History

In August of 1928 a notice was sent out by Mr. Herbert G. Lytle, suggesting a meeting in the interest of forming the Fox Chapel District Association. Approximately forty property owners assembled at Shady Side Academy. The group immediately voted to incorporate, adopted by-laws, and elected directors, who in turn met and elected officers as follows:

President

Mr. Ralph E. Flinn

Vice Presidents

Mr. Irving F. Lehman; Mr. George C. Campbell

Secretary

Mr. Herbert G. Lytle

Treasurer

Mr. F. LeMoyne Page

The matters of immediate concern to the District Association were fire and police protection, and the directors took action to meet these needs. Two deputy constables were appointed, and it was agreed to contribute $25.00 to each of the volunteer fire departments in the adjoining districts: Aspinwall, Allison Park, Blawnox, Pleaseant Valley and Undercliff.

The first annual meeting of the District Association was held the following May, in 1929, when other important matters were discussed, chiefly the naming of roads, the improvement of roads and a new Highland Park bridge to replace the small inadequate one which ran from Sharpsburg to the corner of Butler and Baker Streets. Membership and Public Relations Committees were appointed, and later committees on Public Safety, Development and Improvement, Property Restriction and Transportation were added. The need of the formation of a new township or borough, which would include the whole Fox Chapel District, was discussed. And finally an emblem-the familiar chapel and fox in a landscape setting-was adopted. A magazine, similar in format to “Town and Country” called “Fox Chapel Country” was launched and ran for eight quarterly issues, when it was engulfed by the Depression and discontinued. The early officers and directors of the District Association were imbued with an almost religious fervor to plan wisely for the future, to safeguard against encroachments that might harm the area, and to attract home owners whose properties would be an asset. And to this end they devoted a tremendous amount of time, money, professional skill and talent.