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The "Famous" was a department store based in Braddock. The McKeesport branch ended up being bigger (Physically) Cox's was a great McKeesport based store, BUT G.C. Murphy was the biggest (retail) thing to come out of the Tube City reaching all the way to Florida! (Now, I just need some MENZIE Chocolate milk!)

Best video on this EVER.

Wow.. 1:18 , that looks like my Dad.

damn im sad that "elk temple" burned too, i wonder if there were more temple buildings, apart from moose and elk. and surprised the penn mckee hotel survived this

Its still cleaner then today

My grandfather was an ex-police chief of Mckeesport at the time and he flew over the city in a helicopter, directing firefighters from the air. He probably saved most of downtown through his efforts along with the many firefighters that day.

Excellent description and info.

It will never return take a good look on the hillside Evan ave, jennylind st and Bailey Ave. I'm suprises to see my house is still there but everything around is gone. Rest in peace

I fought this fire. I was the only fire dept that was willing to get a pumper down to the river, there was no other water source to be found. My dept was from North Versailles Township, Arlington Station, that was willing to draft water out of the Yough river, all the hydrants in down town were sucked dry, from all the other pumpers in use. I was relay pumping to several other pumpers that were getting the water up to the homes just above downtown. In fairness to the City, the fire was far more than the town could have ever fought, they would of needed 10 times the man power and equipment. With winds that hit 35 mph, was very difficult to keep up with glowing embers that traveled in some cases a few miles, which set more fires. The fire started when a water tank on the roof of the Famous was being cut apart for demolition.

Why do you have a picture of City of Jeannette at the 2:33 mark?

the "still" photo at the 2:33 mark isn't McK. It's a shot of Clay ave. in Jeannette

Funny how they found tires and other "things" nicely stacked within the Famous. Like the old saying goes better to burn it than to sale it or pay for the demolition.

You forgot to include all of the corrupt politicians included in this disaster..maybe if they would have kept the money and paid those firefighters instead of pocketing it the devastation would have not been so severe

:)♡

this was in the 1975 right

have you seen the dvd of the fire ? Jimmy Young McK Fire Dept Ladder 190 (412)675 5021

Like the PHEONIX, Very nice job young lady. The City had just laid off 12 firefighters. All were hired back soon after the fire.