Chronology of Monessen 1921-1940

    As one reads the events of this critical time in Monessen, it becomes evident that its industries were struggling for survival. Some, like the Tin Mill, closed with the Depression. Others, like Pittsburgh Steel, were saved by World War II. All were destined to eventually "go out of business." It is amazing they lasted as long as they did. They were too big and modernization was a constant and expensive problem. Once technology began to develop at a rapid pace, big mills were no longer profitable.
    The Depression hit the mid-Mon Valley hard. Work was scarce. People were scared. Life was a struggle. Somehow the families survived. They planted gardens. The children worked at small jobs. The mills held on. When there was work, men worked twelve hour shifts. If they wanted Christmas Day off, they worked almost 24 hours the day before.
    Once the Depression ended, Unionization was almost inevitable. That, too, was a struggle as men fought for power and the right to be union organizers. Several large unions competed and eventually merged. That battle was just as bloody and just a cruel to the workers as the fight against the owners. Surprisingly, the Unions never won the 8-hour day for their members. Men had been asking for the 8-hour day since the strikes of the late 1800s. They got it when the companies needed it. When technology was able to produce steel in 8-hours, the companies gave the men the 8-hour day and added a third shift. This allowed them to produce an extra heat of steel everyday. The men didn't win, the companies did.
    What is evident is after the depression, the "foreigners" had earned the right to be Americans. They had worked their way into the American Dream: buying houses and automobiles, supporting clubs and churches. The community that emerged had all aspects of life in its fabric: the good, the bad, the rich, the poor, the honest, the dishonest. Now it was time to live the American Dream.

 This list was originally begun as a private project; therefore, sources were not always provided, they are forthcoming.

• Pages, now American Chain, discontinued open hearth operations.
• Monessen occupies 650 acres.
• Monessen, by citizen ballot, incorporated as a Third Class City on September 16, 1921.
• Carl Woodward elected mayor (1921-1933)
• From the newspapers:
• Warrants issued for three members of the police force who struck a man many times and then arrested him.
• A candy plant is coming to Monessen.
• Files of Provost Marshal General show 29,118 deserters were listed for Pennsylvania during the war.
• Central Pharmacy at Third and Schoonmaker was selling Hypo Cod for Asthma
• Teachers are out on strike in Archibald, Pennsylvania for salary problems.
• Blackhands are being sought in Monessen in connection with the murder of a man from Point Marion

• St. Gajetan's church burns June 23, 1922. restored.
• Monessen Rotary Club organized November 3, 1922.
• East Side Land Company closes for good.

•  Tin Mill capacity 90,000 gross tons, employed 1600
•   Pittsburgh Steel acquires the Gibsonton property in December for    $7,500 an acre (82 acres)
•   Pittsburgh Steel owned 160 acres and 2.3 miles of river front.
•   Pages employed 900 men.
• 31 industrial plants operating in Monessen
• employ 5,572 people
• 3,071 Americans and white
• 578 colored (African American)
• 1,923 foreign (Hughes, History of Monessen, Industrial Development, p23)
• Board of Trade (Chamber of Commerce) committees in 1923
• Americanization Committee, assists naturalization process, and patriotic matters
• Athletic Committee, sports, and maintains Athletic park
• Auditing
• Business Men's, helps merchants
• Charity Committee, aids the communities needy
• Civic Committee,
• Development Committee, growth of Monessen
• Educational Committee, offers lectures
• Membership Committee
• Parks and Playground Committee, provides entertainment for children
• Streets and Roads Committee

• Monthly pay roll of tin mill $300,000, employed 1700. Closed during   depression.
•  Company D, 110th Infantry, Pennsylvania National Guard transferred to Monessen in 1924.
• St Leonard"s school started in fall of 1924, dedicated Aug 23, 1925. (Mitch Notebook, Trib Rev Jan 20, 1991, p. 2.)
• From the newspapers:
• A heavy court log at the city building following pay day weekend.
• Young speeders arrested going 25-30 mph on Donner. Parents protested.

• Monessen Kiwanis Club chartered in January with 56 members.
• On May 14, 18 cases of liquor violations from Monessen tried in county courts
• heavy fines for all nationalities and all neighborhoods
• stills found on Manown, Schoonmaker, and Morgan avenues
• On May 16, large still owned by Bruno Monti found on local farm
• 2 stills produced 150 and 50 gallons of liquor
• 13th Annual Shakespearean and Tennysonian Literary Society competition held at high school in May
• Assimilation of the Immigrant presented by Regina Kunkle
• Debate question: Resolve: That Congress should have the power by a two third vote to veto the decisions of the Supreme Courts declaring acts of Congress unconstitutional.
• G. F. Wright builds $100,000 dollar building to house furniture store
• designed by local architect H. Ernest Clark
• built by local contractor W. A. Hazlett
• four story structure of brick and stone
• became Checks Furniture Store (Valley, June 5, 1925)
• Soldier's memorial statue at P&LE Station dedicated on July 4.
• citizen contributions built the statue
• base is six feet into the ground
•  Greek-American Progressive Association, Plato Lodge No 10 organized by 38 men. Headquarters for   organization East Pittsburgh founded Aug. 11, 1923.
•  Pittsburgh Steel acquires Pittsburgh Steel Products Company    (Allenport) in September
•  Sokol built their hall.
• From the newspapers:
• Daily Independent sponsors big Gift Club
• major prizes including cars, furniture and gold
• lasts for months
• Mary Butler took second place in the National Oratorical Contest held in Upper Darby, PA.
• Daylight savings time banned by US Senate.
• H. Dallas McCabe, prominent Monessen man for many years, dies in Pittsburgh on May 4.
• City killing stray dogs.
• Louis Studio at 442 Donner says, "We photograph anything, anywhere, anytime.
• Frivolous Sal at Geiss Theater.
• June 5 paper dedicated to bigger and better Monessen. editorials and ads.
• Bomb blast at a home at 218 Ninth Street, origin unknown. (Valley, June 8, 1925)

• Pilger mill built and placed in operation at Allenport (Keystone,   Jy 51)
• Wireton (NW end of Monessen), Dutchtown (at Charleroi-Monessen Bridge), and Essen were annexed to Monessen. The community exists on 1300 acres.
• Slovak Home erected at 335 Schoonmaker Avenue. Ground broken in June, project completed in Dec.
• Frankie Lombardo (Barr) starts his first band called Columbia Imps
• The Monessen News and the Friday Evening Call merge to become the News-Call. Semi weekly production began (date not clear) (Keystone, Ap 47)
• Keystone Bakery founded by Costas Croussouloudis
• Monessen honored at Susquicentennial celebration in Philadelphia

• First radio station started at Star Theater WMBJ, dedicated Feb. 21, 1927.
•  Cornerstone of Trinity Episcopal Church laid on October 8, 1927.
•  Slovak Home holds week long celebration of completion of Slovak Home.
• Col James Schoonmaker died in October
• 86 years old
• former head of P&LE
• helped to found Monessen

• Polish National Catholic Church, Sacred Heart of Jesus organized.
• Ladies Auxiliary of the Monessen Fire Dept organized.
• There were 69 fire alarms in Monessen this year. (Daily, Jan 9, 1929)

• Pocket billiards is becoming a big game in the valley and Harry's Place is holding a tournament.
• Bell Telephone announces a reduction in long distance rates.
• Dolores del Rio is at the Star Theater in The Red Dance.
• first "talkie" The Terror presented in Monessen at Star on April 2
• In January, influenza closed the public schools.
• Citizens National Bank opens new building at 5th and Donner
• Monessen High School performs the operetta Lady of the Terrace Feb 13-14.
• County detectives continuously raid stores and clubs looking for moonshine.
• Sheetz Hotel ordered padlocked for one year for prohibition violation (Daily, April, 18)
• Order withdrawn a few days later.
• Page lunch at 1st and Donner burns in evening fire. (Daily, Feb 22)
• Monessen Aero Corporation gives airplane rides over Monessen
• plans underway for Monessen Airport (Daily, March 29, April 17)
• Black Cats entertain with parachute jumps at Monessen Airport (Daily, Sept 24)
• Polish Falcons hold National Convention May 31-June 2.
• at hall on Knox Avenue
• Field and track events at Page Park
• Monessen Board of Trade becomes Monessen Chamber of Commerce. (Daily, June 21)
• Prices for food at local market on June 28, 1929
• hamburger .19 cents a pound
• chicken       .25 cents a pound
• Pork Loin    .27 cents a pound
• Pork Butt    .25 cents a pound
• Veal cutlet    .45 cents a pound
• fresh eggs    .37 cents a dozen
• Bacon            .19 cents a pound
• Speeding motorist crashes into Liberty Restaurant on Schoonmaker Avenue  (Daily, Sept 26)
• many wrecks reported all year long in community and along 906
• Russian Symphonic Choir of Charleroi entertains at Russian Hall, 207 Schoonmaker Avenue (Sept 28)
• Two masked men with guns rob 15 card players in Wireton Pool Room (Daily, Sept 30)
• get $200
• get 4 watches
• get 3 revolvers
• Monessen painted in 10 foot high letters on 3 rooftops in Monessen (Daily, Oct 4)
• Municipal Building
• First National Bank
• Ford Garage
• Automobiles are stripped of wheels and tires and gasoline is drained from vehicles in Pittsburgh Steel parking lot. (Daily, Oct 8)
• Sam Stern opens the Home Furniture Store at 533-35 Schoonmaker on October 10.
• Entire Daily of October 9 filled with photos and stories
• Building cost $75,000 to build
• Lights Golden Jubilee (50 years) celebrated in Monessen (Daily, Oct 12)
• to begin week of Oct 21
• Windows will be lite from Halloween to Christmas
• La Revue Moderne Art in Paris celebrates local artist
• Maude Irwin Owens, wife of Dr Owens, exhibited in the Salon of Negro Artists in New York City
• Painting called Girl with Russian Doll
• Revue calls her work clear, precise
• also did mural for Polish Catholic Church in Monessen
• Louhi Band to present winter concerts under direction of Louis Koski
• Stock Market crashes.

• Census: 20,268
• Charleroi Monessen Hospital builds new facility in Lock Four, opened April 3. (Keystone, Sept. 47)
•    Held 85 beds. People complained it was too large.
•   Pittsburgh Steel profits drop from 4.5 million to 1.6 million.
•    No dividends on common stock
•    Operated in red for next five years.
•    Ordered cuts in maintenance and new equipment purchases.
•    New tube mill canceled.
•    Preferred stock dividends curtailed.
•    Credit rating dropping.
•    PITTSBURGH Steel no longer on New York Stock Exchange
•    Beginning of the long decline with few peaks of prosperity.
•    J. H. Hillman, Jr. acquired interest in mill.
• Everything, but everything, done from this year forward was an attempt to save the mills.
•   Monessen City Park built. Contained 52 acres and cost $125,000 (Keystone, Sept. 47)
• Park Development Company main organizer
• Members were G. F. Wright, W. P. Kirk, and E. H. Wolfe.
• New road had to be constructed, Grand Blvd.
• Pittsburgh Steel donated 5 acres
•    Three Algonquian Indian graves uncovered on Naylor Farm near Webster.

• Pittsburgh Steel Glassport plant closes.
• Commonwealth completed new Armory at 9th and Donner.
• Monongahela Valley Business and Professional Woman's Club chartered May 18, 1931.

• Prohibition abolished.

• In July #2 Diescher Mill started production at Allenport (Keystone, Jy,  51)
• Allison-Lescanac Post, 1190 VFW granted charter on July 24, 1934.
• Tom Henrich, outfielder for the New York Yankees, visits Monessen.
• Former member of the Monessen Indians.
• He revisited Monessen in 1956 to collect his first professional contract which completed his collection of contracts. (Keystone, Vol 3, no.5, 56)
• James Gold elected mayor (1934-1942)

• Federal Credit Union founded by 61 members paying 25 cents each. (Keystone, Sept. 49)
• Junior Woman's Club of Monessen formed in 1935.
• Monessen library opens for business on February 3
• located on second floor of Baker Building at corner of Sixth and Donner
• Woman's Club donates 650 books
• Martha Jane Bloom first librarian
• Sons of Italy founded Monessen group.
• Earthquake tremors felt here. Center around Charmichael. (Daily, Nov 1, 1935)
• Vocational School erected on former John W Luce farm. (Daily, Nov 15, Dec 1, 2 of 1935).
• Dedicated on Nov 30, 1936. Daily
• WPA projects in city include:
• Construction of Vocational School
• Steps at 6th and 10th streets
• Sewers through city including Alberts Alley
• Construction of Monessen Stadium
• Designed by Celli brothers
• Construction of 9th Street Park (Daily, Nov 30)

• For industry details see highlights of 1936-37
• American Chain Company reorganized as American Chain and Cable Inc
• Pittsburgh Steel takes on Wagner Act.
• Calls it unconstitutional.
• Takes it to court.
• Goes to Supreme  Court.
• Ruling in 1937  (Daily, Jan 7, Feb. 25, Feb. 29, Mar 3, Nov 10)
• Pittsburgh Steel second largest wire and wire products mfg. in US  (Daily, Jan 11).
• Hillman named director of Pittsburgh Steel on Jan 13.
• Presidency of Pittsburgh Steel taken by Henry A Roemer, Chair and President of Sharon Steel after merger of companies. Major improvements made.
• Major Labor dispute between JL Lewis and Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers president Green. Involves AFL, CIO, Company Unions, etc.
• All major mills in Monessen closed by St. Patrick's Day Flood  (Daily, Mar 17)
• Pittsburgh Steel gives workers paid vacations. Raises wages from 47 to 52 1/2 cents an hour.
• Ninth Street Park completed by WPA
• 9 month project to brick walks
• add steps at 10th on Knox and Highland
• build stone retaining wall
• add bleachers.
• 48 men worked. (Daily, Ap 15)
•   Monessen Library opens in May
•   3,112 residential dwellings in Monessen.
• City on 1250 acres.
• Population 20,899. (Daily, May 7)
•   Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson lead Pittsburgh Crawfords as they play on Tin Plate field in  Monessen. (Daily, May 12)
•   Mayor Gold has running battle with Jehovah Witnesses.
• Last all year.
• Gold loses.
•   Firemen's Convention held here in August
• truck races on Donner Ave.
• water battles
• mummers  parade
• 2700 camp at Luce Farm.
• Parade of 3000 people draws 20,000 viewers.  (Daily, July 2, Aug. 5, Aug. 7-15)
• Tin Mill (American Sheet and Tin Plate) merged with Carnegie-Illinois Steel Corp on June 1.
• Has 25 hot mills, 2 picklers, 13 annealing furnaces
• 9 sets of cold rolls, 1 white pickler and 13 tin pots.  (Daily, Oct. 20)
• Tin Mill holds open house 3,590 visit.  (Daily, Oct. 16, 20, 21, 22)

•   Tin mill closed. Machinery moved to Irvin Works. Beginning of the decline of industry in Monessen.
•   Nov 18 Monessen Daily Independent headline: Carnegie Steel Not to Close Down (Pages)
•   Two weeks later announced it would close.
•   Four weeks later plant closed.

• Pittsburgh Steel dismantled Monessen Tubing plant and moved it to Allenport. By April , 1939 it was in operation (Keystone, Jy 51)
•   Ladies' Auxiliary of the Independent political Slovak Club organized Feb. 15.
•   Opera house burned.

• Ladies' Auxiliary of VFW Post 1190 was organized on May 31, 1939.
•   Pythian Sisters Nightengal Temple No 182 instituted June 9, 1939.
•   Frank Lombardo changes name to Frankie Barr because Music Corp of America already had one Lombardo, Guy.

• Census: 20,257
•  Feb. 16, 1940 Opera house burned. Auditorium seated 600. Time of fire six families lived there members of Pentecostal Mission. Fire started in adjacent service station
• Louhi Band disbanded.

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