McKeesport, PA

In 2007, I worked in McKeesport, PA for three months. Armed with my camera and a disturbing sense of awe and fear, I took to the streets and "discovered' McKeesport."

A bronze statue of John Fitzgerald Kennedy looms over Lysle Boulevard, as a reminder that McKeesport was once a vibrant, thriving community.

My experience walking these streets provoked a sad sense of nostalgia along with the need for outcry and justice. The outdoor landscape and playground for these school children is deplorable and one that continues to haunt me. These children are the absolute single bright spot amidst the bleak backdrop of decay. Their very presence here represents hope and promise!

Along with the need for constant prayers, McKeesport needs a hero with a plan for redemption, revival.and the money to back it up.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• McKeesport
• Pennsylvania

[float300]

Who is singing Over the Rainbow, was that Celtic Woman by any chance? Such beautiful harmony and too beautiful a song to go along with pictures of a rotting town. If I still lived there I would be wishing to go over the rainbow or moving somewhere else for sure!

[Laurie5903]

@float300 you are right it is Celtic Woman.in the McKeesport Video ( pardon my very delayed response) I liked it bacause it is haunting to view such devastation with such sweet accompanyment.. Something is very wrong wrong  .... I did discover a more appropriate song by Amy Grant so I think I will update the video with the new song....

[howst3]

Hell it WAS THEE heart of the Mon valley,i was born there in '56,graduated hi-school in '74(1,150 student class!!!)breaks my heart what US Steel+our gov't has done to average workin' Americans...no offfense honey but when i was i kid,there would be OVER 40,000 steel workers at 3pm in 'dahntahn' mckeesport..ya hadda see it to believe it+i remember 1/2 of'em had "Balsamo Bags"

[Laurie5903]

@howst3

Balsamo Bags? Do tell! And I graduated in '78 so you're not that much older. i grew up in a small town though, removed from all the steeltown glory.

[float300]

You say that children are the bright spot. That may be true as long as they don't kill each other first. The two who were responsible for the recent home invasion and murders in Crawford Village were teenagers! The sad truth is that my home town has become another Homewood or Hill District, just another high crime area. Shame on the residents who continue to let this happen!

[Laurie5903]

@float300

I agree. No one is bailing out failing communities, nor do they care when the school system collpases as it did in Duquesne.

[Weasel2458]

I visited McKeesport in the summer of 2010 after being away since 1957. I grew up in West Mifflin on the hill right west of Dravosburg. Most of my ancestors are buried in Richland Cemetery. I was glad to be able to find all the old family homes still standing; some are very little changed. TransWorldTraders ia right: 'dahntahn' is a Pgh term -- we always went 'down street'.

[Weasel2458]

Breaks my heart. I was born in McKeesport Hospital (lo-o-ong) time ago, Mom from Dravosburg, Dad from Glassport. I was carried into First Baptist Church (which my grandfather and great-grandfather helped build) as an infant. So was my mother. It's the big stone church in some of your pictures that now stands derelict on the corner of Olive and Some-street-I-can't-remember. I still have the fancy books that were made to commemorate the 100th and 125th anniversaries of the church. SO SAD!

[siktwistofFATE89]

Huh not a bad view of the port but it is a shitty place to live i grew up in lower tenth ward an that place use to be wild

[MrOrlandoBeach]

I was born and raised in McKeesport.I've experienced it and through that experience I know it to be a corrupt hellhole.The best thing that could happen to shitsville is if the air force would use it for target practice....maybe warn a few and a very few people first.

[malleus30]

@bigbarno428 I plan to. The dirtbags can have this stinkhole.

[Luchie15045]

And The Wolf Finally Came.

[Clemente21cbc]

My dad was born here went to stl for college and started his family there I come back once a year and I absoultly love it

[bigbarno428]

I will say this again if you don't like Mckeesport,DONT COME HERE.If you live in McKeesport and don't like it THEN MOVE.

[bigbarno428]

I was born and raised in McKeesport and started a family here.I love this city,yes it has ts bad side as does every city.I hope they continue to revamp the city the way they are now.Old fifth ave is starting to look a lot better and those school kids in the picture now have a brand new school to go to.They where Propel students.For all you people who talk down on Mckeesport and have moved I'm glad you did because those are the people who don't care and where not going to help the city anyway.

[IAMTHEEND666]

I was born and raised in the "Port" and moved away as soon as I could! The government in McKeesport won't let anything happen unless they get their share for their family and friends first. Be smart, move!