Tube City Almanac

August 08, 2009

35 Years Ago, Nixon Was the One (On the Way Out)

Category: History || By

From 35 years ago this weekend, it's a special historical treat for folks on the Duquesne-West Mifflin side of the river.

These are the front pages of the late, lamented Homestead Daily Messenger from Thursday, Aug. 8, 1974 and Friday, Aug. 9, 1974 --- the day that President Nixon left office in disgrace and his successor, Gerald Ford, took office.

Click either front page to enlarge it.

Incidentally, you may be wondering what major stories were sharing the front page of the Messenger on Aug. 9, 1974 besides the resignation of the leader of the free world?

Those stories were a discussion of whether Whitaker Borough would pave Riverview and Hamilton avenues, and Munhall Borough Council's approval of a sewer line extension. Paul Shaffer --- cue up that "Small Town News" theme!

Click to enlarge


Click to enlarge

. . .

In case you were wondering, the Messenger was founded in 1882 as a weekly, went daily in 1899, went back to weekly publication in August 1979 and folded in December of that year.

(One of the Messenger's editors in the '70s was a youthful Kevin G. Barkes, better known these days as editor of Fayette City's most popular blog, the KGB Report.)

The weekly Valley Mirror, founded by former Messenger Editor Earle Wittpenn, picked up the baton in 1981.

Then, in 1983, new owners tried to revive the paper, but they unfortunately went bankrupt two years later.

The Valley Mirror has continued, and although Wittpenn sold the paper to Tony Munson, publisher of the Braddock Free Press, back in 1998, he has continued to write his weekly column, "Earle's Pearls."

. . .

Alas, community journalism in the Homestead-Munhall-West Mifflin area could be in danger yet again. Munson recently announced that he intends to retire, and he's looking for a buyer for the newspaper.

Here's a sincere wish that some budding entrepreneur steps up to keep the Mirror in business and independent.

Remember, Nixon said the "press was the enemy," and that's reason enough to keep as many news outlets in business as possible.

Let's make Dick as miserable as possible in the afterlife ... as if the demons sticking him with pitchforks for all eternity weren't enough.






Your Comments are Welcome!

Jason – an interseting topic for local readers could be the history of the McKeesport Little Tigers – back in the day they were the Steelers of Pop Warner football having won several national titles. Puddin Grayson was a legend and still lives in the area. Not much on the web about their storied team who went to Texas and soundly defeated their opponent. Another local guy is Vince DiBattista who played for the Little Tigers and went on the be the only MVP of the Big 33 game of 1968 from McKeesport — he now works at Bowser Pontiac. We served together in the Navy back in the day! Keep up the good work and I look forward to reading more of your great work!
Donn Nemchick - August 10, 2009



Came across this while searching for information on the Little Tigers also….. we now have a facebook page (www.facebook.com/pages/McKeesport-Little-Tigers) where alumni and fans can share photos and memories! our organization has been a large part of McKeesport History for over 50 years, but its hard to find any information on it!
Brittany Grabowsky - June 14, 2010



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