Homage to Duquesne’s Library

Posted on February 27, 2011 by Jim

“The death of my friend is on the hands of all of them. This should not have happened. He should not have died.” – Stephany Sofos

When I began this blog, I never wanted to climb on a soapbox and begin pontificating and boring you with my point of views. I wanted to make this a stroll down the well worn paths of our youth. However, I was recently forwarded some photos that I found so upsetting that I felt I had to let my feeling be known. I hope you’ll forgive this one transgression. However, once you view the photos that were graciously shared with us compliments of Mifflin Township Historical Society and Jim Hartman, you’ll understand.

Duquesne City School District Razed
Carnegie Free Library of Duquesne in June of 1968

By Glenn A. Walsh – 2006 January 18 – The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Despite Andrew Carnegie’s view that the community should support a library, three library gifts were given, without this requirement: Carnegie Library of Homestead, Homestead (actually Munhall, a few blocks from the Homestead Borough line), Pennsylvania (1898); Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall, Carnegie, Pennsylvania (1901); and the Carnegie Free Library of Duquesne, Duquesne, Pennsylvania (1904 to 1968). Each of these three libraries were endowed, as were two libraries prior to the establishment of The Carnegie Formula: Carnegie Library in Dunfermline, Scotland (1881) and the Carnegie Free Library of Braddock (1889). As in the case of the Braddock Carnegie Library, the libraries in Homestead and Duquesne were built to serve the employees of Carnegie Steel Company mills in those towns, and their faamilies. In the beginning, as was the case in Braddock, the company paid for the operation of the Carnegie Free Library of Duquesne.

However, in 1901, Andrew Carnegie sold the Carnegie Steel Company for $480 million to J.P. Morgan, of New York City, and the United States Steel Corporation (for a time in the 1980s and 1990s known as “United States Steel Group,” a subsidiary of USX Corporation) was formed. At the conclusion of the sale, many of Andrew Carnegie’s business partners became instant millionaires. And, Andrew Carnegie, himself, became the richest man in the world!To take care of the libraries in the three Monongahela Valley towns, Andrew Carnegie set-up an endowment of one million dollars, to be shared among these three libraries. This endowment was managed by a Board comprised, primarily, of officials of the U.S. Steel Corporation. However, these officials were primarily interested in making money for the corporation, not operating three libraries. Consequently, the endowment for the three libraries was managed in a very conservative manner; to this day, officials of the Carnegie Library of Homestead are troubled that a hundred-plus year endowment did not grow as much as it could have.By the 1960s, the endowment was not enough to operate three libraries; so, it was decided to “sell-off” two of the libraries. In the 1960s, the Braddock and Duquesne libraries were sold to the school districts in those towns, for one dollar each. The Braddock Carnegie Library stayed open for awhile, but was closed for much of the 1970s and 1980s due to the building’s dilapidated condition and lack of sufficient funding. A community effort reopened the library in the mid-1980s. Although the Braddock Carnegie Library remains open (with a small two-day a week library branch operating in the Westinghouse Valley Services Center in Turtle Creek), they continue to have financial problems.Shortly after taking control of the Carnegie Free Library of Duquesne, the Duquesne City School District razed the structure, in June of 1968, to make-way for a school district annex (possibly a new gymnasium for the high school, located across the street). However, when the school district learned that the construction of such an annex would result in a partial loss of state funding, the project was quickly dropped. Thirteen 1970s-era split-level houses now occupy the former library property, a cul-de-sac named “Library Place.”It should be noted that the City of Duquesne is one of three Third Class Cities in Allegheny County (the other two being McKeesport and Clairton). In Allegheny County, all other municipalities are chartered as boroughs, townships (there are First Class Townships and Second Class Townships), or Home-Rule Municipalities. The only exceptions are the City of Pittsburgh which remains a Second Class City (although the original definition of a Second Class City meant a city of 500,000 population or greater) and the Town of McCandless. Allegheny City (now the North Side of Pittsburgh), where Andrew Carnegie built the nation’s first publicly-funded Carnegie Library (originally known as the Carnegie Free Library of Allegheny; now known as the Allegheny Regional Branch of The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh) was also a Third Class City until, through political maneuvering in the Pennsylvania General Assembly by the City of Pittsburgh, in 1907 when the City of Allegheny was involuntarily annexed to the City of Pittsburgh. The fact that the City of Duquesne remains a Third Class City may be the reason their fairly small school district escaped the Commonwealth’s mandatory school district mergers in the late 1960s.Although the Braddock Carnegie Library is operating, once again, since this library was officially sold-off by the Board of the Endowment for the Monongahela Valley libraries, the Carnegie Library of Homestead is the only library that now has legal claim to this Endowment, the current value of which is approximately $1.8 million.And, a few years ago, the Carnegie Free Library of McKeesport opened a small four afternoons-per-week library branch in the City of Duquesne (which is located across the Monongahela River from McKeesport). This small branch library is located in the Duquesne High School, which apparently is slated to close after the current school year ends. The future of this Duquesne branch library is unknown.

I find it unconscionable that the destruction of Duquesne’s Library senselessly occurred. I believe that the death of the Carnegie was the straw that broke the camel’s back and took the spirit out of the residents that had remained in Duquesne.

We all know that our hometown has dramatically changed since we were children. To try to understand just HOW much has chaged, I began doing research about the schools in Duquesne yesterday. I am not sure if you are all aware of it, but after the 8th grade, students are bused to outlying high school. Only grades Kindergarten through 8th are conducted in Duquesne itself. According to Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia:

Duquesne City School District was ranked 105th out of 105 Western Pennsylvania School Districts in 2009 by the Pittsburgh Business Times. The ranking was based on three years of student academic performance on the PSSAs for: math, reading, writing and one year of science. In 2008 the school ranked 105th of the Western Pennsylvania school districts and 496th out of 498 Pennsylvania school districts.

The eighth grade ranked 141st out of 141 western Pennsylvania eighth grades, by the Pittsburgh Business Times in 2009, for academic achievement as reflected by three years of results on: math, reading, writing and one year of science PSSAs.

Even more staggering is the fact that in 2010:

  • only 37% of Duquesne’s 8th graders could read on an 8th grade level
  • only 26% of Duquesne’s 8th graders could perform on an 8th grade level
  • less than 3% of Duquesne’s 8th graders could perform on an 8th grade level

The numbers almost defy believability.

The things I remember about our library:

  • The rubber stamps that the librarian used to carefully date each outgoing book with the due back date
  • I think overdue children’s books were 1¢ per day and books from the adult section were either 2¢ or 3¢ per day.
  • The orientation that the librarian gave when our class joined the library, explaining the card file and the Dewey Decimal System.
  • The glass floored rotunda of the adult section
  • The office that we would go to for swimming passes
  • The sounds and smell from the swimming pool as you descended the steps
  • The showers that were in the corner before you entered the locker room
  • Holding onto the bar and practicing kicking
  • Sliding down the handrails on the library steps outside
  • My first dive into the deep end
  • Lots and lots of dark oak, white marble and windows
  • The heavy doors into the building
  • The track and/or balcony around the gymnasium
  • The dark theatre with dark red curtains and muffled sounds
  • The respect that everyone gave to the building, its history and its contents

And now the photos, compliments of Mifflin Township Historical Society and Jim Hartman. The time – June, 1968 –

 

 

Posted in Duquesne Carnegie Library, Playing and Games, Sports | 30 Comments

Voices from Duquesne – Part 2

Posted on February 24, 2011 by Jim

I continue to get many comments and roll call information from people who are reading this blog. I’ll continue to publish the names, comments, etc. as long as they are being sent in. I have provided a link to the contact information form under BLOG ROLL in the right hand column of this page. Please, we’d love to hear from you and about you! Also, I have included a line for you to provide your email address in the event you would like to hear from old friends. It isn’t necessary to provide the email address if you are uncomfortable, but the option is there to use. I will consolidate the addresses into a directory that you can use to find your friends. I should have that posted within the next couple of weeks.

In the meantime, enjoy reading some comments and reviewing information from former and current Duquesne folk and as well as people who just enjoy reading about life in Duquesne.

 

Lori D. Achtzehn

Years in Duquesne = 1958 – 1986

Where do you live now? = White Oak, PA

Comments = I love going back in time. Holy Name was the greatest school ever.  I had Sister Joan Marie in 1st Grade, Sister Annette (later Sister Virginia) in 2nd Grade, Mrs. Higgs in 3rd Grade, I think Sister Mary Sarto in 4th Grade, Sister Virginia (formerly Sister Annette) in 5th Grade, Sister Clementine in 6th Grade.  In 7th & 8th Grade we merged into Duquesne Catholic and I, VERY RELUCTANTLY, I had to finish my years at Holy Trinity School on S Third St.  We used to go to Elsie’s on W Grant Ave near S lst St all the time. I so remember lining up outside of school to say the Pledge of Allegiance before going into school.  I remember playing “Peanut Heaven” on the church steps and “Red Rover” etc. at lunchtime. I remember helping to dust erasers on the back steps, clean the chalkboards, & put up the bulletin boards after school.  I also sold supplies in mornings (going room-to-room with a cart) and candy at lunchtime on the convent rear porch.  I was a safety patrol member when I got older and can very well remember being tackled in the alley buy a bunch of boys playing football with “Deacon Dennis Buranosky”.  I remember going to church all the time and having Kleenex put on our heads if we forgot a hat.  We said “The Angelus” at Noon and blessed ourselves if we heard any type of siren go off.  I could go on and on.  We need to have a reunion of all Holy Name students.  It would be a blast!!!!

 

Maryanne Lasko

Maiden name = Matusovic

Years in Duquesne = 1945 – 1976

Where do you live now? = Jefferson Township, Pa/Southport, NC

comments = I loved reading the various articles on your blog, especially the one about your house and how it impacted your life.

 

I lived on the other side of Duquesne – Arch Street, which was off the lower part of Crawford Avenue.  I attended Crawford School and Duquesne High School.

 

It is so very sad to see what has happened to Duquesne over the years.  We had moved my parents from our family home in Duquesne to Munhall in the early 80’s since the neighborhood had gotten a little rough – break-in’s, etc.  We sadly sold “our house” which my grandparents had originally built.  So many memories.  Four generations of our family had lived in this house.  Unfortunately, the people who bought the house did not take care of it and eventually abandoned the house.  Several years ago we learned that the city had leveled the house.  It made me very sad when I heard that.  My mother had always asked to go back to take a look at the “old house”.  I never had the heart to tell her it was no longer there.  So sad.

 

Maybe sometime in the future I’ll share more of my thoughts about life in Duquesne.  Duquesne was a great place to grow-up.  Have you had any other responses from the “other side of Duquesne” -streets off Crawford?

 

Thanks for taking the time to create this blog and share your thoughts and memories of good ole Duquesne!

 

John Dillinger

Years in Duquesne = 1950 – 1968

Where do you live now? = Lower Burrell, Pa.

comments = Memories and contact from other Duquesne residents

 

Margaret Soboslay

Maiden name = Carr

Years in Duquesne = 1932 – 1965

Where do you live now? = Pittsburgh, PA (Sq. Hill Neighborhood) comments = It’s fascinating reading the comments. Pittsburgh started the Steeler Nation. Now you are starting the Duquesne Neighborhood.  This brings back a ton of memories, of those people who worked in the Duquesne Works, school mates through the forties, great neighbors and friends, all who add to the tapestry of the city.  Driving through Duquesne I see it as it once was, built by hard-working men and women proud of their traditions, faithful to their religions. How fortunate we are to been rooted in this fertile soil.  Please continue writing, Jim.

 

James Lalley

Years in Duquesne = N/A

Where do you live now? = Springfield, OH

comments = A friend of mine sent me a copy of your blog and I wanted to share that my parents Charles and Mary Lalley lived in Duquesne from 1956 to 1959. My father taught in the Jr High from 1955 to 1967 and returned to help with the school in the mid 1990’s. My parents rented from Nick Williams on Duquesne Blvd. I grew up in Elizabeth township and worked at Kennywood during my high school years in the 1980’s. I remember passing that mansion every day going to work. My parents still live in the township and still talk about the years they spent in Duquesne.

 

Michelle Sullivan

Years in Duquesne = 1948 – 1967 or thereabouts

Where do you live now? = Fayetteville NC comments = I’ve lived here in Fayetteville NC about 15 months working at the VA and kinda miss Pgh (where I lived for the past 12 years and have lived in Pittsburgh off and on my adult life except for stints in Philly, .Washington, DC., L.A., etc. (don’t ask!)….You probably know some of my siblings (Sullivans) or members of DHS Class of ‘65.  I’m also a Holy Name Graduate and although Irish I’m an ‘honorary Hunky’ Keep up the posts, they are wonderful!

 

Maryann Smith

Maiden name = Stavor

Years in Duquesne = 1950-1987

Where do you live now? = Allison Park, Pa comments = Remembering my childhood days. Seeing pictures of Duquesne in its hey days. My dad, Joe, grew up in the 20’s, graduated in 1940 and returned after WWII to marry, work, and raise his 4 kids there. Dad is 91 now and lives with many friends in an independent living home in West Mifflin.

 

Paula Niedoba

Maiden name = Manns

Years in Duquesne = 1953-1976

Where do you live now? = Unity Township, PA

comments = Everyone brings their own experiences to the table but we all have the one common thread of our Duquesne roots.

Colleen Travis

Maiden name = Byrne

Years in Duquesne = Lived in West Mifflin but went to Holy Name

Where do you live now? = Mt. Washington, Pittsburgh

comments = This blog is great!  A friend of mine passed it on to me.  I am so glad she did.  I have enjoyed reading every response.

 

Donna Connolly

Maiden name = Donna Ragan

Years in Duquesne = 1955-1981

Where do you live now? = Mentor, Ohio

comments = I’m amazed at all the similarities in our childhood. I can relate to so much because I lived at “the top of Duquesne” and know well the landmarks you have talked about. So I know more about those places than the ones at the “bottom: of Duquesne. This has been so much fun, it certainly stirs up a lot of memories and feelings. I would say just keep doing what you’re doing, it’s great! I LOVE the pictures. Can others contribute with them? I went to Holy Trinity and would love to see pics like the ones from Holy Name. Oh, by the way, we loved lekvar pierogies and to this day I make them (potato also of course) from scratch at least twice a year!

 

Jerry Johnston

Where do you live now? = Cincinnati

comments = Jim, I have thoroughly enjoyed all your posts. You need to combine them with photos and publish a book. Even though I have never been to Duquesne, I can relate to the time period and it brings back nice memories for me. Keep up the posts!

 

Dan Bonga

Years in Duquesne = 19? then off to college and back home for awhile Where do you live now? = Wilkinsburg

comments = I like it all! Keep it goin!

 

Steve Kracinovsky

Years in Duquesne = 1957 to present

Where do you live now? = Duquesne

comments = The thoughts and descriptions you write about takes one back to their childhood and usually easy and happier times in ones life …..the younger years.

 

Joe Haver

Years in Duquesne = 1942-1967

Where do you live now? = Monroeville, PA

comments = Wonderful memories of growing up. Went to St Joes and rode bicycles all over Duquesne. Remember Zemps field, where there were ball games almost every night? How about Polish Hill? Businesses on First St? First National Bank? The Library? Rock n Roll shows? Kennywood Park swimming pool? Walking up and down the hill to go to high school, and coming home for lunch. And it was only up hill one way !! Drug stores?

Pizza shop, first one I ever saw on Grant Ave just below 6th St. High school dances in the gym? Thanks for doing this, it is great !!

 

Joanne Matthews

Maiden name = Carr

Years_in_Duquesne = 1942-1962

Where_do_you_live_now? = West Sunbury,Pa

Jeff Volk

Years in Duquesne = West Mifflin (53 2/3) years

Where do you live now? = Same 3 blocks from Kenny St

comments = I enjoy reading your all your articles. You have great way of writing & bringing back some fantastic memories of your Dad. I wish I knew your Mom better & probably recall Aunt Mary’s & Lou’s get-togethers better at her house with my parents. Sorry I can’t remember any thing about the city of Duquesne (I was raised in Homestead at Baba’s Streamline restaurant & went to school at St Mike’s)but I do recall the great times with our family party’s & also the Sunday visits with grandpa Volk. I also looked forward to everyone meeting when Uncle Mike & Uncle John came in from Maryland & Niagara Falls. Keep up the Great work!

 

Marilyn Boca

Maiden name = Thomas [Tamas]    [Mother] Rinkacs

Years in Duquesne = 1945-1950 & summers thereafter

Where do you live now? = Meadville Pa.

comments = I’d forgotten a lot about Duquesne even though I still have family in the area. I was recently in Holy Name church and St. Joseph cemetery with the death of my Mom’s sister. My Dad is buried there as will be my Mom when the time comes. My sister is into genealogy and we did the cemetery from top to bottom two years ago. I’ve enjoyed your pictures too.

 

Patty Furman

Maiden name = Stavor

Years in Duquesne = 1952 born until 1974

Where do you live now? = Pottstown PA, East Vincent Twp

comments = Love the blog.  Great Duquesne memories even though I went to Crawford Elementary (JFK in later years) and lived up on Maryland Ave above Burns Heights many of the feelings (hated pigs feet) are the same.

 

Ron Zeigler

Years in Duquesne = 1952-1971

Where do you live now? = Chambersburg, Pa

comments = Memories- memories- memories. A lot of what you blog about just brings back good memories of Duquesne. Many things you’ve talked about, I remember well. I’ve lived all over the U.S., but if anyone asks where I’m from, it’s always Duquesne, Pa. I recently heard a woman talking about center St, and making a roller coaster like motion. I ask if she was talking about Center St in Duquesne. Turns out she was. Once while watching the Steelers in a bar in Davenport IA., there was a young girl standing next to me. When the Steelers scored, she cheered. I asked her were she was from, she said West Mifflin, but her mom was from Duquesne. Turns out her mom and I went to school together I’ve tried without success to explain to people what it was like to grow up in Duquesne.

Posted in Feedback From Our Friends | 25 Comments

True Confessions of a Duquesne Boy

Posted on February 23, 2011 by Jim

My wife Judy and I recently received some news that put us over the top with happiness! We are about to become grandparents for the very first time! My oldest daughter, Megan, is due at the end of July and we couldn’t be happier! We also found out about 2 weeks ago, that our grandchild in the making, was going to be a boy!!! His name will be Jackson (at least for the moment) and we are thrilled, and are as anxious for his arrival as the parents themselves!

One of the many thoughts that went through my head was how my daughter would probably tell Jackson stories about Judy and me. When Judy was growing up, I am told that she was a joy to her parents, the ideal youngest child! I’m sure Megan will cite countless examples to Jackson of how his grandmother always helped around the house, listened to her parents and did so well in school. He could never have a better example, behavior or person to aspire to.

I get the sneaking feeling that I may not serve as the same type of example. In what I hope is a very loving and sentimental way, I might be what I call the “Glamour Don’t” of behavior. I was never a bad kid. I would say that I was more of a “free spirit” type of child, always pushing the boundaries a bit. I never got into really “bad” trouble, but I always managed to do something that would make my mom and dad shake their heads either in disbelief or frustration.

As a grandfather, since I will probably become the subject of family folklore, I thought it best to come clean about a few things. I look at this as a soul cleansing of sorts. Things that I may not have admitted to doing to my parents, but things I’m sure I was always suspected of. Here goes…………

The truth of the matter is that in contrast to the things that kids have to keep them occupied today, as a boy growing up in Duquesne, we were more dependent on seeking out our own entertainment. TV was reserved for evening viewing, and then, perhaps only for an hour or so. I do remember that Mom allowed me to watch Looney Tunes on WJAC TV Channel 6, out of Johnston, Pa. before dinner each day, but that was about it.

As a result of having to find my own adventures, I found myself in difficult situations at times. For example, there was the time that my brother Steve, my cousin Paula Goldman and I were waiting for my dad to drive us home after school at Holy Name. Dad always parked his car in front of his service station on S. 1st Street. We would patiently wait for him to break away from whatever car he was repairing to give us a ride up hill to Thomas Street. When I was in 1st or 2nd grade, my dad was driving a Willy’s Jeep. It had to be one that had been salvaged from some military stint somewhere. It was olive drab green and about as stripped down as you could get. It must have been a 1946 or 47 model. It had this small round pedal that he would press to start the Jeep and I always thought it was so interesting. So, as my older brother, my cousin Paula and I waited patiently for Dad, I decided to press the starter. To me it seemed like a perfectly fine thing to do, especially  since I had never me told NOT to do it. I quickly learned the basics of starters and engaged transmissions when I pushed that little bugger. I managed to ram the front end of the Jeep directly into my dad’s garage as the car lunged forward. Fortunately, no one was hurt, not even the Jeep or the garage. I almost got away with it except for the fact that my dad saw the whole thing and Paula was screaming! Imagine, having your first auto accident at age 6!

Which brings me to my next transgression. As I freely admitted in an earlier post, I was my mom’s worse nightmare since I was a picky eater. That pickiness led to my running away from home when I was about 4 years old. I recall that the whole incident was caused by my refusal to eat something that my mom was fixing for dinner. I was playing on the sidewalk in front of our driveway, and it was a Friday afternoon. Dad was still at the garage and I was trying to build a little fort for my plastic army men using  some stones I had found. Mom came out and told me to come inside and clean-up for dinner. I asked what we were having, and she announced that we were having pea soup and cheese sandwiches. I immediately went into my “picky panic mode” and began to protest (aka – cry) about having to even taste green gross soup. Of course, I had never tried it, but I made the quick decision that I was going to hate it. Rather than face the HORROR of have to consume a green colored liquid, my 4 year old brain told me it would be best if I just ran away and eliminate the need to face the food.

Without any provisions, I trotted my little butt up St. Joseph’s Cemetery hill. It made perfect sense to me. I had no fear of cemeteries, so I just darted in between the gravestones and found my way to what I thought would be the perfect hiding place. NOW Mom would be sorry she made that soup! I parked myself in the bushes that surrounded the concrete statue of the Sacred Heart near the Mifflin Street gate and the Ground Keeper’s garage. I can’t remember how long I sat there before I first began hearing people calling my name. My dad told me in later years, that my mom panicked immediately, and recruited all of the neighbors to look for me within minutes of my “escape.” I was bound and determined not to be found, so I just sat quietly in the bushes while familiar voices called out my name. I heard Anna Yasko, my Aunt Mary and Uncle Lou, Mrs. Snyder and Mrs. Gregory. I was in the clear until the neighbor who would become my nemesis in later years added the three magic words that lured me out of the bushes. I heard Rudy Gregory call out, “Jimmy!  I HAVE COOKIES!!”  As soon as I heard that, I was out of the bushes in a flash. Seriously, when it comes to pea soup vs. cookies, you KNOW who won!!  Imagine my disappointment when the hand that I reached out to grab the cookies with was latched onto by “the pea soup maker!!!” I never had to worry about having to eat pea soup that night, for I was sent to bed with supper. However, in Mom’s most caring voice, she told me the next day that she had saved the soup for me to have that night while everyone else had hamburgers. Even water boarding is no match for a Mom’s revenge!

As I wrote in an earlier post, by Mom passed away while I was still in grade school. I was 12 and my brother was 15 when it occurred. My brother and I became fairly self-sufficient at that point, and were able to take care of ourselves from the time we came home from school until my dad came home from work. It was only a two or three hour period, so homework, dinner prep and some “outside” time usually filled up those hours. As long as my older brother was home, I wasn’t too mischievous. It was only when he wasn’t home that I became a bit more adventurous. For instance:

  • I saw no problem in sticking hot dogs on a fork and cooking them over the burner flame on the stove, or
  • I thought it kind of fun to hang an old GI Joe from a sting in the basement and whack him with a baseball bat!
  • Then there was the time that I had no desire to go to school one day when I was a Junior and used the newly fallen snow as an excuse to be off. I attended Serra Catholic High School in McKeesport and had to take the public bus to school. I decided to take the bus to the McKeesport transfer point and to go shopping after that point rather than take the final leg of the trip to school. Knowing that I had to have my dad call into the school to let them know I would be absent, I called him at work and told him I had missed the transfer bus, tried to walk to school from McKeesport and fell into a snow drift and just dug myself out. (I thought this was one of my more creative stories!)

Now, I‘m sure that you’re wondering why I haven’t turned into some serial psychopath at this point. I chalk all of my adventures up to the fact that cable TV had not yet been invented! I will leave you with one last “adventure” which involved by Nemesis neighbor, Rudy Gregory:

As a teen, I was always super anxious to get my driver’s license. Of course, I began yearning for it when I was 13 years old, knowing full well that it would be a 3 year wait before I was old enough. By the time I was 15 years old, my obsession with driving got the better of me one morning. My father was away for a day of hunting with my uncles and my brother was off to some friend’s house. My dad had left the car parked in the garage for my brother to use in the event we needed to go somewhere. It was a nice clear day, and to me, the perfect day to go for a short spin in the cemetery. Mind you, I had never been behind the wheel before except for the time I crashed the Jeep into my dad’s business.

As big as you please, I grabbed the car keys and marched out to the garage to indulge my driving fantasy. I must say, I was very adept at backing the car down the narrow driveway between our house and the neighbor’s. I carefully pulled out onto Thomas Street and proceeded to drive up the St. Joe’s Cemetery hill completely confident. All went well until I had to maneuver on the very narrow roads in the cemetery itself. As I rounded one turn, I “clipped” a headstone. I panicked, but finished the turn and stopped to check for damage. Fortunately, the headstone was one of the very old ones and wasn’t damaged in any way. Unfortunately, the front passenger side fender of my dad’s car wasn’t as lucky. It was visibly “crunched.” I didn’t know how I was ever going to explain this to my dad, so I decided that I never would have to, after all, how could it have been me? I didn’t have a driver’s license! I was convinced that I would be forever haunted by the ghost of the poor soul whose tombstone I had hit, but that was minor when compared to dealing with my dad’s wrath!

Very carefully, I drove back home and although very shaken, I managed to return the car to the garage, parking it as if had never been moved. By this time, I had the entire explanation scenario worked out in my mind. Dad parked on the right hand side of the garage, so the damaged fender wasn’t visible when you entered the garage. By the time he discovered it, I might be able to raise the explanation that it happened in his business parking lot while he was at work!! Good thinking! Right?? Unfortunately, my plan never worked. Yes, he did drive off to work the next morning without noticing it, and yes, he did ask me if I knew anything about the damaged fender when he came home that evening. This was my cue to start my explanation, BUT, I was cut short when Dad informed me that my arch-Nemesis, Rudy Gregory, had seen me taking my little joy ride the day before!  BUSTED!!! Believe me, I paid the consequences.

OK, there, I’ve fessed up to all my mis-adventures. I’ve wiped the slate clean. Rudy Gregory, I no longer consider you my Nemesis, but rather view you as my conscience. I am ready to face my little grandson with my head held high and with the ability to confidently say… “Thank God you have cable!!!”

Posted in Life in General, Parents, Playing and Games | 3 Comments

Voices from Duquesne – Part 1

Posted on February 22, 2011 by Jim

You wouldn’t believe the number of responses that I received from former Duquesne residents and non-residents alike when I asked for your comments. Thank you so much. Its amazing to see how far our little hunky community of Duquesne, Pa has branched out across the nation! We are still fortunate to have so many who are still holding down the fort in the Duquesne area as well!

I thought you would enjoy hearing some of the responses from readers and former and current residents. Maybe you’ll recognize an old friend’s name. I will continue to periodically post these responses for your enjoyment and “re-connections.” If you haven’t complete a Roll Call response yet, I have reposted the link to fill it out at the end of this post. Have fun re-connecting!

Joanne Wazny

  • Maiden Name – Graham
  • Years in Duquesne – 1943-1961
  • Where_do_you_live_now? = Audubon, NJ
  • My mother was born in Duquesne. In fact we were both born in the same house at 15 Seward Street (which sadly is now boarded up and awaiting demolition) and attended St. Joseph School. She lived there until April 2009 when she came to live with me. I have been making notes of her memories for the genealogy I am doing on our family.  Your blog is great because it gets her thinking and remembering more stories and people. Since I left after graduation from Duquesne High, I also enjoy the trips down memory lane!

Colleen Travis

  • Maiden Name – Byrne
  • Years_in_Duquesne – Lived in West Mifflin but went to Holy Name
  • Where_do_you_live_now? = Mt. Washington, Pittsburgh
  • This blog is great!  A friend of mine passed it on to me.  I am so glad she did.  I have enjoyed reading every response.

Donna Connolly

  • Maiden Name – Ragan
  • Years_in_Duquesne = 1955-1981
  • Where_do_you_live_now? = Mentor, Ohio
  • I’m amazed at all the similarities in our childhood. I can relate to so much because I lived at “the top of Duquesne” and know well the landmarks you have talked about. So I know more about those places than the ones at the “bottom” of Duquesne. This has been so much fun; it certainly stirs up a lot of memories and feelings. I would say just keep doing what you’re doing, it’s great! I LOVE the pictures. Can others contribute with them? I went to Holy Trinity and would love to see pics like the ones from Holy Name. Oh, by the way, we loved lekvar pierogies and to this day I make them (potato also of course) from scratch at least twice a year!

 Note from Jim (Blog Author) – Donna, I would welcome ANY pictures anyone has to offer that would rekindle memories for my fellow Duquesner’s (is there such a word?) Please, if anyone would like to contribute a photo, the best way would be to have the photo scanned and then email to me at – jim@shamrockrealtygroup.com

Joe Derose

  • Years_in_Duquesne = 1939 thru 1967
  • Where_do_you_live_now? = Corry,Pa
  • Old times. How about the car drag races on Duquesne Blvd.  The Duke Resturant hang out & food.

Alan Hartman

  • Years_in_Duquesne = 1954 to 1964 and more
  • Where_do_you_live_now? = Grand Rapids, Michigan
  • Hi Jim.  I lived originally at 818 Oak Street off of Center till 1964 when our family moved to West Mifflin.  Both of my brothers attended Holy Name School as did I till the second grade when we moved.  I then attended St. Agnes in West Mifflin.
  • I enjoyed reading about Elsie’s (Avenue News) and about U.S. Steel where my dad worked as a brick layer for near 40 years.  The article about the sights and sounds of the mill bring back HUGE memories of being lulled to sleep by the sounds of the Mill at night.
  • As a side light, my uncle Albert Pundzak and his brother Michael opened and owned Duquesne Cut-Rate on South Second Street he closed the store about 1969 I believe and retired.  I remember Mikes Market across from his store, the furniture store next to it and the club and gospel temple in the same area.  I came home for my uncle’s funeral and was shocked to see the state of S. Second.  Many of the houses are gone and my Uncle’s old store was boarded up.  I believe it has now been torn down.
  • An interesting article would be about the now gone Duquesne Carnegie Library.  Fond are the memories of browsing the stacks, swimming in the pool and watching the Passion Plays put on by the Steelworkers every year.
  • I would be more than happy to write an article about my Uncle’s store and the Library if you like.  It is sad to see Duquesne fall into the state it is in, but the memories of it will never fade and it is important that its memory live on in some fashion.

Note from Jim (Blog Author) – Alan, I would love for you to contribute a post about your uncle’s store. I would welcome any stories that people would like to pass along. Just email them to me at jim@shamrockrealtygroup.com. Also, I wrote a post about the Carnegie Library that I am sure you’d enjoy. It was called One of Duquesne’s Icons – A Cultural Playground. If you click the Monthly Archives arrow in the right hand column of my blog page, you’ll get a drop down menu that you use by clicking the month to review past posts I have written! The post about the library was written in January.

 Gary Trbovich

  • Years_in_Duquesne = 1952 – 1975
  • Where_do_you_live_now? = Jacksonville, Fl
  • comments = You hit all the good memories of Duquesne.  Of course we tend to forget the bad stuff but its fun to remember.  Keep up the good work.  I occasionally share your blog on facebook!

 Donna Jackson

  • Maiden Name = Gavlik
  • Years_in_Duquesne = 1948 to 1973
  • Where_do_you_live_now? = Cranberry Township
  • comments = It brings back a lot of memories. I forgot the names of a few places but have been reminded of them through this blog. Very interesting.

 Linda Perhacs

  • Years_in_Duquesne = 1947 – 1972
  • Where_do_you_live_now? = West Mifflin, PA
  • comments = I’ve enjoyed the “brain strain” to remember the details…names of people and places.  The 1st time I read the articles, I wiped away a few tears and smiled constantly.

 Anne Lofstrom

  • name = Harrington
  • Years_in_Duquesne = 1932-1953
  • Where_do_you_live_now? = North Huntingdon, Pa
  • comments = I enjoy the memories that your stories and pictures bring back.  I also was a Holy Name graduate (?) in 1946. Since I still go to Duquesne, as my brother still lives in the family home on Lincoln Ave., some of yor pictures so vividly bring back what used to be there or how is used to look.  Keep up your blog.  I look forward to it.

 

Dick Bowen

  • Years_in_Duquesne = 1936-1943        1947-1952
  • Where_do_you_live_now? = White Oak,PA
  • comments = You have brought back many memories of things that I had forgotten.I have enjoyed reading all of the events that you have written about.Keep up the good work. I was born in Duquesne and we lived at various places : Wool St , Texas Av.,6th St.,We then moved to a place right by Kennywood for a year. My dad bought a house in Riverview plan in Dravosburg, and I started school there. When I was in the 5th grade we moved back to Duquesne, 1014 Sherman Av., were we lived until the end of my soph. year. My dad then bought a house in White Oak, but I continued to go to school in Duquesne instead of McKeesport. I graduated from DHS in 1954.

 Rebecca Woolsey

  • Maiden name = Wahly
  • Years_in_Duquesne = 1947-1969, 1997-2000, 2002-present Where_do_you_live_now? = Duquesne PA!
  • comments = It’s fun to remember all the old things that made the city great and some not so much – like Wednesday mornings when the smell of the rotten-egg sulphur made it almost impossible to concentrate in Mr. Bullion’s or Mr. Ondrey’s classes!

 Duane Kelley

  • Years_in_Duquesne = 1954(birth) to 1972
  • Where_do_you_live_now? = Lakewood, Ohio
  • comments = Hi Jim, Thanks for this fantastic ride down memory lane!! You may or may not know my brother Skip(Conrad) who graduated from DHS in 1969. I graduated 3 years later in 1972 and joined the Air Force that summer.  I have lived many places over the years but will always consider Duquesne and the Pittsburgh area my real home!!  My Dad was your typical happy-go-lucky Irishman and worked in the Duquesne #5 Mill.  Mom was Slovak (maiden name — Bilohlavek) and like your Mom, she died of cancer at a young age (43 in 1971) –God rest all their souls! She was very much the fabric of our family existence bringing all the traditional values and yummy foods that have been mentioned or implied here.  Your blog has reinforced in my mind what made Duquesne such a wonderful place to grow-up, and at the same time how complex a world we live in nowadays. We led simple lives learning the lifelong importance of hard work, traditional family values, and God and Country.  I enjoy the randomness of your blogs and look forward to future readings and commentary.

 Jane Pocsatko

  • Maiden name = Fulmer
  • Years_in_Duquesne = 1946 to 1967
  • Where_do_you_live_now? = Trinity, Florida {Tampa Bay}
  • comments = This is so much fun to be reminded of things  I’ve forgotten.  I love having grown up in Duquesne at the time I did.  Never locked the door, keys better be in the car when Dad was going to work the third turn at Irvin Works. Watching the boys play basketball up at the watertank. My sister Susan met her husband there when she was in 7th grade and they are still married. Great neighborhoods. All the neighbor women baked for your wedding. Good people. Happy times.

 Jim Hartman

    • Years_in_Duquesne = 1945 – 1960 Mother’s side arrived in 1908 (Slovak)
    •  Where_do_you_live_now? = West Mifflin (near the airport)
    • comments = Enjoy the blog and brings back many early memories of my growing up in Duquesne.  Presently I am the founder and president of the Mifflin Township Historical Society www.mifflintownship.org We currently have all the Duquesne, Clairton, Cloverleaf Bulletins and working on finishing the Homestead newspapers at our reference room in the West Mifflin Borough building.  If you should need any information, pictures, etc. please feel free to contact me at jhartman15122@gmail.com or 412-600-0229.

Note from Jim (Blog Author)- Jim I certainly plan to take you up on your offer, and I hope that you and I could meet on my next trip home! I have placed a link to your site on my Blog Page under “Blog Roll.”

 Sandi Kaselonis

  • Maiden name = Tovlin
  • Years_in_Duquesne = 24
  • Where_do_you_live_now? = Wabash, IN
  • comments = These posts have truly taken me down memory lane.  I enjoyed all of them. Sam Rickard who knew my parents sent me the link, and yes, I am a hunky girl.  I was making bread for Easter one year when my husband told his sister that I am the last of the good, hunky women.  We all had a big laugh over that. I graduated from DHS in ‘65 and moved out of Duquesne when I got married in 1971. 

Paul and Dianne Kasten

  • Maiden name = Dianne Buczynski
  • Years_in_Duquesne = 1948-1971
  • Where_do_you_live_now? = Waldorf, Maryland
  • comments = We love everything about this blog.  It has brought back so many memories.  I’ve been telling my father-in-law, Paul Rush, who lived in Duquesne most of his life, all about it.  He has really enjoyed hearing (no computer)and adds lots of his own memories.  He remembers many names. Paul and I both went to Holy Name School and we met years later at Holy Name Church.  My family belonged to the Polish Church, St. Hedwig. My brother, Henry Buczynski, lives in McKeesport and enjoys the blog as well.

 

Note from Jim (Blog Author) – Paul, you rocked as the organist at Holy Name. (Ooops, can I say that about the Church?)

I would like to continue taking a roll call of people and places. If you click on the blue words below, you’ll be connected with a form that you can fill out to supply your information. The form asks your name; your maiden name if you weren’t married when you lived in Duquesne (if applicable); the years when did you live in Duquesne (if applicable); where you live now (just city and state); and a space for suggestions or anything else you’d like to say. I hope you’ll share your information. Just click the “CONNECT TO THE ROLL CALL FORM ” words in blue below when you’re ready!

   CONNECT TO THE ROLL CALL FORM

Posted in Feedback From Our Friends | 6 Comments

The Random Thoughts of A Wandering Hunky Mind

Posted on February 18, 2011 by Jim

Occasionally, I think I will post some random thoughts and questions to get everyone thinking about the ol’ home town. Some of these are self serving, since I have yet to get answers to a few of my questions posed in an earlier post; some are just random remembrances that pop into my head; and some are names, faces or places I’m drawing a blank on.

Before I move on to some of my questions or thoughts, I thought it might be fun to find out just who is reading these posts. For lack of a more original way of phrasing it, I would like to take a roll call of people and places. If you click on the blue words below, you’ll be connected with a form that you can fill out to supply your information. The form asks your name; your maiden name if you weren’t married when you lived in Duquesne (if applicable); the years when did you live in Duquesne (if applicable); where you live now (just city and state); and a space for suggestions or anything else you’d like to say. I hope you’ll share your information. Just click the “CONNECT TO ROLL CALL FORM ” words in blue below when you’re ready!

         CONNECT TO ROLL CALL FORM

Now, on to those crazy random thoughts and images….

For those of you who attended Holy Name School in the 50’s and 60’s, I recently came across a photo that you might enjoy. The picture was taken in 1963 and shows one of the Holy Name cooks, Mrs. McConnell, and Fr. Hanlen. I also think that the other woman in the picture is Mrs. Napoli, but I could be wrong. I also remembered a little activity when I saw this picture. If you notice, there is a stack of folding chairs to the left of the stairs. I recall have to either fold and stack or unstak and fold those chairs for one thing or another. I don’t remember if we were assigned the task or if we volunteered. More than likely, the good sisters were imposing some form of mild punishment or torture for something I did wrong. God hath no fury like a sister’s scorn!

OK, I still need someone who knows who POP ARMS was. Apparently, he used to live over Adler’s and Avenue News on the corner of S. 2nd and Grant. I have no idea what his real first name was, but apparently everyone called him “Pop.” The entrance to his apartment was on S. 1st just past the alley behind Avenue News. I was never up to the apartment, but it was apparently very nice. So again, does anyone know of a man who was called POP ARMS!?!?!

Just so you know, I am patiently waiting until Spring officially arrives to begin reminiscing about one of my favorite Duquesne memories, Kennywood Park! Yes, I know it is “officially” in West Mifflin, but you know as well as I that it was always considered “ours!” More to come on that juicy topic! Here’s a topic that I need you to start thinking about in advance regarding Kennywood, Green Gables Bar and/or Inn that was owned by the Longcaric’s (spelling). It was located right at the end of that rickey ol’ brindge between Duquesne and West Mifflin. It was on the West Mifflin side, across from Kennywood. It is rumored that they sold the land to McDonalds for over 1 million!! I have lots of questions, but will patiently wait to address them.

Speaking of Duquesne Place, I recall finding a never ending supply of fossils and arrow heads with my friend Gene Sabolcik when we were mere lads. There was a great place that we searched along what I believe is Clonmel Ave., close to Hoffman Blvd. Of course, my memory is rather “iffy” on this and I hope Gene reads this and corrects me. There used to be a lot of shale rock in the area and we spent hours and hours digging and searching. To this day, whenever I took my daughters on the train in Kennywood that showcased the Native Americans that inhabited the immediate area, I thought about finding those arrowheads.

I wonder if they still have a Little League in Duquesne. I was never good enough to play, but my brother Steve, was a fantastic pitcher. I remember watching the games in the field between Duquesne High School and City Hall. I assume that that area was at one time a school stadium before it was relocated to Duquesne Place, but I’m not sure. I always wondered what that gate that lead into the side of the hill in front of the high school was used for. I’d love to know more about that area. Any idea? Also, I remember going to Polish Hill to watch the ballgames too. I guess I have spring fever right now.

Be sure to take some time and join our roll call. I’d love to hear from you and know how far Duquesne Hunky roots have spread. Keep reading my friends!

Posted in Church and School - Holy Name, Duquesne Public Schools, Kennywood | 12 Comments

This Little Hunky Went To Market

Posted on February 17, 2011 by Jim

This Little Hunky Went To Market

I am frequently being sent assorted pictures on email. Most of these come from my kids, who want to share a picture of some cute little animal or something. Even though they both are in their 20’s, they will forever be little girls at heart. Allow me to share the latest………..

This little guy has to be as cute as it gets. Seriously, you have to agree. The part that you don’t know is that the original I was sent had some wording on it. It read, and I quote…..

“Nobuddee gunna pikkle deez feetz!”

 

Although I enjoy good ol’ Hunky cuisine, as a child growing up in a Slovak and Croatian environment, I have to admit that I was a picky eater. The truth is out. I used to give my mom a difficult time whenever I was asked to eat anything that was the least bit foreign to my palette. I had no problems with stuffed cabbage, kielbasa, perogies or any “normal” dishes. However, when it came to what I would term “bizarre” food, that’s where I drew the line. I mean, come on already! I was the kid who would hide uneaten tomato soup in his empty milk carton so Sister Emily wouldn’t catch me throwing it away. She knew I loved milk, so she never bothered to check my carton during lunch at the Holy Name cafeteria. At home, Mom’s way of dealing with my pickiness was to give me smaller portions of the things I’d turn my nose up at.  Perhaps she did it in the hopes that I would “acquire” a taste for it OR perhaps she did it so I didn’t get my way. What ever the reason, I ended up trying it, gagging and then being sent up to my room. Fortunately, this didn’t happen often.

But seriously, let’s discuss the “dark side” of hunky cuisine. Let’s start with my little friend with the boots. Pig’s Feet!?! Seriously? I used to dread when my mom or dad would make it. The basement would be lined with shallow bowls of the stuff and slowly the clear liquid would begin to gel. Out of it would occasionally popped a pig’s toe or, God forbid, a stray stiff hair that somehow didn’t get plucked off of the foot! You couldn’t expect a kid to eat this stuff, could you? They used to sprinkle paprika on top of the concoction, which to me, only made it look more disgusting. Call me picky, but that stuff never passed my lips.

Then there was the oh so appetizing “blood pudding sausage.!” My dad LOVED this treat. Fortunately he knew when some things were futile, and so, he never asked my brother or I to try it. I looked it up on Wikipedia to gain a better understand of the components of the dish. I had this huge pang of guilt thinking I may have passed up one of hunky life’s simple pleasures by not eating it or even trying it. According to Wikipedia: “Black pudding or blood pudding is a type of sausage made by cooking blood or dried blood with a filler until it is thick enough to congeal when cooled. The dish exists in various cultures from Asia to America. Pig, cattle, sheep, duck and goat blood can also be used depending on different countries. In Europe, typical fillers include meat, fat, suet, bread, sweet potato, onion, chestnuts, barley, and oatmeal.” Needless to say, after considering a meal of cooked and congealed goat blood, chestnuts and suet,  I decided my father was wise beyond his years in not attempting to make me eat that delight!

So let’s move on and discuss one of my favorite hunky foods…..PEROGIES. I loved them back then, and I love them now. Of course, as I was growing up, there were no such things as frozen perogies. They were always homemade. My mom never actually tried to make perogies from scratch, but either my aunts or a local church were always a great source for these treats. HOWEVER, for some reason, my dad and every one of his brothers and sisters insisted on serving perogies with what looked to be the most disgusting looking filling ever…… LAKVAR! Yuck. Lekvár is a very thick, sometimes coarse jam of pure ripened fruit. It doesn’t sound that bad, but let’s have a reality check here, does it look like a pile of prunes or a pile of  _____ ???? You decide.

One of the staples in the hunky diet is soup. My mom made the most wonderful chicken soup, beef soup, bean soup and vegetable soup. Her soups were always very simple. I was familiar with every ingredient. The vegetables that she used were understandable to my young hunky mind. After she passed away, by dad stepped up to the plate and pulled out his innate culinary prowess. He was an exceptionally good cook. He never followed recipes and usually made up his own. He was amazing.

Dad’s soups were always a bit more complex and innovative than Mom’s. Even I, the pickiest hunky ever born, loved them… with a few exceptions. My issue was when my dad decided he needed to get in touch with his hunky “roots.”  I’m not referring to his Slovakian heritage a’ la Alex Haley however. I’m talking about real ROOTS! Those things that grow underground. I could never be convinced to eat them. Carrots… I could do, potatoes…… no problem, onions….. not an issue. However, my dad would occasionally cross over to that dark side again and plop some grotesque underground anomalies into that cauldron of a soup pot. Parsnips, rutabaga and the ever mysterious kohlrabi would all be used at one time or another. I’m sorry, but I swear that you could boil those roots for hours and hours and still break a tooth on them. Seriously, were they REALLY that necessary?? I assure you that Rachael Ray would never use any of those ingredients in her Meals in 30 Minutes recipes!

Of course, you must know that I critique all of the above with the most loving of feelings for the culture they came from. I will always accept and embrace who I am and what Duquesne was all about. I am forever proud of my hunky heritage, ………it’s only the roots that are so hard to swallow!!

Later my friends!

Posted in Food and Restaurants, My Hunky Family, Parents | 15 Comments

The House That Built ME!

Posted on February 15, 2011 by Jim

I sat last night and watched the recording industry’s Grammy Awards. I have always been a sucker for award shows and had turned into a couch potato way back when I was still living in Duquesne. Things are a bit different these days whenever I watch any of the award shows. When I was a mere lad, I knew every song and artist that was nominated for a Grammy, every TV Show nominated for an Emmy and virtually every movie and movie star that was up for an Oscar. Things were simpler back when I was young; there were only three networks vs. the 100’s available today; singers had pronounceable names like Johnny Mathis as opposed to Ke$ha; and movies were being released at a normal rate as opposed to the hundreds that are being churned out of Hollywood and countless other areas of the country.

Back to last night’s Grammys….

Marinda Lambert performed a song that she had recorded in 2010 and during the ceremony won the Grammy for best female country vocal performance for that same song, “The House That Built Me.”  The words are poignant and really aim for your heart. They made me think about 206 Thomas Street and the home that built this Duquesne Hunky.

The purpose of this post today is to acknowledge how much my childhood home means to me, and at the same time, convey how heart breaking it is to see it as it stands today. I am certain that my frustration is, or would be, shared by virtually every former resident of Duquesne if they were to come face to face with their childhood home.

As I wrote in one of my earlier posts, I grew up on Thomas Street, directly across from what used to be Kopriver’s Greenhouse and Nursery and later, Kroger’s Supermarket. Thomas Street was also the access road into St. Joseph’s Cemetery which was at the end of my street.

My parents purchased the home in 1951 from and Mr. and Mrs. Stoner. When it was purchased, it was known as 8 Thomas Street, but during a remapping effort by the Post Office, the address evolved into 206 Thomas Street. To this day, I never could figure the need for the change. They moved into what was to become the only home I would ever know as a child on October 31st, 1951. The move must have been a bit strenuous for my mother for I was born the very next day, November 1, 1951, in McKeesport Hospital. I never found out if my mom spent the first night they owned their new home in her own bed or in a hospital bed. I had discovered some photos of the home at the time they purchased it and it was obvious that by the time I began remembering its details, my dad had made some upgrades.

My house had an empty lot next to it that was part of the purchase. It remains that way to this day. It was great for the neighborhood kids, since it provided a great place to play games, run, roll down the hill, catch lightening bugs, play tag, play statue and all of those games that kids played before video games and skateboards. Although the yard was tame by comparison to the cemetery hill, it also made the perfect training ground for fledging sled riders. I remember my dad keeping an eye on me from the sidewalk in front of the house when I was first learning how to handle my Flexible Flyer!

My dad planted a sycamore tree in the backyard when we first moved into the house. I think I even have pictures of me as a baby sitting in front of that tree at about 18 months of age. Throughout the years, the trunk of that tree kept on getting larger and larger and soon, the tree towered over our house and yard by the time I was in my teens. The branches of the tree stretched across the vacant lot to our neighbors to the left and well into the neighbor’s yard on the right. I think it was 1981 when my dad finally decided the tree had to be removed. The root system had begun to cause problems with our home’s foundation and it had become disproportionately large for the area as well. It took several days, many men and a huge crane and cherry picker to wrestle the behemoth sycamore to the ground. I wasn’t there for its demise. I don’t think I could have watched.

 In 1965, my mother died in that house. She was only 42. She suffered a massive heart attack as she and my dad were lying in bed one evening. She had rheumatic fever as a adolescent which caused a weakened heart. In the 1930s and 1940s rheumatic fever was a serious medical problem for adolescents. Hospitals often had waiting lists for children who needed treatment.

On the night that my mom died, I lay in my bedroom. I had just begun using a very small bedroom at the end of the upstairs hall as my room. I was 12 and ready to have my own space, so Mom and Dad set up the bedroom for me. That night in August, I remember hearing my mom call my dad’s name in the middle of the night. She called it only once. It woke me up. I remember listening as my dad began to call out to her, frantically trying to wake her. I don’t know if my brother heard the events that night. We have never talked about it. For some time, I lay in my bed that evening counting every breath that I took. My mind was swirling, perhaps with denial. I would swear that I heard each beat of my heart as I laid there in denial, trying to convince myself that it was a dream. I recall my dad running down the steps and soon after, the horrible series of events began to unfold.

My Aunt Mary was the first on the scene. She lived one street down from us on Martin Street. Her husband, my Uncle Lou, was working night turn that evening, and at work when all of this occurred. Shortly after Aunt Mary came, Dr Fletcher arrived and immediately ran up the steps to my parent’s bedroom. I will never forget the look on his face as he descended the steps after pronouncing my mother dead. Aunt Mary took my brother and I to the back porch. I recall her holding us very close as we all listened for the sound of other family members arriving. We all stared out toward the corner of Mellon Street and Texas Ave. in the hopes that somehow their arrival would change everything. It didn’t. Millie, my mom, was gone.

I remember so many happy events that we celebrated in that house. I remember Christmases, First Communions, never ending euchre games with my uncles, the multitude of “pets” that I’d drag into the house much to my mom’s chagrin and countless other precious moments in my life. I recall having to try on my brother’s hand-me-down clothes each August in preparation for returning to school. They smelled like mothballs.

I remember peering out on snowy nights wondering if there would be too much snow to go to school. Usually, the storm windows had frosted up and I had to use my breath to melt a spot to look out of.

In an earlier post, I wrote about how growing up in Duquesne was proof that it took a village to raise a child. All of our neighbors on Thomas Street became a part of my life as I was growing up. Mrs. Mentzler, Anna and Frank Yasko, Mrs. Davies, Joanie and Ed Shedlock, Adam and Eve Oravick, Mike and Mary Kovach, Mr. and Mrs. Rudy Gregory, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Hanks, and Mr. and Mrs. Ray Snyder all helped to set the moral compass I now live by. Each family had their own trials, their own set of problems, but collectively, this group of neighbors were banned together in friendship, love and harmony. All were friends and all collectively shared in each other’s joys as well as well as sorrows.

Both Steve, my father, who died in 1999, and Millie, my mom were buried in St. Joesph’s Cemetery. Both of their graves lie in plain sight of the home that built me. Whenever I visit my parents gravesite, I turn toward Thomas Street and wonder what they would be thinking if they saw what had become of their home. I always wish that I somehow had the means to save it, to take it back and once again feel the comfort it provided for so many years. Perhaps this is the same feeling that would be felt by each of you as you looked at the home in Duquesne that held your special memories. I wish they could be saved.

The House That Built Me

By Allen Shamblin and Tom Douglas

I know they say you can’t go home again
I just had to come back one last time
Ma’am I know you don’t know me from Adam
But these handprints on the front steps are mine

Up those stairs in that little back bedroom
Is where I did my homework and I learned to play guitar
I bet you didn’t know under that live oak
My favorite dog is buried in the yard

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
This brokenness inside me might start healing
Out here it’s like I’m someone else
I thought that maybe I could find myself

If I could just come in I swear I’ll leave
Won’t take nothing but a memory
From the house that built me

Mama cut out pictures of houses for years
From Better Homes and Gardens magazine
Plans were drawn and concrete poured
Nail by nail and board by board
Daddy gave life to mama’s dream

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
This brokenness inside me might start healing
Out here it’s like I’m someone else
I thought that maybe I could find myself

If I could just come in I swear I’ll leave
Won’t take nothing but a memory
From the house that built me

You leave home and you move on and you do the best you can
I got lost in this old world and forgot who I am

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
This brokenness inside me might start healing
Out here it’s like I’m someone else
I thought that maybe I could find myself

If I could walk around I swear I’ll leave
Won’t take nothing but a memory
From the house that built me

Posted in Life in General, Parents | 8 Comments

Duquesne’s Nightlight and Lullaby

Posted on February 10, 2011 by Jim

I came across an archive of photographs online a few days ago that I had to share with you.The Library of Congress in Washington D.C. maintains an archive of photographs that contain over 14 million items. Part of those photographs is a collection titled Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record. This collection contains documentation for more than 38,000 sites and structures. Within the Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record there is a set of 76 photographs that are collectively titled U.S. Steel Duquesne Works, Blast Furnace Plant, Along Monongahela River, Duquesne, Allegheny, PA.

In 1989, photographers Jet Lowe and Martin Stupich created this overview history and inventory of individual structures of U. S. Steel’s Duquesne site. The photos feature interior and exteriors of the many various plants within the Duquesne Works. Since the time these photographs were taken, many of the structures have been demolished, as the former site of U. S. Steel’s Duquesne Works continues to transform into a pseudo industrial park.

The mill always seemed to be such an ominous and mysterious place. I was never privy to what went on beyond the front gate at the mill since I never worked there, however I was always curious. My uncles would occasionally talk “shop talk” when they got together. They would describe molten steel in huge ladles, red hot ingots weighing thousands of pounds, and many more fascinating images. By comparison, the collection’s photos capture images of a rather desolate and eerily silent group of massive buildings. What the photos show, is a mere shell of what was.

My childhood home on Thomas Street was just a little over a mile from the mill. Since my father’s business was on South 1st Street and given that I attended Holy Name Grade School, I became very familiar with the sites, sounds and smells of the plant. Whenever I visit my family in the Duquesne area, I think back to the days when the mill was an active and thriving workplace. I recall how at 7 a.m., 3 p.m. and 11 p.m., the U.S.S. gate at the bottom of Grant instantaneously turned into a scene reminiscent of the streets of New York, as the onslaught of departing workers poured out.

Many of the men took to the sidewalks and hiked home. Others returned to their cars, although I must confess that I don’t know where they parked. Still yet, family members would often meet their husband, father or brother at the end of their day. They’d be parked all along Grant Ave. and wave frantically to get their loved one’s attention. Many guys would pour into Elsie’s Avenue News for the newspaper, a pack of cigarettes or whatever they may have needed. The seats at the numerous “beer gardens” would quickly fill up as the guys would chug down their beers to try to either cool off or wash down the dust from the mills that had coated their throats. As quickly as the throng of men formed as shifts turned, it dissipated as swiftly, and by 10 minutes after quitting time, the streets had returned to normal.

I recall how at night, there seemed to be a perpetual sunset hovering over the mills as the sky took on a shade of orange. I assume that the glow was caused by the molten steel and ingots as they passed from plant to plant and finally to railcars or barges. I remember seeing glaring spotlights that were mounted to the various buildings, cranes and furnaces that added even more dramatic light to the scene. As a child, they always reminded me of bright stars in an orange sky. From my Thomas Street bedroom, I could see that orange glow each evening as I looked toward St. Joseph’s cemetery. The scene would have made a great mood shot for some horror film, but to me, it was very comforting.

Equally comforting were the sounds that I would hear at night. Perhaps because of the silence each evening brought to my neighborhood, the sounds of industry that emanated from the mills helped to lull me to sleep. I recall muffled roars, pipes or bars clanking and trains whistling in the night from the mill. I often thought about my uncles or my brother at work on nightshift and wondered if they were making the entire racket. Even in the dead of winter, after my dad had put in the storm windows, the sounds still managed to be heard. I guess some things are destined to never be forgotten. Perhaps the images and the sounds that I’ve recalled will stir up similar recollections for you. Perhaps the next time you watch the sun set you’ll marvel at how much it reminds you of your days in Duquesne.

Posted in Stores and Businesses, Summertime, The Steel Mills | 21 Comments

Duquesne Trival Pursuit

Posted on February 6, 2011 by Jim

I have been busy reading through all of the comments that have been posted by former and current residents of Duquesne since I began this blog back in November. There have been a lot of blanks that have been filled in for me about people and places throughout Duquesne. I was very excited to receive this information and I am eternally grateful.

Occasionally, I’d like to toss out some random thoughts and recollections for you to embellish with your own memories. Let’s dig deep into our memory bank and see if you can add to the following non-related thoughts and questions:

  • If I am not mistaken, wasn’t Adler-Green’s located nest to Avenue News on the corner of S. First and Grant?
  • Didn’t the Alder-Green site convert to a Johnson the Florist after Adler-Green relocated to the corner of 2nd Street and Grant?
  • Wasn’t Johnson the Florist originally located on the corner of S. First and Grant across the street from Alder-Green’s original location?
  • Weren’t Adler’s and Green’s separate stores at one time?
  • Where was Benovitz’s located? I remember the name and I think they sold appliances, but I am not sure.
  • Does anyone remember Dr. Sebastian, the female dentist, located near the First National Bank building on Duquesne Blvd? She eventually relocated her office to Duquesne Place. I believe it was on the 2nd floor of her home then. Does anyone remember her?
  • My dad used to talk about a friend of his who used to live above Adler-Green’s on the corner of S. First and Grant. My dad always called him Pop Arms. Does anyone know anything about him?
  • Every two weeks, we were marched down to Ideal Barber Shop on Grant Ave. Frank Gigliotti was the owner and occupied the first chair, closest to the front window. There was another barber there, I believe his name was Bob, who always cut my hair. Does anyone recall Bob or his last name?
  • I had a friend who lived on Priscilla and 3rd or 4th Sts. Here name was Denise Hudak. She would have graduated in 1969. Does anyone know anything about her or where she is now?
  • Avenue News was always called Elsie’s as long as I can remember. However, I don’t remember anyone named Elsie there. Am I wrong?
  • Do you remember Jerry Reed’s Insurance Office next to Holy Name Grade School? Wasn’t there a dry cleaners next to his office on the corner of 1st Street and the alley behind Avenue News?
  • Did you know that Port Authority’s 61C bus route is still active. The cost to go from Duquesne to Downtown Pittsburgh is now $2.75 (if I am reading their fare schedule correctly.) I remember snowy days waiting for the bus inside the little coffee shop on the corner of Grant and 2nd St. It was always so warm and smelled so good in there! I have no idea what the name was.  Any thoughts?

I certainly hope that this has stirred up some memories! I hope someone has some answers to my questions. I am most anxious to find out about the mystery man “Pop Arms” and my friend Denise Hudak. Don’t forget to comment!!

Posted in Duquesne Buildings, Miscellaneous, Stores and Businesses | 157 Comments

A Hunky SUPER BOWL Party!

Posted on February 4, 2011 by Jim

With the big game this weekend, I tried to think of how my dad and my uncles would have celebrated the event at a Super Bowl Party if they were alive today! With that thought in mind, aside from the washtub full of ice and beer, consider celebrating what we hope will be a decisive STEELER victory this Sunday. The recipes are simple and are just the type of food our dads would enjoy while watching!! Be sure to check out the video at the end of this post. God love HUNKYS!

Easy Cabbage Roll Casserole

  • 1 ½   lbs lean ground beef or ground turkey
  • 2 onions finely chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ¼ t. freshly ground black pepper
  • 7 ½ oz can of tomato sauce
  • 1 cup water
  • 10 oz can condensed tomato soup undiluted
  • ½ cup long grain rice, uncooked
  • 4 cups shredded cabbage
  • 1/3 cup tomato juice or water
  • Sour cream

Cook ground meat onions, salt and pepper until browned. Drain. Return to heat adding tomato sauce, water and ½ can of the tomato soup; mix well. Stir in the rice until combined.

Place half of the meat mixture in a lightly greased slow cooker, then half of the cabbage. Top with the remaining meat mixture and remaining cabbage. Stir together the remaining tomato soup and tomato juice. Pour over the meat and cabbage. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or on high from 4 to 6 hours, until bubbling and heated through. Serve with sour cream.

 

Kielbasa Appetizers

Ingredients – try using the turkey kielbasa, no fat and great tasting

  • 18 fluid ounces beer
  • 1 (18 ounce) bottle barbecue sauce
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
  • 2 pounds kielbasa (Polish) sausage, cut into 1/2 inch pieces Directions

Combine the beer, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, and Dijon mustard in a large skillet over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally; reduce heat to low and add the kielbasa. Simmer until kielbasa is browned and glazed, about 1 hour.

Ham Roll Up Recipe

As long as I can remember “occasions” where we would gather to eat, there was always ham roll ups. Always a favorite for the men, women, and children alike, this ham roll up recipe is a sure winner!

You need:

  • 1 lb of sliced ham (you can use inexpensive packaged ham, like we do, or get the deli to thin slice it for you.),
  • 1–8 oz package of cream cheese
  • finely chopped green onions to taste
  • 1 Tbsp of Garlic powder

Instructions

  1. Soften your cream cheese and add your green onions, garlic powder and Accent.
  2. Spread a thin layer of the cream cheese mixture on a piece of ham, then roll it, and cut into bite sized pieces. Usually one roll = 3 bite size pieces.

**Tip** If you’re using pre-packaged ham, dry each piece of ham between paper towels before spreading cream cheese mixture on them.

 

Horseradish Cheese Ball

2 – 8 ounce packages cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon horseradish
1 teaspoon celery salt
1/2 teaspoon onion salt
1 cup dried beef  ( I just use all the beef that comes in the jar or bag)

It does say make day before:

In a small bowl, with mixer at medium speed, beat cream cheese until smooth. Beat in horseradish, celery salt and onion salt; mix in dried beef. With hands shape mixture into ball; wrap and refrigerate until firm.

 

Chipped Ham Barbeque

The most difficult part of this recipe is trying to make any Deli Counter or Butcher outside of the Pittsburgh area understand what you mean by chipped ham. Chipped ham can be described a processed ham luncheon meat, chopped ham that is sliced razor thin through “chipping” the meat loaf against a commercial meat slicer blade, setting the slicer to “0, ” the finest setting. You will need to instruct the person behind the counter to do this. YES, they WILL look at you as if you are crazy, but the fact that you have face painted yourself with Steelers black and gold designs, they really have a point!

Ingredients

  • 1 pound of chipped ham (aka chipped chopped ham)
  • ½ – 1 cup ketchup (any will do, HOWEVER, to be a true  Duquesne hunky,   Heinz is the definitive choice!)
  • 2 Tbsp jelly (any flavor will do) 
  • 3 Tbsp margarine or EVVO

 Sautee chipped ham in a skillet until slightly browned. Add jelly and stir until dissolved. Add ketchup until the ham is coated and saucy. Simple, quick and great!

 

BE SURE TO CLICK THE ARROW IN THE CENTER OF THE SCREEN AND LISTEN TO THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS POLKA!!!

Posted in Food and Restaurants, Miscellaneous, Movies, Music, Radio and TV, Sports | 6 Comments