Tube City Online @ mckeesport.dementia.org

Within that framework, send comments to jt3y (at) dementia.org or P.O. Box 94, McKeesport, PA 15134. All comments become property of Tube City Online. If you don't want your name published, please note that in your letter.

Tuesday, March 02, 2004

Posted 3/2/2004 by Jason
I'm still sorting out and replying to emails I received in December. Ay-yi-yi! Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.

::

Mark Stroup sent a link to his Pittsburgh Signs Project. Great stuff there!

::

A reader writes:

Jason: Thanks so much for posting my recollections on your Jan. 29 edition. Is this a hobby you have or are you the unofficial McKeesport historian? Are there
any other correspondents who have nostalgia of the same era circa 1957-1964? How much more has this once nice middle America changed? Judging from what you write the town is a shell of its former self.When I lived there it was a bustling town of 50,000 or so, self-contained with its own downtown, etc., with no need to go elsewhere except for Kennywood and the Buccos at Forbes Field with Bob Prince announcing.

In answer to the first question: Yes, it is a hobby, and yes, I am an unofficial historian. This Web site started as a lark ... I was taking a class in something new called the "World Wide Web" as an undergraduate in 1994-95 and had to build a Web page. I threw up a bunch of random information about McKeesport. Like a bad weed, it grew all over the place. I've pruned it back some, but it still keeps branching off in unexpected directions.

Several people have asked if I make money off of this thing. Nope. It's hosted by a friend on a non-profit server (hence the dot-org appellation) and any costs are born by myself.

As for correspondents, I love to hear from former and current Mon Valley residents about their memories of the area, their opinions about the region and their visions. Consider this something like the letters to the editor page in your local newspaper. It just doesn't cost 50 cents to read it, and Eddie Stanko from White Oak hasn't made an appearance. Nor has Street Captain Peter Salvo, Oren M. Spiegler of Upper St. Clair, or Craig Galik from Duquesne. (Not yet, anyway ... but they're welcome to email, too!)

The only thing I ask is that you keep your emails clean (nothing you wouldn't say in front of grandma, please), and understand that I may edit them slightly for grammar and length. If you want to stay anonymous, that's fine, too, but let me know in advance.

By the way, sorry if I sound that down on the Mon Valley! There are a lot of problems ... but there are a lot of assets, as well. It's too easy to get focused on the decline and not see the positives. How many towns of McKeesport's size have a library? A marina? A large regional park like Renzie? A daily newspaper?

::

Asbjorn Lonvig of Denmark writes:

My name is Asbjorn Lonvig, and I'm the owner of www.lonvig.dk. I wanted to let you know that I've just placed a link to "Tube City Online @ mckeesport.dementia.org" A link back to www.lonvig.dk would be nice.

Sincerely, Asbjorn Lonvig, artist/designer, "Lille Fejringhus," 43 Fejringhusvej, DK-8722 Hedensted, Denmark

Yes, it would be nice. Unfortunately, your site doesn't have anything to do with Western Pennsylvania, so far as I can tell ... so you ain't gonna get one.

::

Hi.
My name is Anthony, and I live in Wilkins Township, near ShowCase
Cinemas East.

I want to know if you have a model railroad club, and do you meet
regularly. If so, can you give me some information about your club.

What scale is your layout(s) in?

I dont have a layout, although I hope to build one with in the next 2
years sometime. I do collect HO scale trains, and have over 300
locomotives.

I am searching the area for a club to join with.

Your reply would be appreciated. Thanks

anthony

Jason: Thanks for setting up the web site, and your insightful
commentary. I'm a semi-transplanted resident--my wife and I bought her
childhood home in Christy Park when her Dad moved to Florida. We
actually live in the heart of the beast (Washington, DC), but make
regular trips up there. Certainly is a different world--even very
different from 30 years ago when I spent a little time in the area. Keep
the good stuff coming. It helps when I can converse in the same language
as my wife (Pittsburgh-ese being a distinct language).
Deane M.

From: "Botti, Regina"
To: jt3y@dementia.org
Subject: McKeesport Fire
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I notice in your question &answers you mention McKeesport HS and Serra
but there is no mention of St. Peter's HS. I realise that it no longer
exist but I know a lot of people that graduated from there including
myself. However, that is not my question. I would like to know the year
of the big fire that took out four blocks. I think it may have been
around 1974 to 1976.

Regina Botti

[IMAGE]

From: Dr. Jay Geisler
To: jt3y@dementia.org
Subject: Great Job!
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I recently found your website and enjoyed reading a past article about
Maglev. You obviously have a great love for McKeesport and the internet
as well. I am a new priest at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church McKeesport.
I would relish having lunch with you (on me) and to hear your thoughts
about the future of McKeesport. I would also like you to take a look at a
website http://www.faithtechcenter.pitt.edu/ I helped start this
program as the Technology Director and we were considering bringing it to
McKeesport. Anything I can do to help revitalize McKeesport I will do. I
lead the Steelworkers in the Beaver Valley in the late 80's when there
pensions were threatened due to LTV (formerly J&L Steel) bankruptcy.

Peace & Prayers,

Father Jay

The Rev. Dr. Jay Geisler

Cell phone 412 -414-3337

Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2004 21:52:00 EST
From: DANBUCSSTEELERS@aol.com
To: jt3y@dementia.org
Subject: Murphy's
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Hi, My parents owned a music store next to the Memorial Theatre on Fifth
Ave. (1959-68). My fondest memories of Murphy's were looking through the
45's in the record department. I also ate my first fried oysters there.
Yummy !! More later. Dan in St.Petersburg, Fla.

Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2004 13:17:08 -0600
From: Patricia Hersho
To: jt3y@dementia.org
Subject: McKeesport Train Depot

Hi
I stumbled on your message board and boy did it bring back memories,
especially the one about Wids and Centennial Street.They forgot to mention
Millie (a toughie, but down deep a softy, Stallings, Finkels etc

What I was originally looking for was a picture of the railroad station at
Ringold and Lyle Blvd. Any suggestions on who I can contact to obtain one.

Bob H.

Friday, February 27, 2004

Posted 2/27/2004 by Jason
Eric Buczynski writes:

Hi. I'm 30 years old and have been a near lifelong resident of McKeesport since 1976 or 1977, and there are some things written on here that I haven't seen anyone else write about, plus I wanted to share some fond memories of mine that others might relate to.

I have memories of Midtown Plaza and going to Oddo's, but does anyone else remember Baskin Robbins being on the outside corner of it? I too remember Pappan's restaurant. My mom orked at Associates Loan & Finance, and I recall going to Spee-D mart for a video game if there was time before my mom got done from work. Then if we were lucky we'd go to McDonald's or Burger King, but sometimes my parents would rather eat at The Canopy, which I believe is where Thee Record Warehouse now stands.

Does anyone remember when H&H Fish was on Shaw and Sinclair? (I had to look up those street names). I believe there was a National Record Mart and a Bell Telephone place near McDonald's. I remember going by Beneficial Loans on the way to G.C. Murphy's, then rushing back near the toys and video games. One time I was collecting for Children's Hospital on the outside out Murphy's, and when I was finished I used money to play video games that I had received from taking out my neighbor's garbage. My dad sorta freaked out about that at first until I explained things. I also remember parking at Cox's and playing their Battlezone game until my dad was done looking at clothes.

No one has mentioned Green's! One of the best memories I had was going there and going downstairs to the toy section. I remember the vending machines that held novelty jokes and such in the back corner, and as soon as you walked down the steps there was a rack on the left that held a bunch of Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars. There was a toy that had a racing track that sloped where you would put these small, plastic indy-type cars down the
track. I also remember Kelly & Cohen appliances that were on the side of the State Store (before it opened I believe), and Goodyear tire was on the opposite side. I also remember getting my first haircut at La Paree, right across from Johnston the Florist. On the same street as Johnston the Florist and Midtown Plaza, there used to be an art store on the corner right before the Executive Builing. I only remember a couple of big-haired hippies being there (or maybe it was my dad...). That, and getting pop rocks.

Does anyone recall when the John Naretto building was beside Eat 'N Park? I recall going to the little train station that was on the landing below Eat 'N Park on the day after Thanksgiving to go downtown Pittsburgh. I believe there was an electronics place called "Stargate" that was where the Klein Shook Clothiers buildings is. I also recall there being Fox TV also on 5th Avenue in the same area. Someone wrote that the movie theater closed in the mid '70s, maybe 1977. I recall seeing the premiere of Superman in that theater, which I believe came out in 1978 (correct me on this please). Whatever happened to the Downtown McKeesport Association? I just remember the pointy font on some of the store windows at the time.

I lived on Versailles Avenue, and would walk up to the Union Prescription building on the 2900 block of Versailles, and I remember when it moved down at the corner of Evans and Versailles, where a hair salon business was nearby. Does anyone remember the candy store that was on Versailles Avenue, across from Ritenour's (now Mom's Deli)? I used to go to the kindergarten that is now an elderly apartment development, and when I would walk home with my dad we would pass this small bar, and then this small candy store. I had a friend that lived on Ohio Avenue, and we would go to that candy store and get candy buttons, Chinese fortune gum, candy fish and more.

There was one hard candy that was sold in a package that had the best flavor, but I can't think of the name for the life of me. It came in little fruit-flavored squares. I remember when an ice cream place called "Passing Fancy" moved right beside Ritenour's, but everyone else that I talk to doesn't remember that. I also remember when Open Pantry used to be across from McKeesport Central Catholic, the grade school that I went to. I also remember when it was converted into a huge video game arcade, but unfortuneately I was too young at the time to go in. When that closed down, there was a small store on the side that had some candy and such, and I recall getting our hoagies there whenever we had fundraising events.

Sometimes my dad would have me walk to United Dairy Farms, or "UDF" as we would call it, and if I had money left over from getting a newspaper, deli meats or cheeses, or pizza squares, I'd play a few video games, or buy some Dino Sour eggs (those were the best!). I never went to the Aragonna on Union Avenue, but I remember The Italian Store that had the slogan "the home of good food."

Tuesday, February 03, 2004

Posted 2/3/2004 by Jason
Welcome to BerarducciBrothersInformation.com. Margie from Washington state writes:

Jason, I just found your site as I was trying to find the Beraducci Bros. who produced the Dolce Pizzelle Iron.

Thanks for the information on the company and the referral to Villaware. My pizzelle iron of almost 35 years has finally given up the ghost. My husband has fixed it so many times I decided to try and find a new one. In doing my research I came across your site in McKeesport, Pa. I'm originally from Erie and am now in WA state.

Appreciate someone keeping us informed of what's happened to now defunct companies. I will try Villaware as I found it on Amazon.com.

A native Pennsylvanian, Margie

And thus I've found my mission in life ... uniting people and pastry.

Mmm-mmmm ... pizzelles ....

Thursday, January 29, 2004

Posted 1/29/2004 by Jason
Ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find ... a reader writes:

I visited your site tonight. Noticed the page on Berarducci Brothers. LOOK NO MORE.

Robert (Berarducci) passed away in 1993, but shortly before, he liquidated all assets accordingly.

As I recall, most of the appliance patents were sold to Villaware out of Ohio. Not sure about the Squeezo. I'll have to ask if they bought that too.

Hope that helps some.

Thanks! Well, here you go, pizzelle fans:

VillaWare Manufacturing
8901 Euclid Avenue No. 1
Cleveland, OH 44117
Phone: (216) 531-0800
Fax: (216) 486-3200
Toll-Free: (800) 822-1335
E-Mail: villaware@villaware.com

I am told that VillaWare products are available at JC Penney and Amazon.com, and "wherever fine kitchen appliances are sold," I suppose.

Posted 1/29/2004 by Jason
M. Ness writes:

Hi! I was happy to find your site. I grew up in McKeesport on Centennial Street circa 1957-65. I can identify with many of writer Dede Henderson's reminiscences.

I grew up "on the hill" and remember Wid's candy store where you could order a milkshake, which came with the stick pretzels, pull a magazine off the rack and spend as long as you wanted just sipping and reading and Wid never said a word. I remember shopping at Kadar's and H.B. Klein on Fifth Avenue, and the great air conditioning at Isaly's where the straw would stand in the shake.

I remember the perfectly manicured field of the Tigers on Cornell Street at the high school. Heaven help the kids who snuck in and tried to play there. The red-faced, green-uniformed custodian had ESP and sensed trespassers even before they could get in.

The streets of the neighborhood were idyllic --- tree-lined and well kept houses. I always enjoyed going to the library on Library and Union and sledded behind the library on snowy winter days.I loved taking the intracity buses --- either the Jenny Lind or Jenny Lind and Bailey lines, which left from Ringgold Street and cost only a dime! Heading up Shaw and Huey streets was always an adventure, wondering if the old bus could make it.

I've been back a couple of times, but it certainly is not the way it was.

Posted 1/29/2004 by Jason
Jeffrey Van Zandt writes:

I recently stumbled upon your web site when looking up McKeesport on the web. My grandpa (and grandma) both hail from McKeesport (and still have relatives there). They have recently passed away and I have some interest in learning about some of their history.

My grandfather's name was Albert Leonard Liptak and he was a manager of a semi-pro (?) baseball team called the Liptak AC's. I read a newspaper article from the late '80s confirming the existence of said team. (I often wondered if he made up his stories, some were unbelievable!)

My grandmother's name was Irene Liptak (can't remember her maiden name).

They grew up together in the late 'teens until they moved. They came out to California some time in the '40s or '50s.

He seemed to be relatively successful and I always wondered if he has a legacy in McKeesport.

Any information or stories you can provide me with would be awesome.

Does anyone know anything about Albert Liptak or the "Liptak ACs"? If it was a semi-pro team in McKeesport, I have a strong suspicion that it was part of the Daily News League.

Email Jeff at VanZandt52 (-at-) msn (-dot-) com

Thursday, January 22, 2004

Posted 1/22/2004 by Jason
Here's another Berarducci Brothers question. Sigh. If anyone knows anything about the Berarducci Brothers (aren't they the ones who host "Car Talk"?) please let us know.

I'm trying to locate the Berarducci Bros company in McKeesport. Do you have a phone and or website for them?

Thanks, Paul Holzschuher, Cincinnati

Paul: No, we don't. This question has been asked over and over again. The company appears to be out of business.

Posted 1/22/2004 by Jason
On Sat, 27 Dec 2003, Marta Martin wrote:

I enjoyed visiting your site and catching up on McKeesport news. I'm writing to tell you about an email group I started recently for alumni of McKeesport Area Senior High Schools....folks can subscribe by sending an email to: McKeesportAlumni-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

I grew up on the corner of Fifth Avenue and White Street. My Uncle Dan was the Dan of "Dan's Bar" which had been on that corner since the 1930s...Kelly's Men Shop was across the street as was Sparicos Market and Porter Drugs and on the other corner was Star Bakery.

I graduated from the high school in 1976 and even though I spent two years at an Ohio college, I came back and finished at Chatham College.

Looks like you have some other DJs from McKeesport posting to your site. I worked for WEEP and WIXZ when both were country stations. My air name was Martie Gray and I spent a total of 17 years in radio. Tony Renda owned WIXZ when I worked there.

Marta Vooletich Martin
www.wheresmypants.net

Posted 1/22/2004 by Jason
An anonymous reader writes:

I just checked your 'blog (for the first time in months) and came across many subjects of interest. Here are some random thoughts:

The Dean Rant: I am becoming increasingly convinced that Howard Dean is, in one way or another, unhinged. If Arnold Schwarzenegger had given a performance like that, the people at the Simon Wiesenthal Center would be mobilizing. With guns.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day: My feelings are mixed. I feel about MLK the way I feel about JFK, which is to say he gave voice to noble ideals while apparently leading a less-than-noble personal life in many ways ... But, I digress. We have really screwed up memorial observances in this country. We have taken the "Christ Mass" observance and turned it into a secular, tinsel-and-shopping Christmas; turned the "holy days" into holidays; and in general, just made it all another free, long weekend. Bah, humbug.

Shopping in Downtown Pittsburgh: If the downtown Kaufmann's doesn't close in the next few years (the announced $4 million in renovations notwithstanding), I 'll be extremely surprised. I take my Mom downtown several times a month for hair styling and doctor visits. There is no one in the store.

McKeesport and Crime: If you think McKeesport is bad, look up the CI for Chicago, Philadelphia or Detroit. You'll heave one big sigh of contentment.

Wednesday, October 29, 2003

Posted 10/29/2003 by Jason
Radio personality Clarke Ingram, maintainer of the DuMont Television Network website, offers this "view from beautiful Downtown McKeesport":

Chilly Billy Cardille was making a personal appearance at the Olympia Shopping Center today, so I went. Haven't seen him since I worked at 96KX and we did a Jerry Lewis telethon together about 20 years ago.

There was a line for autographs, Chilly Billy can still pack 'em in, and only a few were senior citizens. He was very cordial, remembered me (or claimed to), and I gave him a VHS videotape of the last episode of Chiller Theater, which aired in 1984.

You get a nice view of the 1360 towers from the Olympia parking lot. The WMCK-FM bays appear to still be up there.

After the Chilly Billy appearance I drove around for a bit. WEDO now has a big sign on its new location across from the Oak Park Mall, where Rainbow Gardens used to be. Hadn't noticed it before.

I went to the intersection of 30 and 48 trying to find the WKHB & WKTW studios but didn't see any sign of them. I also wandered around White Oak looking for the old 2002 nightclub building (wish I had a nickel for every spot 96KX ever ran for that place), but nothing clicked in my mind. Jason? Anyone?

McKeesport reminds me a little of Gary, Indiana, maybe only because I've been researching the latter. Old steel town, whole blocks missing, and oh, that lovely neighborhood just north of the Theatre Bar. It's a lot safer, though.

I'm glad to hear that McKeesport holds one advantage over Gary, Indiana. No offense, Gary. (At least Gary, Indiana, has a song in a major Broadway musical.)

The "2002" nightclub, aka "Hotel Belvedere," aka "Club Dynasty," aka the "White Elephant" burned to the ground several years ago in a spectacular fire and is now cleverly disguised as a parking lot. About the only thing that's left are some curbstones along Lincoln Way adjacent to the White Oak municipal building.

Posted 10/29/2003 by Jason
Retired advertising executive Harry Webber responds to a recent commentary on this website:

Thank you for your kind comments regarding my work for the Railroaders Memorial Museum and the 150th Anniversary of the Horseshoe Curve. It gave my family members who still live in McKeesport quite a chuckle. And I do agree that work done for free is worth exactly what people pay for it. But in this instance I'm afraid I cannot take credit for the "Eighth Wonder" theme line.

As I am sure you know from reading the Post-Gazette article, the American Society of Civil Engineers designated the Horseshoe Curve one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World in 1919. It is the only site in the state of Pennsylvania to hold such a distinction.

In any case, these designations change from decade to decade and now, alas the Horseshoe Curve has slipped beneath the ratings bar to the position where all former Seven Wonders" candidates tend to congregate: Eighth Place. But even so, the Curve is still a source of pride (and revenue) to the people of Altoona and it's one-time designation as a wonder of the modern world is still worthy of recognition and rememberance during it's 150th year. Sometimes "clever" is a benefit in promoting a product. Other times, nothing works like the simple truth.

Although my work has been responsible for selling billions upon billions of dollars in merchandise and has provided millions of jobs for American workers, I find this particular assignment most rewarding. Mainly because of the support of people like yourself.

As a fan of Horseshoe Curve and a semi-regular visitor, I appreciate any attempt to introduce it to a new generation. So, in retrospect, I must like the taste of my own shoes --- open mouth and insert foot --- because Mr. Webber makes an excellent point. The "simple truth" does tend to sell a product better than any catchy slogan or jingle.

Although a "Horseshoe Curve" singing commercial, come to think of it, does hold some appeal ....

Monday, August 25, 2003

Posted 8/25/2003 by Jason
DJ Randy McDaniels, maintainer of the 1360 WIXZ webpage, writes with a nostalgic (ha!) look at the Midtown Mall, currently being demolished:

I was checking out your McKeesport webpage, and I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the pics of the Midtown Mall being demolished. Gawd... I can remember them putting that whole thing together. I was interning at WEDO radio, when they were still in the old Goodwill Building at the corner of Shaw & Locust that burned down some years back.

Anyway, I remember them tearing the city down and apart at that time for that monster. That was in 1974. It opened in '75 or '76 and the inside (I don't know if you remember this or not) originally had tents for the stores. They hadn't assembled the walls inside the mall yet, and the stores operated out of tents.

I used to shop at a record store that was in there that was called The Record Barn. It only lasted about a year. My art teacher from high school had a pottery shop in there, too, in one of the tents. It was a circus in a way ... tents and all.

Funny thing is, they had more businesses in there with the makeshift tents than they did after they put the individual stores in with the block walls and windows.

And I remember working at WEDO when they were in there; that was back in 1980. Most everything was closed up by then. Parking in the garage was a risk because of the bums. The elevators from the garage down to the mall were already switched off and not operational. The air conditioning inside of WEDO used to spray water on you. The early smell I remember was the glue on the (then new) carpeting. That smell was later replaced by the urine and God-knows-what smells of the bums that hung out in there.

I bought my reel-to-reel tape deck at the Radio Shack that was located there. That was around 1980. (I still have the deck ... and (that) Radio Shack has been gone forever). Other stores that were there were Spee-D-Mart, Burger King, Equibank, a pet store across from WEDO (don't remember the name of it), and Pappan's Restaurant on the corner of Fifth and Locust. Those are the ones I can remember fairly easy.

Are they tearing down those apartments too? I guess so ... since I think they are a part of the building itself. Such a waste.

Well, I'm going to be visiting up there the first week in September, so I can hardly wait to see what the place looks like. I'll bring my camera for sure.

I took pictures when they tore down Cox's Department Store. I've also got pictures from when they tore down the old McKee Cinemas too. Hard to believe that I've been in Atlanta 2 years already. How time flies. Take care and drop me a line back sometime.

The apartments are staying, as is part of the mall along Lysle Boulevard. In fact, the Dollar Bank branch formerly located in Fifth Avenue's Executive Building (another publicly-funded 1970s hemorrhoid on the rump of McKeesport's business district) recently moved into the old Equibank location, which until recently was operated by National City Bank.

For now, what's gone --- and good riddance --- is the pedestrian and vehicle tunnel over Fifth Avenue.

Midtown Plaza Mall was, without a doubt, the worst, worst, worst thing built in McKeesport in the 20th Century. I can't remember anything else that comes close. I can remember the Radio Shack, which I think hung on until the mid to late 1980s, and Burger King, which closed at about the same time as Radio Shack. It seems to me that Spee-D Mart also stayed in the mall until the mid-'80s. Of course, all of those stores had Lysle Boulevard storefronts, which helped them survive as the rest of the mall folded up.

As for the inside of the mall, I can also remember Oddo's Hobby Shop being there after the 1976 fire destroyed his store on Fifth Avenue. I was in the old WEDO location a few times, and though I hated to see them leave the city proper in favor of White Oak, they're in a much more viable location now.

Friday, July 18, 2003

Posted 7/18/2003 by Jason
Nearly every Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia town had one or more five-and-dime stores. Usually, they had at least one G.C. Murphy Co. store. At its height, Murphy's was a cut above the better-known F.W. Woolworth stores, and was a great source of pride to McKeesporters. (The dismal "Murphy" store that until recently polluted Market Square in downtown Pittsburgh was nothing like a classic Murphy's, and was in fact, an embarassment to the memory of the chain.)

We're approaching 10 years since Murphy's was absorbed in a hostile takeover by Ames Department Stores, and it's time we started preserving the memories of those who worked there before it's too late.

I am looking for retired employees of G.C. Murphy Co. and Murphy's Marts who can share their stories of working for Murphy's, and for customers and others who might have tales of shopping at Murphy's.

Perhaps you courted your wife or husband and a Murphy's soda fountain; perhaps you bought your first Christmas presents for your parents at Murphy's; maybe it was the first place you were allowed to go by yourselves.

If you would like to share a Murphy's memory or loan some Murphy's memorabilia, please contact me at jt3y -at- dementia -dot- org. You can also send mail to Jason Togyer, G.C. Murphy Project, P.O. Box 94, McKeesport, PA 15134.

Saturday, July 05, 2003

Posted 7/5/2003 by Jason
Fred Fleming from Houston, Tex., has a question about Peoples Union Bank:

I am trying to find out information about the above bank. My mother (age 94), formerly a resident of McKeesport, some 65 years ago had accounts at a bank or banks in McKeesport. She said it was PEOPLES or UNION bank. I am wondering if the name is Peoples Union Bank and she has it mixed up as two separate banks. I need to know if they are still in business or, if they have sold out, whom they were bought by. Any help is appreciated.

It was "Peoples Union Bank and Trust," which in the early 1970s merged with Union National Bank of Pittsburgh. Union National was taken over by Integra Bank in 1992 or '93, which was sold to National City Bank of Pennsylvania several years ago.

If your mother's account was very old, then by Pennsylvania law, the bank had to turn it over to the state treasurer's office in Harrisburg as "unclaimed property." The state is not allowed to touch the money. You can search here: http://www.treasury.state.pa.us/search.html

Good luck!

John Mayer (JMayer2288 at aol) has an answer for OurPaHomeCM, who wanted a ward map of McKeesport:

I bought a 24"x36" street map of McKeesport, which also indicates the boundaries of the 10 wards, at McKeesport City Hall for $5.00. Just go to the Planning Department on the second floor. It's pretty funny. The map still shows the old railroad right of way --- even though its been abandoned for some 30 years now.

Some how I thought the city had 12 wards, including the old Eden Park Borough, though I may be wrong. Thanks for the tip! I have to get me one of those, too.

Wednesday, June 25, 2003

Posted 6/25/2003 by Jason
Carolyn Soukup (csoukup at elan dot com) writes:

Like the 1999 inquiry below, I, too, would like to know this comedian's name. It's been bugging' me for months and no one I ask seems to remember her.

The comedienne in question would be Donna Jean Young. We used to have a webpage devoted to her; it will return to the site shortly.

In the meantime, here are some sound clips from her only album, "Live from East McKeesport":

Donna Jean Young, Clip 1
Donna Jean Young, Clip 2
Donna Jean Young, Clip 3

Posted 6/25/2003 by Jason
OurPaHomeCM at aol writes:

Do you know where I can obtain an in-expensive map of McKeesport (just an outline map, with the major streets), that show the boundaries of the different "Wards" of McKeesport ? Even if it is on-line, that would work.

As the tree said to the lumberjack ... I'm stumped.

I have such a map (a paper version) but it's 40 years old and quite out of date. Have you tried the McKeesport planning commission or Redevelopment Authority? 412-675-5020, ext. 634; you could also ask who the City Engineer is; last I checked, it was Senate Engineering, (412) 826-5454.

You could also try the Allegheny County Division of Elections, (412) 350-4500 (elections are held by ward), or the Allegheny County Board of Property Assessments at (412) 350-4600. Ask for the Tax Mapping Office. Those maps are likely to cost you a few dollars for photocopying charges.

The U.S. Census Bureau's website at http//factfinder.census.gov allows you to search by census tract, but not by ward.

Unfortunately, there hasn't been a really good map of McKeesport put out for at least 15 years; the last one I saw came from Arrow Map Company, but I called them a few years back to order a new copy, and I was told it was out of print.

If you find the answer, won't you share it with us?

Posted 6/25/2003 by Jason
Inge Hanschu of Shelby Township, Mich., writes:

I have a Pizelle maker, I think made by Beraducci Brothers Manufacturing Co., McKeesport, Pa. How can I find out when it was made and what its value would be?

I get these inquiries regularly. Unfortunately, I will tell you the same thing I tell everyone else ... I have no information about Berarducci Brothers Manufacturing Company.

The best I can do is forward this information from the Pennsylvania Corporations Bureau. It lists an address on Fifth Avenue, but I don't think the address exists any more:

Entity Name BERARDUCCI BROS MANUFACTURING COMPANY
Entity No. 33156
Filing Date 02/10/1958 Letter of Consent No
Address 1732 FIFTH AVENUE
MCKEESPORT Pennsylvania USA
County Allegheny Jurisdiction -
Purpose BROAD
Limited Authority No

Corporate Officers
Updated Date 03/21/2003
President ROBERT J BERARDUCCI
Secretary ROBERT J BERARDUCCI
Treasurer ROBERT J BERARDUCCI
Vice-President EDITH J BERARDUCCI

There is no listing in the Pittsburgh white pages or on the Internet for "Berarducci Brothers" or for Edith or Robert Berarducci.

I've also checked the Thomas Register, and there is no information listed about the company.

You might try this company, which sells the Squeezo strainer that was manufactured by Berarducci Brothers:
http://www.homesteadhelpers.com/

Also, according to the Patent Office, the trademark for the Squeezo strainer, another Berarducci Brothers product, is now owned by a company in Connecticut; maybe they service other Berarducci Brothers products now:

J. LINMAR INTERNATIONAL LTD.
P.O. BOX 944
WOODBURY CONNECTICUT 06798

In the meantime, any information about Berarducci Brothers would be appreciated.

Friday, June 20, 2003

Posted 6/20/2003 by Jason
Deb Fletcher Markovich (debbiedo00 at aol dot com) writes

Fri, 20 Jun 2003

Hi!

Just reading some of the emails on your site and wanted to respond to Joel Ballon's about the name of the store on Evans Avenue. I'm not sure if this is the store you were inquiring about, Joel, but there use to be a store called Franklin's around that area --- and there were apartments above it.

I know it's not the name you said it could have been, but between my sister and I, having lived in McKeesport at that time (on Union Avenue --- about five blocks from Evans Avenue), we can remember Franklin's being there & going to that store.

Hope this helps a little.

I hope so, too. Thanks for writing!

Also, there's more from Paul Mular (pmular at wb20 dot com) in San Fran:

Mon, 2 Jun 2003

I was surprised to see that Oddo's (Hobby Store) was still around! The store I went to as a kid pre-dates the locations you mentioned. It was on Fifth Avenue across from Balsamo's Market. A narrow but deep, crowded store. Like Immels, it had a long walkway to the front door with display windows on both sides.

The Fifth and Market store was usually his Christmas store, but I think he moved in there because his old store was going to be torn down to make way for the Midtown Plaza.

His West Fifth Avenue location (editor's note: the current store) doesn't sound easy for a kid to get to!

One fond memory I have of him is that he always made sure I had enough change for the bus after my purchase. There were times he reduced the price a nickle saying "You'll need that nickle, you won't have enough for the bus otherwise".

I'm glad there is still something in McKeesport left from my childhood (other than the funeral holmes). I'm 44, so I go back a little further. I've often thought of writing to the Daily News asking them for old pictures of Downtown McKeesport, but I don't know if they have the manpower to search the archives and report the current news.

Finding the old postcards on eBay was a thrill, McKeesport is not a tourist town.

I'm now taking pictures of the town I live in now. California still has "downtowns" for every city. Because of the nice weather here downtowns flourish while malls are having a hard time (two malls have shut down in the past 5 years).

I will visit your site again, I have forwarded a link for my brothers to visit.

Thanks for your kind contribution, and by all means --- tell your family and friends ... an educated consumer is our best customer!

Oh, wait, that motto is taken, I think.

Saturday, May 31, 2003

Posted 5/31/2003 by Jason
Paul Mular writes from San Francisco:

Hi Jason,

I just stumbled upon your website & enjored it thoroughly.

I live in California, but spent my first 20 years in McKeesport. I also worked at Kennywood in the "Cinema 180" circle theater. Lately I have been finding more interesting information about McKeesport on the web. There is also a website about incompleted highways in Pennsylvania, it has a page on Rt 48's proposed new routs.

I was searching the web for "Immel's" to see if anybody put up something about that store, up came your site. As I kid I used to enjoy going to that store, they had a circular staircase that they let us run up.

Do you have any pictures of Immel's or Cox's that you can put up? How about Oddo's Hobby Store?

I have a postcard of Jaisons, wow I was surprised to find postcards of McKeesport on eBay! McKeesport is not a tourist town, but I guess in the early 20th century it was prestigious.

Keep up the good work!

"Cinema 180"! Wow. I had forgotten about that! I have many photos of Cox's --- none taken inside, unfortunately --- that I will post someday soon. As for Immel's, I only have outdoor photos. Come to think of it, I should have taken some photos inside Kadar's before they closed. We never seem to appreciate these things until they're gone!

As for Oddo's Hobby Store ... which location? Lou Oddo has moved the store more times than I can remember. The earliest location I recall visiting personally was his store in the Midtown Plaza Mall; he also had a store near the corner of Fifth and Market that burned in the big McKeesport fire of 1976.

Gribble Nation's tribute to the unbuilt Route 48 Expressway (which forced the demolition of Rainbow Gardens Amusement Park) is a real treat. I also recommend Jeff Kitsko's Pennsylvania Highways site --- it is a first-rate piece of work!

Monday, May 19, 2003

Posted 5/19/2003 by Jason
Bill H. Morris writes:

I've had a chance to view your commentary regarding the history of McKeesport. The amount of work that goes into setting up such a site and the upkeep involved is a thankless task. I know the last thing you want to hear is anything about something being wrong.

Nonetheless I must bring your attention to an erroneous statement on the HISTORY page. On that page you state that in 1960 there were three movie theaters in town. Actually there were four. The four theaters were the Liberty and the Victor on the same side of the street down from Isaly's large store. Across from the Liberty was the Capitol theater. And of course was the great Memorial theater at the other end of town where a smaller Isaly's store was opened close by in the late 50's or early 60's.

As one that frequently spent all day on Saturday at those theaters I would hate to see any left out.

So noted! In the early '70s, a new four-screen movie theater opened in the basement of the then-new Executive Building. It was a monumental flop, at least partly because it was located in the damp basement and (so legend has it) was infested with vermin. Within a few years it was showing porno, and then it closed altogether. The Memorial was hacked into a two-screen theater called the McKee Cinemas, then closed following the disastrous 1976 fire.

Tuesday, April 08, 2003

Posted 4/8/2003 by Jason
More old mail from the archives. I've purposely munged your email addresses to (hopefully) foil the spambots.

Joel Ballon writes:

I enjoyed your article, and also surfing the site. I'm a member of the
Heritage Center, and have been doing some research there.

I just found out that part of the family I've been researching had a small
grocery store in McKeesport, and lived above it, and was still functional
in 1967. The name could have been Struss, or Strouse. In the early 30's
part of the family Rosenthal, lived at 1229 Evans.

I'm wondering if any that could ring a bell with you, since it seems your
roots go back pretty far. The name Seigle could enter into it too.

I'm sure my description fits a lot of mama-papa stores, but I'm hoping
"something clicks."

Can anyone help Joel?

Denise Diederich (fourfurbalsnfins(at)aol-dot-com) writes:

I understand that you do not conduct genealogy research, but I am hoping
that you may have some insight into the early days of McKeesport. I am
trying to find information on James McGettigan. He was the controller at
Shirley Pipe Works in the early 1900's. He lived with his family "on the
hill," on Centennial Street. Do you have any ideas where I can find
information on this man?

No clue, other than the usual places ... McKeesport Heritage Center and Carnegie Free Library of McKeesport. Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh has census records, of course.

Jill Holtzman writes:

Jason, I am the current president of the Mck Tiger Cheerleaders and was
wondering if there is anywhere on your site to post...The Boosters
currently have Tiger Merchandise on SALE>>>>>Sweatshirts and pants,
T-shirts, Denims and Seat Cushions.....They can contact 4126725739 or
jholtz0256(at)attbi-dot-com for additional information!! Thanks so much!

Done!

Richard Pollard writes:

I came upon your web site while surfing a search results for "McKeesport" on the Google search engine. I see that you have a page for McKeesport history links and no links yet. So I wanted to tell you about my web site "Rick's Genealogy." I am a history buff researching my family's history. I have in the course of my research come across several unique resources and have posted them to my web page, of interest to you and regarding the city of McKeesport are:

The 1865 McKeesport & Elizabeth income tax list
the 1920 McKeesport High School year book
the history of my family including Genealogy from 1845 to 1950 in McKeesport
a page on steamboats and boatmen of the greater Pittsburgh area
and an essay about my ancestor Daniel Pollard and his experiences during the Civil War.

It is my hope that you would include the following link on your web site.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb-dot-com/~ricksgenealogy/

I think you just did!

(CDEAN35(at)aol-dot-com) writes:

I came across your web-site today.
What I am actually looking for is the web-site for
TUBE CITY, INC. (specifically any employment info.).

Are you associated with Tube City, or just have
a similar name ??

The second part. We are not associated with Tube City Inc., a metal and steel reclaiming company that started out as a McKeesport-based "scrap yard" but now has offices across North America. You can find out more about them at http://www.tubecity.com.

We were on the web before they were (we've been here since 1995) but they've been in the real world much longer!

The name "Tube City" was a common one for McKeesport throughout the late 19th and early 20th century, owing to the large proliferation of steel pipe (aka "tube") mills in McKeesport, most notably the National Tube Company, which became part of U.S. Steel Corp. in 1901.

McKeesport still has three companies which make steel pipe: Camp-Hill Corp., which took over U.S. Steel's electric-resistance weld mill in 1987; Dura-Bond, which finishes and coats steel pipe; and CP Industries (the old U.S. Steel Christy Park Works), which makes finished cylinders and other products from steel pipe.

Sue Englert Carper and Barb Pollack Firda write:

Hi, would it be possible to put a link to the McKeesport Alumni, Family &
Friends message board?

Sue Englert Carper '71 carpers(at)attbi-dot-com and
Barb Pollack Firda '71 firda(at)attbi-dot-com

You mean like this?
http://forums.delphiforums.com/McKeesportTiger

Cheryl Clairardin writes:

Jason,
While on the phone with a friend who still lives in western PA (I now
live in Naperville, IL) the subject of Eastland mall came up and we were
trying to remember all of the stores that were there when it opened. I
was online so I did a search for Eastland Mall and came to the
deadmalls-dot-com site where I read your article to my friend. She and I
grew up across the street from the slag dump where Eastland was built.
We watched it go up and played on the 2nd floor of Gimbels during
construction. I walked over the hill to the grocery store many times to
get bread and milk for my mother and sold the Sunday Pittsburgh Press
on Saturday nights with my older brother. We made 3 cents on a then 25
cent paper. We dreaded carrying the leftover papers back up that hill
behind JCPenney tire center. My first job was at Sterlings at Eastland.
I made $1.10 and hour and opened my first credit card account and the
Penneys store.
We have made this search into a little project neither of us has time for
but we're hooked. From your research, do you know where we can find
information on the stores of Eastland?
I am also interested in information on the Green Valley Volunteer Fire
Dept. Any stories there?
My father was one of the original members. He is deceased.
Any information you can share, I would surely appreciate.
Cheryl Clairardin

Date: Thu, 24 Oct 2002 18:09:16 -0500
From: Cheryl Clairardin
To: jt3y(at)dementia-dot-org
Subject: Re: Eastland Mall/Green Valley Fire Dept.

Jason,

Thank you very much for your help. I have one photo of the GVFD building
after an addition and I have 2 old photos of my dad with the first truck
that GV bought for $666 on a 6 month loan when they only had $6 in their
account. (We had this conversation once when he was in the hospital) My
dad was chief there and also president at one time. He put a lot of time
into GVFD and when he was dying 6 years ago told me that he regretted
spending so much of his time there. But you know, my dad always took us
with him to the fire hall and we helped clean the trucks for parades and
such. I marched in some parades holding the banner for the band with
Annette Thomas. Her father was also a chief at one time. Did you know
the fire department had a band? Anyway the truck is not much to look at
but was all they could afford at the time. I can tell that the shoes my
dad was wearing were also way too big for his feet, they were probably
used too. He loved that fire department and I have a lot of good
memories from it. I have often wished I had asked my dad about the fire
department and discussed it in depth. I would love to write a history of
it. Maybe someday.

I will share one with you. Every Christmas the fire truck (an open cab
American La France) would make its way through Green Valley with Santa
on the top eventually ending up at the fire hall. My dad was always gone
because he was the chief and my mom would take us kids to the fire hall
later to meet Santa, to sit on his lap and tell him what we wanted for
Christmas and of course to get our complimentary box of chocolates.
Well, when I sat on Santa's lap I noticed a flannel shirt at the furry
cuff of Santa's jacket. I recognized it as the shirt my dad was wearing
when he left the house. I was very confused. I wanted to believe it was
Santa but couldn't understand why he had my dad's shirt on. I never told
my dad that story, maybe I still want to believe in Santa, I don't
know.

Anyway, I will scan and email those photos to you. I have some slides of
the Crestas Terrace FD too. They were doing some training on brush
fires. These slides may be at my brothers house in Greensburg, I am not
sure. Let me know if you are interested in those.

I know I have a couple of photos of Eastland from up on the hill. I
would have to search for those.

Cheryl

Jerome Travers writes:

"58 Graduate. GO TIGERS! Also; Was a member of RR Club in 1956-7 or so.
When I next visit my brothert I'll bring the pics and slides with me. Can't
say when this will happen. Regards. Jeff

Monday, March 31, 2003

Posted 3/31/2003 by Jason

For your listening and dancing pleasure, here are a bunch of older messages, imported from the old guestbook.

Subject: Penn-Irwin
Date: Tue, 4 Jul 2000 10:47:59 -0400
From: "Elizabeth Gault"

Thanks so much for telling me about the Penn-Irwin. It was a hoot. Lots of pine, Formica walls in the bathroom ( the better to wash down the blood?- kind of Psycho feeling) Owned by a couple ( didn't get their names) quite talkative and very friendly. Helped out in our trip to McKeesport. I would recommend this place to anyone with an interest in 50's chic. It has a very slight undercurrent of mildew but is seemed to be quite humid there, and all in all it didn't matter. The guy that runs it is very precise, the towels were striped and they couldn't have been folded anymore accurately if they had been done by machine and everything was immaculate down to the twin milk glass lamps on the 1936 dresser. Thanks again for the suggestion. We will probably be back next spring, the area is beautiful and we ate really well. It was a drag not to be able to get a drink out on Sunday night but we'll remember that next time.
thanks again Elizabeth

Subject: looking for a product
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2000 21:33:38 -0500
From: "Marty Brown"
To:

Hi,

I am Marty Brown, from Tupelo, MS, I am writing looking for something for my mother. She had a "Squezzo Strainer" for years........... It was made by a company from your area by the name of Berarducci Brothers Manufacturing Co., Inc. from McKeesport, Pennsylvania, 15132. It had a copyright of 1974.

If you could help me with any information to help get my mother another one. It would make her very happy and make her day.

My e-mail is MARTYB@peoplepc.com.

any help appreciated.

Marty Brown

Subject: mini vacation
Date: Sat, 17 Jun 2000 10:09:27 -0400
From: "James Gault"

As it happens we are coming to McKeesport for a 3 day weekend in July and I am looking for some place to stay. I'm hoping for some place with character but will settle for clean and close. I'm counting on the goodness of your heart (evident in your site!) to give this traveler a few suggestions.

thanks so much Elizabeth

Editor's Note: See the "Phone Directory" section of our "McKeesport Today" page for lodging suggestions.

Subject: time capsule
Date: Thu, 01 Jun 2000 20:14:22 -0400
From: Ruth Ann Lefever

Hi, I am a former resident (moved from McKeesport/Boston area in 1967) looking for information on the removal and opening of a time capsule buried in Renzie Park about August 1964, not sure of the exact date since I was only 12 or so at the time. Any info you can pass along would be greatly appreciated. Thank - you,

Ruthanne Lefever (formerly Fletcher)

Editor's Note: This time capsule was indeed buried during August 1964 at the Mon-Yough Expo held by Mon-Yough Chamber of Commerce. It was excavated on July 4, 2000 at Renzie Park by McKeesport Mayor Wayne Kucich and the contents are on display at the McKeesport Heritage Center..
This article from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is available. Ignore the typical anti-McKeesport "poor, poor old town isn't what it used to be" bias!

Date: Wed, 3 May 2000 01:46:13 EDT From: Schmarth@aol.com

Hello , Can you tell me what is national Tube works ? I just got the 1920 cencus aned my great grandfather worked there and i would like to know where i can find more info on this can you help me ? Thank you for you time

Anthony Belsky

Editor's Note: See our section on National Works or consult John Hoerr's book, "And the Wolf Finally Came," published by University of Pittsburgh Press.

From: DedeHend@aol.com

Date: Fri, 19 Nov 1999 15:30:52 EST

Subject: McKeesport

Aloha Jason, My name is Dede Henderson. I am a writer (well, my novel is with a publisher and two agents, so I'm still hoping it's picked up). Anyway, I was born and raised in Mckeesport. I lived on Union Avenue. My maiden name was Macik. My next novel takes place in McKeesport and when I searched the internet and found the information on the railroad, Balsamo's, the steel mills, etc., I was overjoyed! One of my fondest memories is the library and seeing the photo of it really brought back memories. I've been away over thirty years. Last time I was there was 23 years ago, so I'm certain I wouldn't know the place. I am asking for your help. I would love anything you can send me about Mckeesport in the 60's, or before. I would also like to know what the place is like now since my character will return to her home. I went to Centennial grade school, remember the corner store across the street that we called "Wid's". You are probably very young and don't remember any of this. Anything you can offer would be appreciated. I'd love to know more of what Balsamo's looked like inside. I remember it, but I left McKeesport when I was barely out of my teens and Hawaii is certainly different than that! Would you please e-mail me and let me know if there's anyway I can get info, photos, anything. Thank you so much, Jason. I understand my high school is now a middle school. The new high school on Eden Park Blvd. opened the year after I graduated. My mom worked in the bank downtown and my father was a fireman at Grandview fire station.(I think that was what it was called.) Thanks again, Jason. You're web has made me very nostalgic to the point I want my novel set in McKeesport. Aloha, Dedehend@aol.com

Date: Fri, 19 Nov 1999 11:44:23 -0500

From: BCBA

Organization: Prisma Inc - Graphic Design - Pittsburgh, PA

Subject: McKeesport History

enjoyed reading your McKeesport history articles on the website. i found it by way of the Mon-Yough Model RR page...while researching the Mon/Yough Valley for my website: "Bridges and Tunnels of Allegheny County and Pittsburgh, PA" "http://www.buildingtechnology.com/bcba/bridges" i have started gathering info for bridges along the Mon and Yough. I am finishing a tour for the Allegheny River: "http://www.buildingtechnology.com/bcba/bridges/tours" --bruce cridlebaugh

From: "Sean Hunt"

Subject: Mutual Link Exchange

Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 01:47:28 -0400

Dear Jason, Mon Yough Community Services, Inc. (MYCS) has launched its web site at: http://www.mycs.org. In an effort to continue our mission of promoting the wellness and recovery for those in the Mon Valley who face the challenges of substance abuse, mental health problems, and developmental disabilities, we are constructing a ìLink Resourcesî section on our web site. This section will provide useful links to community resources and other relevant sites. Upon viewing your site at http://www.dementia.org/~jt3y/mckhome.htm, I feel that both of our web sites would benefit from a mutual link exchange. To initiate this exchange, please contact me at (412) 675-8550, or e-mail me at admin@mycs.org.

Sincerely,

Sean Hunt

Director of Quality and Outcomes
Mon Yough Community Services, Inc.

500 Walnut St., 3rd Floor
McKeesport, PA 15132

From: JMayer2288@aol.com

Date: Fri, 1 Oct 1999 16:23:20 EDT

Subject: Great job Jason!

Jason, I just want to thank you for maintaining this web site for McKeesport. I live in the California and I'm happy to see what's happening of Mc McKeesport. On a recent trip to McKeesport (June 1999), I visited one of the only remaining mens clothing store downtown. I was happy to learn that you are a regular there. I also want to say that the story you wrote about the Hunter Building was outstanding. It's a terrible shame that the funds are not available to save the crown jewels of McKeesport. On my latest trip, I took several pictures of old Victorian homes on Jenny Lind Street because they may be gone when I come back. That must have been "the street" to live on back then. Could you give me some info on how I can assist the McKeesport Historical Society in thier efforts to save McKeesport's old buildings? I would also like to know if you will have a new section on "things that aren't there anymore." Thanks again for putting McKeesport on the world wide web.

John Mayer

From: GeoJenk@aol.com

Date: Mon, 13 Sep 1999 12:14:02 EDT

Subject: Page Link

Greetings,

I ran into your fantastic Web Page on McKeesport. I was born & raised in McKeesport, Pa & your pictures brought back many memories (specially the Balsamo's pictures). Great job of portraying McKeesport as I knew it. I hope you don't mind that I linked your site to my Web Page I have a genealogical web page located at: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Creek/6438 I would be very appreciative if you would consider adding my site to your link page. Keep up the great work..... Thanking you in advance for your consideration Sincerely,

George Jenkins

Date: Sun, 05 Sep 1999 23:34:41 -0700

From: Archie A

Organization: http://pages.prodigy.net/datsrite/Home.html

Subject: Thanks for the GREAT Memories

I appreciate you dedication,loyalty to the preservation of a town I was born and grew up in. McKeesport will ALWAYS be home to me! Even though events have changed it drastically! Buy in my heart those of thoughts of the Good Times growing up, will always be there!

Sincerely,

-- Archie

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is the only planet we have "treat it with respect!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ --------------

Date: Thu, 2 Sep 1999 22:28:49 EDT

Subject: Nice McKeesport Page!

Hi Jason, I am a former McKeesporter who now lives not far away, in West Mifflin. From 1952 until 1959, I lived in 10th Ward on Dale St, next to the playground. I went to Kindergarten at the old West Side School (no longer there). In 1959, we moved to Port Vue, where I lived until I was married in 1979. I am old enough to remember the McKeesport of the 1950's and 1960's. That's when it was a mill town with a bustling 5th Ave business district. I remember the "mall" they tried to create in the early 60's when they blocked off 5th Ave. to vehicle traffic. Anyway, when I look at the Jeff Madden paintings, they bring back the memories of the McKeesport I remember when I was growing up. The old B&O station, Balsamo's, the Memorial Theater, etc. I was thinking, wouldn't it be nice to have Jeff's paintings on-line as thumbnails that could be enlarged? I'll bet many former residents would love to see those paintings again. When Doneldo's was open on West 5th Ave, they had the complete collection of Jeff Madden's paintings. So, I guess this is my suggestion to you: no McKeesport web site should be complete without those nostalgic windows back in time that Jeff gave us. What do you think?

Ray Tison

tisons384@cs.com

------

Date: Wed, 01 Sep 1999 23:46:21 -0400

From: barbara ann stuffer

Subject: Thank You

I want to thank you for keeping McKeesport alive... I grew up in Mckeesport and graduated in 1976.. got married and moved to Penn Township.. but my home is still Mckeesport. In fact I still go to church there.. Concordia Lutheran Church on the corner of Evans and Bladwin where I help with our soup kitchen.I see the sad product of the mills closing and it seems to be getting worse in a way.. we serve so many people.. but if you look closely.. out of the riuns is new life and you are helping bring it to light. Thank you for what you are doing... keep up the good work...

------

From: "Deborah Wysni"

Subject: McKeesport: The Tube City Home Page

Date: Mon, 23 Aug 1999 23:45:05 -0400

Organization: D W Environmental Systems, Inc.

Jason,

Just read your "essays" on the History of McKeesport - Excellent. They actually brought tears to my eyes and I'm not even originally from McKeesport. Can't wait to read the next essay - keep up the great work. Would you be interested in doing any investigative reporting in the near future? If so, please contact me by email. My husband and I own a building on Fifth Avenue - the old "David Israel" Building and are extremely concerned about the "redevelopment" going on in the city. PS - Let me know when you post another essay - they are wonderful.

------

From: "Sue Kerr"

Subject: Link

Date: Sat, 21 Aug 1999 16:22:01 -0400

Hi. I just found your McKeesport Today page and its great! My name is Sue Kerr and I'm the Special Projects Coordinator with the Mon Valley Providers Council which serves the 37 Allegheny County Mon Valley Communities, including McKeesport. It would be great if you would link our homepage to yours. We'd be happy to reciprocate with your permission.

http:\\www.nb.net/~mvpc

For more about the Providers Council, please call me at 412-829-7112.

Thanks, Sue

***************************************************

Sue Kerr

Special Projects Coordinator

Mon Valley Providers Council

519 Penn Avenue

Turtle Creek, PA 15145

412-829-7112

412-829-4363

mvpc@nb.net

***************************************************

------

From: CIngram@aol.com

Date: Tue, 17 Aug 1999 02:34:44 EDT

Subject: McKeesport pages

Dear Jason,

As someone who grew up just off Route 51 near Southland not far from McKeesport and the Mon Valley, I enjoyed reading your pages, though I was saddened to notice the continuing decline of the city. In the early to mid-1980s when I was still living in the area, I had good friends in White Oak, and got to drive through the heart of town one or two nights a week, on my way home. I guess I knew then that it wouldn't be a happy ending. If you find the time, I hope you will be able to post some memories of WMCK (1360), which for many years was "McKeesport's radio station" and later became WIXZ in a largely pointless attempt to compete for the Top 40 audience with powerhouse KQV. (Today, it's WPTT, pretending to be a Pittsburgh talk station, with the old call letters from channel 22 - one more asset McKeesport has lost.) Thanks for the memories. Good luck with your Web site.

Sincerely,

Clarke

------

From: "Jennifer Moran"

To:

Subject: McKeesport Area

Date: Wed, 7 Jul 1999 10:42:01 -0400

Hey there! Love your site! I lived in McKeesport as a child (on Versailles Ave.) with my grandparents. I have a question that you might be able to help me with, depending on how old you are and if you remember or not, but about 15+/- yrs. ago (I was 8 or 9 yrs. old), there was a horrific stabbing down near the hospital (in front of a bar), and I was wondering if you had any information on it. I now live in North Carolina, and they heard about it down here, but I just can't remember a whole lot about it except that the man was stabbed some 20 times or so and I remember seeing blood stains on the sidewalk for years afterwards.. can you help me? Do you remember what happened? I know it may sound like a weird request, but we are trying to gather peices of our past (where we lived, what happened, etc) while we are young.. ALSO, let me dig thru some old boxes, I have some photos of McKeesport from when my Grandparents first moved there years and years and years ago (Both are dead now), but you might like to see them, I can scan and email them to you. I would appreciate any info you may have.. Thanks so much!!!

~Jennifer Moran

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From: "Nancy Nemeth"

Subject: McKeesport Website

Date: Wed, 30 Jun 1999 21:12:14 -0400

Jason, I've been meaning to contact you since I discovered this site this winter! It's terrific, but one small quibble, if I may: Having attended it one of my high school years, the old "vo-tech" school went by the name "Voc," pronounced "voke." Also, please say hello to your Mom. Janie and I grew up together in Port Vue; your grandpa Andy and my dad "Louie" were old buddies, too. Tell her to drop me a line or an e-mail or whatever. I haven't seen her since my aunt & uncle's golden anniversary. Again, I love your website, and I've passed it on to a few other people. I've got a good head for trivia -- feel free to contact me if there's something somebody can't remember! Love and luck,

Nancy Nemeth

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Date: Sun, 27 Jun 1999 14:10:28 -0700

From: Sandy

Subject: Thank you :)

Hi... I can't tell you how happy I am to find your web site. I grew up in McKeesport, and moved west in the early '70's. Reading this, and going through all the pictures has truly been a trip down memory lane. Hope you will continue to add to the history of McKeesport.

Thank you very much,

Sandy Hornfeck

Bullhead City, Az. ------

Date: Mon, 07 Jun 1999 16:32:34 -0400

From: Alva Dingman

Subject: East McKeesport...question!

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am sure this is going to sound strange to you, but my family and I are having a time of it, trying to think of the name of a person that has had a lot of impact on East McKeesport... Only we're having a problem coming up with her name... I would guess that it was in the late 60's to early 70's, that a female stand-up comedian used East McKeesport as her home town and was the bulk of her whole routine... Is there anyone that would have the name of this person? I am the type of person who doesn't give up when I am trying to remember something or someones name... So I would appreciate any information that you could give me... I know that this might sound a bit obsessive to you, but at times I will be thinking so hard to come up with something that I know I know the answer to, that it will affect my sleep and give me a headache... I have been trying to think of her name on my own for about the last week, but have had no success... I know this is a really odd request and probably the oddest one you have ever had, but I would be so grateful for any HELP!

Thank you!

Sincerely, Alva

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From: NickiMibs@aol.com

Date: Thu, 13 May 1999 12:21:26 EDT

Subject: McKeesport

My mother was born in McKeesport and it's like a second home even though I haven't been there is many years. I enjoyed your history of the steel industry. I'm writing because I'm trying to find whatever information I can about my grandfather who died in 1927 due to an accident at National Tube Works. I e-mailed the local paper but they haven't responded. If you can point me in a direction where I might continue my research I'd appeciate it. Thank you for your time.

Nickimibs

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From: "Alan M Anderson"

Cc: "Art Anderson"

Subject: Thanks for Mckeesport Site

Date: Sat, 1 May 1999 21:23:16 -0400

Today I surfing the net and found your web site on McKeesport and my mother and I greatly enjoyed it. Being as we are both fron McKeesport (I class of 77), your site brought back good memories. I have not lived there for the last 15 years, but I hope you keep up the good work the web site.

Thanks, Alan Anderson alan.anderson3@worldnet.att.net

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From: "Nancy Lamble"

Subject: Reminiscing.......

Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 14:21:41 -0400 Hi, I am originally from McKeesport but haven't been home in about 4 1/2 = years. I just got access to Internet and have been looking things = up...for theheck of it. I ran across this photo series from home and = wanted to let you know how neat it was to see some old familiar sights. = Thanks for the walk down memory lane !

Dale Bernhardy

Charleston, SC

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From: mrson@webtv.net (Bill & Anne Emmerson)

Date: Fri, 19 Mar 1999 21:43:00 -1000 (HST)

Subject: McKeesport Model RR Club. I am formerly a resident of Christy Park at 33rd Street. Presently where the Cathoic Church is now located. In 1946 I went to Work on the McKeesport Connecting Rail Road in the National tube. I happen to see a logo on a flat car "Mckeesport Coal" I did not want to buy the train set to get the one logo. I have an small HO set. Is it possible to obtain a logo for McKeesport Connecting RR or McKeesport Coal. I rem ember steam engines # l2 and # 24. As a fireman (new) number 12 was an easy days work but # 12 made you earn your salary. I was hired on March 13, l946 and went back in to military service in September l946. Any picture of any train in the Mck Conn RR would be appreciated. Hope to be in McKeesport for my 60th High School Reunion and will be close by as I stop to see the gang at thePool Room bottom of 25th street and by your address you must be a stone through away.

Bill Emmerson

53l Apt B, Keolu Drive

Kailua, Hi 96734

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Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 15:34:05 -0500

Subject: Sayfoot Park

Hi!

I am trying to find information on Sayfoot Park in McKeesport. The man who started it is my great grandfather. Any information you have would be appreciated.

Thank you.

Dennis Easterday

3740 Frostwood Drive

Beavercreek, Ohio 45430-1634

Day Phone 937/255-9593

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Date: Mon, 08 Mar 1999 18:17:09 -0500

From: Terry Graham

Subject: Great job!

Just wanted to let you know that your site is a hit with my family and friends back in McKeesport. My dad says "that site is a Hoot!". Keep up the great work. If I dig up some content, I'll pass it along. Take it easy.

TJ Graham

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Date: Sat, 06 Mar 1999 01:52:51 -0600

From: Terry Boughner

Organization: Wisconsin Light

Subject: Memories I have enjoyed your site more than you can imagine. I was born in McKeesport Hospital in 1940. My parents lived on Grandview Ave. Later, they moved to Dravosburg--an easy trolly comute to McKeesport. I went to Tech High (up on the hill, near the library) and graduated in 1958. After that, I moved away. Anyway, as I remember, there used to be 4 movies theaters in downtown--the Liberty, the Victor, the Capital and the Memorial. Do any of them still exist? Is the high school where I went still a high school? Does it still exist. If you have the time, please reply

Terry Boughner

wnovo@mixcom.com

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From: "CINDY GERENDASH"

Subject: vo-tech location

Date: Sun, 21 Feb 1999 17:27:44 -0600 vocational high school is located on the corner of o'neil blvd. & eden park blvd.not versailles ave. enjoyed looking at your site!!

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From: "Waskowitz, Richard"

Date: Fri, 19 Feb 1999 08:33:39 -0500

Greeting from an exiled Port Vue boy. I was thrilled to find your website for the model railroad club whilst browsing the internet one day. I clearly remember my dad taking me to that second story layout over the freight station in McKeesport when I was a lad. I have been living in the Detroit metro area for the last fifteen years but have plans to come back to the valley in the near future. I joined the local NMRA club here in Livonia Michigan and would be interested to know (no offense to the HO modelers) if there are any nearby clubs in the Mon valley for the three rail and toy train guys like me.

Sincerely,

Rich Waskowitz Richw@ceccontrols.com

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Date: Mon, 15 Feb 1999 18:49:27 -0500

From: Craig Kirschner

Subject: (no subject)

nice web page . Its a shame its about Mckeesport!!!!

no pictures of brick alley, thats what made the city famous.

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From: "Robert W. Brendel"

Subject: Mckeesport Car & Locomotive Works

Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 00:21:30 -0500 Mr.Togyer, Saw your Website on Mckeesport,Pa. For some years have been tresearching Pitts. & Mckeesport Car & Locomotive Works located at 5th. & Walnut during the 1870's.Works burned out in 1877. Looking for photos,site maps,newspaper items and etc. on works and products of same. Have a number of items to share with any interested parties.Could you possibley post this message around to area historians?

I can also be reached at:

P.O.Box 134

Waynesburg,Pa. 15370

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From: "MARLENE K SUPERNOVICH"

Subject: Mckeesport Web Page

Date: Wed, 3 Feb 1999 09:24:41 -0000

First I would like to tell you that you have a wonderful website. Going through the site took me back to when I was a child. I found everything to be very interesting, the nostalgia was great. I have noticed that you have links to other McKeesport Web pages. Does this link site only pertain to McKeesport information? Or can it also be links to other McKeesporters who have web pages? I have several web sites I have created for a work from home business I am trying to get started. If you would consider placing a link to one of my sites, I would also place a link to yours. This is of course if you do place links for McKeesporters with web pages. If you would like to check out a few of my sites the URL's are below. Both sites are basically the same with maybe a few changes here and there.

http://business.fortunecity.com/goodnight/246

http://members.tripod.com/shadowgraphics

I would appreciate it if you would consider placing a link to my site on yours. If you do I will then do the same in return. Thank you,

Marlene Supernovich

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From: MSS1048@aol.com

Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 08:47:59 EST

Subject: Janet E. McMahon & Ophelia the cat

Hello: I'm an accountant from Charleston, W.Va. I had written a young reader's book about a "little old lady" & her cat called "Ophelia's Winter". Miss Janet McMahon had returned to West Virginia after retiring to Florida with her cat named Ophelia. She passed away during the big snow storm of 1993 with her only friend Ophelia by her side. The police took Ophelia to the animal shelter from where I rescued her. I have been told that Miss Janet McMahon grew up in Mckeesport. She was a 1934 graduate of the Meadville, Pa. school of nursing. Do you know of anyone who may have known her or her family. Thanks,

Marilyn Sansom

Charleston, W.Va.

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From: Kula Goughnour

Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 02:53:58 -0500 (EST)

Subject: Great find! McKeesport Pride

Didnt get your name but hi!

I loved your page. A year ago when I first got on the Web, I was so disapointed not to find a McKeesport page. I was going to do the picture part that you have done. Never got around to it. I was thrilled to see some one had taken the time. THANK YOU :-) I have a web site to contribute, (its very primative for now) http://www.angelfire.com/pa/greekangel/index.html

I also have a suggestion to have McKeesport High have a link on their homepage. Their are so many out of towners who stumble onto the school page. Read the guest book, they're alumni who havent been back in a while. Your site would be a welcome to see the pictures. When I am feeling better, I would like to contribute some things to this site. Again THANKS for taking the time so others can enjoy. Koula

PS The guy who lives in the JB Bertone house ...........this cracked me up. lol

(i think he had plastic surgery and is a woman now. lol) :-0

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From: "Kris Rossmiller"

Subject: McKeesport Website

Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1999 12:34:26 -0800

I visited the McKeesport website for the first time in a year and was pleasantly surprised with the additional information. Keep up the good work! It great that Carnegie-Mellon is hosting it for you. A gentleman in Detroit built an excellent website to show the loss of great architecture in the Detroit area. Now he's getting so many hits (over 120,000 per month) that he's begging for contributions just to keep it running. My interest in your website is the information on the National Tube. I am an amateur steel historian and information can be hard to come by. I visited the area a number of times 1989-1993 and toured the Camp-Hill facility. Each time I visit I drive from Youngstown down through Aliquippa and Pittsburgh and stop in Monessen. As an outsider, I could see and feel the great changes that had taken place. I love the Pittsburgh area and I wish I had visited sooner. On the other hand, I'm kind of glad I did not live there as the layoff's were taking place. I am also a model railroader and that is the main reason for my email. I am hoping you can help me locate a copy of a map of the National Tube Works. I have a USS map of the ERW mill (buildings and RR tracks, no interior details) but I don't have much beyond photos and postcards of the rest of the facility. I've heard that the Heritage Center has a display about the plant but I don't know if they have anything that would help me. I talked to someone at the railroad club, but my impression was their steel mill was general in nature and not a model of the Tube Works. Now that I have 2 small children I don't travel your way so I don't know when I can get out there to dig up this stuff myself. Any help you could provide (maps, photos, a point in the right direction, etc.) would be appreciated. If I can help you let me know. I have a few things that might be of interest for your site. Look forward to hearing from you. Thanks.

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From: JMayer2288@aol.com

Date: Sun, 3 Jan 1999 07:00:54 EST

Subject: About the city of McKeesport

Dear Mr. Togyer:

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all of the hard work you have dedicated to your McKeesport web site. As a student of urban planning, I have always been fascinated by the history of McKeesport. From employing thousands of people, shopping at dozens of department stores and enjoying the exciting late-night life, McKeesport has enjoyed much success. It saddens me to see what is left of McKeesport today and how some of the sites where people had "good times" are either deteriorated or gone. It's nice to see that your photo gallery has pointed out the beauty that McKeesport has managed to hold on to today. I am considering using downtown McKeesport in some way for my senior project in a few years. Since you know a lot about McKeesport, I was wondering if you could please answer a few questions that I have about the city? Have any celebrities stayed at the Penn McKee Hotel? What sort of events occurred at the Palisades Ballroom? Are there any photos or stories about the old movie theaters located on Fifth Avenue? ( I learned about them while watching a program called "Things That Aren't There Anymore") Was the big fire in the seventies to blame for the demise of downtown's attractions? Have there been any attempts to organize the community to revitalize McKeesport? I believe that McKeesport has the potential to attract businesses, shoppers, and entertainment back to the downtown do you know if the city has a plan to do this? Are you an urban planner? If so, do you think that a good number of topics about downtown McKeesport can be generated for an interesting senior project? Since I live in Southern California, and am not able to visit the McKeesport Heritage Center, can I bother you for more info in the future?

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Subject: McKeesport

THANKS!

What a treat! I now live in Southern California and recently retired. I grew up, for a time in Mckeesport from 1932 until 1943 and my family moved to the East side of Pgh., then my wife and i moved out of the area in 1968. I have only been back once or twice in the last 30 years,but I have often told my wife about"Renzie",and about my big adventures from up on the hills above Fifth Avenue, cross fifth to Jerome {which I think was r construction, and watch them kill rodents from the houses being torn down to construct Jerome Blvd. We used to play street games at night,because the open hearth from National Tube gave off so much light, it was almost like late afternoon. My grand mother is buried in Versailles Cemetary, and I used to go there with my mother on Decoration Day so I could take care of the graves. There used to be a large market on Fifth,(Basamos was the name of it) where the railroad crossed Fifth Ave Which was a big treat if we went there as it had a large produce section and a soda fountain. Does the railroad still cross Fifth? It was great to hear that Echostar is going to create 2000 jobs! What a fantastic use for the former mill sites. When I managed to travel a lot because of my job,and at some auspicious career moment, I would proudly say to my wife and few co workers "not bad for a kid from McKeesport " I hope to visit your web site often.

MORRCARS@HOME.COM

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From: pgam@webtv.net (Patrick Murphy)

Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1998 15:05:44 -0500 (EST)

Subject: chat room or former residents of McKeesport guest book

hi you have done a great job with this update. i was born in McKeesport many years ago. can you create a guest book or chat room for people who have long been gone from the area? thanks Patrick Murphy

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Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 13:47:17 -0800

From: "FRANK W. MOORE"

Organization: MOORE FREIGHT SERVICES,INC.

APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO RELATE TO MCKEESPORT THROUGH YOUR WEB PAGE HAVE SHARED THIS WITH A FEW OTHERS HERE IN ATLANTA FROM PORT VUE AND MCKEESPORT. KEEP UP THE EFFORT AND THANKS

FRANK MOORE

LILBURN, GA.

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Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 13:09:19 EST

From:

Subject: Janet E. McMahon b. 6-7-1913

Hello:

My name is Marilyn. I'm an accountant from Charleston, W.Va.. The reason I'm writing you is regarding the above named lady, Janet E. McMahon. She grew up in Mckeesport and graduated in 1934 from the Meadville School of Nursing. Miss Janet later came to Charleston & founded the school of anesthesiology at the hospital here. She retired to Florida, then became ill with lung cancer. She then returned to W.Va. with her cat "Ophelia". In 1993, she passed away from lung cancer with only Ophelia there with her. Ophelia was then taken to the animal shelter by police. She ended up in abusive home from where I rescued her. Not thinking anyone would be interested in a story about a little old lady & her cat, I sent out query letters to several publishers. Ballantine books in New York called me to ask for the story, which is why I'm checking for anyone who may have grown up with Miss Janet or known her family in Mckeesport. Her parents were Samuel & Jessie Byers McMahon. If you know of anyone, could you have them contact me. Thanks so much,

Marilyn & Ophelia G. McMahon

-PS- I bookmarked your website so I can refer to it

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From: "Bob McKenney"

Subject: Thanks!

Date: Tue, 8 Dec 1998 21:47:55 -0500

My sister is looking for employment (she now resides in Homestead, a "Sister City" of McKeesport as far as the sudden absence of the steel industry is concerned) and asked me about the Echo Star facility. Well, a search engine brought me pretty much nowhere until I found your site, and I really appreciate the information and links that you supplied on your page!

Keep up the good work!

Bob McKenney

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Date: Mon, 07 Dec 1998 23:18:36 +0000

From: Danielle Skinner

Subject: McKeesport

Hi, I was looking through the McKeesport web pages, and I didn't know if you wanted to add school links, but if you do, I have the web site of Serra Catholic High School. It is http://www.serrahs.org/ The site is great! Thanks!

Thursday, March 27, 2003

Posted 3/27/2003 by Jason

On Sun, 23 Feb 2003, Joanne Ryder wrote:

I am looking for an employment record from the Fort Pitt Steel Casting Company of McKeesport, PA in the time frame 1915-1964. I am interested in a specific employee, my father, Norbert K. Daerr. At the time of his retirement in 1963/4, he was Vice President of Sales. I have been doing family history for a number of years and would like to determine the years of his employment there and any additional information that might be available. Can you give me any information as to the location and availability of these records?

My dad worked at Fort Pitt for a number of years, but unfortunately, I can't help Joanne. Can any of you? Her email address is joannagram (at) comcast (dot) net. The last time I checked, Fort Pitt (which closed in the late 1970s-early 1980s) was owned by Conval-Penn Corp., but I have no idea if that's still the case, or even if the current Conval is the same one that owned Fort Pitt.

Meanwhile, the Fort Pitt plant, which sits along the Youghiogheny River in Christy Park, is in very sorry shape these days. A few buildings are being used, but most of the plant seems to be falling down. You can see what's left if you walk or bike the new Youghiogheny River Trail. (Not the best side of the McKeesport area to present to tourists, come to think of it.)

On Mon, 3 Mar 2003 Bonnie Bodnar wrote:

One thing about McKeesport is there's wrestling shows run bi-weekly for the NWA-east ... thought you might throw that on the website.

Done. Worth noting. The shows are held at the old Penn Transit bus garage on Walnut Street in Christy Park. Unfortunately, I don't have a phone number or website.

On Mon, 17 Mar 2003, Jason March wrote:

Hey just want to say thanks for the site! I live in Northern VA area outside DC, but come back often to visit my mother in Versailles. Love the restaurant guide. Keep up the great work.

Aw, shucks. We're blushing. One thing we love is fanmail!

On Thu, 20 Mar 2003, Chris McGarry wrote:

I was simply wondering if the old Penn-McKee Hotel was still standing. I remember hearing a few years back that it had been demolished. I lived there for a summer while working at Kennywood Amusement Park almost 20 years ago. I think about it often and wonder if it still exists.

Another former Kennywood employee! The Penn-McKee still stands, but has been empty (mostly) since 1986. (A few storefronts on Fifth Avenue have been rented over the years.) However, it's been damaged by several fires, and a week ago, part of a wall collapsed from water damage. I should add a history of the Penn-McKee to the webpage, come to think of it.