Pittsburg, Kansas, located in the southeastern corner of the state, was founded in 1876 as a direct result of the booming coal mining industry in the region.
The city was named after Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, reflecting its founders’ hopes that it would become a similarly prosperous industrial center. The arrival of the railroad in the late nineteenth century accelerated growth by making it easier to transport coal and attract settlers.
Coal mining quickly became the economic backbone of Pittsburg. The area’s rich coal seams drew waves of immigrants from Europe, particularly from Italy, the Balkans, and Eastern Europe, seeking work in the mines. These diverse populations contributed to the city’s unique cultural heritage, and mining continued to drive the local economy well into the twentieth century.
In 1903, Pittsburg State University was established as the Kansas State Manual Training Normal School, which played a significant role in the city’s development. The university is now a major educational institution in the region, offering a broad range of programs and contributing to the city’s growth and vitality.
A picture postcard sent to Pittsburg, Kansas, in 1910, to Mrs. Charley Redlon contained nothing more than an “all is well” message. This card was one of the most difficult for me to decipher due to the poor handwriting.
“Dear mothe & datty I gather I will try and writ you a few lines to let you know that we are all well and hope this well find you all the same.”
The signature was unreadable, yet I was finally able to figure things out based upon the fact that only one of the Redlon’s older children lived in Girard, this being the post office where the card was mailed.
Myrtle Belle Redlon-Williams was the sender. She was born April 25, 1871, one of six children to Charles and Emma Redlon. Myrtle married Wesley Hagen Williams sometime around 1888. Wesley died in 1912, and four years later she wed John Henry Crawford. Myrtle died on October 7, 1953, at the age of 82.
The card recipient, Myrtle’s mother, Mrs. Charley Redlon, was Emma O. Sprees-Redlon. Emma was born in 1850 and passed away on November 14, 1925. Emma’s husband, and Myrtle’s father, was Charles Benjamin Redlon. “Charlie” was born in 1854 and died on January 19, 1921.
Charlie Redlon was a constable in Pittsburg, and his name is mentioned quite frequently in early newspaper records. Constable Redlon was always arresting people, which suggests that Pittsburgh was a high-crime town back then. Young coal miners on payday evidently drank their share of liquor. Chicopee, Kansas, located only seven miles away, had an even worse reputation.
The area, part of a region known as the “Little Balkans” due to its immigrant population, was notorious for its rough, lawless atmosphere and significant number of unsolved murders. In 2025, crime is still high based on population, but is slowly getting better.
I like to write junk... 