154-659: Clarissa Mabel Blank (August 5, 1915 – August 15, 1965) was an American author. She wrote the Beverly Gray mystery series and four other novels. Blank was born on August 5, 1915, in Allentown, Pennsylvania , to Bessie and Edgar H. Blank. Her father worked as a loom fixer at a local silk mill , and later at a clothing plant in the Germantown section of Philadelphia ; in three consecutive U.S. census reports in 1920 , 1930 , and 1940 , his occupation
308-537: A "long, evil-looking scar." The man warns Beverly of "ghosts," introduces himself as "the head ghost," and escorts her "roughly" to the door. Beverly gains reentry through a back window and discovers "pink packets filled with a finely ground powder" in the mansion's attic. Beverly leaves without taking a sample, and when she returns three days later "all the boxes [are] gone." The mystery deepens when various Alpha Delta girls observe "a skeleton dance" on successive nights, where ten skeletons move in "queer jerky steps" in
462-535: A C grade, and improving from the 46th to 54th most polluted by ozone smog. According to daily ozone air quality data provided by the EPA, from 2021 to 2024, Pittsburgh had good or moderate air quality most of the time. Then-Allegheny County executive Rich Fitzgerald said in December 2023 that they’d seen an "80 % drop in hazardous air pollutants" and that they made EPA attainment at all eight county air monitors for
616-515: A Vernon victory. In the course of the match, Beverly once again injures her ankle and nearly collapses from exhaustion. The six seniors and six juniors have mended their ties by the end of the year. The seniors invite the juniors to join Alpha Delta as "full-fledged members." From there the chapter titles tell the story: The Senior Prom, Senior Dinner, Commencement, and Auld Lang Syne. Jim Stanton and Tommy Chandler (another old friend) appear at
770-476: A celebration in her honor. The college dean gives a toast, and Beverly is given an engraved watch. Beverly Gray, Sophomore explores the mystery that the series would become known for. Beverly spends most of her year investigating a seemingly haunted mansion used by drug smugglers. She also manages to foil a jewel theft over winter break, survive a plane crash, and solve the theft of a set of history examination questions. Now in their second year at Vernon College,
924-504: A chance to "reform," tell the dean of the fire without mentioning May's involvement, and head back to their dormitory to sleep. By the concluding chapter is it June, "and time to part for the summer vacation." Beverly has been elected class president for the coming year. "She was so typically the American College Girl. Her warm-heartedness and sense of fair play and good sportsmanship had won for her an army of friends. It
1078-547: A decrease in city population, even as the metropolitan area population increased again. During the late 2000s recession , Pittsburgh was economically strong, adding jobs when most cities were losing them. It was one of the few cities in the United States to see housing property values rise. Between 2006 and 2011, the Pittsburgh metropolitan statistical area (MSA) experienced over 10% appreciation in housing prices,
1232-435: A fire. Beverly ends up in the college infirmary with her mother watching over her, and Shirley visits to offer her friendship. The remainder of Beverly's first year passes quickly. Shirley performs in a play and is asked to join a theater company over the summer. Tom, who witnesses her performance, is rebuffed again when he attempts to woo her. He returns as Beverly and Shirley walk back to their dormitory, confronting them with
1386-613: A free state after the Revolution, enslaved African Americans sought freedom here through escape as refugees from the South, or occasionally fleeing from travelers they were serving who stayed in the city. There were active stations of the Underground Railroad in the city, and numerous refugees were documented as getting help from station agents and African-American workers in city hotels. The Drennen Slave Girl walked out of
1540-437: A group of gypsies . Her rescue does come in time, however, for a few parting adventures: Winter break sees Beverly and Shirley suffer skiing and ice skating injuries, while the attempts by May Norris to sabotage Shirley's role as Hamlet in the school play ultimately effect her redemption. A band of gypsies has set up camp on the outskirts of Vernon. The six Alpha Delta girls visit them to have their fortunes told. They are met at
1694-685: A growing residential segment. Most significantly, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is embarking on RiverParc, a four-block mixed-use "green" community, featuring 700 residential units and multiple towers of between 20 and 30 stories. The Firstside portion of Downtown borders the Monongahela River, the historic Mon Wharf and hosts the distinctive PPG Place Gothic-style glass skyscraper complex. New condo towers have been constructed and historic office towers are converted to residential use, increasing 24-hour residents. Downtown
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#17327977826281848-488: A life of adventure as would tax the resources of any soap opera heroine". *This title was dropped from the series in 1938. Beverly Gray, Freshman is the first book in the Beverly Gray series. Published concurrently in 1934 with Sophomore , Junior , and Senior , it introduces Beverly as a freshman at Vernon College. Beverly makes her first appearance as she steps off the train carrying her to Vernon College. She
2002-470: A police investigation and ordered him to take Beverly away for a while. Beverly realizes that Anselo's loyalty still lies with the gypsies and not with her. The gypsies migrate to a new camp, and Anselo proposes to take Beverly to the County Fair if she promises not to run away. The other gypsies are unaware of his plan, and they continue their usual pattern of cheating and stealing. At the fair, Beverly
2156-539: A quarter of neighborhood names make reference to "hills," "heights," or similar features. The steps of Pittsburgh consist of 800 sets of outdoor public stairways with 44,645 treads and 24,090 vertical feet. They include hundreds of streets composed entirely of stairs, and many other steep streets with stairs for sidewalks. Many provide vistas of the Pittsburgh area while attracting hikers and fitness walkers. Bike and walking trails have been built to border many of
2310-563: A ransom note demanding $ 10,000 from Shirley's parents, the Parkers. She informs Lenora, Rosalie, Miss Wilder, Mrs. Dennis and the Parkers. In two days time, Beverly and Lenora place the ransom money in "a hollow tree stump" near the old Horler Mansion. They then hide in the house, watching the stump from upstairs. The kidnappers arrive, and Beverly hides in the trunk of their car. She is taken to an "old house," "three stories" tall with shades "drawn tight to shut out prying eyes." Beverly waits for
2464-461: A revolver and demanding ten thousand dollars from Shirley's rich father, threatening to sell the "story of the rich Shirley Parker who was going to run away with a thief" to the newspapers. Shirley calls his bluff, and Beverly whacks his wrist with a stick causing him to drop the gun. Tom leaves, and Shirley keeps his revolver as a memento. The book ends with a going-away party at the students' favorite ice cream parlor, where Beverly's friends gather for
2618-464: A sailor' with a new lover 'in every town.'" Beverly Gray at the World's Fair , the sixth work by Blank, was issued for a short window from 1935 to 1938 before being dropped from the series. Because of fears that the book's setting would seem dated, publication of World's Fair was ceased after Grosset & Dunlap acquired the rights to the Beverly Gray books in 1938. Due to this limited printing run it
2772-485: A shift from her previous "violent dislike" of "all the Alpha girls." Her true nature is revealed on the day of the play, when she convinces Shirley to investigate "[m]ysterious lights and figures that have been seen in the old Horler Mansion again." Shirley relents when May accuses her of being "afraid of the ghosts," and May promptly locks her in the attic where Beverly had been imprisoned the previous year. Luckily, Beverly
2926-662: A typist for the Keystone Pipeline Company , a subsidiary of the Atlantic Refining Company . In 1940, she became a secretary there, and, still living with her parents, earned about $ 1,500 a year. She joined the American Women's Voluntary Services during World War II , where she drove U.S. Army officers when they came to town. In addition to the Beverly Gray series, Blank authored four other novels. The first three, comprising
3080-447: A walk in the woods, during which he suggests she has "the gypsy heart." Beverly admits that "the roving life fascinates me." She nevertheless complains that "Gypsies don't like to work. . . . That is why they are so restless. They roam about, living on what the earth produces." The conversation ends when the pair see Larry's airplane overhead, which Beverly recognizes. Anselo refuses to return to camp, admitting that Dimiti had anticipated
3234-529: Is "aloof" and "patronizing." These girls variously join Beverly in the seven chapters preceding winter break, where they break curfew to view a movie (chapter 2); are caught (chapter 3); are hazed by the sophomores and juniors (chapter 4); gain revenge by crashing the junior and sophomore masquerade dance (chapter 5); scrape through a geometry examination (chapter 6); and beat the juniors in a basketball game (chapter 7). Winter break sees Beverly and Anne reunite
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#17327977826283388-415: Is "put in every newspaper in the country." The first purported news is that a "girl matching Beverly's description" was in a Vernon art shop the night of her disappearance, when it was robbed by a man "believed to be a gypsy." He had stolen the girl's wristwatch, and she had given chase. Although the shop owner offers conflicting descriptions, the Alpha Delta girls know Beverly is attached to her watch, which
3542-578: Is 39.61 inches (1,006 mm) and precipitation is greatest in May while least in October; annual precipitation has historically ranged from 22.65 in (575 mm) in 1930 to 57.83 in (1,469 mm) in 2018. On average, December and January have the greatest number of precipitation days. Snowfall averages 44.1 inches (112 cm) per season, but has historically ranged from 8.8 in (22 cm) in 1918–19 to 80 in (200 cm) in 1950–51. There
3696-604: Is a city in and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania , United States. It is the second-most populous city in Pennsylvania , after Philadelphia , and the 68th-most populous city in the U.S., with a population of 302,971 as of the 2020 census . The city is located in southwestern Pennsylvania at the confluence of the Allegheny River and the Monongahela River , which combine to form
3850-472: Is a homicidal escapee from a sanitarium. Bertha believes Beverly to be the daughter for whose death she was responsible and starts treating her ankle. During Beverly's second night of captivity, she sneaks away while Bertha sleeps. Unfortunately, she falls into a pit trap and climbs out to find herself face to face with a bear. Bertha arrives and fights the animal. They return to the cabin, where Beverly's father shows up to rescue her, and Bertha escapes. During
4004-552: Is a series of mystery stories comprising 26 novels, and published between 1934 and 1955, by Clair Blank , the pen name of Clarissa Mabel Blank Moyer. The novels began as a series of school stories, following the progress of Beverly, its main character, through college, various romances, and a career as a reporter, before evolving strictly into a mystery series. Beverly is portrayed as an extraordinarily determined individual, with "a driving ambition in her heart that would not let her idle her life away." Across 26 books, she leads "such
4158-522: Is accompanied by her childhood friend, Anne White. They attend Vernon to follow in their mothers' footsteps. Beverly's mother is described as "the patron saint of Vernon College". The two girls settle into life at Vernon College, where Beverly's paternal surname affords her anonymity as she attempts to succeed "on her own merits, not under another's colors." Three of the other four freshmen in her dormitory, Lenora Whitehill, Rosalie Arnold, and Lois Mason, prove friendly, while Beverly's roommate Shirley Parker
4312-404: Is additionally where Jehovah's Witnesses traces its earliest origins, and was the host of the 2009 G20 Pittsburgh summit . Pittsburgh was named in 1758, by General John Forbes , in honor of British statesman William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham . As Forbes was a Scotsman , he probably pronounced the name / ˈ p ɪ t s b ər ə / PITS -bər-ə (similar to Edinburgh ). Pittsburgh
4466-486: Is an average of 59 clear days and 103 partly cloudy days per year, while 203 days are cloudy. In terms of annual percent-average possible sunshine received, Pittsburgh (45%) is similar to Seattle (49%). The American Lung Association's (ALA) 2023 "State of the Air" report (which included data from 2019 to 2021) showed air quality in Pittsburgh improving. The city received a passing grade for ozone pollution, going from an F to
4620-438: Is aware of May's plan, having intentionally eavesdropped on a conversation between May and her roommate. She hurries to the mansion and frees Shirley, who returns just in time to impress the audience with her performance. After the show, a movie producer stops by the dressing room to announce his intention of making "a motion picture [at Vernon College] next year." He suggests the girls audition for minor parts before departing. As
4774-460: Is home to large medical providers, including the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center , Allegheny Health Network , and 68 colleges and universities , including research and development leaders Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh . The area has served as the federal agency headquarters for cyber defense , software engineering , robotics , energy research , and
Clair Blank - Misplaced Pages Continue
4928-413: Is home to the University of Pittsburgh , Carnegie Mellon University , Carlow University , Chatham University , The Carnegie Institute's Museums of Art and Natural History , Phipps Conservatory , and Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall . It is also home to many parks and public spaces including Mellon Park , Westinghouse Park , Schenley Park , Frick Park , The Frick Pittsburgh , Bakery Square , and
5082-693: Is invited to Renville. Assuring Beverly that (despite being from New York) she will not find Renville dull, Shirley hints at the premise for The Adventure Girls at K Bar O when she declares that "I spent one summer on a ranch in Arizona." Beverly, Shirley and Anne leave shortly before Christmas for home, where the Lucky Circle (sans Jim) is reunited. The usual celebrations and gaiety intersperse themselves among several close calls. Shirley and Beverly barely avoid crashing into Anne and Joan's "wrecked sled." Shirley learns to ski, only to be knocked unconscious at
5236-635: Is known as "the Steel City" for its dominant role in the history of the U.S. steel industry . It developed as a vital link of the Atlantic coast and Midwest , as the mineral-rich Allegheny Mountains led to the region being contested by the French and British Empires, Virginians , Whiskey Rebels , and Civil War raiders . For part of the 20th century, Pittsburgh was behind only New York City and Chicago in corporate headquarters employment; it had
5390-792: Is listed as a knitter. Blank attended Herbst Elementary School at 5th and Chew streets in Allentown until she was about ten. Her family then moved to the Olney section of Philadelphia . In contrast to her parents, who only completed nine years of schooling, Blank graduated from Olney High School with honors and published the first four what were ultimately 24 books in her Beverly Gray series by age 18. She then attended Peirce School of Business Administration , now Peirce College, in Philadelphia. Blank began her career in Philadelphia as
5544-549: Is more gracious to Tommy, who announces to the group that "Anne has promised to marry me." "Three weeks later the little church on the hill was the scene of the simple but impressive ceremony that joined the two young people together for all time." The newly expanded Alpha Delta Sorority, along with the Lucky Circle, all join in the festivities before Anne and Tommy depart on honeymoon to "the Golden west." Lenora declares that she will never settle down, insisting she wants 'the life of
5698-574: Is now known as Washington's Landing, formerly Herr's Island , in what is now the Lawrenceville neighborhood. The first known European to enter the region was the French explorer Robert de La Salle from Quebec during his 1669 expedition down the Ohio River . European pioneers, primarily Dutch, followed in the early 18th century. Michael Bezallion was the first to describe the forks of
5852-679: Is primarily composed of residential neighborhoods and is noteworthy for its well-constructed and architecturally interesting homes. Many buildings date from the 19th century and are constructed of brick or stone and adorned with decorative woodwork, ceramic tile, slate roofs and stained glass. The North Side is also home to attractions such as Acrisure Stadium , PNC Park , Kamin Science Center , National Aviary , Andy Warhol Museum , Mattress Factory art museum, Children's Museum of Pittsburgh , Randyland , Penn Brewery , Allegheny Observatory , and Allegheny General Hospital . The South Side
6006-573: Is referred to as "the Point." The city extends east to include the Oakland and Shadyside sections, which are home to the University of Pittsburgh , Carnegie Mellon University , Chatham University , Carnegie Museum and Library , and many other educational, medical, and cultural institutions. The southern, western, and northern areas of the city are primarily residential. Many Pittsburgh neighborhoods are steeply sloped with two-lane roads. More than
6160-513: Is served by the Port Authority 's light rail system and multiple bridges leading north and south. It is also home to Point Park University and Duquesne University which borders Uptown . The North Side is home to various neighborhoods in transition. The area was once known as Allegheny City and operated as its own independent city until 1907, when it was merged with Pittsburgh despite great protest from its citizens. The North Side
6314-477: Is shot by the inspector before inflicting any harm. The next day, Beverly and Larry arrive at the inspector's office and the final details of the mystery are explained. Larry is employed by the Secret Service and has been chasing the gang of smugglers from the beginning. His partner is revealed to have been the unknown man who was shot, a crime to which Pete confesses. Other smugglers were also involved, and
Clair Blank - Misplaced Pages Continue
6468-402: Is spotted simultaneously by Gerry and Dimiti, who is there trading horses. Anselo takes Beverly back to her wagon, where she is joined that afternoon by an irate Dimiti. He claims to have "slashed" Anselo with a knife, and he attempts to seduce Beverly. In the ensuing struggle, Beverly thrusts Dimiti's knife "deep into the flesh of his upper arm," and he responds by knocking her unconscious. By
6622-401: Is stolen from the office of Professor Leonard. Beverly and Shirley happen to be looking out their window at the right time to see the movements of the thief, a girl "gliding silently and mysteriously from dark shadow to shadow across the campus." That evening, Shirley is accused of stealing the test, and it is revealed that her "silver bracelet, with her name engraved on it, was found just inside
6776-533: Is the director, Lois is cast as Ophelia , Beverly is "in charge of the scenery" with Anne as her assistant, and Rosalie has "charge of the costumes." Shirley is to play the leading role, fulfilling a pledge made in Sophomore to pursue an acting career. This assignment comes at the expense of May Norris, who is "no friend of any of the Alphas" after Shirley was wrongfully accused of stealing examination questions in
6930-455: Is the scarcest of the 26 books. World's Fair sees Beverly travel with a coterie of friends to the 1933–34 Chicago World's Fair . After Lois departs to Paris , where she has won "an art contest" with "a year's free study" as the prize, Lenora and Connie travel by train to visit Virginia , who lives in Chicago with her aunt and uncle. Although Beverly initially has to stay behind and work,
7084-580: Is to forsake the "endless teas and . . . boresome people" of society and pursue a career on the stage. "Lois wants to sketch," while Rosalie "would like to go to a conservatory and continue her music." The final chapter, Auld Lang Syne, opens back in Renville. Jim has "unenthusiastically" accepted "a job in South America" to construct a "canal of some sort," a commitment of up to a year that will prevent him from wooing Beverly. The department of love
7238-623: Is water. The 80th meridian west passes directly through the city's downtown. The city is on the Allegheny Plateau , within the ecoregion of the Western Allegheny Plateau . The Downtown area (also known as the Golden Triangle) sits where the Allegheny River flows from the northeast and the Monongahela River from the southeast to form the Ohio River . The convergence is at Point State Park and
7392-587: The Adventure Girls Series, were published in 1936 by A. L. Burt , which published the Beverly Gray series. They were later republished by Saalfield Publishing . In 1940, Gramercy Books, since acquired by Random House , published Blank's only adult novel, Lover Come Back . At least two manuscripts written by Blank went unpublished. In December 1941, she sent an unsolicited manuscript, Linda Ross at Hamilton , to Grosset & Dunlap . It
7546-582: The Allegheny Mountains . The Great Fire of Pittsburgh destroyed over a thousand buildings in 1845. The city rebuilt with the aid of Irish immigrants who came to escape the Great Famine . By 1857, Pittsburgh's 1,000 factories were consuming 22 million coal bushels yearly. Coal mining and iron manufacturing attracted waves of European immigrants to the area, with the most coming from Germany . Because Pennsylvania had been established as
7700-786: The Edgar Thomson Steel Works in North Braddock, Pennsylvania , which evolved into the Carnegie Steel Company . He adopted the Bessemer process to increase production. Manufacturing was key to growth of Pittsburgh and the surrounding region. Railroad lines were built into the city along both rivers, increasing transportation access to important markets. In 1901, J. P. Morgan and attorney Elbert H. Gary merged Carnegie Steel Company and several other companies into U.S. Steel . By 1910, Pittsburgh
7854-744: The Iroquois Confederacy , based in New York, had maintained control of much of the Ohio Valley as hunting grounds by right of conquest after defeating other tribes. By the terms of the 1768 Treaty of Fort Stanwix , the Penns were allowed to purchase the modern region from the Iroquois . A 1769 survey referenced the future city as the "Manor of Pittsburgh". Both the Colony of Virginia and
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#17327977826288008-487: The Köppen climate classification , Pittsburgh falls within either a hot-summer humid continental climate ( Dfa ) if the 0 °C (32 °F) isotherm is used or a humid subtropical climate ( Cfa ) if the −3 °C (27 °F) isotherm is used. Summers are hot and winters are moderately cold with wide variations in temperature. Despite this, it has one of the most pleasant summer climates between medium and large cities in
8162-556: The Ohio River . It anchors the Pittsburgh metropolitan area , which had a population of 2.457 million residents and is the largest metro area in both the Ohio Valley and Appalachia , the second-largest in Pennsylvania , and the 26th-largest in the U.S. Pittsburgh is the principal city of the greater Pittsburgh–Weirton–Steubenville combined statistical area which includes parts of Ohio and West Virginia . Pittsburgh
8316-746: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was started, and in 1787, the Pittsburgh Academy was chartered. Unrest during the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 resulted in federal troops being sent to the area. By 1797, glass manufacture began, while the population grew to around 1,400. Settlers arrived after crossing the Appalachian Mountains or through the Great Lakes . Fort Pitt (now Pittsburgh) at the source of
8470-468: The Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium. The neighborhoods of Shadyside and Squirrel Hill are large, wealthy neighborhoods with some apartments and condos, and pedestrian-oriented shopping/business districts. Squirrel Hill is also known as the hub of Jewish life in Pittsburgh, home to approximately 20 synagogues. Oakland , heavily populated by undergraduate and graduate students, is home to most of
8624-523: The Province of Pennsylvania claimed the region under their colonial charters until 1780, when they agreed under a federal initiative to extend the Mason–Dixon line westward, placing Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. On March 8, 1771, Bedford County, Pennsylvania was created to govern the frontier. On April 16, 1771, the city's first civilian local government was created as Pitt Township . William Teagarden
8778-579: The Yale Bowl to witness Jim Stanton, a childhood friend who has a crush on Beverly, score a touchdown. Yale wins, and at that night's celebratory dance Jim suddenly kisses Beverly. The chapter concludes, and Jim is not mentioned again in Sophomore . The girls return to Vernon College to hear that an unidentified man was shot near the Horler Mansion while they were away. Before the mysteries surrounding Horler Mansion can be investigated any further,
8932-445: The nuclear navy . In the private sector, Pittsburgh-based PNC is the nation's fifth-largest bank, and the city is home to ten Fortune 500 companies and seven of the largest 300 U.S. law firms. Other corporations that have regional headquarters and offices have helped Pittsburgh become the sixth-best area for U.S. job growth. Pittsburgh is sometimes called the "City of Bridges" for its 446 bridges . Its rich industrial history left
9086-478: The public domain . * Errantly referred to as "K-Bar-O" on the dust jacket Advertised by name at the end of the third book but never published. Blank's short-lived foray into adult literature, Lover Come Back , was published in 1940 by Gramercy, now a division of Random House . It does not appear to have ever been reprinted in novel form. Notifications in The Pittsburgh Press suggest that it
9240-407: The "Lucky Circle," a collection of eight childhood friends, and together they go camping. As the group returns home, they become lost in a blizzard. The boys in the group try to find their way back, with Beverly leading them. She sprains her ankle, falls down a hill, and awakes to the sight of a tall and disheveled-looking woman. The "hermit woman of Dunnsville," or "Big Bertha," as she calls herself,
9394-449: The "skeleton dance" is explained by the men donning "black suits" with "bones in phosphorescent paint" in order scare people away. The mysterious goings on at the Horler Mansion may be over, but the same cannot be said for Sophomore . Beverly's adventures continue in a plane crash with Larry, who has promised to take her flying in his monoplane . Their plane is caught in a storm and its engine fails. Beverly and Larry are "thrown clear" of
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#17327977826289548-587: The 1850 Fugitive Slave Act , as it required cooperation from law enforcement even in free states and increased penalties. From 1850 to 1860, the black population in Allegheny County dropped from 3,431 to 2,725 as people headed to more safety in Canada. The American Civil War boosted the city's economy with increased iron and armament demand by the Union. Andrew Carnegie began steel production in 1875 at
9702-454: The Central, North Side/North Hills, South Side/South Hills, East End, and West End. Downtown Pittsburgh has 30 skyscrapers, nine of which top 500 feet (150 m). The U.S. Steel Tower is the tallest, at 841 ft (256 m). The Cultural District consists of a 14-block area of downtown along the Allegheny River . This district contains many theaters and arts venues and is home to
9856-635: The Cordial Pictures Company is suspected of trying to stop Forsythe's production. Beverly and Lenora catch one "Mr. Smith" attempting to "climb in the window" of the Forsythe Film Company's railway coach, and the next day, they find the door "broken open" and "three rolls of film" missing. Having followed Mr. Smith to the Wildon Hotel the previous night, Beverly and Lenora go back and gain entrance to his room through
10010-518: The Elder , while the settlement was named "Pittsborough". During Pontiac's War , a loose confederation of Native American tribes laid siege to Fort Pitt in 1763; the siege was eventually lifted after Colonel Henry Bouquet defeated a portion of the besieging force at the Battle of Bushy Run . Bouquet strengthened the defenses of Fort Pitt the next year. During this period, the powerful nations of
10164-420: The Lucky Circle pulls them to safety. Despite their adventure, the girls prove none the worse for wear, and the next afternoon their friends come by to anoint Shirley "an honorary member of the Lucky Circle." Beverly and company return to school in high spirits. The Christmas holidays are "weeks past," when they are next heard from. The six Alpha Delta girls are planning the junior production of Hamlet . Lenora
10318-568: The Monongahela House in 1850, apparently to freedom. The Merchant's Hotel was also a place where African-American workers would advise slaves the state was free and aid them in getting to nearby stations of the Underground Railroad. Sometimes refugee slaves from the South stayed in Pittsburgh, but other times they continued North, including into Canada. Many slaves left the city and county for Canada after Congress passed
10472-522: The North American front of the Seven Years' War , began with the future Pittsburgh as its center. British General Edward Braddock was dispatched with Major George Washington as his aide to take Fort Duquesne. The British and colonial force were defeated at Braddock's Field . General John Forbes finally took the forks in 1758. He began construction on Fort Pitt , named after William Pitt
10626-728: The North Side, and the Golden Triangle are characterized by more density of housing, walking neighborhoods, and a more diverse, urban feel. Pittsburgh falls within the borders of the Northeastern United States as defined by multiple US Government agencies. Pittsburgh is the principal city of the Pittsburgh Combined Statistical Area , a combined statistical area defined by the U.S. Census Bureau . Pittsburgh falls within
10780-449: The Ohio River became the main base for settlers moving into the Northwest Territory . The federal government recognizes Pittsburgh as the starting point for the Lewis and Clark Expedition . Preparations began in Pittsburgh in 1803 when Meriwether Lewis purchased a keelboat that would later be used to ascend the Missouri River . The War of 1812 cut off the supply of British goods, stimulating American industry. By 1815, Pittsburgh
10934-403: The Ohio headwaters was long inhabited by the Shawnee and several other settled groups of Native Americans . Shannopin's Town was an 18th-century Lenape (Delaware) town located roughly from where Penn Avenue is today, below the mouth of Two Mile Run, from 30th Street to 39th Street. According to George Croghan , the town was situated on the south bank of the Allegheny, nearly opposite what
11088-558: The Ohio in a 1717 manuscript, and later that year European fur traders established area posts and settlements. In 1749, French soldiers from Quebec launched an expedition to the forks to unite Canada with French Louisiana via the rivers. During 1753–1754, the British hastily built Fort Prince George before a larger French force drove them off. The French built Fort Duquesne based on LaSalle's 1669 claims. The French and Indian War ,
11242-481: The U.S. The city lies in the USDA plant hardiness zone 6b except along the rivers where the zone is 7a. The area has four distinct seasons: winters are cold and snowy, springs and falls are mild with moderate levels of sunshine, and summers are warm. As measured by percent possible sunshine, summer is by far the sunniest season, though annual sunshine is low among major US cities at well under 50%. The warmest month of
11396-508: The Vernon police, who suggests that "the most logical explanation" is that the men are "smuggling drugs into this country" from "the Orient ." The inspector leaves to unsuccessfully search for the men in the mansion. Beverly follows later and conveniently sees the "Chinaman" using a secret passage hidden behind the front room's fireplace. She enters it and discovers an opium den . Unfortunately,
11550-399: The air and the rivers. The "Renaissance II" project followed in 1977, focused on cultural and neighborhood development. The industrial base continued to expand through the 1970s, but beginning in the early 1980s both the area's steel and electronics industries imploded during national industrial restructuring. There were massive layoffs from mill and plant closures. In the later 20th century,
11704-425: The area shifted its economic base to education, tourism, and services, largely based on healthcare/medicine, finance, and high technology such as robotics. Although Pittsburgh successfully shifted its economy and remained viable, the city's population has never rebounded to its industrial-era highs. While 680,000 people lived in the city proper in 1950, a combination of suburbanization and economic turbulence resulted in
11858-609: The area with renowned cultural institutions, including the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy , Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium , Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens , the National Aviary , and a diverse cultural district . The city's major league professional sports teams include the Pittsburgh Steelers , Pittsburgh Penguins , and Pittsburgh Pirates . Pittsburgh
12012-483: The art shop. Suddenly, the "dark and swarthy" man enters, intending to rob the store. He takes the money from the register and steals Beverly's watch as a bonus. She pursues him, but upon catching up, she finds the tables turned. The man pins "her arms to her sides" and throws her into a "gypsy wagon." There she is met by Orlenda, the woman who had warned Beverly earlier about impending danger. Orlenda suggests to Dimiti, Beverly's kidnapper, that they might be able to ransom
12166-547: The borders of Appalachia as defined by the Appalachian Regional Commission , and has long been characterized as the "northern urban industrial anchor of Appalachia." In its post-industrial state, Pittsburgh has been characterized as the "Paris of Appalachia", recognizing the city's cultural, educational, healthcare, and technological resources, and is the largest city in Appalachia. Under
12320-420: The bottom of a hill. She is "fit as a fiddle" the next day, and accompanies the Lucky Circle ice skating on "the lake front." When Bucky Harris, "a chubby little fellow" who "lives across the street from" Beverly, falls through thin ice, Shirley inches towards him and also falls in. She pushes Bucky back on the ice before losing consciousness again. Beverly ties a rope to herself and jumps in after Shirley while
12474-499: The camp by Orlenda, and Beverly is warned of impending danger. Returning to Vernon College, the girls notice a "dark and swarthy" man, whom they immediately assume is a thief. He denies the accusation but then flees, dropping stolen money and jewelry as he does. That night, after leaving to mail letters from town, Beverly fails to return. Her disappearance is met with alarm, and both her parents and Inspector Dugan are notified. Because of her father's political importance, Beverly's picture
12628-626: The cave under cover of darkness and frees the boys. He then reveals where Beverly is being held and asks that they tell her "Anselo wishes her happiness always." Jim and Larry rescue Beverly (who throws herself at Jim), and together they return to Larry's plane. Beverly sprains her ankle in the process, and the boys carry her the rest of the way. Having failed in their kidnapping efforts, the gypsies quickly disappear. The story moves on to winter break, where Larry proposes to Beverly, who declines. Jim leaves to take an engineering job in Wyoming, and Shirley
12782-494: The city's population. Pittsburgh also became a main destination of the African-American Great Migration from the rural South during the first half of the 20th century. Limited initially by discrimination, some 95% percent of the men became unskilled steel workers. During World War II , demand for steel increased and area mills operated 24 hours a day to produce 95 million tons of steel for
12936-542: The city's rivers and hollows. The Great Allegheny Passage and Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath connect the city directly to downtown Washington, D.C. (some 335 miles [539 km] away) with a continuous bike/running trail. The city consists of the Downtown area, called the Golden Triangle, and four main areas surrounding it. These surrounding areas are subdivided into distinct neighborhoods (Pittsburgh has 90 neighborhoods). Relative to downtown, these areas are known as
13090-476: The community and various developers to create a master plan for a mixed-use development that included a riverfront park, office space, housing, health-care facilities, and indoor practice fields for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pitt Panthers . Construction of the development began in 1998. The SouthSide Works has been open since 2005, featuring many stores, restaurants, offices, and the world headquarters for American Eagle Outfitters . The East End of Pittsburgh
13244-522: The details slightly differently, relating in World Cruise that "the star suddenly broke her ankle the night before the opening." ) Later on Shirley herself is taken ill during a performance, collapsing due to exhaustion and overwork. Beverly prescribes her a trip to "get away" and "lounge lazily about in the sun," and Roger proposes "a trip around the world" on his yacht the Susabella . So is born
13398-470: The downtown skyline, and numerous other residential neighborhoods such as Sheraden and Elliott . Many of Pittsburgh's patchwork of neighborhoods still retain ethnic characters reflecting the city's settlement history. These include: Several neighborhoods on the edges of the city are less urban, featuring tree-lined streets, yards and garages, with a more suburban character. Oakland, the South Side,
13552-461: The fair's official guidebook, and Shirley's acting career encounters both downfall and revival. Beverly runs into Shirley on her first day in Chicago, discovering her to be "out of a job," with "scarcely any money and no friends." She can ill afford to eat and is about to be evicted, yet refuses to take any money from Beverly and moves out when she discovers Beverly has spoken to her landlord and paid
13706-407: The fire escape. There, they recover the stolen film and elude the hotel authorities. Forsythe is overjoyed and rewards Vernon College with $ 5,000 and the necessary funds to build a new swimming pool. The "winter turn[s] to spring," and with it comes a new source of trouble: Shirley is kidnapped. While walking back to the college, she is captured by two men and swept away. That night, Beverly receives
13860-414: The footage Cummings remains free, leading Beverly and Lenora to sneak into his hotel room in search of evidence. Hidden inside his chimney they discover a violin case, empty except for a single bullet. Cummings sees them as they depart, however, and that night warns Beverly that "[i]f you play with fire you must expect to get burned." These words prove prescient the next day when, relaxing at Lake Geneva ,
14014-424: The girl. They depart with Beverly a hostage in their wagon, and in the morning they attempt to dye her skin with a "mysterious brown substance." As Dimiti explains it, the "liquid is to make your skin darker so, if anyone should see you, you could pass for one of us." Beverly attempts to escape but is quickly subdued. The pair daub her skin with the liquid until it becomes "as dark as any of the gypsies'." Although
14168-491: The girls have their motorboat "rammed" by another and are forced to swim an unconscious Beverly back to shore. Before impact Beverly catches "a clear, distinct glimpse of the face of the man at the wheel of the boat," and believes it to be Cummings. He is finally caught in the next chapter, after Beverly observes him leaving a pawn ticket in June's dressing room trunk. This appears to be an effort to frame her, for upon redemption of
14322-477: The girls leave the auditorium, they notice "[l]ittle wafts of smoke" coming from under May's dressing room door. The girls break down the door and extinguish the fire, discovering "a lighted cigarette in the ash tray." Knowing that May was the only one in the room who smokes, the girls confront her and threaten to inform the dean (smoking is strictly forbidden on campus). May promises to give up her habit and apologizes for her previous bad behavior. The girls offer May
14476-416: The girls sightseeing around the best and worst parts of the city. Two days after their tour of Manhattan, Charlie Blaine invites Beverly to help him cover a ball in honor of the "Duke of Abernethy." Beverly dances with the "Comte de Bourgeine," who seems particularly "fond of jewels." Soon after, one of the attendees reports her bracelet has been stolen. Beverly sees the count slip away, and overhears him on
14630-469: The gypsies are almost universally described as unpleasant, unkempt and ruthless, there is one that does not fit the mold. Anselo is a "refined" gypsy who carries "the bearing of a gentleman," and "a touch of Old World gallantry." He is also an extraordinary violinist, serenading Beverly from outside the wagon where she is held prisoner. He also reunites Beverly with her wristwatch, which he has somehow obtained from Dimiti. The next day, Anselo takes Beverly for
14784-426: The gypsy camp. They land on a nearby road and quickly earn an invitation to the camp, where they observe a sealed wagon protected by two men. Soon after this, Inspector Dugan and his men arrive. Armed with a warrant, they search every wagon, including the sealed one. The gypsies protest that the wagon contains a "sick grandmother" who must not be disturbed. The Inspector agrees to let two gypsies enter first and "prepare
14938-437: The highest appreciation of the largest 25 metropolitan statistical areas in the United States, with 22 of the largest 25 metropolitan statistical areas experiencing depreciations in housing values. In September 2009, the 2009 G20 Pittsburgh summit was held in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh has an area of 58.3 square miles (151 km ), of which 55.6 square miles (144 km ) is land and 2.8 square miles (7.3 km ), or 4.75%,
15092-461: The increasing trouble in their dormitory, Beverly is exhausted. The middle section of Senior is defined by a series of episodic events. A détente emerges between the six seniors and the six juniors, with Connie promising to "do our part" to "keep things peaceful." Shirley, who has apparently supplanted Beverly as the "shining light on the basketball team," refuses to let the senior-junior game interfere with her filming and subsequently watches from
15246-463: The inspiration for Beverly Gray on a World Cruise , promising a "journey into alien lands" with "strange adventures amid new scenes and faces." Originally published only a year after the fair ended, World's Fair brought to bear recent memories when released. By the time Grosset & Dunlap acquired the Beverly Gray series in 1938, however, the Chicago World's Fair was receding further into
15400-413: The kidnappers appear, claiming to be friends of the girls. One man talks to the police chief while the other walks to the girls, "a revolver in his hand," and threatens them to back up the story. Beverly speaks the truth instead and narrowly avoids being shot. Shirley's father arrives unseen but is overpowered. Beverly, Shirley, Mr. Parker and the police chief are held at gunpoint, until Beverly edges around
15554-477: The mansion while "making chill-provoking groans and murmurs." Beverly's next trip inside the house finds her face to face with a handsome young man named Larry. He remains mysterious to Beverly, who can't figure out whether he is one of the "ghosts" or not. Nevertheless, she is attracted to him. On Halloween, dressed in a Robin Hood costome, Larry crashes the sophomore dance, the same one that Beverly herself crashed
15708-411: The men to enter, then follows through the back door. Inside, she overhears them gloating and planning to "deliver another note demanding twenty-five thousand." Climbing the stairs, she discovers Shirley in a locked room on the second floor. From there, they dash to the car, driving off and leaving the men "dancing like wild Indians." Shirley's kidnappers do not waste much time dancing. Rather, they call
15862-419: The men, takes a flashlight from her pocket, and thrusts "it against the back of the man before her with a stern command to put up his hands." Mr. Parker and the chief use this distraction to throw themselves upon the kidnappers: One is handcuffed, and the other bolts for the exit. The ensuing car chase is shown on the dust jacket. The kidnapper jumps into his car while the girls, along with Mr. Parker, pile into
16016-435: The most U.S. stockholders per capita. Deindustrialization in the late 20th century resulted in massive layoffs among blue-collar workers as steel and other heavy industries declined, coinciding with several Pittsburgh-based corporations moving out of the city. However, the city divested from steel and, since the 1990s, Pittsburgh has focused its energies on the healthcare, education, and technology industries. Pittsburgh
16170-452: The next day, when Marcia Lyman leaves "the movie company flat" to take "a new contract with a much higher salary" from Cordial Pictures Company. Mr. Forsythe quickly gives up and plans to return to home, but Lenora has a better idea. She suggests that aspiring actress Shirley take over Marcia's role. Forsythe agrees, and with the star and story set, film production begins. The proceeding chapters reveal Shirley's success going to her head, and
16324-513: The next night, the gypsies have moved once again, this time to "a regular camping place in the hills." Beverly, Anselo and Dimiti have all recovered, the latter two with bandaged wounds. Larry and Jim, meanwhile, arrive at the county fair and are directed to the camping grounds. They wait until night to investigate but are caught by the gypsies. Larry and Jim are bound and thrown in "a cave on the hillside." Watching from her wagon, Beverly implores Anselo to help them escape, and he agrees. Anselo enters
16478-421: The night of the theft. Beverly confronts May, who confesses to the crime. Shirley, despite her close brush with expulsion, forgives May, appearing "before the faculty and ask[ing] for leniency." Adventure and mystery finally over, the girls depart for their summer break. Opening on the first day of term, Beverly Gray, Junior is the story of Beverly's third year at Vernon College, which includes her kidnapping by
16632-412: The old woman" before he investigates. His search is fruitless, and he returns to Vernon with Larry and Jim. Three days later, Gerry Foster (a friend from Freshman ) writes to tell Shirley she has seen Beverly at the County Fair in the company of a strange man. As Larry and Jim fly to the fair, the narration turns back nine days to tell Beverly's side of the story. On her way to mail letters, she stops in
16786-623: The past and preparations had begun for the 1939–40 New York World's Fair . "Because [Beverly Gray at the World's Fair] specifically referred to the Chicago Fair and work on the New York Fair was underway," Blank's editor wrote to her in a 1941 letter, "we felt that readers might be disappointed to discover that Beverly had been to the old fair – not the New York one." As a general policy, her editor went on, when Grosset foresaw "a long and steady sale," it sought to "avoid having anything in
16940-433: The police chief's car. The chase ends when a truck sideswipes the kidnapper's car, flipping it over. The kidnapper is pulled out of the wreckage and arrested. Mr. Parker then drives the girls back to Vernon, where they regale their classmates with the story of their adventure. Spring term continues, and Shirley gradually makes amends with the girls she had previously "snubbed" and "treated shamefully." Beverly "resign[s] from
17094-401: The police in a neighboring "little suburban town," telling them to be on the lookout for a "stolen car." Shirley and Beverly are soon pulled over and informed that their "father told us you took the car and were running away," and that the police "are to hold you until he gets here." At the police station, Shirley convinces the policemen to call her real father, but he is unable to arrive before
17248-438: The previous year. May has "her heart set on playing the lead" but must settle for understudy. When Josephine Carter breaks her arm falling down a flight of stairs to the storeroom, claiming afterwards that "[s]omebody pushed me," Lenora suspects May. Beverly is tapped to replace Josephine as Hamlet's mother , and "nothing ever [comes] to light about the 'accident.'" In the following weeks, May feigns friendliness towards Shirley,
17402-399: The prom festivities, and Beverly again rebuffs Jim's advances. The senior dinner at Weller's features a speech by Shirley, reformed valedictorian, and a paean by Beverly to "the ideals and traditions" of Vernon College. Commencement ensues the following week, marking "the end of Senior Road." Beverly resolves to "devote my time to stories," perhaps "even try to write a play." Shirley's aim
17556-504: The record cold daily maximum is −3 °F (−19 °C), which occurred three times, most recently the day of the all-time record low, while, conversely, the record warm daily minimum is 82 °F (28 °C) on July 1, 1901. Due to elevation and location on the windward side of the Appalachian Mountains, 100 °F (38 °C)+ readings are very rare, and were last seen on July 15, 1995. Average annual precipitation
17710-481: The remaining Alpha Delta girls butting heads with a group of six juniors: Connie Elwood, Kathleen Ryan, Ada Collins, Evelyn DeLong, Virginia Harris, and Phyllis Tanner. As president of the senior class, it falls on Beverly to govern the juniors. She finds herself repeatedly running afoul of their schemes, much to her frustration. Worse yet, her elected position comes with little power to punish the girls, or otherwise stop their antics. Between dealing with Shirley's ego, and
17864-418: The rent. Shirley's luck seems to change for the better, however, for later on Beverly receives the money in the mail with a note saying only "Thanks so much," and Virginia spots Shirley in "a big limousine." Shirley turns out to be "Dale Arden," a former understudy who "stepped up and did the performance ten times better than the star" when "the star was suddenly taken ill on opening night." (Shirley remembered
18018-420: The same vocations and success, and reports for The Times , almost certainly a reference to The New York Times . Lover Come Back features a plot driven by events and coincidence. "In its series of mini-climaxes strung together, the book is a soap opera." The book's "major ingredients" consist of: Beverly Gray , too, leads "such a life of adventure as would tax the resources of any soap opera heroine." Across
18172-410: The secret door closes, trapping her inside. Unable to escape, she decides to wait for the man to return. In the resulting confrontation, the "Chinaman" is introduced as "Wah Fang," and Pete (the "head ghost") threatens to put Beverly "on a boat bound for China." Larry and Inspector Dugan arrive to break down the dividing wall, but not before Wah Fang chokes Beverly unconscious. He then attacks Larry, but
18326-432: The series, Beverly is "kidnapped no less than twenty-six times, attacked by wild animals seven times, trapped in three violent storms, imperiled by three earthquakes, shot at twice (wounded once)." She also suffers "a car crash, flowing lava, a flood, a drugging, a rampaging fire, a plane crash and other assorted tribulations." In 1941, George Elmer Moyer, who Clair knew while growing up in Allentown , moved to Philadelphia;
18480-486: The share willed to Paul, June and George should anything have happened to all three. Officers are sent to arrest Cummings, who "confesse[s] when confronted with the evidences of his guilt." Beverly is left to "break the news" for her paper. Several subplots share space with the murder of Paul Graham in World's Fair . Significant ink is expended on the many wonders and exhibits at the fair, some of it copied word for word from
18634-669: The six Alpha Delpha girls travel to Shirley's residence in New York City for the Christmas holidays. Shirley's parents prove too distracted with their own lives to pay attention to their daughter and her friends. The girls pass the time by attending a number of upscale parties. At one of these events, Beverly is approached by Charlie Blaine, a reporter for the Herald Tribune . They find they have much in common, including both being reporters. The following afternoon, he takes
18788-482: The six main girls reunite in Beverly's room and form a sorority, the "Alpha Delta Sorority". Beverly joins the Comet , the college paper, as an entry into a literary career. The Comet' s editor, Alison Cox, orders Beverly to investigate the strange happenings in the abandoned Horler Mansion, a decaying structure whose last owner was reportedly murdered. In her first trip to the house, Beverly encounters an unkempt man with
18942-500: The skylight, and they escape together. Two days later, Beverly's friend Lenora vanishes inside the mansion, and Beverly and Shirley go after her. In the scene depicted on the book's dust jacket, they run from their dormitory to the mansion, where they find Lenora unconscious in the cellar. They determine that she tripped on a broken step and fell, while Larry arrives to aid the girls as they take Lenora back to campus. On Thanksgiving , Yale plays Jackson College . Beverly and Anne are at
19096-421: The spring term, Beverly discovers that Shirley is sneaking out at night to meet a man, Tom. He exhorts her to run away with him, and Shirley agrees to go the next night. Beverly, Anne, Lenora, Lois, and Rosalie confront her to no avail. Shirley leaves but returns shortly thereafter. Shirley is a new woman upon her return and is no longer unfriendly, losing her aloofness toward Beverly when the latter saves her from
19250-402: The stands as the seniors lose by a single point. Connie and her friends show up uninvited at the seniors' Halloween "Fiction Dance", copying the Alphas' move from Freshman . Jim Stanton, who was last seen leaving for an engineering job in Wyoming, returns to Renville from a job well done only to have his Christmas Eve proposal declined by Beverly. A movie "camera [is] mysteriously smashed," and
19404-646: The stories that might date them." This policy would not prove to withstand the entry by the United States into World War II , but was sufficient to end publication of the original sixth work in the Beverly Gray series. The original seventh and eighth works, Beverly Gray on a World Cruise and Beverly Gray in the Orient, were renumbered 6 and 7. Beverly Gray on a Treasure Hunt, the first work published by Grosset, became book number 8. Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( / ˈ p ɪ t s b ɜːr ɡ / PITS -burg )
19558-577: The telephone, declaring that "I've got it." While Charlie leaves to get the police, Beverly confronts the thief, scuffling with him long enough for two officers to arrive and arrest him. In the morning, the Herald Tribune prints the story of her efforts. With their holiday adventures at an end, the girls take the train back to Vernon. On Beverly's next trip to the Horler Mansion, she again encounters "that evil-looking Chinaman," who warns her away in broken English. She then contacts Inspector Dugan of
19712-473: The tennis team," ostensibly because she does not have "the time to devote to practice." It's implied she's resigning to make Shirley feel better about quitting the basketball team earlier. This interpretation is believed by Shirley herself, and she entreats Beverly not to "make the mistake I made." Beverly changes her tune and her resignation is forgotten. With Beverly on the team, the "championship tennis match between Vernon College and Wayne Seminary" results in
19866-456: The ticket Beverly and Virginia are handed the murder weapon, "a gun, not small enough to be a revolver and not quite long enough for a rifle. . . . It looked like a sawed off shotgun." They take the gun to the police, where "[e]verything was carefully considered and they all agreed that Cummings was the murderer." He was left out of the will of the Grahams' uncle, it turns out, but stood to gain
20020-600: The town, alongside the star Marcia Lyman, a "dark beauty" and "dazzling figure" fresh from Hollywood. Oddly, the planned film does not have a screenplay, and rather than hire a professional, Mr. Forsythe decides to hold a script-writing contest among the students and film the winning submission. Each of the six Alpha Delta girls put pen to paper, but only Beverly and Lenora following through to completion. Beverly's screenplay, Stepping Stone , takes first place, while Lenora's A Senior's Dilemma, or They Shall Not Pass , "deserves honorable mention." A snag hits Beverly's newfound fame
20174-408: The two main plot pieces: The arrival of a film company on campus, and Shirley's eventual kidnapping. As promised in the previous term, Senior opens with the arrival of the Forsythe Film Company at Vernon College to shoot a "college picture," in return for which the school will receive money to build "a new indoor swimming pool for the students." "Directors, actors, [and] cameramen" all descend upon
20328-767: The two married two years later, in 1943. Moyer attained the rank of sergeant while serving in the U.S. Army for two years, from February 1944 to February 1946 at the end of World War II . A skilled welder, he was employed at the Budd Company after his military service, working on automobiles, tank construction, Chevrolet fenders, and plastics until his retirement. He also took night classes in mechanical engineering at Drexel University in Philadelphia. Blank gave birth to two sons, Robert G. and John C. Moyer, who were born in 1947 and 1953, respectively. Blank died on August 15, 1965, in Philadelphia ; her husband died on February 27, 1998. Beverly Gray Beverly Gray
20482-862: The universities, and the Petersen Events Center . The Strip District to the west along the Allegheny River is an open-air marketplace by day and a clubbing destination by night. Bloomfield is Pittsburgh's Little Italy and is known for its Italian restaurants and grocers. Lawrenceville is a revitalizing rowhouse neighborhood popular with artists and designers. The Hill District was home to photographer Charles Harris as well as various African-American jazz clubs. Other East End neighborhoods include Point Breeze , Regent Square , Highland Park , Homewood , Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar , Larimer , East Hills , East Liberty , Polish Hill , Hazelwood , Garfield, Morningside, and Stanton Heights. The West End includes Mt. Washington , with its famous view of
20636-572: The value of homes in the South Side had increased in value by about 10% annually for the 10 years leading up to 2014. East Carson Street has developed as one of the most vibrant areas of the city, packed with diverse shopping, ethnic eateries, vibrant nightlife, and live music venues. In 1993, the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh purchased the South Side Works steel mill property. It collaborated with
20790-560: The very next day her editor assigns her to write "a series of feature articles" on the fair for "the Sunday magazine section." She flies out that day with Larry, who is coincidentally headed to Chicago, "and then points West," for his work with the Secret Service . Some days after joining forces in Chicago, the four girls witness the murder of a high diver, Paul Graham, during a show at the lagoon theater. Paul fails to surface following his "famous three somersault dive," and it emerges that he
20944-400: The war effort. This resulted in the highest levels of air pollution in the city's almost century of industry. The city's reputation as the "arsenal of democracy" was being overshadowed by James Parton 's 1868 observation of Pittsburgh being "hell with the lid off." Following World War II, the city launched a clean air and civic revitalization project known as the "Renaissance," cleaning up
21098-440: The window." Professor Leonard is especially suspicious of Shirley, because of her low history grades. Shirley resigns herself to being expelled, while the other Alpha Delta girls attempt to catch the real culprit. Their suspicions center on "snobbish May Norris," the professor's assistant and "teacher's pet." Beverly's suspicions are confirmed when Alison Cox, who lives in May's dormitory, tells her that she saw May prowling about on
21252-467: The wires on a trapeze about to be used by Paul's sister, June. Before the girls can take the footage to the police, Paul's brother George is attacked by lion and suffers a "few scratches" after somebody "file[s] the lock" on a lion cage where he works as a trainer. (This is not the last lion attack in the book, for towards the end of the book another one manages to slip out and sink its claws "deep into [Beverly's] shoulder" before it can be subdued. ) Despite
21406-405: The wreckage, sustaining "a broken rib" and "a broken arm" respectively. A hike through the surrounding woods takes them to the house of poor farmers, who call for a doctor. The doctor alerts Beverly's friends, who arrive with Inspector Dugan in the inspector's car. Beverly and Larry soon recover from their injuries. The final excitement in Beverly Gray, Sophomore comes when a history examination
21560-461: The year before. He claims to be there to "ask questions about the Horler Mansion," and he shares two dances with Beverly. On Beverly's third visit to the Horler Mansion, she encounters another sinister character. Through the window, she sees the grotesque face of a "Chinaman." Beverly continues exploring when the man does not reappear, but upon making her way back to the attic, she is locked in by "the head ghost." Larry arrives to pull her out through
21714-604: The year in Pittsburgh is July, with a 24-hour average of 73.2 °F (22.9 °C). Conditions are often humid, and combined with highs reaching 90 °F (32 °C) on an average 9.5 days a year, a considerable heat index arises. The coolest month is January, when the 24-hour average is 28.8 °F (−1.8 °C), and lows of 0 °F (−18 °C) or below can be expected on an average 2.6 nights per year. Officially, record temperatures range from −22 °F (−30 °C), on January 19, 1994 to 103 °F (39 °C), which occurred three times, most recently on July 16, 1988;
21868-423: Was "shot with a high powered air rifle." Suspicion falls on John Cummings, described as the "best friend" of the Grahams and their late uncle, and for whom Beverly harbors immediate misgivings. "There is something about him that makes me mistrust him," she tells Lenora. "He reminds me of a snake." Lenora resolves to "follow him like his shadow" with her " Cine-Kodak eight," and soon thereafter films him loosening
22022-400: Was advertised at the end of the third and final book in the series; it is unclear whether Blank actually wrote it, or merely intended it, before the series was cancelled. A trilogy by default, The Adventure Girls series was published by A. L. Burt in 1936 and never continued. All works were copyrighted on April 27, 1936, the same day as Beverly Gray on a World Cruise . Although a fourth work
22176-411: Was advertised at the end of the third, it was never published; where the Beverly Gray series survived and prospered following the publication of its four part breeder set, The Adventure Girls series was unable to catch on. Purchased by Saalfield Publishing in 1937, the series was entirely shelved until being reissued in the fall of 1942. None of the books had their copyright renewed and are now in
22330-486: Was federally recognized as "Pittsburg", though use of the final h was retained during this period by the city government and other local organizations. After a public campaign, the federal decision to drop the h was reversed. The Pittsburg Press continued spelling the city without an h until 1921. [REDACTED] Kingdom of France 1690s–1763 [REDACTED] Great Britain 1681–1781 [REDACTED] United States 1776–present The area of
22484-545: Was incorporated as a borough on April 22, 1794, with the following Act: "Be it enacted by the Pennsylvania State Senate and Pennsylvania House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ... by the authority of the same, that the said town of Pittsburgh shall be ... erected into a borough, which shall be called the borough of Pittsburgh for ever." From 1891 to 1911, the city's name
22638-565: Was no wonder, when everyone loved her, that she should have been chosen as their leader. It would have been more to wonder at if she didn't." Junior thus comes to an end, promising "new and exciting adventures" in Beverly Gray, Senior . Beverly's last year at Vernon College forms the basis for Beverly Gray, Senior , the fourth and final work in Clair Blank's 1934 breeder set. Sports-related tribulations, commencement activities, and Shirley's fame-induced snobbishness form an undercurrent to
22792-517: Was once the site of railyards and associated dense, inexpensive housing for mill and railroad workers. Starting in the late 20th century, the city undertook a Main Street program in cooperation with the National Trust for Historic Preservation , encouraging design and landscape improvements on East Carson Street, and supporting new retail. The area has become a local Pittsburgher destination, and
22946-462: Was presented to her at the end of her first year "for extraordinary heroism." Inspector Dugan is "positive" that Beverly has been kidnapped, since "there have been so many kidnappings in the country," and he holds the gypsies responsible. Meanwhile, Jim Stanton and Larry Owens (who were introduced in Sophomore ) arrive to aid in the search. Two days later, the boys depart in Larry's monoplane to search
23100-411: Was printed in a complete novel section by the Pittsburgh daily newspaper on April 13, 1941. As a result of this limited print run, Lover Come Back is Blank's scarcest published novel. Lover Come Back echoes the Beverly Gray series in both plot and writing style. Just as Beverly Gray is a successful screenwriter, playwright, novelist, and reporter for the Herald Tribune , Beverly Norcot shares
23254-542: Was producing significant quantities of iron, brass, tin, and glass. On March 18, 1816, the 46-year-old local government became a city. It was served by numerous river steamboats that increased trading traffic on the rivers. In the 1830s, many Welsh people from the Merthyr steelworks immigrated to the city following the aftermath of the Merthyr Rising . By the 1840s, Pittsburgh was one of the largest cities west of
23408-456: Was rejected for publication four months later, for "there seems to be a strong prejudice against starting a new mystery series with a school background." Blank also wrote an unpublished Beverly Gray novel to follow the final volume, Beverly Gray's Surprise . This work was never printed, as the series was cancelled in 1955. It is possible that a fourth Adventure Girls book was also written, to be titled The Adventure Girls on Vacation . This book
23562-625: Was the nation's eighth-largest city , accounting for between one-third and one-half of national steel output. The Pittsburgh Agreement was subscribed in May 1918 between the Czech and Slovak nationalities, as envisioned by T. G. Masaryk , concerning the future foundation of Czechoslovakia . The city suffered severe flooding in March 1936. The city's population swelled to more than a half million, attracting numerous European immigrants to its industrial jobs. By 1940, non-Hispanic whites were 90.6% of
23716-584: Was the first constable, and William Troop was the first clerk. Following the American Revolution , the village of Pittsburgh continued to grow. One of its earliest industries was boat building for settlers of the Ohio Country . In 1784, Thomas Vickroy completed a town plan which was approved by the Penn family attorney. Pittsburgh became a possession of Pennsylvania in 1785. The following year,
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