The Valley Independent made major move to new home 48 years ago
Tomorrow will pass quietly for most people, but it will mark the anniversary of a significant occasion in the history of the newspaper you are reading right now.
It was 48 years ago – on Monday, Oct. 2, 1967 – that The Valley Independent published its first edition at its new plant at Eastgate 19, Monessen.
Although it was known that the newspaper would be moving from its longtime home at 125 Sixth St. to the spacious and modern complex in the expanding Eastgate district of the city, official announcement came in a brief story on Page One on Friday, Sept. 29.That notice said the offices on Sixth Street would close at 5 p.m. that day and would not be open to the public on Saturday. It also said the regular Saturday edition of the paper would be published as usual.
“All departments – news, advertising, circulation and the business office – will be in service at the new location beginning at 8 a.m. Monday,” the story said. “Until the Redevelopment Authority completes construction of Service Road in Eastgate, access to The Valley Independent will be made via Manown Street.”
The transition that took place over the weekend was recounted in a photograph on Page One on Oct. 2. It showed Jack C.F. Kerr, the newspaper's mechanical superintendent, overseeing workmen as they did a “balancing act” in moving a delicate Linotype machine from the loading dock into the new Composing Room at Eastgate.
“The shift (from Sixth Street to the Eastgate urban renewal area) was accomplished without missing an edition, and all departments were in service this morning at the new location,” the brief photo caption said.
The building at 125 Sixth St. in Monessen became home to The Monessen Daily Independent – and subsequently The Valley Independent – in 1907. Prior to that, the newspaper, which was founded by Harry R. Pore Sr. in 1902, was located at sites at Fifth Street and Schoonmaker Avenue, Sixth Street and Schoonmaker Avenue and 124 Sixth St., just across the street from the then-new structure that would be its home for the next 56 years. The Valley Independent was created in 1960 when Mr. Pore's sons, Harry R. Pore Jr. and William Pore, purchased The Charleroi Mail. The new Valley Independent also had offices In Donora and Charleroi before moving all operations to the 125 Sixth St. facilities.
The Valley Independent continues to call Eastgate 19 home today. The building has undergone numerous physical changes over the years, but it is a constant reminder of that memorable day 47 years ago to those of us who were there. It holds a special place in our minds and hearts.
More Headlines
Page One of the commemorative Oct. 2, 1967 edition of The Valley Independent, which sold for 10 cents, featured a variety of local news.
To wit: Ground moving equipment moved into Middle Monongahela Industrial Development Association (MIDA) property in Donora this morning to begin site preparation for a new 18,000-square-foot addition to the present Cellco Industries Plant. Frederick J. O'Reilly, president of Cellco, said he hoped the addition would be finished by January. Cellco manufactures electrical duct systems.
In a joint announcement this morning, the Lee-Norse Division of Ingersoll Rand Company in Charleroi and Local 2658 of the United Steelworkers of America confirmed that a new three-year contract calling for higher wages and improved fringe benefits was signed just two hours before the previous pact expired Saturday at midnight. President William Brady of Local 2658 called the new contract “amicable.”
Fox Grocery of Rostraver Township, one of the largest grocery distributors in the tri-state district, was closed today as the firm's 56 drivers went on strike. John Fox, president of the company, said negotiations were held for about three months prior to the end of the Fox contract with Teamsters Local 872 of Charleroi, which represents the drivers. Pickets appeared at the plant last night at about 9 o'clock, halting the entire Fox operation.
In Other News
Long Branch Grange 1928 will observe Centennial Booster Night on Oct. 13 to commemorate the accomplishments and activities of the Grange as a vital factor in rural and community life. Lecturer Naomi Celestine is in charge of the speaking program.
The Federated Women's Home and Hospital Club of North Charleroi opened an active new season at the Lock Four Fire Hall. Mrs. Dorothy Sowden, president, conducted her first meeting and introduced the following new officers: Mrs. Michael Myshin, first vice president, Mrs. Helen Rapp, second vice president; Elizabeth Barnett, recording secretary; Mrs. Ira Beckman, corresponding secretary; Elizabeth Hogan, treasurer; Mrs. Louis Booth, parliamentarian.
Fallowfield Township Cub Scout Pack 420 held a reorganization meeting at the home of Wayne Gumbert. Cubmaster William Jackson was in charge and was assisted by Ferdie Rach and Albert Garoffio. Den mothers with the pack sponsored by Fallowfield Township Lions Club are Mrs. Patricia Marchesini, Mrs. Betty Rubachko, Mrs. Mary Jo Hall, Mrs. Shirley Vihartosky and Mrs. Sally Santini.
Sports Shorts
Junior quarterback John Hogan completed 18 of 33 passes for a new single-game record of 376 yards at Monongahela Valley Catholic High School but the Spartans bowed 45-25 to powerful South Hills Catholic on Saturday night at Mount Lebanon Stadium. Hogan tossed three touchdown passes – two to Kevin Ritzer and one to Dennis DeMarino – ran for another and kicked the lone extra point to give MVC its highest score of the season.
Jack Shannon, a senior from Allenport and a Charleroi Area High graduate, is captain of the West Virginia University soccer team. The 6-1, 165-pound veteran is a WVU candidate for All-American honors.
Helen Koch of Monongahela enjoyed one of the best games of her bowling career with a 631 series at Laurel Lanes in Uniontown. Mrs. Koch, captain of the Hills Restaurant entry in the Mon Valley League, had single games of 181, 245 and 205.
Roberto Clemente became only the fourth player in National League history to win four batting titles as the Pittsburgh Pirates ripped Houston 10-2 in the season finale. Clemente hit a triple and his 23rd home run of the season to finish with a .357 average, the highest in the National circuit since 1946, when Stan Musial hit .376. Clemente joins Musial, Honus Wagner and Rogers Hornsby as the only NL players to win four batting crowns.
Business Matters
Bob Leone's Esso Service Center at Third Street and Schoonmaker Ave., Monessen, is now offering Plaid Stamps as part of its Swing Into Winter specials on anti-freeze, winter tires and other products.
Highway Appliance in Dunlevy is touting GE Price Break specials on such items as these: Filter-Flo automatic clothes washer, $179; Tumble wrinkles out dryer, $139.
A&P supermarkets has Jane Parker whole or cracked wheat bread at 49 cents for two 16-ounce loaves.
Car City on the Express Highway, Belle Vernon, shows these cost-cutters on its lot: 1964 Ford station wagon, $1,295; 1964 Chevy Bel Air, four door sedan, eight cylinders, automatic, $1,295.
Only a few miles away at 226 Chess St., Monongahela, Spesak Motors has a 1963 Dodge convertible (V8, automatic) ready to roll at $1,295 and a 1964 Dodge convertible with power steering and brakes available for $1,495.
Wander Sales – “Where prices are born, not raised” – has a variety of Zenith console color television sets on sale from $399 up.
Among the featured products at White Cross at Tri-County Shopping Plaza (Next to Hills), Routes 70 and 201, are these: Listerine, pint bottle, 88 cents; Q-Tip swabs, two boxes of 125 each, 88 cents; Gleem toothpaste, 88 cents; Bayer aspirin, bottle of 200, 88 cents.
Del Farm supermarket, 102 Lincoln Ave. Ext., Charleroi, is promoting Top Treat gelatins (all flavors) at eight cents for a three-ounce package.
On The Tube
Among the most popular programs among television viewers are the following: Danny Thomas Hour, the Carol Burnett Show, Gunsmoke, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., I Spy, Merv Griffin, Andy Griffith, The Flintstones, Perry Mason, Walter Cronkite, Huntley and Brinkley, Joe Bishop on Late Night, Lawrence Welk, Lucille Ball.
Ron Paglia is a freelance writer for Trib Total Media.
