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- Going North on Front Street. Circa early 20th Century. Photograph from Steelton: Yesterday and Today.
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- Going North on Front Street, including some of the businesses along Front Street, like Pauline’s. Image taken from DV video.
In 1878, the town of Steelton was still called Baldwin. Front Street was the main road of both communities, and had been even before the steel company was planned and constructed. South Front Street was the location of the only school in the area. It also was the meeting place for several church congregations. After the steel mill opened, Front Street gave the company easy access to transport equipment, products, and workers. When the town expanded, it was the central location for many businesses and other important buildings, such as the Borough’s office and Municipal Building. Front Street has endured many transitions in Steelton, such as the peaks and depressions of the steel mill, the arrival and departure of thousands of immigrants, the numerous floods, and the coming and going of street businesses.
1906 – From Gibson Street to Mohn Street, the city first laid rectangular wood blocks on Front Street. Later, the Harrisburg Railroad Company helped this paving process by adding wood blocks between the trolley tracks on Front Street. In the picture below, the men work together to complete the particular section of Front Street.
The paving of Front Street with wood blocks.
1926 – Front Street was given a lot of attention this year. The Central Construction Company began to repave and curb Front Street with concrete, while numerous other streets were paved with asphalt–on a concrete base. Also, a new municipal building was built on North Front Street, while ornamental lights were placed along most of the road.
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Some of the businesses on Front Street are a good representation of the diverse ethnicity of Steelton: Skarlatos and Zonarich Law Firm, Cuckovic Electrical Contractor, Victor Kopac Welding Company, Mary Lappano Beauty Salon, Phil Spaseff Flower Shop, Dmitrovic’s Elegant Pickings, and Boro Pavlovic’s Belgrad Bakery. (from Ecenbarger 1984)
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- Dmitrovic’s Elegant Pickings flower shop. Image taken from DV video.
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- The Roma Café. Image taken from DV video.
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- Going North on Front Street, including some of the businesses along Front Street, like Pauline’s. Image taken from DV video.
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- Krosnar Motors Inc., looking North on Front Street. Circa 1940s. Photograph from Steelton: Yesterday and Today.
There is also more information about Front Street during flood years and paving history on this site.
“Well Friday nights, we were down on Front Street in Steelton. Yeah, there was a pool hall. Those places are not there now; they are all gone because of the flood. And back then, we really didn’t have no place to go, you know, just hanging out on the streets.”
–William Pettigrew, Jr.