Welcome to Monaca, PA, Part 1.

I take a drive through Monaca and Monaca Heights. There will be more videos of the town in the future. This is just introductory.
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[@jski8338]

Born and raised in Monaca, what a great place to grow up in the 50's. We lived on Atlantic Avenue and never had to lock our doors. Different times back then. Used to walk down to Webers with friends most evenings to see the comic books and Mr. Weber got me and my friends started in coin collecting. Then we would walk up to Benders Drug Store and sit at the soda fountain and have a cherry Coke. Went to 3rd Ward grade school which is now apartments. Met my wife in 10th grade at Monaca High School and we went steady from 11th grade on and got married right after college and now married 51 years. My parents also met at Monaca High School too. Have lived in FL since 1968 but visit Monaca almost every summer. Sure enjoyed your video of Monaca, Mark...keep 'em coming, good job !!!

[@lonewolfwarrior69]

Mark,at the very specific intersection where you turned left off of Route 18 onto Old Broadhead Road,then back in the day when you were just a twinkle in your Daddy's eye, on the very right side of that intersection use to be a junkyard business owned and operated by 'Pappy Swink' who's son, Calvin Swink went onto run an Auto Parts business on Pennsylvania Avenue, Monaca. Being older than you then I can easily recall when that same part of Route 18 between Monaca and Center Twp was nothing more than a dirt road. Straight up truth that. 👍🙂

[@SonyaRoseAtkinson]

I really enjoyed your video! My family lived in Monaca Heights, Stephen Phillips Homes (around 1968 (?)-1974). I was born in '71. My doctor was Dr. Monyak for 2 decades! I was baptized at St. John's. A little candy store, Tony Peroni's comes to mine. Frank's had great Friday fish sandwiches near my dad's steelmill. He worked at Pittsburgh Tube Company for 32 yrs. (1967-1999), and one yr. before--worked at Phoenix Glass (1965-1966). Pete Coleman, son of his dad's sister May, got him the job there. My dad, also, worked at the Pittsburgh Tool Steel Wire Company. And before all that...was Siemen's in Germany and the US Army. I took swimming lessons at Monaca Swimming Pool; recalling my first dive there... I do remember Batchelor Funeral Home in sad ways. One of the first funerals I recall was Mrs. Gerri Filippelli. She passed away of breast cancer. I strangely dreamt her passing, and even of my own breast cancer, a warning ~ got checked right away. This year, I'm a 5-year cancer survivor and my dad is a 14-year cancer survivor! I'm still friends today with some of the girls that lived in Monaca at that time ... Suzanne Kotchka, Bobbi Jean Krugle, Petrella girls. Their dad, Joe Petrella, gave me my first special dog... Our last name is Atkinson btw. Oh, the Murray's come to mind now, and my first friend on this planet from Monaca, a little boy named Frankie. Wonder where he is? My first memories were at the projects, around age 2... Oh, my sister, Lillian, went to Marshall Road, 5th grade (1973-1974). And my sister, Liane, worked at Isaly's, where she met her first husband, Dave Roderick. He worked as a paramedic and then a police officer in Monaca. It's all pretty nostalgic...

[@MarkGrago]

Thank you for sharing all of your amazing stories, Sonya! Quite fascinating; you certainly have a lot of favorite memories of Monaca. My mother grew up in this town before moving to Aliquippa so many years ago. You surely do sound like a remarkable woman; I wish you many YEARS of health and prosperity!

[@SonyaRoseAtkinson]

Thank you, Mark, for those kind wishes. I truly appreciate it. All the best to you, too. My parents still live in Aliquippa, in Chapel. Maybe, my mother may know your mother? My mom's name is Gerhild or some call her Hilda or Hilde. She still has quite a few real good Italian friends in the area ... worked in downtown Aliquippa, at Woodlawn for years. I worked one summer with her, folding laundry for the local hospitals and businesses. My mom will be finally retiring, in a couple of weeks, at Gino's in Neville Island, 14 yrs. there. I look forward to your videos on the area ... I'm making a home movie for my dad's big upcoming 80th birthday... {how I stumbled across your video ... just reminiscing~} My one cousin, who lived in Aliquippa for years, Arnd Herman, worked for the railroad locally. I miss him a lot. He was a police lieutenant and coach for Center-Monaca Legion Team when they made the Beaver County Champions in 1989. He spent many good years with Teresa Montini, whose father was one of San Rocco's Festa founders. Oh, back to Monaca, some of the best times was boating and water-skiing on the Ohio River with my sister, Lil, her first husband, Mike, and friends. I just saw his family last Easter at church, the Hlista's, nice family. Oh, my sister, Liane, said (believe right before I was born) her, her friend Janet, and others, who lived at Stephen Phillips, saw a UFO hovering by one of the trees the kids used to climb. Check that out sometime. I can't seem to find anything on the web; but I know that it really happened from what I heard. I think another time (or could have been that same time period, early 70s), the county police officers chased a UFO flying above their cars for a while. I would love to see a video on that! I have had a few really interesting experiences myself ~back in the 80s!

[@MarkGrago]

It sounds like we are the same age. I'm afraid I am not familiar with any of the names you bring in mention; however, my mother probably did know some of the people you make note in your reply. Sadly, my mom passed away in 01'. I am astonished, and continue to be so, of the UFO sightings in Beaver County. There have been many over the years! Yes, that would be an awesome video to be able to upload. The 80's was a magical time to be a teenager; I miss my boombox! I used to blast it in the parking of New Sheffield school in Aliquippa. I wish your mom the best in her retirement, as well as the rest of your family members, Sonya. Thank you, once again, for the pleasure of your correspondence!

[@MarkGrago]

Please check out my Beaver County boards on Pinterest, Sonya. Let me know what you think. www.pinterest.com/markgrago/beaver-county-pa/ www.pinterest.com/markgrago/beaver-county-pa-ii/

[@ssunchild.]

Reminiscing I was there for a year put me and my boyfriends lock on Rochester Bridge in 2020. Everyone was so kind and welcoming definitely be back next year 🎉❤😊

[@LearnEnglishESL]

Looks like a nice town. Thanks for the tour. I left Shamokin over 60 tears ago..... always liked PA.

[@billyholic]

my dad was born and grew up there I always wanted to live there never did small town everyone knew eachother. my Dads nickname was the Godfather lol

[@KennethShively]

Thanks Mark, I too am from Monaca, although sounds like before your time. Had to laugh about you saying that some things are gone and for me they hadn't been built yet before I left in 64. I lived on the corner of Allaire Ave. and Marshall Rd. And what you showed as the park at the end of Marshall was originally Allaire Park (the 2 stone monuments on either side of the road marked the entrance and was actually a forest (we just called "the woods"). So many fond memories of that place, building tree houses, shooting BB guns, playing in the "Crick" and having crab-apple fights. I also remember Bachelors Funeral Home as both parents and all of my Dad's family passed through there on their way to Union Cemetery. Went to St. John's Catholic school next to the Catholic church that you stopped at. You were right about the pool and the rec area but the pool actually sat down the street (off to the right) a couple of hundred yards on the left side of the street. Delzell's, if I remember right was at the top of 14th street. There the main rd. made a left and Delzell's was down about 2 or 3 hundred yards on the left. Sorry, can't remember the street name but was just past Tylor Ave. Had some very good times growing up there in Skunk Hollow (nickname for Colona Heights). I now live in Thailand if you're interested in how far people have traveled from our small berg. Looking forward to seeing the next installment and no it was not too long. Thanks again

[@MarkGrago]

Thanks for sharing your memories, Ken! Wow! Thailand! Beaver Countians are all over the GLOBE! Good to hear!

[@Glaormb1]

Thank you for this video! I lived in Monaca when I was much younger and I have to say it was without a doubt the best place I ever lived. I always say I will return to it eventually. I am getting closer but time is sure slipping away fast sadly

[@TheWaynelds]

My grandpa was a Reverend at Calvary Baptist Church on Mclelland street. When we’d visit from Ohio, we’d always cross that big blue bridge over the Ohio River. I’m not sure if it was the Rochester bridge or not.

[@ThatJurk]

My grandparents were from Monaca before they moved to Columbus Ohio. Im trying to learn about my family's history so it's nice to see this video

[@JohnQQQ]

The store your mother worked at was CW Dalzell & Son. It was a Clover Farm store. Present day Nichols store on Bechtel St. Your mother probably worked for son Gene and his brother. Simpson Funeral Home on Washington Ave was another Dalzell store.

[@MarkGrago]

Yes, you are correct! His name was Gene. I remember him being a nice guy! Thanxs for sharing&watching, Mr. John. 👍🎬

[@pgh45rpms]

The placque on Atlantic Avenue was the site where Thiel College was established in 1870. The following year it relocated to Greenville PA. John Antoline Park, forerly Allaire Park, was named for Monaca's former mayor. Built as a WPA project. A large water slide existed against the hillside until the 1990's.

[@williamkrass6603]

My Grandfather built some home up on Monaca up on the Heights, if my memory is right. That was the early 1950’s. He then build homes in Beaver Falls up near Patterson Heights, we moved to there in 1952 from Glendale.

[@Casp3r.aka.Droid.]

I grew up in Monaca

[@glueguy1224]

I just saw your video, I lived in Monaca until 1983. Gene Dalzell owned a store off of Bechtel St. He collected Model T Ford’s...He was a good man. My Dad worked at Phoenix for more than 30 years. The church was St John’s Catholic Church... The old pool was right across from the football field. Thanks for posting it

[@SlavicTom56]

grew up in Aliquippa had aunt's uncle's in Monaca

[@MarkGrago]

Thanxs for watching! 🎬

[@Chill-Pill]

I live in Monaca!!! I’m from Punxsutawney. Is it pronounced Mon aaaaa ca or Mon aw ca? I see online it says Mon aw ca like Monacatootha. Anyone?

[@bethspage7089]

Monaca Towa on the Nintendo DS

[@Casp3r.aka.Droid.]

up on the hill in Monaca there used to be water slides but a dispute between the land owner and the pool itself could not be settled or water slides not not a pool so they had to tear down the water slides all because of some a****** wanted too much money because the water slides where one foot on his property just one foot so he ruined childhood memories forever

[@Fatcheeb]

My dad wants to get a job here

[@Chill-Pill]

Shell?

[@lilbroomstick2410]

Same. The shell cracker plant

[@cavvie5150]

Yes, you are wrong. Playground was not where the pool was.

[@Casp3r.aka.Droid.]

the pool was right next to the basketball court it's all fenced off now I remember playing in that pool as a kid the reason it closed down was because a crack was forming and they couldn't repair it

[@ArizonaAngelEyes]

"I'm not sure what's up here." Nothing. Nothing is there. There's a reason I moved