Monessen celebrating 125th anniversary
Photos: Courtesy of Dan Zyglowicz
The city of Monessen is celebrating its 125th anniversary with events all year with a highlight being Saturday鈥檚 festival at the Herman Mihalich Boat Launch.
Courtesy of Dan Zyglowicz
Part of the celebration of Monessen鈥檚 125th anniversary is a contest in which stuffed greyhounds are decorated. The greyhound is the mascot of the Monessen School District and this is the district鈥檚 entry in the contest.
Courtesy of Dan Zyglowicz
The Monessen Police Department鈥檚 entry in the stuffed greyhound competition being held in conjunction with the city鈥檚 anniversary celebration
It鈥檚 a year of celebration in Monessen, as the city marks its 125th anniversary.
Events have been planned throughout the year, but the biggest party is set for Saturday with the Celebrate Monessen 125 Festival at the Herbert Mihalich Boat Launch.
A fishing derby is scheduled for 8 to 11 a.m. with prizes to be awarded in various age groups. A parade will take place along Donner Avenue at 5 p.m. with music from DJ Dennis from 5 until dusk.
Food trucks and booths will be on hand, and the celebration will culminate with a fireworks display.
In conjunction with that event, the Mon Valley NAACP will hold a cultural heritage festival at the same location.
鈥淲e want to highlight the past 125 years,鈥� said Dan Zyglowicz, president of the Greater Monessen Historical Society. 鈥淲e know that Monessen is not what it used to be. We want to bring back that sense of community.鈥�
Monessen was incorporated as a borough Sept. 3, 1898, becoming a city Sept. 16, 1921. It is named for the Monongahela River and Essen, a well-known iron town in Germany.
Other events planned include the annual festival at Epiphany of the Lord Roman Catholic Church, scheduled for Aug. 4 and 5. This year there will be a nod to the 125th anniversary.
Stuffed greyhounds 鈥� mascot of the Monessen School District 鈥� decorated by various city businesses and organizations will be on display at the festival.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been selling votes, what is your favorite greyhound,鈥� said Zyglowicz, a lifelong Monessen resident. 鈥淭hey will also be on display at the historical society and we鈥檒l probably auction them off at some point.鈥�
The winner will be announced at the Mon Valley Paws in the Park & Vendor Show, set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 9 at Monessen City Park.
That show also will feature a ping-pong ball drop for prizes.
A time capsule marking the 125th anniversary will be buried Aug. 19 in Monessen City Park.
鈥淎ll of the living ex-mayors of the city will be invited to bring something for the time capsule that signifies their administration,鈥� Zyglowicz said.
He added the school district donated pictures from the past school year and everyone in attendance will sign a guest book that will be placed in the time capsule.
A time capsule from the city鈥檚 100th anniversary will be unearthed from Monessen City Park prior to the event and its contents will be on display.
Other events in conjunction with the 125th anniversary include:
n Friends of the Monessen Public Library鈥檚 annual luncheon at St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church on Oct. 10;
n The historical society鈥檚 annual Founders Day banquet Oct. 21 at the St. Vincent de Paul Society Building;
n Monessen Shade Tree Commission鈥檚 fall tree planting at Anthony Madison Park on Ninth Street on Nov. 4;
n Annual Christmas celebration on Dec. 2.
A couple of events already have taken place.
In May, the Monessen veterans hosted a U.S. military display, and the city鈥檚 Juneteenth celebration adhered to the anniversary theme. Also in June, there was a Remembering Monessen digital photo presentation at the Monessen Public Library. A second showing of the photos will be presented in the fall.
鈥淧eople have been asking for it,鈥� Zyglowicz said. 鈥淚t seems that weekend was a busy weekend with weddings, graduation parties. Some people couldn鈥檛 come and asked us to repeat it, so we鈥檙e going to do that. It鈥檚 something to look back at the past 125 years. It can bring back memories for various people.鈥�
As has been the case with past city anniversaries, a commemorative book will be offered to mark the occasion.
鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to cover stories not in our previous books like Monessen鈥檚 connection to the Titanic and Monessen and its connection to the Civil War,鈥� Zyglowicz said.
Mayor Ron Moser said the celebrations will offer a chance to show off the city, especially with this weekend鈥檚 festival.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just a time for people to celebrate Monessen鈥檚 125th anniversary,鈥� he said. 鈥淓verybody鈥檚 welcome. Come and share the joy of being in Monessen.鈥�