Have you ever heard of a Gigapan? It is a photograph comprised of sometimes hundreds of small snapshots, all stitched together by computer software to create one incredibly detailed high resolution image. When the image is uploaded to Gigapan.org you can view it and keep on zooming and zooming to see all kinds of interesting... Continue Reading →
Beehive Coke Ovens, Shoaf PA
I always thought coke was made at huge facilities such as US Steel's Clairton Works or Kopper's coke battery in Monessen: But would you ever think that as late as 1972 it was still made like this? That video is of the beehive coke ovens in Shoaf PA. I was surprised to learn that you... Continue Reading →
Chicken Or Turkey Dinner 75 cents – Hotel Glasser, Monongahela PA
I recently came across this ad, published in 1937 for a 75 cent Hotel Glasser chicken or turkey dinner. Wow that's cheap! The closest thing you will find at that price today is a McChicken sandwich at McDonalds. It makes me wonder if the proprietors were keeping the prices ultra low so that everybody could... Continue Reading →
Perking Up With Sperky
Ever hear of Sperky Bottling Co. in Monongahela Pa? Well I hadn't either until today when I came across this Ebay auction. It looks like they marketed a brand of pop (aka "Soda" in primitive areas of the country) called Sperky back in the 1950's and 1960's. Here are a couple ads I found that... Continue Reading →
Working At Liggett Spring and Axle, September 1975
I came across this photograph a while ago. Great details showing people at work. Anybody know who this is? Can anybody decipher the the last two lines on the back of the photograph? It's hard to believe this photo is 35 years old!
Nothing Runs Like A Bean
Monongahela Valley Fire Department is featured in this 1948 ad for John Bean High Pressure Fog Fire Fighters! "This John Bean High-Pressure Fog Fire Fighter, mounted on an International Truck chassis, was recently delivered to Monongahela Valley Fire Department, Monongaehla, Pa. John Bean Fire Fighters carry their own water supply - provide two guns of... Continue Reading →
A Brief History of Liggett Spring and Axle Co.
I've been doing some research about Liggett Spring and Axle Co. and will be making several posts over the next few days. (If you want to see all articles on this topic just click on the tag in right hand column.) Most people around here don't refer to the company as "Liggett Spring and Axle... Continue Reading →
Wearever Donkey Cart by Liggett Spring and Axle Co.
Liggett Spring & Axle Company was located across the river from Monongahela PA in what is currently known as East Monongahela. (Previously known as Axleton and even earlier Carrollton.) At one time Liggetts was the largest spring and axle manufacturer in the United States. Evidently they made products other than springs and axles: Below is... Continue Reading →
Harris Workingman’s Store
While watching the building housing Vocelli Pizza burn I noticed this old sign painted to the side of the building. I asked around and found that for many years Harris Workingman's (spelling?) Store was located here. Do any readers have more information about the store? What kind of merchandise did they sell? When did it... Continue Reading →
Reminiscences by Maury Tosi
I just found a great website called Reminiscences by Maury Tosi. Maury grew up in Monongahela and graduated from Monongahela City high school in 1942. He later served in the military and became an engineer. He wrote a fascinating story about his life, much of it spent in Monongahela PA. Here is an excerpt about... Continue Reading →
It’s back to the future for Pittsburgh’s oldest office building – Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Thought you might be interested in this article about the second oldest building in Pittsburgh - the Burke Building. (Be sure to check out the slide show on the left to view pictures.) It's back to the future for Pittsburgh's oldest office building - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
KKK Marching up 7th Street Monongahela PA 1908
Here's an interesting photo I found in the Old Homecoming Week Magazine . Click here to see the full size version because there is a good bit of detail you can't see in the image above. You can see what 7th street looks like today here. Here's a detail of a drawing of Monongahela done... Continue Reading →
Catsburg!
There is a very old section of Monongahela formerly known as Catsburg. Here is a map showing what this area looked like in 1902. I first became interested in Catsburg while reading the "Historical magazine of Monongahela's old homecoming week. Sept. 6-13, 1908". This publication isn't really a magazine like we think of today rather... Continue Reading →
Lost Monongahela 