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HOUSTON, PA

By way of Main Street to Highland Avenue, to Locust Ave which goes through Meadowlands,
becomes West Pike Street, through McGovern area, (past Racetrack Road), near Moninger and into Houston...

            Maybe it's because my dad traveled this route before the Interstate was constructed... or maybe because it is the route Grandma Florian drove as she took me to their farm above Westland... but I was most comfortable traveling the back roads to Houston, PA.  In actuality, the Interstate didn't save much time getting there, given that I-79 North is a major tractor-trailer route.  The scenery was nicer on the back roads, and the traffic wasn't too bad - usually - until you went through Meadowlands and past Racetrack Road and were on the last stretch before Houston.  Well, let's see how much I can remember of the drive first.  As always, readers can send me corrections.

            Starting on North Main at Highland Ave., one turns onto Highland.  Within a long block, you'll pass through what was locally called Coney Island.  This section had become run down in the late 1970s, and most of the old stately-looking houses had been renovated to make multiple apartments.  A traffic light is at the T-intersection with South College St. (a couple doors down on College was a laundromat I used to use).  Along the right just past College was a run-down pool hall and bar where many young blacks who lived in this area would hang out in front of the pool hall.  In 1977-78 there was a gas station on the left across from the pool hall, but that closed and a convenience store went in.  

            This part of Highland is set up weird: Within 20 feet of the first light is a 2nd area of multiple streets with their own sets of traffic lights.  Here Highland has a Y with the right part being Ridge Ave going to Murtland Ave & Route 19North - right before Ridge is the side street North Lincoln, a one way street going north ending at Highland, and running parallel to College Street which is a one-way south..  The left part immediately is Locust Avenue, with a side street at the same intersection called Sumner Avenue.  

        Locust is a meandering road, going past or crossing streets like Gibson and Hallam Avenue, and past the lower hill of Murtland Avenue on the right, then past Wilbert, with Orchard Terrace on the right.  And as you crest the hill, passing the T-intersection of Wilson Avenue that runs past the front of the hospital, and past Leonard Avenue that goes directly in front of the School of Nursing and the Washington Hospital Emergency Room.  Rounding the bend and on a slight downhill, Locust passes the Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery on the right.  This old cemetery is where my godparents are buried, Wanda and Casimer Casper.  Very, very quickly one is on a dangerous downhill where Oak Spring Road meets Locust; this is a favorite back way to Washington Mall and Route 19N, and there was no traffic light there, so there were frequent accidents.   Just past Oak Spring Road is the bridge overpass for Interstate 70, which bisects this area of town.  From here, traffic settles a little and it is easy driving, past the Country Club area, with lots of side roads meeting here and there.  Locust is now taking a northeasterly direction, until one sees Hudak Hill Road as a Y going to the left.  Hudak Hill Road runs parallel to Locust for a time, but Locust Avenue now goes directly into a left curve and into a right curve, before straightening again..  Then comes the hill which is often treacherous in the winter, made worse because near the bottom is an entrance for Interstate 79 (which is an alternate way to Route 519 outside of Houston PA, or to go to Canonsburg PA).  After the underpass of I-79 and over Chartiers creek, Locust Avenue becomes West Pike Street, heading into Meadow Lands, which is an apt name for the area.

            After Conrail's railroad tracks, there's a nice restaurant on the left and a few stores on both sides.  Then the right is full of side streets with small homes lining West Pike (right side).  The left side of the two-lane road opens into sprawling green pastures of a well-known horse stable.  Beautiful horses and ponies run, kick and frolic behind long white fencing that slopes up and down with the land, and cuts up through the pasture to the house and stable.  West Pike Street runs right along the property, making it hard to focus on driving!  Very quickly one is past the houses, and coming to the intersection of Racetrack Road which heads down to the famous Meadowlands Horse Racing track.   A small restaurant has occupied that corner, offering home cooking and a variety of meals.

        Going through McGovern, one passes old and new small businesses.  West Pike Street then makes a series of angle-turns, first to the right, up a slight hill and within 500 feet or so back to the left.  Here one begins to approach our destination -  Houston, PA.  Route 519, the same as Main Street comes down through Houston, where a single light controls the traffic on the narrow streets.  Heading out 519 (North Main St), one can steer towards Westland, or up Route 519 to link up with the Interstate.  [Route 519 makes a "jog" at the light, going onto East Pike Street before turning left [going away from the light, back in the direction we just came.  That part of 519 goes to Hickory.]

            Houston PA is a town of kind and generous people, folks who've raised their families here and fostered strong values.  The town is very loving community, with close neighbors who are very kind and delightful people.   The area had a strong coal mine presence in nearby Westland, and the people grew up in hard-working homes.  While a small town, they are welcoming to newcomers moving into the area.  There have been new housing projects built to accommodate the growth of the community. West Pike and Main street have not changed much in the center of town, where there is now a pharmacy, silk screening shop, Brown's Flower Shop, Community Bank and other businesses.

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This page was last updated on Friday, January 16, 2009 00:15