Tube City Almanac

July 25, 2008

Eats, Writes and Leaves

Category: Events, General Nonsense, Mon Valley Miscellany || By Jason Togyer

If a cluttered desk is the sign of a cluttered mind, what's an empty desk the sign of?

Here's some of the clutter on my desk, and on my mind:

. . .

Knowing The Angles: A video on a website called "TeacherTube" spotlights Brian See, a math teacher at McKeesport Area High School.

See demonstrates how he teaches the Pythagorean theorem to his students:



TeacherTube, launched last year, allows elementary and high school instructors to upload instructional videos that demonstrate techniques they use to reach students. You can read more on the project's website.

. . .

Diner Beware: For the first time in the 12 year history of Tube City Online, I've had to withdraw a restaurant review.

I'm doing it with great reluctance, because --- as I've pointed out before --- I am not an impartial reporter. I am very biased toward new businesses in the Mon-Yough area, and I want to see them succeed.

But I also try to be an honest broker of information. My very unscientific process of restaurant reviewing includes visiting once by myself, visiting again with friends, and talking to other people who've eaten there to get their impressions.

By the way, I pay for meals myself, which is not a big ordeal because I like to eat out, and besides, very few of the restaurants around the Mon Valley are what anyone would call "expensive."

Also, I'm not fooling myself into thinking that anyone cares what I think of their restaurant ... but I hold out some small hope that people using the Youghiogheny River bike trail or visiting relatives might appreciate a little bit of guidance.

. . .

A Few Nice Words: Speaking of the bike trail, a recent visitor has a few nice words for Our Fair City.

. . .

Department of Corrections: The Post-Gazette finally takes notice of the sale of the People's Building ... and gets the details wrong.

It wasn't Western Pennsylvania National Bank, for gawd's sake. It was People's Union Bank and Trust, a competing bank. WPNB was on the opposite corner.

Gee whiz, if you're going to rehash stories the Almanac had a month ago, at least copy the information correctly.

But I'm not going to be too harsh on the P-G, because the Daily News has repeatedly mixed up one of the details, too, saying that the People's Building once housed "a branch" of People's Union Bank and Trust.

Nope. The building was the headquarters of People's Union Bank. Yes, Virginia, it may be hard to believe, but McKeesport was once important enough to boast the headquarters of three fairly important banks --- People's, WPNB and McKeesport National.

Admittedly, People's and MNB were small by modern standards. Still, it chafes me to see these kinds of details botched. (I probably need more important things to worry about.)

People's disappeared in Union National Bank in roughly 1970; three years later, WPNB became Equibank, which is also now gone; and MNB merged into Three Rivers Bank, which is now part of Huntington Bank.

I'm allowed to criticize other writers, because as you know, I newver mak mistaeks.

. . .

Save the Date: Kelly Stanczak of McKeesport Relay for Life writes to alert us of their next upcoming fundraiser, to be held Aug. 9 and 10 at McKeesport Area High School's Weigle-Schaeffer Memorial Stadium.

Registration costs $100 for eight to 15 people, and includes T-shirts and other materials. Participants take turns walking or running around the stadium track for 24 hours; between laps, they're invited to enjoy entertainment, food and games.

It's a nice, healthy outdoor activity that really doesn't cost much, and benefits cancer research and treatment that affects patients from the Mon-Yough area.

The Relay for Life is also selling luminaria in memory of people who died of cancer or in honor of cancer survivors; luminaria can be ordered in advance or purchased during the event. The suggested donation starts at $10.

Cancer survivors can also join the Relay for Life to participate in a "Celebration of Life Lap" on Aug. 9, followed by a free dinner in their honor.

The Relay for Life is open to the public at starts at 12 noon Aug. 9. Visit the website for local volunteers or call Denise Fry at (412) 919-1041.

. . .

To Do This Weekend: McKeesport Recreation Committee is hosting two free concerts at Renzie Park this weekend. Tomorrow night, enjoy a performance by the U.S. Air Force Band; Sunday night, it's a "Beatles Tribute" by a group called "Come Together." Both concerts get underway at 7 p.m., and all seating is on the lawn in front of the bandshell, so bring a blanket or a folding chair. Visit the committee's website to see other events.






Your Comments are Welcome!

Department Of Corrections, Corrections:

Actually there were even more banks in McKeesport than just those Three

Starting with the Monongahela Valley Bank started in 1858 this bank was located on the corner of Fifth and Market where the Oppenheimer building, then Skelleys Dept.Store later the Famous and Finally the defunct Elks now stand, but this bank failed in 1860. The second bank to open was January 1st 1866 in the Diamond but burned down in 1869 and moved into the Masonic building in July of 1870, but was sold to the Commercial Banking Company of Pittsburgh in 1871 and then sold out to the Commercial Banking Company of Mckeesport in 1872, which later merged into the First National bank in 1875 where it kept it’s doors open in the Masonic Building until it built it’s on Building in 1881 on the corner of Fifth and Walnut.
The Peoples Bank orginized in February of 1873. It was first located in what we know as the old Kadar’s building which was destroyed by the great fire of 1976, until it moved into the “Queen of the Mon”.

The Bank of McKeesport organized in 1887 and opened for business in White Opera house building, what we know know as the empty Cox’s lot. In 1889 it built it’s on building on the corner of Fifth and Sinclair(which is now the City Hall)and in September 1891 it was declared a “National” Bank hence The National Bank of McKeesport

.....and last but not least let’s not forget about the Citizen’s Bank which opened in 1893 in the Shaw Building which was located on Fifth Ave or now known as the empty lot behind Senior Care Plaza.

Thanks for all your hard work on your site Jason, reading it does chase some of the grey clouds away from McKeesport…....

Cox’s Jimmy
Cox's Jimmy - July 26, 2008



You don’t have to worry about removing that restaurnat review. The place is now closed (again) and we have it up for sale or rent.
Chris - July 28, 2008



Chris:

Well, given the fact that it was a screaming train wreck the last time I visited, I’d be surprised if it hadn’t closed.

But TigerTown across the street seems to be doing pretty well so far, no?

Jason
Webmaster - July 28, 2008



Tiger Town does seem to be doing well, parking has cars in it and that’s always a good sign.

I didn’t even know that Tube City (the 2nd) had opened until after a few weeks. There were no signs on the road announcing the opening or anything really visable and no came around to the local businesses with a menu (like Tiger Town did). So it was no surprize that it failed. Better luck to the next person.
Chris - July 28, 2008



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