The Beaver County History Podcast
GALLERY
Community Spaces
Second Avenue Playground
This lettered wall mural done in the graffiti street art style marks the Second Avenue Playground reclamation project sponsored by various community groups, such as the Beaver Falls Community Development Commission and the Beaver Falls Reunion Committee (BFRC). It is an example of what might be called “pseudo” graffiti.
Neighboorhood North Museum of Play
Big Rock Park
This commissioned artwork (c. 2011) at Big Rock Park in New Brighton, Pennsylvania serves as a name plate and de facto “welcome” sign for visitors. The artwork uses common rounded block lettering painted on a concrete wall. It is an example of what might be called “pseudo” graffiti.
The Original New Brighton Big Rock
According to the Beaver County Times (“Rock not returning to Big Rock Park,” September 12. 2012), the original locally famous diving rock along the Beaver River was destroyed by a Norfolk Southern train derailment in October 2006. The railroad offered to replace the rock but borough officials declined their offer. The municipality worried that replacing the rock would encourage diving and swimming along the sweeping bend of the Beaver River–a site well known for many drownings over the years. Big Rock was also well known as a popular graffiti spot as well.
Aliquippa
Baden
Rochester
New Brighton
Railways & Roadways
Graffiti Bridge
Graffiti Bridge, also known as the Art Bridge, is an abandoned train trestle located near Harrison St. in Rochester Township. (Photos: Joel B., June 2017)
Title: Lots Of Trains & Neat Graffiti At Highland Crossing - Beaver County, PA
Title: Catching The White Ninja, Foreign Power, & More At McRoberts Crossing - Beaver County, PA
Title: Under the bridge (Eastvale) [contains strong language]
Commercial Appropriation
Beaver
Local railway graffiti used in Beavtown t-shit marketing, and Banksy-styled street art (found behind restaurant in Beaver, Pennsylvania) appropriated by Beavtown locally inspired gift retailer.
Hopewell
Corporate appropriation of graffiti stylings used as marketing tool for Big Shot Bob’s Wings restaurants. Artwork used in online advertising by the BSBs franchise in Hopewell, Pennsylvania. Location of original artwork unknown.
Public Outrage
Buttermilk Falls, Big Beaver
“Every week I go to Buttermilk Falls off of route 18 to take a picture of the waterfall. After last weekend’s high temperatures and memorial day holiday, I discovered not only trash (thankfully someone picked it up), but towels thrown on fences, a broken picnic table, and graffiti. I don’t understand people. This is a public park that welcomes visitors in our area. Why do you feel the need to destroy it? It infuriates me. I am angry and disappointed. I feel like this is not only the fault of the people who did it, but also their parents. We can do better. We need to do better.” ~ S. McCraley, post to The News Alerts of Beaver County Facebook page, May 30, 2020
Sample of reactions to S. McCraley’s Facebook post. Some comments have been edited for legibility, clarity, and to fit this format.
Clark Park, Beaver
Monaca Business
These images of graffiti placed on the rear of a Monaca business were posted to social media in August 2020. Source: N. Theil, The News Alerts of Beaver County Facebook page.
Sample of reactions to N. Theil’s Facebook post. Some comments have been edited for legibility, clarity, and to fit this format.