Ambridge Memories: Ambridge today

Showing posts with label Ambridge today. Show all posts

Saturday, March 4, 2023

The razing of Ambridge's Anthony Wayne School 2022

Ambridge's Anthony Wayne School was built at the corner of Lenz Ave. and 21st St. in 1928 - 1929 and originally looked like this:

Anthony Wayne School
May 18, 1937
credit: Mary Gause

In 1965 the school was extensively renovated and enlarged. After that, the school looked like this:

Anthony Wayne Elementary School entrance
November 20, 2013
credit: Nancy Knisley

Anthony Wayne Elementary School addition
November 20, 2013
credit: Nancy Knisley

Now, Anthony Wayne School is gone. Vacant for a number of years, it was razed in September 2022.

To read more about the history of Anthony Wayne School, and see photos of the school over the years click here.

P. J. Shotter shared some photos of the school's razing. Thanks so much, P. J.!

The photos dated September 14, 2022 show the school before the exterior razing began as well as a few peeks into the interior.

Anthony Wayne School
September 14, 2022
credit: P. J. Shotter

Anthony Wayne School
entrance
September 14, 2022
credit: P. J. Shotter

Anthony Wayne School
entrance's interior steps
September 14, 2022
credit: P. J. Shotter

Anthony Wayne School
September 14, 2022
credit: P. J. Shotter

Anthony Wayne School
interior
September 14, 2022
credit: P. J. Shotter

Anthony Wayne School
playground
September 14, 2022
credit: P. J. Shotter

The exterior's razing:

Anthony Wayne School
September 28, 2022
credit: P. J. Shotter

The future of the former Anthony Wayne School property begins:

Anthony Wayne School
September 28, 2022
credit: P. J. Shotter

Anthony Wayne School
January 19, 2023
credit: P. J. Shotter

Friday, June 3, 2022

Mikush Home Appliance Center, Ambridge's last appliance store

Mikush Home Appliance Center
811 Merchant St.
August 11, 2021
credit: P.J. Shotter

Once, in the 1950s - 1960s, the Mikush Appliance store was one of a number of stores on Ambridge's Merchant St. where a shopper could buy major appliances like washers and dryers, stoves, refrigerators, and dishwashers. Some others were Kubek's, Capital, Timney's, and Kelly & Cohen. Ambridge's Sears also did a big business selling appliances. Plus some furniture stores--including Ambridge, Economy, Modern, Goorin & Harris, and Darcel's--also sold them.

But starting in the 1950s, all of Ambridge's stores were hit hard by a series of blows: the opening of Northern Lights Shopping Center in Baden; the extension of Ohio River Blvd. from Ambridge's 8th St. to Baden, eliminating the need to drive through downtown Ambridge; and then the biggest blow of all: the collapse of the U.S. steel industry and closing of the area's plants and mills in the 1980s. The growth of big box stores in the area didn't help.

So one by one the places that sold appliances in Ambridge closed, until only one remains: Mikush Appliance.

I believe that Mikush Appliance is now the second oldest retail store in Ambridge, with only Stangl's Bakery being older. Perhaps their longevity is related to the fact that the two stores have been family owned and operated since the businesses began.

Mikush Appliance's story

Andrew Mikush Sr.
courtesy Bob Mikush

In 1929, a Yugoslavian immigrant with a third-grade education, Andrew G. Mikush Sr. [Andrew Sr. elsewhere in this blog post], began going door-to-door selling merchandise that now seems rather unusual: appliances.

But in the days before many families owned cars, selling appliances door-to-door must have been a savvy business idea for Andrew Sr.'s employer, Milleman's, a long-time Ambridge store that sold pianos and appliances.

Andrew Sr., who had worked as a delivery man for Milleman's, turned out to be a quite successful salesman. According to his grandson, Bob Mikush, people trusted his grandfather to understand their needs, undoubtedly helped by his self-taught ability to speak the languages of many of Ambridge's immigrants including Greek, Italian, Polish, and several other Slavic languages.

Andrew Sr. had a talent for repairing appliances too and developed a reputation not only as an honest seller, but also a skilled appliance repairman, an important skill during the depression years when many people couldn't afford to buy a new appliance when the one they owned stopped working.

In 1932, with Mr. Milleman's support, Andrew Sr. was able to open a business at 926 Duss Ave. (which many might remember as the location of J. Strock Memorials for many years). There he sold and repaired a variety of new and used appliances and their parts: washers, ironers, stoves, vacuums. And, according to his business card, he also sold radios and pianos.

Thanks to his impressive success, Andrew Sr. was given the Maytag appliance franchise in Ambridge, making the business one of Maytag's earliest dealers.

Andrew Mikush Sr.'s business card
926 Duss Ave.
courtesy: Bob Mikush

Andrew Sr. wanted to move his business from Duss Ave, to Merchant St., but despite the Great Depression, Merchant St. was busy, and there wasn't any available space he could lease.

Still, Andrew Sr.'s business didn't remain on Duss Ave. for long. By the late 1930s, Andrew Sr. had moved his business to 601 Melrose Ave., a block east of Merchant. While the primary reason the business thrived was probably Andrew Sr.'s reputation for personal customer service, he also seems to have had a knack for promoting special bonuses for buyers.

Andrew Mikush
classified ad
Daily Citizen
December 3, 1937

Andrew Mikush Sr.
behind counter of store at
601 Melrose Ave.
courtesy Bob Mikush

Andrew Mikush
"All Makes of Electrical Appliances"
601 Melrose Ave.
ad
"Minstrel Varieties" program
Ushers Club of St. Veronica's Church
April 1949
courtesy Good Samaritan Parish Archives

Although I don't know yet exactly when Mikush Appliances was finally able to move into a store on Merchant St., based on the ads above and below, the move to 818 Merchant St. was apparently sometime between April 1949 and December 1950. (I'll update this article if I find a more exact date.)

Andrew Mikush
Electric Appliances
818 Merchant St.
ad
Holy Trinity Dedication program
December 17, 1950

Andrew Mikush Sr. posing behind business' float
for the Ambridge Golden Jubilee parade
on float, grandchildren Roberta Mikush (now Sciulli)
and Andrew "Whitey" Mikush
in front of 818 Merchant St. store
July 1955
courtesy Borough of Ambridge

Andrew Mikush Sr. in front of Mikush Maytag Appliances
818 Merchant St.
Daily Citizen Trade Area Directory
1956

Andrew Mikush Appliance ad
Daily Citizen Trade Area Directory
1956

In 1962, Andrew Sr. retired and handed the store over to his son, Andrew R. Mikush Jr.

Andrew Mikush Jr.
ad
Bridger yearbook, 1971

A January 31, 1969, Beaver County Times article about Mikush Appliance's history and award-winning service, mentioned that the business soon would be moving to a larger building, purchased the previous year. The new location, at 811 Merchant St., previously Jay's Floor Covering store, would undergo extensive remodeling before a grand opening. Mikush Appliances has done business there ever since.

Mikush family in appliance store
811 Merchant St.
credit: Beaver County Times, March 23, 1997

Caption under photo above:

The Mikush family has been in business in Ambridge since the 1930s. From left are Whitey Mikush, Bob Mikush, Andrew Mikush and Bryan Mikush.

Andrew Jr. retired in 2001. His grandson, Bryan, now owns and operates the business.

Over the years, Mikush Appliances was recognized on several occasions by Maytag for their outstanding sales and service including the Maytag Red Carpet Service Excellence Award and the Outstanding Maytag Dealer Award. Bob Mikush also was invited to speak at the National Home Appliance Center Convention--twice. Even TV's lonely Maytag Repairman visited.

The lonely Maytag Repairman (actor Gordon Jump) visits Mikush Appliances
On left: WMBA announcer Dave Justice
On right: Andrew Mikush, Jr. and Al Serak
June 14, 1996
courtesy Bob Mikush

Recently, there's been a twist to the Mikush Appliances story: Despite the signs on the business that still say "Maytag," the store stopped selling Maytag appliances a few years ago. Bob Mikush said that after Maytag was sold to Whirlpool in 2005, the quality of appliances sold under the Maytag name just wasn't up to Mikush Appliances' standards that customers expected.

Yet, amazingly, despite the competition from today's big box stores and the development of new shopping areas like Cranberry and Robinson Township, the store still sells appliances, although the models on display aren't as numerous as they once were. Most of its business is now in repairs and selling parts. But personal customer service is still its focus.

Some other things that make Mikush Home Appliance Center special:

- The business truly has been a family business for four generations. In addition to the founder Andrew Sr., Mikush family members who have been involved in the business include: Andrew Sr.'s sons, Andrew Jr. and Steve; grandsons Andrew (Whitey) and Bob and granddaughter Roberta; and great-grandson Bryan.

Roberta Mikush Sculli provided this memory:

My mom maintained the flower container outside the store, vacuumed and kept the store clean. When we were located across the street, I remember my grandmother coming to serve lunch. It was a full lunch like they ate in Europe. They ate their main meal at lunch. My grandfather locked the front door and we all ate together.

- Bob Mikush will repair lamps at the store.

Bob Mikush with lamps needing repair
November 25, 2015
courtesy Ambridge Area Chamber of Commerce

- The store has decades of both Maytag and Ambridge memorabilia on display.

- Bob Mikush is a wonderful source of information about Ambridge's history.

- The business has been a frequent supporter of many Ambridge events, schools, and organizations.

Sunday, April 11, 2021

Pfeifer Building, 447 Merchant St., 1929

Business and home of R. L. Pfeifer
Funeral Director
447 Merchant St.
ad
Daily Citizen
August 10, 1929

Did you ever notice that the Vocelli Pizza building at 447 Merchant St. has "Pfeifer" spelled out in bricks near the top of the façade and wonder why?

Vocelli Pizza
447 Merchant St.
April 9, 2021
credit: P. J. Shotter

Well, about 100 years ago, that building was home to the business of R. L. Pfeifer, a funeral director who also provided ambulance service. The building was also home to Pfeifer and his family.

R. L Pfeifer ad
Economy Centennial Souvenir Program
Economy of Old and Ambridge of Today
June 1924

Robert L. Pfeifer, a WWI veteran, began his funeral business in Ambridge in 1920, and reportedly became a popular and very active part of Ambridge's community. Pfeifer belonged to a number of civic and fraternal organizations in Ambridge including the Rotary, Canady-Hull American Legion Post 341, Masons, Odd Fellows, Elks, and Moose. And he was an active member of Ambridge's Volunteer Fire Department where he held several offices over the years.

Pfeifer also was respected within his profession, serving as president of both the Western Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association in 1936 - 37 and Beaver County Funeral Directors Association.

Pfeifer died of a heart attack in 447 Merchant on September 11, 1938, after working almost all night to prepare a body for burial, even though he'd not been feeling well. He would have been 40 on September 13.

His obituary in the September 12 Daily Citizen was headlined "R. L. Pfeifer, Noted Citizen, Dies Suddenly. Death of Funeral Director, 40, Shock to Ambridge."

Sunday, April 5, 2020

500 block of Maplewood Ave. circa 1907 - 1913

These two vintage postcards show the 500 block of Maplewood Ave. from 5th St. looking north.

The upper card is the older of the two scenes. If you compare the two postcards, you'll see this first scene doesn't have the trees planted along the street that are shown in the lower card.

Note the horse and wagon way down the block, left side of the upper card.

The upper postcard with the older scene was never mailed, so there's no postmark to try to date the scene. But since the later postcard was mailed, and postmarked 1913, the scene on the older view must have been earlier.

More clues as to the date of the older postcard: Both postcards have divided backs on the address side, a style that the post office only allowed to be used beginning in 1907, so I know that the older postcard dates from after 1907. And before 1913. *

500 block of Maplewood Ave. looking north from 5th St.
postcard
circa 1907 - 1913

Compare the scenes in both postcards with this "now" photo taken by P. J. Shotter. Most of the houses shown in the two postcards are still there. As far as I can determine, the modern flat-roofed building on the right side of the photo, 510 Maplewood, was built on the last empty lot on the block in the 1950s. A podiatrist is there now. Earlier, it was was a dental office for many years.

500 block of Maplewood Ave. looking north from 5th St.
March 8, 2020
credit: P. J. Shotter

There's one other difference I see between the two cards: there's a house not in the older scene that's shown in the later one: 517 Maplewood, the third house on the left side of the later scene with the peaked roof and brown shingles at the top.

500 block of Maplewood Ave. looking north from 5th St.
postcard
postmarked 1913

Beaver County property records say 517 was built in 1916 which isn't possible. The house has to be older since it appears on a 1911 Sanborn insurance map** and the postcard mailed in 1913.

The yellow brick house with the pointed roof on the left side of the street in the "now" photo is also 517, so brick veneer may have been added after 1913. Better guess (maybe): although the postcard was mailed in 1913, the scene on the postcard predates 1911, since the 1911 Sanborn insurance map indicates the house was veneered. Either that, or the coloring of the houses on the postcard isn't accurate.

Here's the latest Google Street View of 517 and the neighboring houses on both sides:

515, 517, and 521 Maplewood Ave.
Google Street View
July 2019

Most of the street trees shown in the later postcard scene are now gone, although a few remain nearer to 6th St. I wonder if they were some of the 200 - 300 trees planned for Ambridge for which the "shade tree commission" was accepting bids in 1908. (Daily Citizen, August 25, 1954)
_____

Personal memory: I spent many happy visits to 517 Maplewood when my Uncle and Aunt, Pete and Helen Gause, lived there with my three cousins.

* And yes, I realize that just because the postcard was printed in 1907 that also means the scene on the card is from 1907. But the October 1905 Sanborn insurance map shows more empty lots in the 500 block on Maplewood than the scene appears to show. So 1907 seems to be a good approximate date of the earlier scene.

** On the 1911 Sanborn map, the address of the house that is now 517 Maplewood house was 508. Building addresses in Ambridge were changed in 1917, making Ambridge history involving old buildings so much more fun.

Here's the address side of the two postcards:

Address side of 1907 postcard

Address side of 1913 postcard