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

 

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

July 13, 2004.  The Shoppes of Warren Station.

From day one, the Shoppes at Warren Station has struggled  to find and keep tenants.  As the article in the local paper notes:

SPEDD began construction of the complex in June 2002 without firm commitments from any future tenants, saying prospective tenants wanted to see construction actually underway.

Google Maps

Currently, Family Dollar anchors the complex.

Old China King Buffet packed up a while ago.

July 14, 2004.  Blair Corporation

The clock at the corner of Hickory Street and West Third Avenue has stood here since at least the 1950s. 

Photo by Retkring Guy (2020)

The Blair Corporation, which was named The New Process Company until 1989, has long been one of Warren's largest employers, a fact confirmed by the number of times the company's names pop up in the obituaries in the local paper.

 

July 15, 2004.  Canoeing on the Allegheny River

The finish line at the western end of Betts Park, referenced in the article below, is about a half-mile beyond the bend in the river.

 Photo by Retiring Guy taken from Hickory Street Bridge

 

July 20, 2004.  Market Street road work

A rainy summer has slowed down the progress of a number of major consturction projects in Warren.

What's shared first is a 1920s-era photo of Market Street at Fourth Avenue, where the county courthouse is lcoated (at left).

Photo by Borg Studio, Warren PA

July 21, 2004.  Hickory Street Bridge construction

Wet weather continues to hamper the progress of a number of construction projects.

Panoramic view of bridge, Allegheny River and south side of Warren (mid-1990s)

July 23, 2004.  Warren Area Elementary Center

The green arrow indicates the location of the elementary center, up the hill from East Fifth Avenue   The campus also includes Warren Area High School, which opened in September 1960, and the Warren County Career Center, constructed in the early 1970s.

Google Maps

The endpaper of the 1961 Warren Dragon yearbook shows a rendering of the original design of the school.

July 27. 2004.  Impact Warren

A view of the sidewalk and stores along the 300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue West.  Most of the storefronts are occupied and locally owned and operated.  The City of Warren has worked diligtent through the years to make the downtown an attractive and welcoming place to visit.

Photo by Retiring Guy (2013)

The first threat to downtown Warren arose in the mid-1960s, when a Jamesway discount department store opened on U.S. 62 in North Warren.   The new business, located about 2 miles north of the central business district had limited impact, as the line of downtown stores remained pretty much intact through the 1970s.

One of numerous pages compiled from

Warren city directories

The real threat arrived with the construction of the Warren Mall two miles farther north on U.S. 62.  It opened in 1979, and downtown Warren was never the same.  Gaughn's Drug Store is one of the few remaining longtime businesses.

Photo by Retiring Guy (2013)

The store is stsill going strong.

July 29, 2004.  Fire on Market Street

At the turn of the 20th century, Market Street was lined with trees and beautiful homes, as well as a number of architecturally significant churches.

 

 

The fire occurred in the building that once housed the Lutz-Vermilyea Funeral home, which is listed in the 1967 edition of the Warren City Directory but not in the 1983 edition.  (That's all Retiring Guy has on hand in his personal library.)

July 30, 2004.  Hickory Street Bridge.

A postcard view of the old bridge when it was new, looking toward Warren's south side, when it was named after the river and not the street.

From Retiring Guy's postcard collection

With the Hickory Street Bridge (red box) out of commission, residents of the south side of Warren and Pleasant Township (green highlight) had 2 options to get to the central business distrct (orange highlight.)

A view from the new Hickory Street Bridge looking west

Photo by Retiring Guy (2020)

Other strolls down memory lane:
August 2004
September 2004