Category: default || By jt3y

I wanna tank all you wunnerful, wunnerful people out inna Internet lent for all offa your wunnerful cards anna letters. Tonight, Joe "Fingers" Carr and "Big Tiny" Little are gonna play a medley of state songs, but first, the orchestra issa gonna do dat ol' Duke Ellington standard, "Take a Train." An-a one an-a two ...

Sorry, I was channelling Lawrence Welk for a second. Let me pause to turn off the bubble machine while Stephanie Ax of Peabody, Kansas, asks:

"Do you have any info or photos of Rankin Wire Mill or Wire-Drawing Department, Braddock Wire Works in Rankin, or Braddock Axle Works. My family (grand father and great grandfather) lived in East McKeesport and worked at these places. I haven't been back to Pennsylvania for almost 30 years and probably won't get another chance to visit."

I can think of several possibilities: The Pennsylvania Department at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh or the Historic American Engineering Record of the National Park Service (which extensively documented U.S. Steel's National Works before it closed).

The Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, home of the Heinz History Center, might also have something in its archives.

Not sure if the Braddock's Field Historical Society can help, but someone there might know something.

Anyone else have suggestions? Write to me, and I'll give you Stephanie's address.

...

Now, let's have a word for your neighborhood Dodge dealers ... no, wait, on witda show. On a somewhat related topic, David Rosenberg, an archivist at the University of Pittsburgh, writes:

"I came across your interesting site and wonder if you had stumbled across mine? Click on special features, then on 'McKeesport and its Tube Works.' A name index of 12,000 employees at the Tube Works in McKeesport is online there along with much other stuff."

Holy moley, this is wonderful stuff. I have been promising for more than three years to get some National Works data online, and in my recent move, I finally started putting my musty, dusty archives into something resembling an "order." Some day soon, pending work on the book, I'll start scanning my stuff, too. Thanks, David!

...

Alert Reader Jeff D. writes:

"Don't know if you're familiar with Zack Weisinger. He just won a big award for his guitar playing at the International Blues Convention. (See the link.) He's from West Mifflin, an '05 high school grad and an amazing guitarist. Something for your site?"

It sure is. We Mon-Yough types who like the funky blues have to stick together, you know.

I have a great deal of admiration and envy for people who can write, read and play music. I love music, but don't have a lick of knowledge or talent, and I'm fairly sure that playing the tissue-paper comb or making motorboat sounds with my lips doesn't count.

...

I know the Super Bowl was two weeks ago, but we haven't gotten over the afterglow yet, have we? (And was it good for you? Sorry.) Anyway, Alert Reader Deane sent along a photo of the Steelers banner on his house.

I'm hoping I can put one of those up on my house for the Pirates some day. Sadly, I don't think the optimism of training camp is going to persist much past June.

...

The Almanac is non-partisan (we are, however, pro-common sense, pro-working people, and anti-phonies), but several people have written recently to announce their candidacy for office, and we're more than happy to print their messages.

• Daniel Mator is running for state representative in the 25th Legislative District; he's challenging incumbent Joe Markosek in the primary.
  
  
• Kim Carradine is also running for state House, but in the 38th District, currently represented by Ken Ruffing.

If you're running for office, and would like a link, I'd be happy to mention you here.

And while we are non-partisan, we're also anti-do-nothing politicians who vote themselves big raises while the elderly taxpayers of the Mon-Yough area are eating cat food, so this seems like a good time to remind everyone of just who voted for the big pay raise, and who voted against it.

Remember, all state legislators are up for re-election this year (state senators are only re-elected every six years).

If your legislator voted to line his pockets last summer (and they're all "hims" in the Mon-Yough area), then they obviously think they're worth the money. Encourage them to find a job in the private sector that has the same salary and perks they've given themselves in Harrisburg: Vote 'em out.

...

How Mon-Yough Legislators Voted on H.B. 1521

House of Representatives

Voting "no": Jim Casorio, Democrat, Irwin; Marc Gergely, Democrat, White Oak; David Levdansky, Democrat, Elizabeth; Harry Readshaw, Democrat, Carrick

Voting "yes": Paul Costa, Democrat, Wilkins Twp.; Pete Daley, Democrat, Coal Center; Joe Markosek, Democrat, Monroeville; Ken Ruffing, Democrat, West Mifflin

Did not vote: Ted Harhai, Democrat, Monessen.

State Senate

Voting "no": Wayne Fontana, Democrat, Brookline; Sean Logan, Democrat, Monroeville; Bob Regola, Republican, Hempfield Twp.

Voting "yes": Jay Costa Jr., Democrat, Forest Hills; J. Barry Stout, Democrat, Bentleyville