50 Years of Doing Business

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Porter House

Cook Building

Drug Store

Gambles Drug Store - Present Ernies Drug Store

Midland Hotel

Marshall and Beglin Garage

Beaver Trust Bldg.

First National Bank Bldg

 

Back in the early days of our town, the nearest "big" shopping area was Beaver and Bridgewater. It was many fields distant, and the best way to get there was to take the train. That made a shopping trip a real project in itself. As more and more people began moving into this area, it was vital that someone open stores here for more convenient shopping and a ready supply of necessities.

One name stands out as the pioneer of commercial activity in Midland-James M. Porter. Mr. Porter brought the first newspapers to Midland from Bridgewater by horse and buggy during the fall and winter of 1905. He was quick to see the commercial opportunities of Midland and moved here in 1906. He opened the first store in the front room of his house. This early emporium was located midway between Sixth and Seventh Streets on Beaver Avenue. A short while later, Porter built himself a new house. Today the house he built is being used as a Chinese laundry, and properly, for it was Mr. Porter who provided our town with its first laundry service. He lugged soiled clothes by train to Pittsburgh, dropped them off at a laundry there, then returned them to their owners.

The enterprising Mr. Porter later became a member of the first council when the borough was formed, and shortly afterward, be became a chief of police.

Our town grew rapidly. Farmers came to work for the steel company with scythes and carpenter tools to clear the land and build houses. Many stayed to become steelmakers. Buildings went up. The Cook Building was the first to be built on Midland Avenue, followed shortly by the First National Bank building and the Midland Hotel. All three were completed in 1906.

By the end of 1907, a recognizable community bad emerged from the woods and fields. A bank, a commissary, a school, and a bakery were all in operation. Mike Brozic had opened his meat market nearby and there was a saloon complete with swinging doors, too.

Another hotel was built at the extreme west end of the Neel Farm, and because it was located in an orchard, it aptly became known as the Orchard Hotel. Mr. Peter Weissen moved in to manage it for the steel company, builders of the hotel. Nearby, along the low ground stretching from the hotel, temporary buildings were put up to house workmen during the construction of the steel mill that started all the activity in the first place.

Midland's first lumber yard was located near the Orchard Hotel. It was owned and managed by the Elwood Lumber Company of Midland and Elwood City. Dr. Hensel came to Midland to start the steel company's first dispensary, and his apothecary, Mr. Gamble, came along to be our first druggist.

In 1916, we got our first garage. It was owned and operated under the firm name of Marshall and Beglin, and later by W. J. Beglin. This early horseless chariot hospital was located on Beaver Avenue at the spot where the Club Belvedere now stands.

Banking people are fond of pointing out that they lubricate the wheels of commerce, and this is true. Banking is one of the prime requisites needed to spur the commercial activity and development of any area.

Articles of Association for The First National Bank of Midland were executed in May, 1906-which is the correct way of saying they got themselves organized and the bank was authorized to open its doors for business on July 25, 1906. When established, the bank had a capital of 50 thousand dollars. Deposits alone now top three million dollars.

In 1913, a second bank, then known as the Midland Savings & Trust Company, was organized to help meet the banking needs of the fast-growing community. This bank is now the Midland office of the Beaver Trust Company.

Both banks closed their doors on March 6, 1933, as requested by the government's federal directive. But they reopened under special authority granted during the Bank Holiday, and they successfully dealt with the pressing payroll problems of our town proving that Midland was blessed with two good, sound banking institutions.

We also have another good financial house here in our town, the Midland Savings & Loan Association, helping our people finance their projects.

Early in 1935, a committee was formed to look into the possibility of forming a credit union for the employees of Crucible Steel. In a credit union a group of people, such as the employees of a company, are incorporated together for the purpose of pooling their savings, much like forming a bank. The organizations were, in fact, called "Baby Banks." In time of need, members could borrow from their collective pool of money at very low rates, and also participate in the earnings of their investments or savings. At the time, credit unions were just getting started, and much publicity was given them in newspapers and magazines.

The committee visited plants of other companies where credit unions were operating, and they decided in favor of forming one for our local Crucible Steel employees.

During the years since its organization, the credit union has made over 23 thousand loans to members, totaling close to five million dollars. Loans have been used for such varied needs as medical, dental and hospital services, home repairs, buying household appliances and automobiles, and for other similar uses.

The group now has over three thousand members, with savings of over a million dollars. The present office is located in the Beaver Trust building.

Midland is now a commercial center, a thriving community, attracting shoppers from all over the area. Along with industry, our town has grown so that Mike Brozic, the 1906 butcher, wouldn't know it today. On a normal Saturday afternoon today, the sidewalks in front of stores along Midland Avenue are clogged with shoppers-a far cry from '1906, when many less shoppers trudged around, held back by shoes clogged with mud.