The last email you received from Lost Monongahela had several errors. It was a very rough draft that I sent out prematurely. Please click here for the corrected version. Thank you!
FtPittCoal.com a Coal Mining History of Monongahela – is a Local Treasure!
Finding information about Monongahela area history can be challenging so it is exciting to find a new website and read stories about local history. So here is a website that I enjoy and that I should have brought to your attention earlier: FortPittCoal.com, The Forgotten Coal Mines of Monongahela, PA. What I appreciate about the... Continue Reading →
Is Pork and Sauerkraut a New Year’s Tradition Where You Live?
This isn't exactly a Monongahela-related question but a Pennsylvania-area question. I was on PA related forum, and people who grew up in other areas of the country had no idea that pork, sauerkraut, potatoes, and apple sauce was something traditionally served as a New Year's Day meal. We have a bunch of "Monongahela diaspora" folks... Continue Reading →
Finding Family After Slavery in Monongahela’s Daily Republican
After the abolition of slavery, formerly enslaved individuals yearned to reunite with their families, torn apart during the domestic slave trade. Seeking their loved ones, many turned to a simple yet hopeful method: placing ads in newspaper want ad sections, hoping the sought-after family member or anyone familiar would chance upon the plea and respond.... Continue Reading →
100 Years ago – Monongahela celebrates the new year, pt 2
As mentioned in our previous post, copies of the Daily Republican issue that covered Monongahela's big 1924 New Year's Day celebration are unavailable. Fortunately, there was coverage in the January 2, 1924 issue of the Pittsburgh Gazette Times that included two photos and an article. (click the photo to enlarge it) Parade, Dinner and Ball... Continue Reading →
100 years ago – Monongahela celebrates the new year, pt. 1
How did you celebrate the new year? As with most people I know, I spent a quiet evening with friends. There were no big public celebrations in the Monongahela area that I know of. It wasn't that way in 1924 though. Check out these articles I found from the Daily Republican. (tip: click on the... Continue Reading →
Monongahela High School Class of 1954 Yearbook Cover
This has always been my favorite MHS yearbook cover I think. What is your favorite? Keep double clicking each image to enlarge. Look for the * to see who hit the books. Click here to see what was happening in 1954. 69 years as of May of 2023, and finally congratulations to the class of... Continue Reading →
3000 people watch bicycle racing at the Monongahela race track in 1895
The following article is from our local newspaper's July 11, 1895 edition. I don't think people today have any idea that bicycling was such a big deal in our town around the turn of the 20th century. Now with the advent of e-bikes (making hilly terrain less of an issue) and the $25,000 PA WalkWorks... Continue Reading →
Nude Parties Along River
"Residents near the scenes of the mixed parties were aroused and authorities notified."
Background to WQED’s “A Season to Remember – The Baseball Boys of Mon City.” Monongahela Area’s 1952 Little League and 1954 Pony League teams.
WQED recently filmed a documentary about Monongahela's 1952 Little League World Series finalist team and the 1954 Pony League World Series winning team. The premier broadcast is tonight at 8:00pm on WQED. I believe it will be rebroadcast on Monday and it will be available online at some point. Here is some background information that... Continue Reading →
All The Construction On Main Street = Confidence In Our Town
If you live in Monongahela I’m sure you’ve noticed all the scaffolding and construction along Main Street in the last few weeks. Hundreds of thousands spent at the Fox’s Pizza building on the west end of town, hundreds of thousands (I’m guessing) spent by City Mission getting the old McCrory’s building (aka Finishing Touch) in... Continue Reading →
A Frigid Valentine From 1856
Reminiscent. Editor Daily Republican. - Forty years ago this winter was the longest and coldest winter season within the last half century. The river froze up in December and did not open until March; the ice was about two feet thick and teams could drive on it anywhere with perfect safety. There was good sleighing... Continue Reading →
To Good People Who Keep Our Town Walkable, Except…
Just wanted to give a shout-out to the folks who have diligently kept their sidewalks shoveled this year. I appreciate it because I've been walking more, not only for the health benefits but because it just feels great to get out of the house for some fresh air. Walking takes only a little more time... Continue Reading →
Even Trains Can Struggle On A Snowy Day
I was killing time on Youtube this snowy Tuesday morning and came across this video of a Norfolk Southern train ascending a hill. The video caught my eye because if you live anywhere near the tracks in Monongahela; you see Norfolk Southern trains every day. At first you can barely see the train through the... Continue Reading →
The Little Tower That Could
My last post was about the railroad tracks being built across East Main Street back in 1899. While doing research for that post I kept coming across all kinds of interesting stories related to the area between First Street and the tracks at Pigeon Creek. In this post I'll discuss why this area was such... Continue Reading →
121 Years Ago This Month – First Train Crosses Main Street At Pigeon Creek
Many of us remember the feeling - you are traveling south on Main Street in Monongahela trying to get to Charleroi for an appointment. You are a few minutes late but if all the green lights through town are in sync you might just arrive on time. You approach 4th Street and YESSS, you just... Continue Reading →
Throwing stones at birds will NOT be tolerated
MONONGAHELA CEMETERY. - Notice is hereby given that all persons who visit the Cemetery are forbidden from pulling flowers, throwing stones at birds, injuring the fences, or enclosures in any way, hunting on any of the cemetery grounds, or using fire-arms thereon. I am instructed to make information against any persons violating any of the... Continue Reading →
Harris Workingman’s Store part 2
I'm still working on the Conestoga series that I promised in the last post so look forward to more on that soon. I appreciate comments that readers make on my posts so it was great to hear from Bill Perry a few weeks ago regarding an old post about the Harris Workingman's store from 11... Continue Reading →
A Painting, Conestoga Wagons And Monongahela
Lost Monongahela is springing back to life! Longtime followers of this blog know that it goes dormant from time however dormancy doesn't mean that it’s dead (at least as long as I'm is alive)! I may have mentioned before that I work in construction so I tend to write more in colder months when the... Continue Reading →
Mid-Mon Valley towns of Charleroi, Monongahela and Donora featured in a national publication.
A professor at the University of Pittsburgh posted a link to his Twitter feed Thursday that caught me by surprise. It's a positive story about the Mid Mon Valley by Laurent Belsie of the Christian Science Monitor. The article mainly focuses on Charleroi but also mentioned are Donora, the City of Monongahela and Washington County.... Continue Reading →
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