captivated Dilmore.
Scripted by a steady hand in pen and pencil, on stationary thatread "On Active Service with the American Expeditionary Forces," theletters had 1918 postmarks. They were written by an American doughboyserving on the front lines in France during World War I. The letters,five in all, usually began with "At the front, France," or "Stillsomewhere. Dear friend Mary and mother."
"As soon as I looked at it I said, 'Oh my God, this is awesome,' "Dilmore said. "It gave me goosebumps."
Dilmore began his quest. His first stop was the McDonald-LinnFuneral Home on California Avenue. The funeral home, owned by RichardMcDonald, has buried Avalon's dead since 1912, when McDonald'sgrandfather opened it. McDonald knew everybody.
For McDonald, the scrapbook triggered memories. There was BillWalker, an Avalon attorney who dressed like Abraham Lincoln and rodehis Tennessee walking horse through town. McDonald remembered thatWalker had angered his mother after he brought his horse into thekitchen and its hooves scuffed the linoleum floor.
"He was a character," McDonald said.
With the help of other residents, the men determined the book hadbeen kept by Mary Behner, of 224 Belva St. Before she married LeRoyBehner, a telegraph operator for the Pennsylvania Railroad, her namewas Mary Bartley.
"She was thin and tall. Rather stately. She was attractive,"McDonald said.
The letters, they learned, were written by Harry Gibson, an Avalonresident who enlisted in 1918 at age 23 and was sent to France tofight the Germans. Gibson's two brothers, Jim and Ralph, also werefighting "over there." Mary Bartley and Harry Gibson were closefriends and schoolmates at Avalon High School.
A letter dated Oct. 2, 1918, read: "Delighted after three weeks offamine to receive big batch of letters -- and yours with snapshots.Many thanks, it helped more than you know. We had just finished ourdrive, in reserve in a big woods with few comforts, while outfit whorelieved us pushed on through the villages they destroyed as theyretreated.
"It was 'victory' far above what we dared believe. Yet as we weredetained and seeing just what a stronghold we had to break through,made it a matter of prayers ... ."
Dilmore said the letters were written during a time of greatsacrifice, not unlike today, and represent a disappearing vestige ofAmerican history.
"The letters are part of Avalon's history. This was going to bethe great war and our place in it," Dilmore said. "The guys that wentover there were all young Americans. The attitude at the time was,'We're going over there to solve this.' "
Congress declared war on Germany April 6, 1917. Americandoughboys, led by Gen. John Pershing, began fighting soon after.Before the fighting ended in 1918, the United Stastes lost about116,000 troops killed, and 204,000 were wounded, according tohistorical accounts.
William Hughes, 81, applauds Dilmore's efforts to preserve thesmall town's rich history. Nine of its residents died in World War I.
"I think a lot of people in this country should be made well awareof what the old part of this country is made of. It's our heritage,"Hughes said.
"This country was made by people who relished religious freedom.With the younger groups, many don't want to preserve the old thingswe have here."
Gibson's letter to Bartley dated May 20, 1918 shows a young man ina contemplative mood, writing four pages in a dugout near the frontlines.
"It is almost three o'clock Monday morning. ... Today were unableto get back to our dugout for almost two hours after dinner -- somebombardment."
Gibson describes living conditions on the front lines: "Two roomsto our dugout. One for the canteen, the other for bedroom. We havetwo full-size box springs on floor -- then mattresses -- so we havegood beds, but they are musty. We use candles day and night. ... Theceiling of our bedroom is low, and after bombardment today, had tocarry rocks and mud deposited on my bed.
"... Village mostly in ruins, church and all, and whole place fullof shell holes. I fired my first shot over to the Huns this eveningat 7:30, the famous French 75 cannon known the world over. Wish youmight have been there. Have to stuff your ears with cotton -- andbelieve it would be wise to weigh yourself down -- as the earth justlifts you up. Some concussion."
Gibson survived the war and returned to Avalon, where he became acarpenter. His brothers survived, too, although one -- McDonalddoesn't recall which -- suffered serious injuries during a gasattack. For years, he was a fixture at the local swimming pool withhis discolored skin.
After the war, records show that Harry Gibson married a nurse inAvalon, Elizabeth "Teeny" Smith. Mary Bartley married LeRoy Behner.Neither couple had children.
Gibson died April 3, 1963. He is buried at Allegheny Memorial Parkin McCandless. Mary Bartley Behner died March 14, 1948, of cerebralthrombosis, and is buried in the same cemetery, said Aaron Bowers, afuneral director at McDonald-Linn Funeral Home.
One of Gibson's last letters to Bartley reflected on the horrorsof trench warfare, and how the deaths of his fellow soldiers weighedon him.
"Sad to see how some must suffer -- and die. Of course the war hasits horrors and we cannot stand to hear of the glories of war anylonger. One can stand and look over the line into Germany's lines --and all its destruction and desolation.
"Yet the American boy sees fun and comes up smiling in the face ofit all."
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