History of Mingo Junction and the Ohio Valley
Mingo Junction is a small town located in eastern Ohio. The city was founded in 1770.
George Washington was surveying land across the Allegheny mountains and stumbled upon a
river's landing known as Mingo. George spent the night in Mingo and then continued on to
his 15 minutes of fame.
American
Indians Contemporary Arts
Mingo is situated
on the banks of the mighty Ohio River, beautiful river to the Mingo Indians.
The Mingo Indians had their own language and culture. If you are curious you
can check out this page for more information. Mingo Egads
Mingo Junction
started to develop as America entered the industrial age. The riverside location made
Mingo Junction a marketable location for heavy metal manufacturing. We're not talking
about Led Zeppelin, we're talking about steel. The surrounding mountains contained plenty
of coal which is essential in the process of steel. As America grew throughout the 20th
century Mingo Junction helped provide the steel to build the country. During World War II
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was renown for looking like "hell with its' roof off".
Mingo Junction and the Ohio Valley looked like Pittsburgh's(Hell's) back porch.
The Steel industry has been vital to the growth of the "Valley". The Ohio Valley
begins north in East Liverpool, Ohio and includes the West Virginia panhandle down to
Shadyside, Ohio. The two main steel producers are Weirton Steel Corporation(WS) and
Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel Corporation(WHX). They employ most of the Valley's working
population. The two steel companies experienced difficulties that nearly closed the doors
on both companies during the 1970s and 1980s when the steel industry was contracting.
Weirton Steel was set to be closed by its' former parent company National Steel
Corporation. The employees pooled together resources to keep the company alive by buying
it from National. It was the largest employee-owned company until TWA's employees bought
their ailing airline company.
Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel was forced into Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1985 and nearly closed
its' doors. However, the company emerged from bankruptcy and is the 9th largest steel
producer in the United States today. Wheeling Pittsburgh recently settled the longest
steel strike in the 20th century. My father recently retired from Wheeling Pittsburgh
after 42 years of service. If you have ever had the opportunity to visit a steel mill you
can appreciate what these workers must live through. I spent two years working as a
computer contractor at ARMCO Steel in Butler, PA. It is an extremely dusty, dirty
environment.
Growing up
in the Valley during the 1970s and early 1980s was perhaps the best way to learn
about the good and the bad in the world. Hanging out at Joe Makara's auto repair
shop, or "the Garage" as we called it.
We spent days arguing about which cars were the fastest and the best. "The
Cuda", "The Torino", "The Monte", "The Caddies - Yellow and
Blue", "The Nova", "The LTD", "The James Von T/A
eater", "The Bass-o-matic", "The '67 Goat", "The 429 Cobra
Jet", "The '69 Satellite", "The '68 XL", "The 'Stang",
"The '67 GTX", "The Merc'", "The No-no", and "The
Wagon".
We spent nights drag racing our cars on the "Strip". We painted a starting line
and a checkered flagged finish line on the street in front of the "Garage". We
even had a sign that said "Raceway". We would race anything including family
station wagons. Cars, cars, and more cars. Innocent fun for the most part.
Most of the Mingo Boys have grown up and left the Valley, but when we get together we can
talk for hours about the fun times growing up in our hometown. As we approach the 21st
century, I'm sure that there will be another generation of kids drag racing on the
"Strip".
One last thought...
's
rule!