A stroll down memory lane with the help of clippings from the Warren (PA) Times Observer (September 2004)

 

Clippings from when Retiring Guy subscribed to the print edition, accompanied by items from the Archives.

September 3, 2004

Miss Flowers taught at Jefferson Elementary School during the years that Retiring Guy attended -- 1957 to 1962.  In the accompanying photo, she looks quite the same in 2004, assuming the photo was current then -- as she did back then.  She aged well.  In fact, it sounds as though she continued to maintain a busy schedule of activities.

1969 photo of Jefferson schoolyard and kindergarten/1st grade wing.  Taken from kitchen.

Early 1980s photo of back side of school.  Taken from an upstairs bedroom.

A panoramic view from the 1990s

 

After the school closed in the mid-2000s, it sat empty and was allowed to deteriorate.  The ongoing project to repurpose the building for apartments isn't going well.

 

 

September 7, 2004

Here's a 2013 view of the Northwest Savings Bank building, which houses back-office operations.

Photo by Retiring Guy

And a postcard view of the same corner of Liberty and Pennsylvania Avenue West from the last 1950s

In 2014, Northwest added 58,000 square feet to its downtown operations.

Photo by Retiring Guy (2020)

The same view as above seen in the early 1940s.

September 14, 2004

Interior photos also found at realtor.com.

Google Maps view

The boulevard section of Fourth Avenue in Warren PA

Looking east

Photos by Retiring Guy

Looking west

September 15, 2004

From the Struthers Library Theater website:

When Retiring Guy was growing up, the Library Theater was the only movie house in town.  The cost of a ticket in the 1960s:  90 cents for adults, 30 cents for kids.  

One memory that stands out among amny is watching a bat flying back and forth in front the screen for a minute or so during a screening of  The Odd Couple in 1967.

Two photos from Retiring guy's point-of-view.

From 2012

From 2020

September 22, 2004

The Warren Area Elementary Center consolidated the operations of six standalone schools:  Jefferson, Market Street, Home Street, South Street, Lacy, and Irvinedale.

Warren Area Elementary Center 

Google Maps serial  view.   The educational campus includes Warren Area High School and the Warren County Career Center.

What the high school looked like shortly after it opened in September 1960.

What it looks like today, after an extensive remodeling.

September 23, 2004

Construction of Warren's first and only parking ramp.

Two view of the parking ramp from August 2006

Photos by Retiring Guy

September 28, 2004

The story continues.  The biggest local news of the month, apparently.

View of Allegheny River from top of parking ramp (2006)

Photos by Retiring Guy

View of Liberty Street from top of parking ramp (2006)

View of Allegheny River from top of parking ramp (2016)

September 28, 2004

Walmart is coming to town!  It was a long time coming.

From Mom's 10/2/1993 letter:  

Dale was saying he heard Walmarts will build on land from Penn Elec, Starbrick. That would be nice.

From Mom's 11/19/1997 letter:

Walmart talked about having a store in Starbrick but the plans fell thru. The property is too swampy.

From Mom's 12/8/2004 letter:

Today's paper tells us the lawyers arranged a settlement so Walmart will go ahead & build in N. Warren. It could be opened before next Dec.

Google maps aerial view

October 2, 2004

Fifth-grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary School, 1960-61.  Perhaps the best and most motivating teacher I had in grade school.  She could be stern at times but always approachable.

The school has been standing empty for 30 years, ever since the school district built the Warren Area Elementary Center as part of a consolidation project.  The  population of Warren County (38,587) has decreased 20% from its 1970 peak of 47,682.

The building is currently being repurposed as an apartment building, although no one is holding their breath that it will ever happen.  The photo, taken last summer, is from the back upstairs porch of the house I lived in from 1957 to 1968.

Photo by Retiring Guy

Rick and I are members of the Warren Area High School Class of 1968.   Rick was a genuinely nice guy -- still is, actually -- although I found him to be a bit of a blowhard at times.

Rick's yearbook page