Posted by Jack Black on November 25, 2000 at 09:59:43:
In Reply to: need help!!!!!!! please read!!!!! everyone!!!!!! posted by girl on November 15, 2000 at 12:14:06:
> hi....im doing a paper in school on the history of kittanning....im choosing to focus on the fall of kittannings economy....it seems to me that when my mom was growing up kittanning was a bangin little town and it seems like it has fallen apart....i need to find out why?....its obvious that it has to do with lack of jobs but i need to get more information on this.....does anyone know anything about the coal mines or ppg or any other jobs that a lot of ppl had in the past that they dont have anymore because of them being shut down?
> i need info and i cant find it!
> thanx
> =)
Marla--you've taken on quite an ambitious project. I don't know if my experience would help much--but here it is. Yes Kittanning was a prosperous town back in the late 40's into the early 50's. After World War 2--1945 there were plenty of jobs to be had in Coal mining, local industry which included PPG. Eljer Potteries, Linde Air and manyothere businesses. Saturday night in Kittanning was a sight to behold and has a special place in my memories. All of the stores were open and on a summer night Main St. was packed with people. Three theatres, two 5 & 10's, many drug stores (with soda fountains), jewelery stores, Brody's and Reisburgh's Leader, Isaly's with it's great ice cream and BBQ ham sandwiches, Cubby Claypools pool room, and many other stores serving the needs of people. My family was primarily active in the coal mines. The first memories I had of impending doom in that field was my father complaining about the "scab" strip mines. (non-union). I believe they could mine and sell coal cheaper than the traditional "deep" mine. The other thing I remember is the frequent labor strikes led by John L. Lewis the head of the coal miners union. I believe that along with the lessened demand for coal and these situations with labor problems caused the shut down of many of the mines which provided a lot of jobs in the Kittanning area. The loss of jobs also created a movement by the people to more attractive employment areas. In my family's case it was to Ohio where the steel industry was "booming" in 1953. many, many families moved. It is interesting that what had happened to the coal mining industry, eventually happened to the steel industry in the Ohio area. That's another story. That's a "sketchy" outline--if you need to know anymore or I can help you--let me know. Good luck!!!