Well, people have been casting their vote for “The Most Iconic Symbol of Duquesne.” As you can see from the results below, the Steel Mills have a resounding lead over the other choices. I find it interesting that the top two front-runners no longer exist, but are indelibly etched in all of our minds.

You can still cast your vote. Simple click HERE to make your selection. Here’s how the votes are stacking up so far.

Answer Votes Percent

The Steel Mills?                                                     37%

Carnegie Library?                                                 16%

Duquesne High School?                                      12%

Soldiers Memorial on Grant Avenue?               11%

Kennywood Park?                                                 11%

The brick streets?                                                  7%

Duquesne City Bank Clock?                                2%

Center Street                                                          2%

The 1st Post Office at Grant and 2nd?              1%

As I was rummaging through some issues of The Duquesne Times, I was struck by the frequency of articles and headlines that dealt with the subject of the “REDEVELOPMENT.” So many structures that were a part of my youth were touched in some way by the whole impact of the redevelopment.

As a boy, I recall that the ideas, premise and impact of the redevelopment would instantly create stress in our home. I really didn’t understand much about the subject as a kid, but I definitely saw that it caused my dad and mom to get very upset. As I came to learn, the root of their anxiety was the fact that my father’s business would eventually fall victim to the redevelopment effort.

Judging from the countless articles about the redevelopment, the intent was to revitalize and maintain a thriving town for all of the residents to enjoy. The program was NOT the brainchild of our city leaders, but rather a plan that was proposed by the Allegheny County Redevelopment Authority. I have discovered articles about the plans as far back as 1952, but it appears that the plan didn’t come to fruition until 1960 when the first wave of building demotions occurred on Tuesday, May 31, 1960. The first building chosen for demolition on that day was the Salopek Tailoring Shop at 33 N. Duquesne Avenue. The shop had closed many years earlier when it was forced out of business due to the Defense Plant Corporation’s acquisition of all properties below the tracks.

Some of the headlines and the articles in the Duquesne Times are below:

BE SURE TO READ PART TWO OF THIS POST FOR ADDITIONAL

ARTICLES –