Local History Talk: The Two Swissvale Explosions of 1925

n 1925, two explosions rocked Swissvale: one at the Wilkins School in Regent Square in March and another at Pusatere’s Fruit Market on Monongahela Ave in May. All told, they left nine people dead, and all of Swissvale wondering…were these explosions the work of “Black Hand” mafia bombers or tragic accidents? We’ll discuss what happened, who was affected, and how the events reflected the time in history.