Highland Park The Highland Park Neighborhood of Pittsburgh

Teens throughout history, from leading riots in Ancient Rome up to the present day, remain the most finicky special-interest group in communities. The HPCC sponsored Young People's Friday Night Dances and Square Dance at Saint Andrew's Church. These were a hit, but soon faded. Dances were again tried with a hired caller spinning records.

Teens were more likely to wander off and think up their own entertainment than to take direction from adults. As the sun set at the annual picnic in North Park and parents square-danced on the top floor of the lodge, teens went for a walk down to the swings or climbed the spiral staircase of the observation tower and looked out over the park. A stolen kiss at the top of the tower ranked higher than a victory in the flour sack race.

The longest sentence in club records is about teens -- seventy-six words with no form of punctuation to allow for inhaling:

"...four LP records dealing with the matter of instructions by parents to their children of sex problems were donated to the club and while the records are not intended for young persons it was suggested they be passed around among the Directors and after they had heard it played individually the question of whether it should be made available to other parents who are members of the club might be discussed."

The board has not yet voted whether to use those 1955 LPs.