Historic Brownsville, PA (Photo Tour)

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The following photos were taken on August 18th, 2011. They document some of the historic structures in Brownsville, Pennsylvania, south of Pittsburgh.

[@lisam5188]

I can't thank you enough for posting these incredibly honest photos of Brownsville. My mother (born in 1924) grew up in the hills outside Brownsville. We used to go visit every year from Michigan when I was a kid. I returned last summer (after approx. 45 years) on a last minute weekend away from Washington, D.C. where I was temporarily living. My mother's relatives are mostly gone now but my husband and I were able to find one of my mom's cousins, actually living in Brownsville. I had no idea that I would respond with such feeling to this place but when there and while watching your photo tour. Missing my mother, my grandmother and all my great aunts and uncles who have long since died. I plan to visit again this summer, but this time with my sister.

[@wantingoneangel8976]

I never heard of Brownsville, Pa. until Heather Explorer and Heather Sparkles did a video on the decay of this town. Jonny D+. I really LOVE the video that you showed us with all the lovely homes, particularly the Castle House and the White Mansion:). However, the Monongehela Bank that looks open in 2011 is now in 2019 decayed and out of business. It is profoundly sad that this town has suffered so much economic decay. It would be so nice if someday some people could revitalize this town with copious shops and even have Companies open up environmentally friendly factories. I pray that Brownsville can be saved some day in some way.

[@BronxBriar]

Beautiful! I spent every summer of my youth at my grandmother's house in West Brownsville from 1965 to 1978 and going to "town" was always special.

[@michaelbennett336]

Aww man me too buddy my grand mother is 95 now we are in Labelle by the Maxwell locks I drive threw this beautiful old town there's no place on earth I would rather be I love Brownsville

[@moserraymond]

Both sides of my family were also West Brownsville natives. It had many nice qualities in the 1950's of my youth. I too fondly remember walking with my Mom Mom, over to town, while she shopped. My great grandfather Bakewell, was an locomotive engineer, who used to hop a train to ride over to the roundhouse.

[@anthonymiller8979]

I did the same in Brownsville all through the 1960s. My grandparents lived right by the locks off of Water Street and Angle Street. It was fun going 'down town" to shop.

[@billnseattle]

I see to revitalize this town is to turn this town into a tourist area like Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Bring in small shops, open up the hotels, and get town events going. If you have them, people will come!

[@patsomers187]

I retired from Norfolk Southern in March 2015 after working in the Bridges & Buildings Department for 39 years. I was a bridge inspector for my last 20 years on the railroad. I inspected in & around Brownsville frequently. I also worked in & around Brownsville before I was a bridge inspector. I remember that there was a cafe under the bridge that crosses the Mon river over to West Brownsville. They served great breakfasts. I forget the name of that little cafe. I always enjoyed working in Brownsville, & Brownsville will always have a special place in my heart.

[@mcarlkv53]

Fiddles?

[@mcarlkv53]

My parents and their parents grew up there and married at the First Baptist Church of Brownsville in 1957,,,Brownsville was booming from the 1700's to 1960's

[@cpu554]

This was a Norman Rockwell town to grow up in. Unfortunately the economy was destroyed by NAFTA and the EPA.

[@jondcsicsila1978]

cpu554 Sorry, but it started to die a long time before either of the things you mentioned. I left in 1957 and the slide was well on it's way.

[@handlinsentertainment]

I live here in brownsville on High street

[@kimtalbert8586]

You don't notice the beauty when you live here until you take the time to sit down and notice.Lived here for 56 years. Well done !! Thanks for sharing.

[@FedUp-bd4gv]

Wow, what a quaint little town, beautiful old buildings and brick streets..and lots of cobblestones..which I adore. The black and white film makes it seem eerie and witchy, and the music adds to the sadness of the deterioration of a once beautiful town. What a shame to see all of the boarded up historic buildings and unkempt properties ...very sad, it looks like a ghost town... :(

[@moserraymond]

Brownsville grew with the coal industry and mirrors the decline of the coal industry. Like much of life, there are good and awful things that made up its culture. To many of us who were born there, are haunting, depressive emotions that lead many to not look back. But, we do look back and remember the good and bad that flowed from its cultural story. My young neighbor the grandson of local residents has asked me to visit the town with him this coming summer. After many decades, it is time.

[@MonkeyDolphin]

"To many of us who were born there, are haunting, depressive emotions that lead many to not look back." Boy, did you hit the nail on the head. I was not born in Brownsville, but lived there through my middle and high school years (Front St.), and left in 1987. I still have family in the Greensburg/Irwin area and visit a few times a year. For decades, the thought of visiting the Mon Valley on these visits would fill me with dread, and only in recent years did I venture back - my Dad and I visiting old haunts a few Christmases ago. I've since come to feel some nostalgia for Brownsville, and all the friends and family I grew up with who are now gone. Ray, I hope your visit was a positive one.

[@carlystewart4987]

I live in Brownsville pa

[@sprx428]

have visited yes or no if not it would be my honor to show u around some time

[@jeannenemelikidse9789]

This is very well done...I will be visiting here in April 2015...I am doing some family research here as my family (teegarden-teagarden-tegarden) lived in this area from 1740's and on....nice music also

[@markjeffels3327]

It looks like a nice retirement place.

[@moserraymond]

There are many idle hands among those that remained..

[@shyshy808]

Wow I can't wait to visit this place. Does people still live their?

[@sprx428]

yes in i live here 311 pearl st. brownsville

[@Steelhunky]

Very nice collection of photos.

[@sydnicheatham8899]

+shykamai I live there

[@JonathonDenson]

Yes, of course. It has a population of around 2,000 or so people.

[@moserraymond]

Brownsville had a population of around 5,000, when I grew up there in the 1950's. It was still somewhat vibrant, but nowhere the epic 1920's.