Greater Monessen Historical Society

The Greater Monessen Historical Society began its life as the Heritage Coalition organized in 1995 to protect, preserve, and enhance Monessen's and the Mon Valley's strong ethnic diversity and rich industrial heritage. Its mandate then and now is to tell the story of Monessen and the Mon-Valley through the areas industries and people: from steel to vulcanizing, from moonshining to beer distributors, from itinerant merchants to fruit sellers, jewelers, carpenters, and dry good stores. We intend to tell the story of people and how they lived and worked in this region: from laborers to corporate Presidents, from ethnic churches and clubs to extended families and their traditions. We intend to tell the story of sports in the valley: from Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson at Page Park to Michael Moorer, the Heavyweight Champion of the World. We intend to show how we all fared during the strikes of 1919, the Great Depression and its no-apple apple pie, the Wagner Act and unionization, World War II, the prosperity that followed, and the fall to hard times. In otherwords, we intend to tell our story through displays, exhibitions, newsletters, speakers series, and a heritage park.

The original Board of Directors included Patricia Bukowski, TVS Coalition director; Ernie Coccari, Monessen Chamber of Commerce director; Ray Johnson, former PR director for Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel; R. Mitch Steen, former Valley Independent editor; and Cassandra Vivian, writer and publisher.

MONESSEN HERITAGE MUSEUM Westmoreland County presented the deed of the cooper building of Pittsburgh Steel to the GMHS in late fall of 1998. An architect is currently assessing the structure and designing the interior and exterior space of the museum. He will also create blue prints for the implementation of the final plan. The museum will contain a small cafe featuring ethnic foods, a small library of steel and ethnic materials, and displays focusing on Monessen's ethnic history and the Mon Valley's steel heritage. This is your museum. Click on the museum's name for a picture of the building and other architectural information. Historical Information

HABS/HAER
Historical Survey of Monessen
Oral Histories and Videos
Pittsburgh Steel Artifacts

Programs

Monessen Coverlet
Speakers Series
Monessen and the Titanic
Monessen in World War II

Membership MEMBERSHIP Membership in the GMHS is open to all. Public meetings are held bimonthly often in conjunction with a speaker. Dues are $15.00 a year for an individual and $20.00 for a family. If you wish to support our efforts, join us by sending your dues to Carol Sepesky, 600 Pennsylvania Ave. Monessen, PA 15062. Members are entitled to discounts on trips, programs, and sale items. Eventually a newsletter will be created. Officers 1995-2000 President Ray Iacoboni V President Pat Bukowsky Sec/Treas Carol Sepesky Board & Museum chair: Cassandra Vivian Other Board members: Gary Strelick, Lloyd Thompson