The Truth About McKeesport, Pennsylvania: Is It Really That Bad?

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  • Опубліковано 4 лют 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 181

  • @dansteigerwald5677
    @dansteigerwald5677 Рік тому +76

    Very special thanks for your NOT having added music to your videos. That's good taste!

  • @cmdrdata
    @cmdrdata Рік тому +46

    I grew up here too, in its prime. Late 60s through the 70s was a great time to live here. Downtown looked like a scene from its a Wonderful Life. Department stores loaded with Christmas toys. People dressed to the nines. We would hang out on those porches, and talk with family all night. Such a far cry from its glory days now. So sad, it can almost bring you to tears. I have family there now, and they stay because its home.

  • @suzy259
    @suzy259 Рік тому +25

    Wow...Back in the 70s when I was a teenager, it was my stomping ground. My older married sister (now passed) owned a house there in McKeesport, Pa. and I lived with her off+on, I'm shocked at the poor condition it's in!!!

  • @TheCapBabe-BamaFittedStudio
    @TheCapBabe-BamaFittedStudio Рік тому +25

    Soon as I seen the title I knew it was McKeesport… like many places in PA slowly crumbling with no help coming.. just sad

  • @edwardkrajewski5735
    @edwardkrajewski5735 Рік тому +24

    My hometown. So sad what it has become.

  • @rbisme113
    @rbisme113 Рік тому +35

    I used to live very near there from the 80s thru 2009. That whole region suffered when the steel mills closed. They had a healthcare industry boom in the 90s, but that was short lived. A lack of jobs has forced many to relocate including myself. I miss the greater Pittsburgh area.

  • @JohnDorsey
    @JohnDorsey Рік тому +34

    Could be used as a set for The Walking Dead

  • @lisetteeliseparis7070
    @lisetteeliseparis7070 Рік тому +27

    The landscape is so beautiful and yet the ruins are scary at the same time.

    • @janedoe5180
      @janedoe5180 Рік тому +2

      Coming from Texas, I love the hills

    • @Curlyloxau
      @Curlyloxau Рік тому +1

      Beautiful and green, but destroyed.

  • @Chordonblue
    @Chordonblue Рік тому +19

    My mom's family was from this area. She told me about the trolleys that used to run into Pittsburgh and how busy the place was. Those brick roads you see were built over a 100 years ago. My parents were told that the city no longer has the 'institutional knowledge' to fix them, so when a few bricks come out, they simply fill it in with asphalt. The fact that so many remain is testament to how well-constructed they were.
    Well... Nothing lasts forever, but in a time where we have so many homeless, it's a shame these kinds of places can't be revitalized.

    • @hoodsnhollers
      @hoodsnhollers  Рік тому +6

      Been on a lot of terrible roads, but this place takes the win. If you notice at one point I almost dropped my camera. I literally hit the bottom of the frame on the car right there and had to get out and pop the bumper back in. Alignment was totally out, I remember letting the wheel go on the way out of there and it would just ghost turn it was so bad LOL

  • @knighttoking7926
    @knighttoking7926 Рік тому +30

    What a crying shame. This use to be a lovely city, I can see that. And what amazing, and beautiful, brick roads!

  • @ronb8052
    @ronb8052 Рік тому +14

    I was born in McKeesport hospital in 1946. As a kid from West Mifflin, I would take the bus every Saturday morning an go to McKeesport...Memorial Theater, Army and Navy Store....lots of fun.
    I went back for my 20th reunion....everyone told me "don't go to McKeesport or Duquesne"...I now know why.

    • @kellyharper8072
      @kellyharper8072 5 місяців тому

      I remember West Mifflin. We lived in Clairiton PA in 1973-1974 for about a year.

  • @athalyerajan2823
    @athalyerajan2823 Рік тому +33

    How did this happen to my adopted home. As an immigrant who loves my country such videos make me think of an era long gone with prosperity and no moneychanging.

    • @johnr.b.murray3417
      @johnr.b.murray3417 Рік тому +10

      NO MONEYCHANGING. BINGO. YOU NAILED THE CULPRITS.

    • @monsterglo
      @monsterglo Рік тому +9

      Sadly when the steel mills, auto part manufacturers, textiles moved overseas and to Southern states for cheaper labor was the end for the areas, I grew up in PA, mom and dad moved to CA in the 70's thankfully

  • @lindapietrasz8070
    @lindapietrasz8070 Рік тому +5

    Thanks!
    Down payment for some struts. This will be last donation for June.

    • @hoodsnhollers
      @hoodsnhollers  Рік тому +3

      Thank you so much Linda! After that ride there its definitely getting some upgrades to the hood mobile LOL

  • @reggiedunlop2099
    @reggiedunlop2099 Рік тому +28

    For some reason I watch a lot of these "driving through the worst places" videos, and it never fails to amaze me how you see very decent or even expensive luxury vehicles parked in front of the most dilapidated run-down houses that you could ever imagine.

  • @johnlocke6506
    @johnlocke6506 Рік тому +7

    Adds a whole new meaning to urban decay but the dates you quote indicate that much of this has happened over many decades as witnessed by some of the collapsed houses being completely overcome by nature.

  • @bridgetmuehlberger5141
    @bridgetmuehlberger5141 Рік тому +35

    Wow. I’m gobsmacked. I can’t imagine what life is like for the remaining 17K+ people who still live there. Gotta admit, my heart was in my throat a little when you decided it was “time for a quick walk….” 😳 You’re a much braver person than I.
    The saddest part for me was seeing the two young girls on theirs scooters, outside “playing.” This is what they will remember as their childhood. 😢

  • @rayF4rio
    @rayF4rio Рік тому +12

    For some reason I always get a kick out of seeing the "Deaf Child Ahead" signs. The streets are a mess, houses destroyed, garbage everywhere, burned out buildings.....and the city still comes and puts up the sign, but I guess that's the limit of what they can do.

  • @malcontender6319
    @malcontender6319 Рік тому +14

    I wonder why so many of these abandoned homes have been torched?
    Also, notice the sat dishes on some of these buildings? I'd bet most of these neighborhoods were inhabited only 20 years ago.

  • @libertyvilleguy2903
    @libertyvilleguy2903 Місяць тому +2

    These Pennsylvania towns are heartbreaking.

  • @leaf1131
    @leaf1131 8 місяців тому +6

    One of my aunts lived in E. McKeesport. I remember visiting her, with my parents,sitting on her porch and watching the lightening bugs; I was around 5 years old. I’m 85 now.

  • @nikasmith206
    @nikasmith206 Рік тому +12

    Wow another city left to desolation. Thanks for the video

  • @lisachurchill1185
    @lisachurchill1185 Рік тому +9

    two years ago I thought about moving to McKeesport area because there's homes really cheap. I decided on an area closer to Johnstown, PA where homes are also cheap and dont look anything like McKeesport. Great video.

  • @Danbertex
    @Danbertex Рік тому +9

    Really enjoy your clips. Take it to the next level and explore the insides of some of these abandoned homes. That would be fascinating.

  • @kennyfryman3634
    @kennyfryman3634 Місяць тому +1

    Thanks!

  • @billwilson6096
    @billwilson6096 Рік тому +15

    I see many abandoned decaying buildings but I also notice many shiny late model SUV’s.

  • @litaheffley6990
    @litaheffley6990 Рік тому +4

    Great 👍 video 👌 thanks sad to see 👀 all the decay

  • @HackHunter1835
    @HackHunter1835 Рік тому +8

    Its unreal how much it cost to demolish a house. The removal / clearing of the lot and so forth.

  • @lindapietrasz8070
    @lindapietrasz8070 Рік тому +5

    08:37 just as you mention the bumpy roads, a slew of destroyed tires appear!

    • @hoodsnhollers
      @hoodsnhollers  Рік тому +3

      I felt like the inside of a pinball machine for a good while! I should have brought my rzr and filmed instead!

    • @lindapietrasz8070
      @lindapietrasz8070 Рік тому +1

      @@hoodsnhollers
      I'll bet!

  • @jennylynn9835
    @jennylynn9835 11 місяців тому +3

    Grew up in McKeesport, Fawcett Plan. Moved in ‘97 out west. It breaks my heart of what my hometown has become. I have so many great memories there and still so many great people live there. 💜

  • @TJ-xs5bn
    @TJ-xs5bn Рік тому +7

    There must have been a lot of money in this city at one time in the past. Just look at the sizes of some of those abandoned houses. They're huge and most are single family homes or duplexes. So sad to see what must have been a thriving city at one time suffering from the effects of the de-industrialization of America.

  • @kristinadospoy7347
    @kristinadospoy7347 Рік тому +14

    Imagine how many towns like McKeesport are in ruins throughout the entire country.

  • @deborahmacdonald9319
    @deborahmacdonald9319 Рік тому +2

    🙏 you are so brave 😳

  • @СвязнойСвязной-л7к

    Интересное видео! Спасибо! Когда смотрю ваши видео-путешествия по заброшенным городам, я испытываю чувство романтики и ностальгии. Как быстро течёт время! 😒😊👍

  • @lovemusic1963ify
    @lovemusic1963ify Рік тому +6

    Former president John F. Kennedy made a stop in McKeesport on October 13th, 1962and gave a speech if anyone wants to google that.

  • @monsterglo
    @monsterglo Рік тому +15

    Sadly this is happening all over our country, I was born and raised near Reading, PA , mom and dad thankfully moved in the 70's , I have cousins who still reside there, they told me it's sad 😢😢

    • @deborahmacdonald9319
      @deborahmacdonald9319 Рік тому +3

      ❤🙏 it has to get better as I can't imagine worse

    • @follyfour506
      @follyfour506 Рік тому +1

      We are visiting Philadelphia in September a place called Lansdale . It's nothing like this , what I don't get is how this is allowed to happen.

    • @shirleygiordano7627
      @shirleygiordano7627 Рік тому

      I live near Reading. It's very dangerous. Don't go out after dark. I'm 5 miles away from Reading.

  • @s5adventures
    @s5adventures Рік тому +7

    I didn't think I could see a worse place then your last....but I was so wrong!

  • @damnationdefied777
    @damnationdefied777 Рік тому +7

    This is an epic disaster! Those roads are so bad there!

  • @Coffee240
    @Coffee240 Рік тому +4

    😱😱😱 some of those run down house's look like ghost lives in them. Scary .

  • @marial8235
    @marial8235 Рік тому +6

    Sadly, most of that housing is too far gone to be rehabbed. I don’t know what you do with the main street section. 🤷🏻‍♀️

  • @jamesyman007
    @jamesyman007 Рік тому +6

    That was pretty much uninhabited. Are they packing people in the bigger cities? Nice footage. God Bless.

  • @GK-ku3zv
    @GK-ku3zv Рік тому +4

    There shouldn't be any property taxes for anyone still there.

  • @tyronebiggims1613
    @tyronebiggims1613 9 місяців тому +4

    Im from over the hill in turtlecreek its looking the same in spots . loved the porch awnings ,the old italian's awalys had them..

  • @cutty6764
    @cutty6764 Рік тому +1

    This is mind-blowing to see.

  • @Pasmith95621
    @Pasmith95621 6 місяців тому +1

    I grew up in Highland Grove in McKeesport, it was rough the last time I was through there but this is so sad.

  • @UmberMalik707
    @UmberMalik707 Рік тому +2

    Why people left? What about city management ...what its doing ?... It feels haunted ...

  • @dennisherskowitz773
    @dennisherskowitz773 9 місяців тому +2

    My family left in 1970, just before the decline started. Saw so many homes I used to pass and so many empty lots that had homes on them at one time. Sure the reasons and blame can go around but McKeesport is dead and it isn't coming back. There are a few nice sections, Myer Park, Christy Park, and White Oak (not part of the city) but I don't see it coming back.
    Life is great here in ATL with lots of jobs, homes, apartments, traffic, lots of stuff to do and many sports teams.
    But we do not have affordable housing or a good mass transit system; but we have the world's busiest airport.

  • @deborahmacdonald9319
    @deborahmacdonald9319 Рік тому +9

    How many homeless and how many destroyed homes.

  • @bettybrigance6784
    @bettybrigance6784 Рік тому +2

    The stories that those walls hold......

  • @lydonwilson5081
    @lydonwilson5081 3 місяці тому +1

    Lived on Federal st. Overlooking Christy Park. All older homes but well maintained. Lived there from 1940 to 1958. Went in Navy for 20 years. Came back in 1980 to the old neighbor hood. Unreal how people let nice homes fall into disrepair. Now the homes on Federal st are falling down or demolished.

  • @deborahmacdonald9319
    @deborahmacdonald9319 Рік тому +1

    ❤️

    • @hoodsnhollers
      @hoodsnhollers  Рік тому +1

      Thank you Deborah! Youre awesome I appreciate it so much! I hope youre ok up there in Canada, its a little smokey here over 2000 Miles away from ya!

  • @deborahmacdonald9319
    @deborahmacdonald9319 Рік тому +15

    I can just imagine the great men who built those great homes to have a generation destroy them.

  • @horlos7175
    @horlos7175 Рік тому +2

    What is your camera ? Keep up the good work.

  • @rwl8150
    @rwl8150 Рік тому +3

    It would be great if you could do these videos in a 360 cam. A magnetic mount on the roof would capture so much more content.

  • @julianaanderson4855
    @julianaanderson4855 Рік тому +3

    Breaks my heart as I grew up in this town.

  • @vadimkorotaev6161
    @vadimkorotaev6161 Рік тому

    lovely places, really inspiring

  • @lindakloran3247
    @lindakloran3247 Рік тому +5

    So incredibly sad. I remember it when.......sigh.

  • @mohammadelbatniji4448
    @mohammadelbatniji4448 Рік тому +3

    the wooded houses by the road too close

  • @Yvgo-o
    @Yvgo-o Рік тому +5

    It looks like it was abandoned for years

  • @greg2976
    @greg2976 Рік тому +6

    Who owns all these properties?

    • @hellsbellez
      @hellsbellez Рік тому +3

      Nature 🌱

    • @Curlyloxau
      @Curlyloxau Рік тому +2

      Exactly what I am thinking. The land the house stood on, did they sell and move? Who moved in to destroy the place.

  • @libertyvilleguy2903
    @libertyvilleguy2903 Місяць тому

    The Tube City (named after the major steel mill in town) Brewing Company operated from 1903 - 1955. I associate McKeesport with the many colorful labels I collected from this brewery.

  • @davidscott3726
    @davidscott3726 Рік тому +2

    Damn 😢

  • @wendym.7648
    @wendym.7648 Рік тому +21

    This entire country is crumbling.

  • @effie924
    @effie924 Рік тому +3

    Why isn't the state or county in there cleaning this up? It looks like a beautiful area and the need for housing in any state this would be perfect.

    • @richardblayneamerican8149
      @richardblayneamerican8149 Рік тому +5

      Nice thought, but it would take a lot of money to do so. Imagine the cost of tearing down and removing just one of those abandoned buildings or homes.

  • @lindapietrasz8070
    @lindapietrasz8070 Рік тому +4

    Absolutely hate brick and cobblestone roads.

  • @michaeljcurry
    @michaeljcurry Рік тому +1

    So many formerly grand homes.

  • @frankwoods4532
    @frankwoods4532 Рік тому +8

    wow, this is sad. I noticed they have decent cars.

  • @hellsbellez
    @hellsbellez Рік тому +8

    Y'all, we are seeing what the rest of our country will soon become as wages stagnant and jobs keep moving overseas.

  • @Goliath_Stallone
    @Goliath_Stallone 2 дні тому

    I’m in Pittsburgh now and this town is right here but I never had a reason to go there. Now I’m curious if I should stop by there. There’s gotta be a good part in it. I know people who live there.

  • @thejudgmentalcat
    @thejudgmentalcat Рік тому +3

    If this was on the East Coast I'd wonder if I was in Innsmouth 😮

  • @SpettroFamily
    @SpettroFamily Рік тому +4

    Normal streets with nice cars and SUV, you turn the corner and it's war - what could be the solution here ?

  • @jayjaynella4539
    @jayjaynella4539 Рік тому +3

    Never seen a city with so many paver base roads. What a shame that the city has gone to the dogs.

  • @ckzf1842
    @ckzf1842 Рік тому +1

    OMG !! How did this happen?!😮

  • @savykoshy4511
    @savykoshy4511 Рік тому +2

    I wonder where all the people are gone.

  • @almarowley2370
    @almarowley2370 Рік тому +1

    Lot of the houses got X on and what's that mean

  • @israelok1789
    @israelok1789 2 місяці тому

    Wonder how much for any of these abandoned houses to buy and restore or build a new one?

  • @teresaallen3045
    @teresaallen3045 Рік тому +2

    What town is this I western pa

  • @412VIBE
    @412VIBE 26 днів тому

    McKeesport here... Born and raised 💯

  • @ElenorNailsArt
    @ElenorNailsArt Рік тому +2

    Міста як люди, народжуються, живуть, квітнуть, старіють і помирають. Природа забирає своє

  • @BobRooney290
    @BobRooney290 8 місяців тому +1

    i feel sad for all the people that were forced to abandon their homes. it is not an easy thing to lose. and it's not that far from a major city. not sure why the downfall.

  • @jamesjenkins3384
    @jamesjenkins3384 Рік тому +2

    Readymade movie set for a walking dead movie.

  • @lol_05.76
    @lol_05.76 Рік тому +4

    Thank god for public housing (the projects)... @ 3.24 marker.

  • @brokenglass849
    @brokenglass849 9 місяців тому +1

    It's a shame these towns have fallen into ruin. The high crime will keep it from ever being turned around.

  • @gabe5946
    @gabe5946 Рік тому +4

    So sad, that looks like you are in some other country, but nope that is our 🇺🇸 , just unreal

  • @bobbycorbinII
    @bobbycorbinII 8 днів тому

    How safe is it for students?

  • @MrHorse-by3mp
    @MrHorse-by3mp Рік тому +3

    If you can believe it President Kennedy stopped here to make a speech during his 1960 election campaign.

  • @omenoflaherty1294
    @omenoflaherty1294 Рік тому +1

    Michael Myers in the window at 7:00.

  • @steveverdoo1859
    @steveverdoo1859 8 місяців тому +3

    dam, I guess Braddock ain't so bad after all.

  • @RodgerMudd
    @RodgerMudd Рік тому +4

    What happened. Bad government. They should all be torn down.

  • @mrrol5212
    @mrrol5212 Рік тому +2

    i can only imagine the lives of families who lived here...at one time it would have been good, enjoyable. Alas times do change., Sad to see. Thanks for the text you add to your vids too!

  • @banana_jam_86
    @banana_jam_86 Рік тому +5

    Зато учат остальной мир, как жить и что делать.

  • @Nick-mt2yu
    @Nick-mt2yu 28 днів тому

    is it dangerous here? got offered a job out there wondering if it’s worth taking

  • @lybra175
    @lybra175 Рік тому +2

    Well,the trees should be cut in many places.

  • @itiswhatitis7639
    @itiswhatitis7639 Рік тому

    If those old houses could talk…

  • @thoughtprovoker7728
    @thoughtprovoker7728 7 місяців тому +1

    I use to live there in the 90s. It didn't seem that bad at the time. I wasn't even from McKeesport originally. Graduated high school there an everything.

  • @adileddhbi3683
    @adileddhbi3683 Рік тому +1

    Are abandoned homes possible for anyone to own?

  • @joeyDi8764
    @joeyDi8764 Рік тому

    A lot more hoods worse in Pittsburgh.. Northside, Hill Homewood, Southside Eastside Westside Northside

    • @hoodsnhollers
      @hoodsnhollers  Рік тому +1

      I did those. I’ll have it uploaded in a week or two

  • @glenngeeful
    @glenngeeful Рік тому +2

    What's so dangerous? That something might collapse on you or .....

    • @hoodsnhollers
      @hoodsnhollers  Рік тому +8

      Violent crime is 295% over the national average
      Property crime is 40% over the national average
      Robbery/Burglary is 2x higher than the national average
      It has a crime index of 2, which means 98% of other US cities are safer
      It was ranked #4 Most dangerous city in America a few years ago

    • @Earl_Richter
      @Earl_Richter Рік тому

      @@hoodsnhollers This is the information I was looking for. Thanks! Hard to believe such a quiet (seemingly) place has such an issue with crime. Almost seemed ideal if someone could move into one of the few remaining nice areas but not with that kind of crime around them. New subscriber here. Really enjoying your videos.

  • @terryparrott7593
    @terryparrott7593 28 днів тому

    Wow 😮

  • @MrTopanga44
    @MrTopanga44 Рік тому +3

    I was born in McK and left (escaped) to California. There were about 55k people there in 1961. I was a fun place to grow up then.

  • @shellybliese9610
    @shellybliese9610 Рік тому +2

    This is heartbreaking to see. 😢