5th Avenues abandoned buildings Mckeesport Pa

Tuesday October 12th 2021. 6:47pm

[@anthonytripp2251]

I spotted 2 pedestrians in the whole video. So sad to think this was a bustling and thriving downtown once. Like a ghost of America's greatness. Thank you for posting this.

[@lisarobertson5164]

Just a quick note...When I was growing up in the '6o's, my grandmother and I went "to town" at least twice a month. We would ride the old Laurel Valley Lines green and white bus from Elizabeth Township. Yes, I do remember the Famous. My grandmother loved that store. When I was younger, we would occasionally go to the Memorial theater, wow what a place ! It was beautiful. I remember Jaison's, Cox's, Kaufmann's, National Record Mart, Sun Drug, H&L Greens, GC Murphy's and Oddo's Toy Store. Grandma used to go to Balsamos Grocery Store sometimes. Back in the day, Old Overcoats would be sitting in front of the train station. I remember the time they painted 5th Ave. in a bunch of different colors and directed traffic away from there. I don't think that lasted very long. McKeesport was a nice little town in those days. BTW, I was born in McKeesport Hospital in 1957 and my mom worked there as a Nurse's Aide. Thanks for the memories, it's sad to see what it has become.

[@jayderoche4158]

My mother named me after Jaison's Department

[@marcdamico1987]

Where the Burger King was used to be an old parking garage. It used to extend over the road there where the old Chestnut inn was. I was in the McKeesport drum and bugle Corps and when we would have parades and go underneath that area we would play our instruments as loud as we could because it echoed. Which reminds me of Mrs T who used to organize and run the McKeesport drum and bugle Corps. She was a good woman that cared about what she did.all the memories

[@loudmusickillsthepain648]

I remember all of that. I think my mother has pictures of us at a parade right there.

[@michaelrich6880]

My paternal grandmother used to live on this street (908 1/2 to be exact). That was back when I was only 10 years old. I'm 57 now. It was beautiful back then. Now it's beyond horrible to see it this way. The buildings weren't maintained that's why they just fell apart like this. A lot of good memories back then. She used to live right across the street from the Super Dollar Supermarket.

[@timothyorman6758]

Other businesses on 5th Ave included Coxes, Otto Hobby Shop, imal's, Helmsteaders, Henry B. Klein

[@islandvoyager7061]

As you turned on 5th. Ave the red brick building on your right used to stage wrestling matches. I remember seeing Bruno Sanmartino there. I remember the "Famous" very well. Shame when the hard working tax payers moved after the mills closed the welfare queens and the Section 8 moved in. Build some more housing projects for the "entitled ones" like the ones up near Kennywood. Went to Kennywood in 2004. I'll never go back.

[@Victorialittle-f2j]

the red brick building you are talking about is the Palisades

[@stephenpaulovich9815]

Great job...I appreciate the Share

[@marcdamico1987]

I remember the famous. I also remember the day it was on fire. My friend's father was a fire fighter think I was around 8 or 9 years old. You could see the smoke from around Versailles Avenue Cemetery area.

[@MellowLady222]

I was a kid and I don't remember the Famous Department Store.. But I remember that day and those that followed. That burnt-out smell and traffic detours lasted for quite awhile. There was a movie theater which had a pitiful sign on the marquis for years and years that read "closed until further notice". I understand that building was once a part of a much larger theater. Devastating! 😫 On a happier note....it's cool that both your maternal and paternal grandmothers worked there. 🙂

[@MellowLady222]

I remember when Mckeesport Hospital placed the lights that depicted a Christmas tree. Very nice!

[@ryanthomas3628]

Take a drive to 1820 Tacoma Ave in Port Vue if you get time. The borough condemned my place and evicted myself and a young woman with three kids last week. All because the landlord tarped the roof to stop a leak. Just wondering if they are demolishing it or if it's still there. Now I'm living in a garage and not sure where the family downstairs went. It wasn't pretty, but it sure was better than what I'm in now.

[@rickbaier1042]

Remember a girl named Stacy that lived not far from a movie theater and a grocery store in McKeesport but it's was 1979!and I cannot remember what house. The neighborhood was all white then is all of McKeesport now non white?

[@loudmusickillsthepain648]

I lived on Ravine street before they tore down all of the houses on white street. The cobble stone street opened up one night straight down to the sewer which was a raging torrent of water. By morning the hole went from one curb to the other across the street. The hole was big enough to drive a bus into. I often wonder even to this day if there might be a station wagon or something under white street with a skeleton in the drivers seat.

[@curtw8827]

My wife worked at GC Murphy offices, I learned to drive and parallel park on that last section of 5th Ave, used to have trolley tracks out to where the A & P supermarket was. Pay parking meters must be a joke?

[@marybaechli2382]

That 66 year old homeless man from Smithfield street shelter downtown who sets all those fires in McKeesport is doing everyone a favor then! He also hangs out at midtown plaza apartments.

[@jeffreywarren6540]

Is Natales still in business?

[@bradbasic7939]

Yes.

[@radar_the_fox]

Yes but now all the siding is gone and the sign cloth is falling off

[@vicvic2081]

It's this real?

[@davidpatterson4088]

It looks war torn

[@benruffo1197]

You are in Steelers country.

[@nickmad887]

Thanks