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dusty trails

(174 posts)
Thu Jul 25, 2013, 04:01 PM Jul 2013

Looking back at PA from a distance

I grew up in PA in the 50's and 60's.
Life, jobs, and my road in life took me away.
I love the state and thought of retiring there; but my health and physical condition made me move to
where the weather was more palatable....New Mexico. Milder winters and low humidity.

It saddens me to see how the downtown of New Kensington (where I graduated high school in '64)
has become mostly a ghost town; and to see how the tea party GOP has taken over the state.

In my day (I'm old enough I can say that now), we had a GOP Governor - Bill Scranton.
Today he'd be called a RINO.

18 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Looking back at PA from a distance (Original Post) dusty trails Jul 2013 OP
I think the same about Ohio. I left the state in 1977 and seeing where sinkingfeeling Jul 2013 #1
It really is a shame about New Ken. blue neen Jul 2013 #2
I live near Jeannette and ebbie15644 Jul 2013 #3
I hear ya! blue neen Jul 2013 #5
A couple pieces ebbie15644 Jul 2013 #7
People always refer to the steel mills when talking of the industry in western PA, blue neen Jul 2013 #8
I know I loved to go to the factory store! We were very poor ebbie15644 Jul 2013 #9
Citizens General Hospital, a large employer, closed. dusty trails Jul 2013 #4
Small world, huh? blue neen Jul 2013 #6
Herman's Chocolates! dusty trails Jul 2013 #13
Herman's Chocolates Pattijune Sep 2013 #17
Welcome to DU gopiscrap Sep 2013 #18
Looking at a distance is better Curmudgeoness Jul 2013 #10
Having four seasons is so nice! I would miss it. ebbie15644 Jul 2013 #11
Not me....I hate winter. Curmudgeoness Jul 2013 #12
"...all the trees and green" dusty trails Jul 2013 #14
Yep, we have too much humidity. Curmudgeoness Jul 2013 #15
The Lehigh Valley has changed for the worse Number9Dream Jul 2013 #16

blue neen

(12,306 posts)
2. It really is a shame about New Ken.
Thu Jul 25, 2013, 04:54 PM
Jul 2013

There's not really anything viable there anymore. Citizens General Hospital, a large employer, closed. There isn't much left of the industrial park down by the river.

New Kensington had a great downtown. Remember Hart's? That's where I got my first credit card, and where I bought my wedding gown!

There are many small cities that declined like this, not just in PA, but in the "Rust Belt" in general. McKeesport, Monesson, in PA. Warren, Youngstown in OH.

There are more Democrats than Republicans in Pennsylvania, but the GOP has very successfully gerrymandered it so that they are in charge of the legislature. They really need to watch their step, though, because they have blindly followed a very, very unpopular Republican Governor Corbett.

All of the local newspapers, with the exception of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, have been taken over by Richard Mellon Scaife. These papers are filled with Republican bordering on Libertarian propaganda every single day. Since the population in western PA is older, many people still rely on newspapers for
their daily news...what they get is not even close to news. It's extremely slanted bullshit.

You're right. Someone like Bill Scranton would be considered a RINO!

Thanks for checking in!

ebbie15644

(1,208 posts)
3. I live near Jeannette and
Thu Jul 25, 2013, 05:07 PM
Jul 2013

it's the same. My grandmother Ravigoni helped with development of the industrial parks around New Kensington. It's so sad and I hated this last election where I was actually afraid to show my support for President Obama hence, no bumper stickers or yard signs.

blue neen

(12,306 posts)
5. I hear ya!
Thu Jul 25, 2013, 07:18 PM
Jul 2013

We were the only family in our neighborhood (rural Westmoreland County) to have an Obama yard sign. I'm very surprised it didn't get stolen! There were actually signs for Romney out here that said, "Vote for the American". Disgusting.

Jeannette was a pretty bustling place at one time. Do you have any of the Jeannette Glass? Beautiful stuff.

ebbie15644

(1,208 posts)
7. A couple pieces
Thu Jul 25, 2013, 07:26 PM
Jul 2013

we took it for granted and never collected it. My aunt worked there until they closed down. I grew up in Grapeville and we climbed on Westmoreland glass piles.

blue neen

(12,306 posts)
8. People always refer to the steel mills when talking of the industry in western PA,
Thu Jul 25, 2013, 07:31 PM
Jul 2013

Ohio, West Virginia. No one seems to realize how many glass factories there were in the tri-state area.

Jeannette, Westmoreland, Smith, Imperial, Fenton, Mosser (I think they're still in business). Gorgeous pieces of artwork, IMHO.

ebbie15644

(1,208 posts)
9. I know I loved to go to the factory store! We were very poor
Thu Jul 25, 2013, 07:33 PM
Jul 2013

though and didn't buy much except for necessities. My aunt would give us some Jeannette glass for Christmas though

dusty trails

(174 posts)
4. Citizens General Hospital, a large employer, closed.
Thu Jul 25, 2013, 06:58 PM
Jul 2013

I worked at Citizens General Hospital, in the E.R., around '67.
In '65 I worked at a drugstore, White Cross on Fifth between 9th and 10th.
Remember Sun Drug (Run to Sun) @ 9th St and 5th Ave?

My dad died in '82 and my mom in '95.
My brothers had all moved out of state for jobs (as had I) by 1969.
I was last back there, just driving around to see the old sites, in 2005.
Was up from Florida, visiting friends in Pgh for the first time in years.
I thought I'd go to Isaly's for a chipped ham sandwich and check out Klingensmith's (just for old time's sake).
Joke was on me.

blue neen

(12,306 posts)
6. Small world, huh?
Thu Jul 25, 2013, 07:25 PM
Jul 2013

My son was born at Citizens. Good old Dr. Carter!

I don't remember White Cross, but do recall Sun Drug. I think my favorite place was Herman's Chocolates!

The Isaly's locations have been gone for a long time, but you can actually still buy Isaly's chipped ham at the grocery store deli's. I used to take it to my mom in Florida! It's still the best chipped ham!

There are still a couple of Altmeyer's stores around. Tarentum Bridge Road and Greensburg, Rt. 30.

dusty trails

(174 posts)
13. Herman's Chocolates!
Thu Jul 25, 2013, 08:00 PM
Jul 2013

They would add extra staff, probably not many, to make chocolates around Easter (I think).
We had a family friend (Mary Bodnar) who would work there a few weeks.
That was in the 60's and she's long passed.
Hermans' Nut Shop ?

Pattijune

(1 post)
17. Herman's Chocolates
Mon Sep 9, 2013, 03:10 AM
Sep 2013

I was reading your post about your family friend who worked at Herman's Chocolates. When I was a little girl my grandmother ( her name was Mabel Roach) worked there. It was the best chocolate I've ever had. I am much older now, and I don't live in Pa. anymore. I was searching the Internet to see if Herman's was still around and I came across your post.

Curmudgeoness

(18,219 posts)
10. Looking at a distance is better
Thu Jul 25, 2013, 07:43 PM
Jul 2013

than growing up here, leaving in the last 70's when factories were closing all over the place, and then coming back. Looking at it close up saddens me to no end.

I love the scenery here, I would never want to live in the arid SW without all the trees and green. But what is happening here, in every town, is scary. Be glad that you are not having to live with what we have become and fight to save what is left. It is a beautiful place.

Curmudgeoness

(18,219 posts)
12. Not me....I hate winter.
Thu Jul 25, 2013, 07:52 PM
Jul 2013

I lived in Houston for the years I was gone, and never felt bad about not driving to work in ice and snow, or cleaning ice off the windshield before I could go out.

One of my favorite lines is: If I never seen another snowflake except on a Christmas card, I will be happy.

dusty trails

(174 posts)
14. "...all the trees and green"
Thu Jul 25, 2013, 08:06 PM
Jul 2013

That's what hits me the most on my too few trips north ~~> how green it is.
Here in New Mexico we do have forested mountains, but in Albuquerque it's quite barren except on Kirtland Air Force base or at the veterans' hospital where there's plenty of green grass and trees.

Many of the cemeteries here are depressing (without grass) bare dirt, gravel, and rocks ala "Boot Hill".

And we do have four seasons here in Albuquerque, which is a mile high city, although in a "high desert'.
Winters can get into the 20's at night, but usually rise into the 50's in the day.
Springs are the windy season. Summer is the monsoon (Ha Ha - we're in a severe drought).
And fall is beautiful.

In recall the heat AND humidity of PA. Heat without humidity is preferable to me.

Curmudgeoness

(18,219 posts)
15. Yep, we have too much humidity.
Thu Jul 25, 2013, 08:33 PM
Jul 2013

But I keep telling myself that it is that humidity that allows for all the green. I have visited Albuquerque, and travelled up to Santa Fe and Bandelier and Taos. It is lovely and interesting, and I had even wondered if I could live there, but in the end, it is all about the deciduous forests east of the Mississippi. I do love the heat and sunshine (which we have too little of), and hate the cold, but I also know that the green matters to me.

Number9Dream

(1,558 posts)
16. The Lehigh Valley has changed for the worse
Fri Jul 26, 2013, 02:33 PM
Jul 2013

I've lived in the Lehigh Valley for over 37 years, and it has changed for the worse. Developers have bullied zoning boards into allowing them to cover the once nice Lehigh Valley with warehouses and housing developments. What were once farms are now covered with macadam. Traffic is horrendous. PennDOT is the worst run organization on the planet. Property taxes are astronomical. I'm presently living outside of Nazareth, with remaining woods behind my house (for now).

The Lehigh Valley was gerrymandered too, with Dem leaning Easton cut out of the 15th district for the first time ever. The Allentown Morning Call and WFMZ-TV are very Republican leaning.

If I live long enough to retire in a few years, I'm thinking about living in an RV or cabin cruiser and moving with the seasons, but I'm definitely out of PA.

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