-----Original Message----- From: Anthony Coyan <acoyan@zoomnet.net> To: PAALLEGH-l@rootsweb.com <PAALLEGH-l@rootsweb.com> Cc: PAWASHIN-l@rootsweb.com <PAWASHIN-l@rootsweb.com>; PAWESTMO-l@rootsweb.com <PAWESTMO-l@rootsweb.com>; PABEAVER@rootsweb.com <PABEAVER@rootsweb.com> Date: Sunday, July 19, 1998 9:07 PM Subject: Re: McKeesport Heritage Center >I've received quite a few private e-mails regarding my trip to the >Heritage Center this week, asking me to elaborate on the materials >available there. Keep in mind, I mentioned that I didn't get to >inquire or look at everything available (I ran out of time - after 3 >days searching!), but here is what they have that I found VERY >valuable: > >1) The obituary indexes for the McKeesport Daily News, indexed by >surname giving issue date and page #, from 1884 THRU the late 1970's! > >At this point I have to elaborate. There is a gentleman (looked to be >in his late 60's, early 70's) who has been going there, nearly EVERY >DAY that the Center has been open for the last 10 YEARS, looking thru >the Daily News and compiling this info. Can you imagine the work >involved..... He is to be thanked and congratulated (to say the least) >for the database he has given us and future generations. I personally >looked thru every volume (8-10 hours work), looking for quite a few >surnames. I came away with 25-30 obit's, many for folks in my ancestor >tree that I didn't even know existed!!!! > >2) The Daily Times on microfilm, every issue from 1884 to just about >the present. > >Again, I have to elaborate. Cynthia Neish, the Director of the Center, >was my "hostess" for most of the 3 days that I was there. Fortunately >(for me!) it was not very busy, so we interacted quite a bit. This >lady is simply incredible. I was told that she is in her 70's now (she >certainly doesn't look it), but she has more energy than most people >HALF her age! And all of that energy is directed towards making the >Center a better place for we researchers. > >I hope that she wouldn't mind me divulging this, but quite a number of >years ago (before there was ever a thought of a Heritage Center), when >she became concerned that the newspaper ownership might change and all >of the old copies of the Daily Times might meet the same demise as the >industrial base of McKeesport (so unfortunate to see the town in it's >present condition), she was allowed to photograph and microfilm all of >the old issues that hadn't yet been done (from 1884 thru @1945). This >lady spent a YEAR of her own time, uncompensated, and working Mon. - >Fri., in order to get it done. And she did....We now reap the benefits >of her unselfish hard work - I cannot thank her enough. > >3) McKeesport city property valuation books from @1888 and into the >early 1900's. I personally found a couple of ancestors listsed. The >books gave there exact address, described what type of dwelling they >owned, and it's value. > >4) Various church records. > >5) Readable (unlike some of those at the Carnegie Library...) copies >of the Allegheny Co. census records. > >6) Cemetary records from quite a few of the ones in and around >McKeesport. > >I could go on, but suffice it to say that if you are just a liitle bit >curious, you really need to call Cynthia at the Center and ask your >questions. Someone posted their address & number earlier today. > >The $25 membership ($20 annual renewal) gives you unlimited research >there, a monthly newsletter, and more. > > >