Tube City Almanac

July 06, 2006

It Was 30 Years Ago This May

Category: default || By jt3y

OK, I'm a little late on this. Mea culpa. But it took me a while to pull this together, which is a major reason that Almanac production has been even thinner than usual.

May 21 marked the 30th anniversary of a devastating day in McKeesport history --- the day that a massive fire ripped through Downtown.

Just before 4 p.m. that Friday afternoon, sparks from a cutting torch set the roof of The Famous Department Store ablaze. Winds quickly whipped the flames into an inferno that spread uptown, wiping out seven buildings and damaging two dozen others.

The final damages were estimated at $5 million, or about $17 million in today's dollars. And the state and federal government both told McKeesport --- which was already facing a big budget deficit --- to go pound sand.

It wasn't the blow that wiped out the Downtown business district, but it certainly didn't help. Indeed, several of the lots that burned that day are still empty.

In preparing this new section of Tube City Online, I was especially fortunate that a friend, who has asked to remain anonymous, donated several color photos taken during the fire and the following morning.

(Also, if you were around on May 21, 1976, feel free to leave your comments below, or email them to me at jt three y at dementia dot org. Naturally, you'll need to replace that spelled-out "three" with the numeral "3.")

Otherwise, and without further ado ... return with me now to May 21, 1976. We pick up our story in the office of McKeesport Fire Chief David Fowler ....






Your Comments are Welcome!

30 years ago, and although I was ten years old, I can still remember that day. My family and I went to a Cub Scout function (I think it was a circus) and then afterwards went up to Port Vue to check out the fire. It was later in the evening and from what the article said, the fire was beginning to get under control.

As a kid, even though we lived in North Huntingdon, we went into downtown McKeesport for all of our doctors and stuff like that. I remember going to our doctor and waiting for hours to get in. The waiting room was filled with people, many smokers (even my dr smoked during the exam). My mom would let us go down a few blocks to where the stores were to look around while we waited. Sometimes, we even ran errands for the nurse/receptionist or other patients my mom knew who were waiting.

It was a very innocent time.
Scott - July 07, 2006




Wow, thank you Jason for the Blog. Your sight and insights provide much enjoyment to those that were around during the 50s, 60s and 70s. Balsamos, B and O, the tank at Renzie, so many more memories flash back into focus. A really great book that cronicals the rise and fall of the US steel industry and thus the MON valley is titled AND THE WOLF FINALLY CAME. I forget the author and the book is backed away however any one interested in the mon and its history must read. Again thank you. JIM C Altoona, former East McKeesport
jim carothers - July 27, 2006




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