How is Monaca these days? (Pittsburgh, Chester: apartments, condos, new home)

[J.A.Mitch]

I was curious to know how Monaca is doing these days. I grew up there many years ago and hope one day to finally make it back. We moved to Florida back in the late 80's when the steel mills started shutting down and laying off and I HATED it there. Needless to say my heart stayed in Monaca. I have finally made it back up to Somerset County PA so just a little bit further and I will be back home. I have been wanting to go visit to see all of the changes but the place I work at right now is 7 days a week so time is not on my side but I am working so that is what matters!
I lived up on the hill on Linden St. This was back when the 4th ward Elementary school was still a school and the YMCA was just closed down behind the water plant. There were water slides by the little league baseball fields the last time I was there. Skeeter hill ice cream shop had recently been built by the 4th ward fire hall just before we moved. I believe it was like 2 years old maybe. My dad was a volunteer fireman there and I remember them being pretty active back then with different gatherings like dances and shows and such. We had a great time back then so I can only hope people still do the same now.
Anyhow, I was just curious of how things are there now.

[RyanR]

If this thread was moved to the Pittsburgh forum, it'll probably get a lot more hits.

[toobusytoday]

Moved!

[J.A.Mitch]

Thank you very much!

[king26]

J.A. Mitch,
We just moved to Monaca this past summer, 5th (?) ward. I do like the neighborhood quite a lot. It is very quiet and quaint. Great mix of quiet and friendly seniors and other 25-35 year olds getting started. I can not seem to find the ice cream shop you mentioned, so it must be gone. There now are several small delis/groceries on Bechtel and Marshall that may have been it. I heard from an old-timer neighbor the water slides were removed around 2004-5 because the original survey was done wrong.A slide was over the property line and the property owner made them tear it all down. The borough is beginning work on revitalizing that entire park with plans for a spray park in the place of the slides. http://www.monacapa.net/index.asp?Ty...6-0B500DEE182C}

I can't say much about the VFD other than their whistles still blow periodically. The building that I am pretty sure was the Fourth Ward Elementary School is being renovated currently into either apartments or condos.

The downtown area along Pennsylvania Avenue is still a work in progress. I'd say its 70% occupied these days. There is literally more retail space open than needed amongst all these Beaver Valley river downtowns. Most retail is around the new big box jungle near the Beaver Valley Mall up the hill.

Monaca Heights in particular stills seems to have recently new home construction (but before my moving here) I would overall consider Monaca to be a bedroom community these days. All of my non-retired neighbors work in Pittsburgh or Allegheny County.

[J.A.Mitch]

Thank you for the information. I hope to make it by there soon. I have just been waiting on the snow to slow down a little more up in these mountains and to get a little time off hehe. That old ice cream stand was actually right on the same property as the 4th ward fire department. That was a long time ago though ><. That is still sad about the 4th ward elementary school but at least they aren't tearing it down I guess.
I did a little google maping of it all in satellite mode just to get an idea of the area and it does look like there have been some changes. The house that used to be next door to us is even gone now! I do miss the days back then.

[koloskitom]

Originally Posted by J.A.Mitch

I was curious to know how Monaca is doing these days. I grew up there many years ago and hope one day to finally make it back. We moved to Florida back in the late 80's when the steel mills started shutting down and laying off and I HATED it there. Needless to say my heart stayed in Monaca. I have finally made it back up to Somerset County PA so just a little bit further and I will be back home. I have been wanting to go visit to see all of the changes but the place I work at right now is 7 days a week so time is not on my side but I am working so that is what matters!
I lived up on the hill on Linden St. This was back when the 4th ward Elementary school was still a school and the YMCA was just closed down behind the water plant. There were water slides by the little league baseball fields the last time I was there. Skeeter hill ice cream shop had recently been built by the 4th ward fire hall just before we moved. I believe it was like 2 years old maybe. My dad was a volunteer fireman there and I remember them being pretty active back then with different gatherings like dances and shows and such. We had a great time back then so I can only hope people still do the same now.
Anyhow, I was just curious of how things are there now.

I believe you were my neighbor. This is Tom K from Elm St and you have to be Joe. If you're in Somerset now, there's no reason why we shouldn't get together and talk over old times. I think one of the biggest surprises you would find is the house to the left of you burned down Sept 23rd, 2008. The people that now live in your old house bought the property and made it a huge yard. The neighborhood has definitely changed.

[phatty5011]

Rochester is moving into the flats, so in reality, declining.

[zman63]

Chester, west virginia is thriving compared to monaca. Need i say more?

[I_Like_Spam]

Originally Posted by zman63

Chester, west virginia is thriving compared to monaca. Need i say more?

Chester WV has a racetrack/casino.

The gambling "industry" has done a lot better in recent decades than steel and other manufacturing pursuits.