I came across this postcard recently. The postmark is from 1951 so I’m sure there are plenty of folks around who would remember these cabins. I want to say that route 31 is today’s route 136 but I’m not sure. My guess is that these cabins were located somewhere along the flat areas of Dry Run somewhere near Valley Inn. What do you think?
*edit* I talked to my dad briefly last night and he said that these cabins were located on the south side of Rt 136 about 1/4 mile or less west of Ringgold High School. (this is also confirmed by Eugene’s comment below). At one time these were owned by a Mr. Ford who also owned a small store and gas station along this stretch of the highway. Dad said these cabins were used by travelers looking for overnight lodging. I wonder though why the travelers wouldn’t just continue on to Monongahela and stay in one of the hotels there. Maybe the cabins were cheaper or more convenient. (Parking may have been an issue in downtown Monongahela; the population at the 1950 census was 10,387 – more than double what it is today with many more buildings standing at that time.)
I assume these cabins became less popular over the years as travelers forsook route 31 (currently route 136) for interstate 70. Before interstate 70 was constructed, the main east and west routes in this area were PA route 40 and PA route 31. And from examining old maps, I believe route 31 was the quickest way to get to the turnpike from Washington PA.
Construction of interstate 70 in our area began in 1953, finally connecting to the PA Turnpike in 1963,
Please comment if you remember these cabins. I would appreciate hearing about how they were used, who typically would stay there and how much it cost to stay in one.
Lost Monongahela 
These were on Rt 136 (old Rt 31). As you leave Monongahela, they were about 1/4 mile past the entrance to Ringgold High School on the opposite side of the road.
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Sorry, I wasn’t sure how to contact you.
This is regarding your Flickr photos…
I really got a good cry today!
Thank you for the beautiful shot of the Slovak Club. I basically grew up in and around that place. My grandfather was a member, and I would go in with him to play the bowling machine while he chatted with his friends. That place means a lot to me.
As for the picture of the black raspberries, do you know them to be called a different name? We used to pick them ALL the time, and my grandfather called them something else. I can’t remember what.
I am going to be up to Mon City again in a few months, and I will be spending a week, 10 days looking at all of the historic sites, and meeting with the historical society to give copies of photos.
My great-grandmother had a store off of Union Street in New Eagle. It was recently razed along with the house. I had nothing to do with that and it was out of my hands. I have photos of the store and my great-grandmother. Really good stuff.
It looks like you might be a little younger than me, but if we could meet and you could take me on the grand tour of sites I would love to go.
Feel free to get in touch if you are comfortable doing so.
Thanks for the great photos and research.
Mindy
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Re. Hall’s Cabins: I grew up in the house directly across 31 from them but left before Ringgold HS was built — it was still Restelli’s farm then, and we used to look forward to his pond freezing over in the winter for skating. IIRC, there was a somewhat larger cabin (the office?} which I believe can be seen partially at the right end of the photo. It was adjacent to Mr. (Ted) Ford’s store where I regularly bought candy, ice cream, baseball cards, etc.; as kids, we used to play on the rather steep hillside just across the creek and behind the cabins and the store. Also, I think there was a home on the property but closer to the road and probably much newer than the cabins themselves. My mother (now 92 and in Arizona) remembers the cabins well, and I also have an aunt (now 96 and living in New Eagle) who went to school with a daughter of the Halls.
[A question for Eugene — are you perhaps a relative of “Dink” (sp.?) Haywood? He was often our school-bus driver, and I was a friend of his son Gary in the early grades at Valley Inn School. Thanks!]
[Also, a question for Mindy — are you perhaps a relative of Ronald Milenko? He was a good friend of mine at Carroll JHS and a terrific baseball pitcher. Thanks!]
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Seeing the Hall’s cabins, it reminds me of the hotel and cabins on Mingo Church Road. It is where the blacks would stay. The hotel is still there. It is a private residence now, but the cabins that were across the road are gone. Does anyone else remember these?
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Where on Mingo Church Road? I’d be interested in learning more about it!
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yes I lives on circle drive I remember the cabins and the hotel very well
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The hotel and cabins on Mingo Church Road were approximately 1 mile from the beginning of the road starting at Rt. 88. The hotel sits on the right. It is a white two story building. Looks like a small hotel. The cabins were on the left. they were lined in a row going down the hill. They are not there anymore.
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I think the name of these cabins and hotel was Edmond’s Hotel
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I grew up on Ginger Hill right across the street from the old Ginger Hill inn. Graduated from Charleroi high school in 1975. These cabins were gone as far as I can remember. There used to be a log cabin just past the rail tressel as dry run merged to the left and the beginning of 4th Street up the hill. There was a gas station under the tressel. Can’t remember it’s name. My brother owns the house on Ginger Hill that has an original log cabin attached to it. George Washington visited a family named the Hamilton’s in the mid 1700s. My email is ed022057@gmail.com.
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Hudak’s gas station?
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My great grandparents, the Kogelmans, lived across the road from Ford’s store. My mother lived there as a child. She said she remembers the cabins.
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