A Trip Down the Streets of Duquesne

Posted on July 24, 2011 by Jim

Well, after a lot of work, I have finished a project that I think you might find enjoyable. Our friend, Jim Hartman, at the Mifflin Township Historical Society, graciously shared a copy of a 1940 Duquesne City Directory that was published by the Duquesne Police Pension Fund. Listed in this publication are over 180 businesses in Duquesne that contributed to the fund and as a result had their business listed. I am certain that there were other beyond the 180 listed who were unable to contribute, so this is by no means a definitive list of ALL businesses in Duquesne, only the ones who paid to advertise.

Now, with that said, I am sure that many of these businesses had closed or were renamed by the time I was born in 1951. However, I recall a surprising number of them. They are listed by name, either of the business or the owner. Although 1940 doesn’t see too long ago, this listing will provide a snapshot of what Duquesne was like over 70 years ago.

I’d be curious to see how many you recall and if any had been renamed in subsequent, what might we better know them as? Have fun check this info out. I was amazed to how many groceries and cafes there were!! I may have miscounted, but it apprears that there were at least 35 food markets of one type or another, 33 bars (aka – cafes).

The last column on the chart indicates what the business was all about, if they happened to put that information in their ad. I find it amusing to see how many cafes claim to have the best beer in town! Who knew?!?!?!

Enjoy this trip down the main streets and side streets of Duquesne in the 40’s!!

Business Name	Street Number	Street	Ad Info
Adler Company	27	W. Grant Ave.	Duquesne’s Complete Men’s Store – George R. Adler, Manager
Agie’s Mobile Service	993	S. Duquesne Ave.	Tires – Radios – Batteries – Washing – Simonizing
American Legion Hall	321	Priscilla Ave
C.W. Allenbrand & Son	51	N. First St.	Morticians – “50 years of Dependable Service”
Angelo Ellas and Jimmie Svetan Restaurant		Milford St	Beer – Wine – Liquor – Open Day and Night
Aristocrat Gardens	802	S. Duquesne Ave.	Dine and Dance Every Tuesday and Friday – No Cover Charge
John Ashoff Restaurant and Café		W. Grant Ave.
Avenue News	107	W. Grant Ave.	Papers, Magazines, Soft Drinks, Candy, Tobacco, Hot Roasted Peanuts and Popcorn
B.K. Service Station	201	N. Second Street	Noble E. Bowers & Lawrence E. Kelly
B.K. Service Station	448	S. Duquesne Ave.	Noble E. Bowers & Lawrence E. Kelly
Milan Babic	117	Overland Ave	Groceries and Meats – United Service Food Store
Milan Babic	102	River Ave.	Groceries and Meats – United Service Food Store
William Bedont – Fire Insurance	909	S. Duquesne Ave.
Bennett’s	18	Aurilles St.	Confections, Tobacco, Ice Cream
Benovitz’s Markets	85	N. First Street	For Better Meats and Groceries at Reasonable Prices
Benovitz’s Markets	1300	Kennedy Ave.	For Better Meats and Groceries at Reasonable Prices
Morris Berger	417	S. First Street	Fancy Fruits – Groceries – Meats
Benovitz Refrigeration Co.	112	W. Grant Ave.	Frigidaires, Magic Chef Stoves, Radios, Washers, Ironers, Sweepers
Benovitz Style Shoppe	106	W. Grant Ave.	First With the Best of the New “Style Without Extravagance”
Better Dairy Stores	704	W. Grant Ave.
Better Dairy Stores	322	S. Second St.
Better Food Market	501	Priscilla Ave	Quality Groceries – John Harapas, Prop.
Daniel Bilan Confectionery	318	S. Second St.
Bires	808	W. Grant Ave.	Battery and Ignition Service – J.W.Bires- Prop. – Bires and Delco Batteries – Seiberling and Pennsylvania Tires
Book Shoe Co.	108	W. Grant Ave.	Foot Wear For All The Family
Bob’s Poultry Market	38	N. First St.	Complete Line of Poultry and Eggs
Bodnar Bros.	305	Patterson Ave.	Fruit and Produce
A. J. Brown Groceries	32	S. Fourth St.
J. Bujdos			Fruits and Produce
Burstin’s Market	218	Hamilton Ave.
Butch’s Wonder Bar	170	Milford St
Bob Campbell Confectionery	2	N. Duquesne Ave
Louis Coltin	204	W. Grant Ave.	Meats – Groceries – Fruits – Butter – Eggs – Cheese
Butler Bros.	818	W. Grant Ave.	Prescriptions – We Call For and Deliver – Night Service – James C Butler, Ph.G – Cyril D. Butler, Ph.G.
Mary Dolores Butler’s Marigold	155	Duquesne Blvd	Kennywood, PA.
I. Coltin	506	W. Grant Ave.	Meats and Groceries
Crawford Billiards Confectionery	909	Crawford Avenue	Joseph Oliver – Soft Drinks
Cray Bros.	603	Walnut Street – McKeesport	Stationery and Complete line of office supplies and equipment
Andrew Danzak Schaming Hotel	322	S. Fourth St.	For the best beer in town
Doreen Dress Shop		Plaza Bldg.	Everything a Lady Wants for Holidays
Drake Benedict Restaurant and Café	331	S. First Street
Duquesne Baking Company	15-17	Superior St.	Quality Bakers – Bakers of Bread, Pies, Rolls, Cakes. Wedding cakes our specialty
Duquesne Building and Supply – J.H.Kampman		Camp & S. Duquesne Ave.	Everything to build anything
Duquesne City Bank		Grant Ave & N. 1st St.
Duquesne Coal Co. – Alfred Fontanesi	1201	S. Duquesne Ave.	Coal Yard at Bridge
Duquesne Dairy Products			Milk-Cream-Buttermilk
Duquesne Motor Service	78-80	N. First St.	Pontiac Sales and Service
Duquesne Transfer – N. Williams	72	N. First St.
Eagle Drug Store	116	W. Grant Ave.	Reliable Drug Store Service
Eagles – Fraternal Order of the Eagles Number 1087	29	N. Duquesne Ave
Edward Fey – Real Estate and Insurance		N. First St.
Elite Restaurant & Bar	844	W. Grant Ave.	We serve the best beer in town – Michelob and Budweiser
Erwin Market-Quality Meats	828	W. Grant Ave.	M. Izydore, Prop. Groceries, Fruits, Produce – Free Delivery
Escovitz Furniture Company			Duquesne’s Oldest Furniture Store – Good Furniture at a Lower Price
Essner Service Station	6	Duquesne Blvd	Kennywood, PA
Farkas Rendezvous Café	2	Hamilton Ave.	Wines-Liquors-Beers
Feldman’s Quality Market	201	S. Fifth St.	Fresh Meats and Groceries – Butter, Eggs and Cheese
Fey’s Restaurant	5	N. Duquesne Ave	It Pays To Eat At Feys
First National Bank		Grant and S.Duquesne Blvd
G.B.U. – German Beneficial Union – District 64	208	S. Fifth St.	A National Organization “As Old As The Hills” Arthur Hilgert, Secretary
Gab’s Service Station	352	S. Duquesne Ave.
Gallagher’s		Grant and Fifth	Prescription Druggist
Goltz’s	69	N. First St.	Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Received Daily
Grant Ave. Hotel		Grant Ave.	Rooms and Board – A. Slavin, Prop.
Gravity Fill Service Stations		S. Duquesne at Patterson – also – Norman St at W. Grant
Green Gables Inn		Duquesne Blvd	You Can Eat, Drink and Be Merry Dining, Dancing, Music – Pete Loncarich, Prop. – Near Kennywood Bridge
Green’s	24	W. Grant Ave.	Reliable Mean’s Wearing Apparel
Gross Bros.	32	Linden Ave	Meats and Groceries
Gypsy Tavern	30	Milford St	Dancing Every Thur. and Sat.
Haller’s “Oven to Home Service”			Brings the Bakery to your Door. The Haller Man comes, you select what pleases you, and you’re sure it’s Fresh, Clean, Tasty, Wholesome – HALLER BAKING CO.
J. Dubyak Bros.	421	Cedar St.	Fancy Fruits and Vegetables
Kooler-Keg – Bill Garvin’s	1	Duquesne Blvd	We serve the best beer in town – Light Lunches – Liquors
Meyer Finkelstein’s – Grand Leader	32	N. First St.	Bargain Center
S. Farkas Restaurant and Café	607	W. Grant Ave.
T.M.C. Club	208	S. Fifth St.
Joseph Gross Garage	55	N. Duquesne Ave	Lighted and Fireproof Bldg. – Car and Truck Storage – Coal – Coke – and General Hauling – Cities Service Gas and Oil
Helmstadter’s Department Store		Fifth and Jerome Blvd. – McKeesport	McKeesport’s Best Store for Values
Hilltop Dairy Store	1309	Kennedy Ave.	Confectionery, Ice Cream, Candy, Sandwiches
Horgas Cafe	23	Patterson Ave.	Joseph Horgas
Hotel-Café Restaurant			Charles Hrebenich
Robert H. Hunt	25	W. Grant Ave.	Maytag Washers – G.E. Hotpoint Refrigerators – RCA and Philco Radios – Duquesne’s Oldest Electrical Dealer
Hirshberg’s Furniture Co.	331	Fifth Ave. McKeesport	We furnish your home complete
Hungarian 1st Self Culture Club	521	W. Grant Ave.	Founded August 21, 1921 – Sick Benefit – $6 weekly – Monthly dues – 50¢
IRON CITY – Lager and Pilsner Beer			Every bottle flavor sealed. Every taste a treat! Pittsburgh Brewing Co., Pittsburgh, PA. Schenley 7400
Ikach Restaurant and Bar	6	Superior St.
Izydore Grocery	26	Linden Ave
Henry Izydore	154	Aurilles St.	Groceries and Meats
Izydore’s Kennedy Market	1311	Kennedy Ave.	Meats and Groceries
John’s Café	13	Patterson Ave.	Beer – Liquor – Lunch
Jones Department Store		Grant and First	Known for Quality and Price
Harry Katz	41	N. First St.	Clothing and Gent’s Furnishings
Kessler’s		Plaza Bldg.	Men’s Wear
Sam Kecman’s Confectionery	107	Superior St.
Dad Kelly’s Place	198	E. Duquesne Ave and Oliver	Meet Me At Dad Kelly’s Place The Store of Satisfied Customers – Open 6 a.m. till 12 midnight
C.Dewain King	17	W. Grant Ave.	Diamonds – Watches – Jewelry Watch, Clock and Jewelry Repairing
Kirschbaum Bros. Jewelers	122	W. Grant Ave.	Elgin, Hamilton, Bulova Watches Philco Radios – Easy Credit
Klein’s	49	Superior St.	Home Made Ice Cream
Efon Kondrat	305	Hamilton Ave.	Quality Meats and Groceries – Live Poultry
Kopriver’s	112	Dell St.	Duquesne’s Only Greenhouses – Duquesne’s Oldest Florist – Flowers for all occasions
Stanley Kondrat		Grant Ave and Fifth	Meat Market and Poultry
Kovac Restaurant and Café	406	S. Second St.
John Kraynak	21	Patterson Ave	Meats and Groceries
Kroeger Printing Company	2	Ross St.	Job Printing – Book Printing – Stationery Printing – Dodgers and Circulars
Laban’s Confectionery	203	S. Fifth St.	Soft Drinks, Candies, Ice Cream, Cigars
Lawrence the Florist	417	Ringgold St. McKeesport
Levine Bros. Hardware	28-30	N. First St.	Duquesne’s Busiest Store – House Furnishings, Electrical Supplies, Plumbing Supplies, Building Hardware, Plate Glass, Paints, Furnace, and Roofing
Biggie Linn Restaurant and Café			We Cater to Parties
Steve Legin Restaurant and Café	700	S. Duquesne Ave.
J.L. Lips	31	W. Grant Ave.	For your next pair of shoes
Long’s Confectionery		Kennedy and Peter Streets	Ice Cream, Candy, Tobacco
P.J. Long	214	W. Grant Ave.	Real Estate and Insurance
Maloy Funeral Service	616	W. Grant Ave.	Leo A. Maloy
B.J. Maloy		Fifth and Priscilla	Groceries and Confectionery
Benny Markowitz	39	Patterson Ave.	Meats and Groceries
Marcovsky Linden Grill	44	Linden Ave
The Daily News		Jerome Blvd at Walnut Street – McKeesport	It’s more than a newspaper, it’s a community institution
Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.	1730	Highland Ave.	Ivor Richards – Duquesne Representative
Mervos Pharmacy	98	N. First St.	Precriptions a Specialty
Milford Hardware and Plumbing	68	Milford St	Registered Plumber
Miller Supply Co.	301	E. Duquesne Ave	Dealers in Building Supplies – Ready Mixed Concrete – Sand – Gravel – Lime – Universal and Crescent Cement
Miller’s Army and Navy	126	W. Grant Ave.	Everything for the workingman
Milford Beer Garden	108	Milford St	Dine and Dance at Evon’s – Beer, Whiskey – Dancing every Wednesday and Sat. Night
Miller’s Confectionery	126	Aurilles St.	Lunches and Magazines
Milton’s Shoe Store (later became Karen’s Shoe Store)		S. First Street	Next to Plaza Theatre – Buster Brown Shoes for Boys and Girls – Air-Step, Fashion Built and other Famous Makes – Robiee-Freeman and Brown Bilt Shoes for women – Open every evening
Loyal Order of Moose	509 W. Grant Ave. Duquesne Lodge Number 75 Leo A. Maloy – Governor, George Gruber – Jr. Governor, Gregor Manns – Prelate, Frank L Nau – Secretary, Charles Mewherter – Treasurer, Wib C. Schorr – Sgt. Of Arms, Theodore Laaks – Trustee, Edward Schorr – Trustee, Lawrence Bickar – Trustee “GOD BLESS MOOSEHEART”
Ector Morini Groceries and Meats	907	S.Duquesne Ave	United Service Food Store
G.C.Murphy Co.		S. Grant Ave.	5 & 10 cent store – with merchandise up to $2 – Open every night till 9 to serve you better
Edward Muska Merchant Tailor	436	S.Duquesne Ave	Suits $27 up – Cleaning, Pressing, Repairing – All work Guaranteed – Dependable Service
Nathenson Bros.	515	W. Grant Ave.	The Complete Food Market
National Beer Garden and Lunch Room	100	Milford St	Mike Novosel, Prop. – Liquor, Beer, Wine, Lunch
Nehi Par-T-Pak and R.C. Cola		McKeesport
Victor Brewing Company		Jeanette, Pa	Drink Old Shay Pilsner – Brewed with Mountain Spring Water
Novotny Market	703	Priscilla Ave	Meats and Groceries
Jacob Olson	136	S. Fifth St.	Staple and Fancy Groceries – Imported Goods a Specialty
Duquesne Service Station		S.Duquesne Ave at McKee St.	Pennzip Gas and Pennzoil
Oskin’s Service Station	1	Hamilton Ave.	Atlantic Gas – Oil, Lubricants – Accessories – Tires, Tubes, Batteries
Leo Panko	16	Milford St	Best Beer in Town
Paule’s Lookout		Skyline Drive	Dine and Dance – Mon Valley Skyline Drive – New Dukane & Dravosburg Road – See McKeesport from the Sky
W.A. (Jaggers) Peckman Confectionery	49	N. Duquesne Ave
Palchak’s Drug Store		Commonwealth and Duquesne Blvd.	Your Neighborhood Druggist
Penn Clothing Company		Seconds and Grant	Clothing for the Entire Family – Men’s and Women’s Clothing on Easy Credit Terms – The Store of Easy Credit
Perla Café	507	Priscilla Ave	Best Beer in Town – Kooler Keg System
Charles Petraitis – Wholesale Distributor	611	W. Grant Ave.	Just call for your favorite Beer – We have it!
Pirl’s Filling Station		Kennedy and Aurilles Sts.	For Year Round Happy Motoring – Buy at your ESSO sign
Andrew Pirhalla Confectionery	135	S.First St.
Polatas Restaurant & Bar	408	S. Second St.
Prince Humbert Club	939	S.Duquesne Ave.	Call Jas. Ardiana
Prudential Insurance Co.	Richard Wilkins – 8 Commonwealth, Karl Budinger – 121 Peter Street, Jacob L. Bach – 1110 W. Grant Ave, Thomas J. Snyder – 318 S. Fourth Street, Andrew J Gontkon – 16 Seward Street, John M Spada – 1504 Highland Avenue, Wade S, Mentzer – 4 Thomas Street, Ella Majerchik – 1109 Maryland Avenue
Charles F. Raible	220	W. Grant Ave.	Plumbing & Heating
Frank F. Revak – Funeral Director	44	Milford St
Rosenzweig & Gross Furniture	48-50	N. First Street	Furniture to meet all needs – Complete Home Outfitters – Credit Terms to Meet Your Pocketbook
Rosenzweig & Gross Furniture	59-61	N. Duquesne Ave	Furniture to meet all needs – Complete Home Outfitters – Credit Terms to Meet Your Pocketbook
Roger’s Restaurant	58	Linden Ave
Rusky Store	327	S. Second St.	Groceries & Meats – Home Made Bacon, Kolbassie
Royal Mfg. Co. of Duquesne	Manufacturers of Staple and Non-secret drug packages, Specialties, Proprietary Remedies, and Private Brands – Successors of Saxon Laboratories – Factories in Duquesne, Pa., Brooklyn, N.Y., Chicago, Ill., Kansas City, Mo.
Harry J Saltzer Funeral Home	12	South Fourth St.	“Complete Auto Service” (an obvious typo in the ad, but I thought it was a hoot!)
Sanderson Market	525	W. Grant Ave.
A.A. Schanz	1314	Crawford Street	Groceries – Meats and Confectionery
Dr. Max Schmidt – Optometrist	35	N. First Street
Serbian Progressive Club
Serfozo Restaurant	1212	Crawford Street	Beer – Liquor – Wine
Shrager’s Quality Market	301	S. First Street
Shaughnessy Funeral Home	9	N. Duquesne Ave	M.J.Shaughnessy – Funeral Director
Silberman’s Café and Restaurant		Evans Ave. – McKeesport	Where the Duquesne Folks Meet
G. Sirianni Restaurant and Café	6	S. Duquesne Ave.	Dine and Dance
Skyline Grill	1313	Kennedy Ave.	Wine – Whiskey – Beer – Lunches – Waltman’s
Soboslay Restaurant and Café	853	S. Duquesne Ave.
Soffer Motor Sales	104	S. Duquesne Ave.	“If you want a recommendation for Studebaker, ask the police” – New and Used Cars – Towing – Harry Soffer, Mgr.
Soffer’s Market	418	Crawford Avenue	Vegetables, Produce, Meats and Groceries – Joseph Soffer, Prop.
Expert Shoe Repairing	514	W. Grant Ave.	Mike Soltesz, Prop.
Standard Market	36	Milford St	Quality Meats and Groceries
Paul Stofesky Café	329	S. Second St.
Staisey’s City Hotel	We Cater to Parties and Banquets. “When Better Drinks Are Made, Staisey Has Them”
Superior Market	42	Superior St.	M. Anastas, Prop.
Stone Hardware	109	W. Grant Ave.	“In Duquesne It’s Stone for Hardware”
Mike Sucevic Restaurant and Café	10	Hamilton Ave.	We Cater To Private Parties
Stoney’s	Drink Stoney’s – Americas Best Beer – Na-zdrowje – Made with Mountain Spring Water – Jones Brewing Company – Smithton, Pa
Suzich Restaurant and Café		Superior and River
Tanous Arcade Bowling Alley	22	S. Duquesne Ave.	6 Regulation Alleys – 3 Pool Tables

This entry was posted in Duquesne Buildings, Duquesne History, Stores and Businesses. Bookmark the permalink.

73 Responses to A Trip Down the Streets of Duquesne

Rachel Vallone Majcher says:

April 24, 2021 at 11:41 am

Hi! My great grandfather was Salem Tannous and he had a dry goods store. The family lived in the Hill District but his store was in Duquesne – this would be 1920s-1940s. I see on the list that there was a Tanous bowling alley. I’ve not heard any stories from home about this, but I would love to know if anyone has any information on my great grandfather and his business. Thank you!

Reply
Estelle Escovitz Cherin says:

October 4, 2020 at 4:00 pm

I was born Estelle Escovitz, named after my paternal grandmother who was married to Henry Escovitz. Henry and my father Joel (Jerry) owned Duquense Reality and the MC Young Insurance Agency. Their office was on First Street and then moved to 907 Duquesne Blvd. My grandfather Henry also worked at the Union National bank and had interest in a jewelry store – I can’t remember the name.

The Escovitz brothers were Henry, Morris, Jacob and William (Willy). Willy became a doctor and moved to Seal Beach, CA.

My Aunt Betty and Morris Escovitz owned Escovitz Furniture. Another Escovitz brother named Jacob (Jack) also had a furniture store in Duquense.

My family was related to Morris and Jenny Benovitz that owned the Refrigeration Store and Market.

My mother’s cousin married Rita Soffer.

Duquense was a wonderful close knit community with lots of opportunities and very hard working folks and entrepreneurs!

Reply
Frank Mullern says:

April 6, 2020 at 11:00 am

Does anybody have an opinion, which they’d like to share, about the movie, “The Deer Hunter,” as it related to life in those days within the culture and society as presented in the movie, focused as it was on part of the overall hometown area?

Reply
- voytkova says:
  
  July 22, 2020 at 5:43 pm
  
  OK, I’ll chime in here. I love that movie, very realistic, in my opinion. My cousins from Polish Hill (Duquesne) were hunters and would come to their house after hunting in the mountains, wherever that was, with their rifles and dead deer. I remember the smells. And, of course, the bars/beer joints we called them. The mill hunks, sure, my dad and uncle were of that ilk. Work in the mill, get drunk a lot, go hunting for game or women. Then go to church for a repentance of sorts, well, maybe. The Orthodox Church with their weddings. Some relatives were Russian. The bilingual relatives with their Eastern European accents. I even spoke Slovak as a young kid. And Viet Nam and its horrors and casualties. I relate 100%.
  
  As a sociology major at Pitt, I did a study of the number of beer joints and churches in Duquesne and the people who attended both, and my speculation about the reasons.
  
  Reply
Fred Delp says:

September 27, 2016 at 11:55 pm

Don Madak, If you graduated from D.H.S. in 1960, you probably knew Bill Kusleika – graduated same year. I am from West Virginia and married his younger sister, Susan (D.H.S 1964). The Kusleikas lived on Lincoln Avenue, Used to go to the GBU with their father occasionally.

Reply
Mary-Stella Markides says:

March 9, 2016 at 6:33 pm

Jim,

I have enjoyed reading this blog, but, I read someone noted that Duquesne had a Greek Orthodox Church on Kennedy. Actually, this was a Byzantine Catholic or
Greek Catholic Church which uses the same rite as the Greek Orthodox Church,
but, recognizes the pope as the head of their church which the Greek Orthodox
Church does not. The Greek Orthodox Church was in Mckeesport and then a new church was built in White Oak. Duquesne did have a Russian Orthodox
Church on Kennedy Avenue and I think their graveyard was in the movie THE
DEER HUNTER.

Reply
- Bill Cheke says:
  
  June 23, 2018 at 11:16 pm
  
  The graveyard they used in the Deer Hunter was on Center Street.It was a set built by the movie co.
  
  Reply
Dawna Martich says:

August 1, 2015 at 11:38 am

You are forgetting Danny’s Cafe at 1313 Kennedy Avenue that was in business since 1960 until the mid 1980s. My parent’s owned that business.

Reply
harry bennett III says:

March 7, 2015 at 5:20 am

my grandfather lived in duquesne and i think he owned a pool room/candy store in the ’40’s.his name was harry bennett.know of him. my dad,also harry, graduated from duq. h.s.

Reply
Mike says:

June 11, 2014 at 12:49 pm

In 1960 I was hitch hiking home from Fort Dix New Jersey, wearing my Army uniform. Two older men picked me up on Rt 30 and said they would take me home, but first they had to stop at a bar on Grant Ave. it was 3 am. Having nothing better to do, I accepted. I remember the bar being on the south side of Grant Ave. I don’t remember which block. I’m not going to give the name of the bar, except it was a family name.
We walked up to the bar which appeared closed, and one of the men knocked on the door three times. A peephole opened and words were exchanged. The door was opened and we walked into a full blown gambling casino. The pool table was modified for craps and they had a roulette wheel. It was like walking into another world. After that, I was driven to my door in the Riverview project in Duquesne Annex. It’s a nice memory. Mike Bilcsik, class of 59.

Reply
Tony Grandi says:

October 7, 2013 at 5:05 pm

I grew up in Duquesne from 1929 until 1956 when I got married, graduated from Univ. of Pitt and moved to Maryland and worked on the design of the first color television in N.Y. Living below the tracks in Duquesne in the 40’s was quite an experience since there were young boy gangs below the tracks and they would run up to first street and rob all the stores an run down to the vacant brewery below the tracks and divide the robberies. Then the police would chase them out and they would run a mile up to first and second street.
What a way to grow up at a young age but it was great times to remember

Reply
Tony Grandi says:

September 23, 2013 at 5:05 am

Tony says:
I grew up in Duquesne in the 1930’s. I went to Holy Name Grade and the Edison Junior High and then graduated from Duquesne High School in1947. Then I went to the Univ. of Pittsburgh. I spent about 6 years working at Kennywood Park and became a general manager of all of the refreshment stands. Graduated from the Univ. Of Pittsburgh and got married and moved to Baltimore and went to work with NASA in Greenbelt Md. I now live north of Baltimore’

Reply
Hiyyavrom says:

August 9, 2013 at 6:59 am

I stayed in Duquesne 3 days in Sep 1966 with a family that I later became very close to. I’ll never forget my first night there. I was in bed and just drowsing off when suddenly there was a roar and rumbling. Then the black sky suddenly turned fiery red. It was awesome. I thought, “the Reds have dropped the bomb on Pittsburgh!” Yeah, I got the straight scoop the next AM. The next few days I met some of the finest people I’d ever meet, and experienced a very, very fine town. Fifty years (or so) later and old brain hasn’t yet deleted those memories, or stored them in “the cloud”. This is a terrific blog of a terrific community. Support it!

Reply
kim says:

April 26, 2013 at 10:56 am

Does anyone remember Sam and Helen Markides of Sam’s Tailor Shop on Grant Ave?? They were the previous owners before my parents took over in the 1980’s.. Ive been trying to find out what year they opened the business.. but not quite sure what year.

Reply
- charliesimeral says:
  
  August 12, 2013 at 2:15 pm
  
  Knew them. My dad had a store on meadow street. I know their son Jim.
  
  Reply
  - Jill Price says:
    
    October 28, 2018 at 4:26 am
    
    Hi. Do you remember the bar on the corner of Meadow and Hamilton? If so, was it called Toomy’s? My great uncle “Toomy” Thomas (Tamas) owned it. Also, does anyone know who owned “Elsie’s” on Grant Avenue? Thank you!
- Jack Schalk says:
  
  June 16, 2014 at 8:54 am
  
  Sam Markides was a wonderful man. He would do the ironing in the front store window and had never known him to miss the opportunity to wave at people as they went by.
  I don’t know what year he started but my earliest rememberance is from approx. 1944 or so.
  
  Reply
- Jim Markides says:
  
  November 1, 2015 at 7:55 am
  
  Sam and Helen Markides were my parents. I don’t know what year the business started, but I would say it was in the 1930’s.
  
  Reply
  - Kim says:
    
    November 13, 2015 at 9:54 pm
    
    Hi Jim,
    How are you? You may or not remember me but I’m Kim, Lan’s daughter. How is Mary Stella? I haven’t spoke to her in a long time? Also I did some research and I’m pretty sure the shop was opened in 1935.
  - Jim Markides says:
    
    November 14, 2015 at 6:38 am
    
    Mary-Stella is fine. Still in Chillicothe, Ohio. We have been in South Carolina since 1983. I am still working – having too much fun to fully retire from our jewelry store. My dad couldn’t make me a tailor, but I am working with my hands on silver and gold instead of cloth. I am glad you were able to find out more information about when my dad started his shop. When I was a kid I would look at his books back into the thirties and see all the daily entries he kept, adding up all the sales by hand! Stay in touch!
- Mary-Stella Markides says:
  
  March 9, 2016 at 5:51 pm
  
  Kim,
  
  Hi. This is Mary-Stella Markides. I retired from teaching and I stayed here in Chillicothe, Ohio.
  
  As I remember, the story of my parents in the 522 West Grant Avenue store, it was the third tailor shop in Duquesne in which Dad had worked. The first was on Grant Avenue near Elsie’s News. Dad and his brother A. D. Markides (everyone called him “Tom”), started this store together. My parents married and Dad soon left the business. He worked at the mill until a man offered him a store either on or near the corner of Grant Avenue and Fifth Street. The man knew Dad did not have rent money, but, he said that he knew Dad would pay him rent as soon as he could. Remember that a man’s word and a handshake were all that honorable men needed then. Dad later bought the store at 522 West Grant because it was larger. He also either added or remodeled the apartment upstairs. I do not know the name of the man who rented Dad his first store without his older brother, but, when Dad sold the store to your parents, he felt that he was “paying foward” the kindness that was done for him. Sam and Helen loved your parents and you children very much and appreciated the kindness and respect with which all of you treated them.
  
  In these times of distrust of immigrants,
  I think it is important to note the determination and success of two very
  different immigrant families, both of which are examples of what made this
  county great. Duquesne had a rich diversity of people who often did little
  and big things for others that only the
  family members knew. The stories in this blog could have happened in so many other towns in the U.S. Keep the
  stories coming and, perhaps, others will
  read and learn more about our little town.
  
  Reply
Donald Dubyak says:

December 29, 2012 at 1:08 pm

Does anyone remember my late father? He’s Joe Dubyak from J Dubyak and bros. He was a huckster before ww2. They lived at 421 cedar St. I was only 3 when we moved from 848 state St. to Irwin. That was 1959. I vaguely remember going to helmezzys store. I was very young. Dad passed in 2008. He was 91. The best dad anyone could hope for.

Reply
- Lou A. says:
  
  December 29, 2012 at 3:56 pm
  
  Don, sorry I don’t remember you; in 59, I was only eight. Helmeczi’s was my second home; I grew up at 910 Maryland directly behind Steve Farkas’ tavern on the corner of Crawford and Collier Alley. Steve’s daughter gave me their glider from their back porch 30 years ago; reupholstered and repainted, it’s on my back porch right now. Poor Steve is probably rolling in his grave because of the several drug related shootings and a murder in his old watering hole… but those WERE the DAYS.
  
  Reply
  - Donald Dubyak says:
    
    December 30, 2012 at 2:41 am
    
    I still come to Duquesne for work. I’m in the insurance business. I work with medicare beneficiaries. I often wonder about my dad Joe Dubyak and his huckster brothers. I have a picture of dad standing next to his J DUBYAK BROS truck. Let me know how I can forward a copy. I’m guessing 1940.
- John (Jack) Berta says:
  
  January 3, 2013 at 2:30 pm
  
  Donald,
  I do remember the Dubyak family name. There are a lot of names I remember from my childhood (’44 to ’62) in Duquesne that have a familiar ring to them. Unfortunately, I can’t recall anything about them. He huckstered before my time. Just out of curiosity if you don’t mind, why did your family move to Irwin?
  
  Reply
  - Donald Dubyak says:
    
    January 3, 2013 at 8:51 pm
    
    The house on State St. was too small for 6 people. It’s actually North Huntingtdon. It was spacious in 1959. Now it’s like Monroeville. I think dad liked the rural environment. Just a guess. I was only 3 years old.
cheryl wilson says:

September 17, 2012 at 12:53 am

What a great fine. I also grew up on Norman Street, until my dad came back from WWII and then
we moved to South Seventh. What great memories, walking to the football games and Kennywood
and of course going “downtown” first street on a Saturday morning.
It is a sad sad day that the children of today do not have these memories.My Dad will be 99 (9/17/2012} and to this day remembers some of these stores and who owned
them, we were just talking the other day about lower Grant Avenue. He also can still tell you
who lived on what street and things that happened in town when he was growing up.
Thanks again
Cheryl

Reply
- michael voron says:
  
  December 24, 2012 at 8:48 pm
  
  cheryl, ask your Father if he knows of an area called across the tracks at terminus of
  South Grant Street. May have been Mill Street??? Did he know any of the residents?
  
  Reply
Bruce Gavlik says:

April 16, 2012 at 10:18 am

Word has it that my late Uncle Ken Matta (from the Mckeesport Matta family) was on R&R during WW2 and stoped into the Green Gables Inn on Duquesne Blvd. one night. There was an all girls band performing and the girl playing Bari-Sax caught his eye. And soon my Aunt Bernice became his wife. A great true story to add to the “Duquesne Hunky”.

Reply
Jerry Meskanick says:

August 17, 2011 at 2:00 pm

Mike,

I can’t believe 50 years since high school. I’m starting to feel old.

Jerry Meskanick

Reply
Judith Fleehr says:

August 14, 2011 at 2:08 am

I grew up in Duquesne and have some very fond memories of my life there. I moved away in 1971 around my 21st birthday. I remember getting my hair done for the proms and high school dances at a beauty shop on Grant . I beleive it was called Dolly’s? I remember the library and spending many evenings there doing homework. The librarians name was Miss Gross if I remember correctly. Do they still have the park at the corner of Grant and Second? And the war memorial next to the high school? I haven’t been that way in about 20 years. The house I grew up in was torn down. It was just below Second on Whtfield and a block over from Library Place. The first movie I saw at the theater was “The Invisible Man” with Pa and my older sister and my twin brother. Duquesne was something in its day. Too bad that it changed over the years. I’m sorry that the young people there today will never have those great memories of such a wonderful small town.

Reply
Jerry Meskanick says:

August 13, 2011 at 3:18 pm

Bob,

Looks like it makes sense. My brother’s name “Jack” was used by the family, friends knew him as Johnny. My dad’s name is John.

Have a great day.

Jerry Meskanick

Reply
Jerry Meskanick says:

August 10, 2011 at 4:05 pm

Michael,

I graduated in 1962.

Jerry Meskanick

Reply
- Bob Chermonitz says:
  
  August 12, 2011 at 5:21 pm
  
  Well, Jerry I guess, if you graduated in ’62 and me in ’69, we somehow got our wires crossed. It wasn’t your Dad I knew, it must have been your brother, Jack. That is if you are the Meskanick’s from Overland Ave in Duquesne Place. Anyway, sorry about the mix -up.
  
  Reply
- Michael Bashista says:
  
  August 15, 2011 at 11:46 pm
  
  I was pretty sure that was you. It has been many years since I saw you. Hopefully when we have our 50th reunion next year we can all get together.
  
  Reply
- Carl Rumble says:
  
  January 11, 2012 at 1:41 pm
  
  Jerry, What school did you graduate from ? I graduated in 62 but don’t remember you. DHS.
  
  Reply
  - Jerry Meskanick says:
    
    January 12, 2012 at 5:25 pm
    
    Hi Carl Rumble,
    
    I remember your name. I went to Duquesne High School and graduated in 1962.
    
    Jerry Meskanick
- Tom Lane says:
  
  January 11, 2012 at 5:39 pm
  
  I remember you jerry. YOu were tall a very thin as I remember. A quiet guy like me. tom lane
  
  Reply
  - Ed Flanagan says:
    
    January 14, 2012 at 11:47 am
    
    Tom, we used to play ball at Polish Hill. You were good friends with Hoppy Voytko (sp). Do you remember me? Ed Flanagan. I mostly hung around with Charlie Oeler and Ken Weber.
  - Ed Flanagan says:
    
    January 14, 2012 at 3:23 pm
    
    Hoppy Young not Voytko! By the way, my niece lives in Columbus, In. There name is Sasena. Otter Creek is a great Golf Course, have played there a couple times.
  - Tom Lane says:
    
    January 16, 2012 at 9:17 am
    
    Hey Ed, I remember you very well. Wasn’t your nickname “flukes”? My cousin Bob, “hoppy” young just moved back to the Pittsburgh area this past summer from Florida. I have been here in Columbus for about 30 years. Played Otter Creek a few times also. Where do you live now? What happened to Charlie and Ken? I remember them also. Charlie was my paper boy for years. Do you ever get out here to visit your neice? tom
Jerry Meskanick says:

August 10, 2011 at 8:52 am

Hi Bob Chermonitz,

In regards to the relationship to Johnny Meskanick, I am John’s eldest son Jerry, I have a sister Sandy and a brother Jack. I do not recognize the Chermonitz name. Where did you live in Duquesne and how did you know my father?

Have a great day,

Jerry Meskanick

Reply
- Bob Chermonitz says:
  
  August 10, 2011 at 5:25 pm
  
  Hi Jerry, I grew up in Duquesne Place where I met you father. We were not “best buds” but hung around with all the kids in the area. Your father was a year or two older than me. I do remember that he had a basketball hoop on a street light pole and we kids woulds play for hours out on the street by his house. At least until our dad’s called us in after the street lights came on.
  
  Reply
Jerry Meskanick says:

August 3, 2011 at 9:39 am

Hi, A fellow gave me a beer bottle today identified as Eagle Brewery, Duquesne, Pa. Do you or any of your contacts know anything about this Company? My family immigrated from Slovakia to Duquesne circa 1890.

Thanks for your help,

Jerry Meskanick

Reply
- Bob Chermonitz says:
  
  August 9, 2011 at 5:11 pm
  
  No info from me about the Eagle beer, however, I was friends with a Johnny Meskanick who lived on Overland Avenue in Duquesne Place next to Babic’s Grocery. Any relation? This would have been in the 50’s and 60’s.
  
  Reply
- Michael Bashista says:
  
  August 10, 2011 at 2:34 pm
  
  Jerry, when did you graduate?? 1962?
  
  Reply
Vickie Brady Little says:

July 28, 2011 at 8:22 pm

Green Gables was a great place, i started doing dishes there at a young age I couldnt wait until i was old enough to actually work as a waitress, unfortunately when i reached that age that was the year they decided to close down. I have very good memories of that place,I can remember certain nationality days they would get jammed pack because they sold lamb. Mary, Art and Rich Longcaric were very well liked by many they were very nice people. I know of one waitress that worked out there that is still living, her name was Rose. This and many many more memories are what I have of the area. i am glad I found this blog because I too enjoy reading what others have to tell about the area. keep up the good work

Reply
- donna says:
  
  January 8, 2012 at 11:36 am
  
  can you tell me what years Green Gables was open?
  remember going there for lamb but can’t remember how old I might have been.
  
  Reply
- Kim Elder says:
  
  March 28, 2013 at 3:04 pm
  
  I am Norma Dain’s daughter, She was a waitress at Green Gables. I grew up in the back with Pete Longcaric telling me stories of Croatia. We were all Croatian. My grandfather was, Wally Mitchell. He owned a bar on Hamilton Avenue. I loved getting Lamb from Green Gables on Croatian and Serbian day. I dated Marty Soltis through high school and worked at Kennywood. Such fond memories of Dusquene.
  
  Reply
  - Jim says:
    
    March 28, 2013 at 3:09 pm
    
    Kim, by any chance, do you remember my Uncle Joe (Puskaric)? He stayed at Green Gables for as long as I remembered. Any recollections?
  - vickie brady reese says:
    
    March 28, 2013 at 5:11 pm
    
    I too worked at Green gables I did dishes and my brother stacked empty beer bottles that they threw down the chute. Ms Rose use to work there when I was there cant think of any other names off the top of my head,. I also knew Wally Mitchell I lived across the street about 5 doors up from the bar, on the 3rd stree side up from the Basics store
    Terri and I grew up together.
  - Vickie brady says:
    
    August 3, 2015 at 10:01 pm
    
    Kim, I knew of Wally Mitchell his bar was on the corner of Hamilton and North 3rd St I was friends with his daughter Teri. I. Think I remember Norma although it’s been many years
  - Victoria A Reese says:
    
    April 6, 2020 at 10:45 pm
    
    I remember Norma from Green Gables and I knew wally Mitchell. We lived about 3 houses up on the opposite side of the street from the bar The bar sat on the corner of hamilton ave and north 3rd st I grew up with wally’s daughter Terry
Bob Chermonitz says:

July 28, 2011 at 7:02 pm

I’m on a roll! Sorry. Green Gables sat at the Kennywood end of the Kennywood bridge right where McDonald’s is today. It was a huge building, 2 stories tall as I recall. The doors were always wide open in the summer (those the days before everything was airconditioned) and we kids always peeked in. It is true that many a picnic at Kennywood was probably ruined because the men would sneak away from the picnic pavilons to seek refreshment at Green Gables. It was, to a kid, kinda frightening (not sure why). If you walked across the bridge to Kennywood there was an 8ft fence with some very mean dogs that came out of nowhere to scare the daylights out of you. They lived behind the Green Gables. Although, to the men inside, I’m sure it was an oasis.

Reply
- Jim says:
  
  July 28, 2011 at 7:21 pm
  
  Bob, my Uncle Joe (Puskaric) worked and lived at the bar. He did all of the maintenance for the Loncaric’s (sp?) They were very good to him. I believe he was responsible for the dogs as well. When ever he visited our home on Thomas Street, he would have another story about how his “puppies” scared the crap of some kid or some “well lit” customer! I think he might have been the cause of some therapist sessions for some people in later life! LOL
  
  Reply
  - Bob Chermonitz says:
    
    July 28, 2011 at 10:46 pm
    
    I’m calling a therapist now! 🙂
Bob Chermonitz says:

July 28, 2011 at 6:49 pm

Palchak’s Drug store sat on Duquesne Blvd at the corner of Commonwealth Ave. across from Balough’s Mobil gas station. Today it IS a gas station. Mr. Palchak was like the neighborhood doctor. People would drag their kids there for him to “take a look at”. He was one of the most respected citizens of Duquesne, and lived on Richford St. He also let people buy on the “tick”, credit by today’s verbage. Mom would send me to get a 6 pack of Pepsi, a pack of cigaettes, a half-gallon of milk, and the Daily News (on my Huffy bike) and tell Mr. Palchak to put it on the “tick”. Come payday you stood in line behind everyone else to pay your “tick”. Interestingly enough, before my time, Palchak also had a bar on this site. My grandfather, Doc Green, would tend bar there and men would come in for a drink and to have him tie their bowtie for them, as he had a reputation for being the best bowtie tier (sp?) in town! 🙂

Reply
Bob Chermonitz says:

July 28, 2011 at 6:35 pm

Jim, you’ve done it again. Things I almost forgot! Duquesne Place had two stores plus Palchek’s drug store (as I recall). Babics was on the bend of Overland Ave, in a building which had apartments above it. Mrs. McConnel (sp?) the head cook at Holy Name lived above it with her husband and son, Larry. This little grocery/butcher served our neighborhood for years. My mom would send me there on errands and allow me to keep all the pennies I received in change. I got in trouble one time when I asked for ten cents in pennies, and they gave it to me! Lesson learned. The other little store was on Overland Ave, also, and was called “Mary’s”, run by Mary Baliban who was Mike Balaban’s (of our class @ HNS) aunt. She sold penny candy, mission pop, and little things like milk and detergents. Oh, the Babics had two sons that I know of, both older than me. The younger was named Walter. At one time he had a Cobra sportscar and would race all over Duquesne Place with it. How cool was that? He hung out with my cousin, Tommy Karch.

Reply
Paula Smith says:

July 26, 2011 at 2:49 pm

I remember so many of these places. Wasn’t there a movie theater near Karen’s Shoe Store? And does anyone remember that x-ray machine they used to size your feet? I was constantly putting my feet in that thing. Was that a real x-ray machine? And there was a Salkovitz (sp?) Dress Shop that my mother used to visit now and then. What a place – jammed packed with dresses.

Reply
- Jim says:
  
  July 26, 2011 at 3:23 pm
  
  Paula, next to Karen’s Shoe Store was the Plaza Theater. I remember the Shoe-fitting fluoroscope that they had and the big model of Buster Brown and his dog. This dog was an American Pit Bull Terrier named Tige. Did you also know that Buster Brown had a little sister named “Mary Jane?” I think one or the other of them had a child in later life named Imelda Marco! (Just kidding!)
  
  Reply
  - Dennis Arvay says:
    
    August 5, 2011 at 9:03 pm
    
    I saw my very first movie at the Plaza Theater. My older brother took me to see Forbidden Planet when it first came out….with Robby the Robot! It came out in 1956.
    
    http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi463995161/
Darlene Sadlo says:

July 25, 2011 at 4:16 pm

Hello Jim, congratulations on your project which I found very interesting to read. My cousins and I grew up around there…in the 40’s and 50’s. We are now looking back at our ancestry, of the John Thomas and Barbara Sakos Thomas family going back to 1906. We’ve found them listed in the Census reports and ship’s manifests etc. We are now trying to find out what happened to our grandparents’ siblings. How would you go about finding families who lived in Duquesne during certain years? Are directories kept anywhere?
Thanks for any help,
Darlene Sadlo

Reply
- Jim says:
  
  July 25, 2011 at 6:28 pm
  
  Darlene,
  I think your best place to start is the Mifflin Town SHip Historical Society. Jim Hartman is a wealth of knowledge and should be able to direct you to the proper resources. Another good resourse is Ancestry.com, but it is fee based. Good luck in your search.
  Jim
  
  Reply
Jack schalk says:

July 25, 2011 at 2:39 pm

I won’t add any new ones at this point but I have a few comments on those listed.

The GBU was managed by Vince Keiffer for a number of years. He was the body man for my dad till our business closed. What a great guy!

Duquesne Auto Service moved nearer to Kennywood and sold pontiacs. The owners name was George Schrift and he had a Chris Craft boat on Conneaut Lake. My family was invited to their home and cottage. I enjoyed the Christmas dinner at their house as I was able to be the engineer on a two train layout under the tree.

I met my future wife while working at Izydores. She was a daughter of a customer and I was stock guy and deivery person but it would take some years for our paths to cross again.

Raible Plumbing was owned by Charlie Raible and he had the most beautiful red 35 Ford pickup I ever saw. I always wanted to buy that truck but he passed away before I was able to do it.

Does anyone know if Ikach’s Market was related to a hotel of the same name? I went thru DHS with George Ikach who was a great guy and comedian but I heard he had an untimely end.

Reply
Don Madak says:

July 25, 2011 at 2:22 pm

Great memories ! I grew up on 5th street and my Mom bought groceries at Soffer’s on Crawford Ave. Every purchase was put on a tab, and you paid the bill at the end of the month.My aunt Mary worked at Royal Mfg. I moved to Skyline Dr. in West Mifflin when I was in the 7th grade, ( About 4 blocks from Paule’s Lookout, going toward Duq.) One of the many jobs I had growing up included Butler’s Drug Store ( across from St. Joseph’s ) while in H.S. ( DHS class of 1960 ) A small world – David Butler, the surviving son, is my attorney here in Marietta, Ga !

Reply
- Jack Schalk says:
  
  November 2, 2012 at 10:33 am
  
  Do you know anything about a Jim Butler who was also a son of the owner?
  He and I went to school at St. Josephs.
  
  Reply
  - Ken Denne says:
    
    January 13, 2013 at 8:50 pm
    
    Jack,
    Jim relocated to Calif. not sure if he’s living
  - Jack Schalk says:
    
    January 14, 2013 at 8:41 am
    
    Thanks for the update on Jimmy Butler, Ken.
    He and I hung out for a while. I can remember a pony they bought for a prize give away at the drugstore. It lived in their garage till the drawing. That thing was a biting fool. I never put an entry into that drawing. Someone won a very dubious prize.
Vickie Brady Little says:

July 24, 2011 at 10:01 pm

I can remember a mom and pop store called Basics and next to them was a plumbing store on the corner of Hamilton ave and North 3rd street when i was growing up there,. and then there was Leskos down by second street and hamilton ave oh yea then there was a bar with apartment buildings above it on the other corner of north 3rd and Hamilton ave. These are also some of the businesses i remember in Duquesne. I see there was a few from Mckeesport and West Mifflin mentioned but i don’t recall seeing Jim’s Hot dog stand on Pennsylvania ave in West Mifflin but of course these businesses maybe didn’t advertise so that is why they may not be on the list

Reply
- Jim says:
  
  July 24, 2011 at 11:26 pm
  
  Vickie,
  You’re correct. There are a number that are not on the list. I guess they didn’t have the ad budget! LOL
  Jim
  
  Reply
  - Mike says:
    
    January 13, 2013 at 2:52 pm
    
    I’m am honored to say that I have stumbled acrossed this awesome blog site! My grandmother and my grandfather are from Duquesne! I graduated from from West Mifflin in 2005 and love everything from the MON-VALLEY!! I have extensive roots all through the river towns and I’m currently going to school for education.. My goal is to enrich student knowledge about the valley’s past.
    
    My grandparents names are Delores Dubois and my (late) grandfather was a standout basketball player named Louis Dubois. My grandfather used to take me down by the clock, Galleghers and shoot the breeze with his old friends. Joe Nesbola and some guy named “Shorty Nabinsky”. Don’t know if those spellings are correct…
    
    If anyone has information about my family or anything that I talked about please contact my email.
    
    Thanks! Sincerely
    
    Mike B.
  - Jim says:
    
    January 13, 2013 at 4:00 pm
    
    Mike,
    I’m thrilled you found my blog! Welcome home!
  - Mike says:
    
    January 15, 2013 at 3:20 pm
    
    Thanks appreciate the warm welcome! Proud to be a HUNKY and have Duquesne roots!