Heart bombing Area residents show their love for historic Monessen building
Observer-Reporter
Some of those who created Valentines during a 2017 “heart-bombing event” in Monessen pose in front of the building they were trying to save at 500 Donner Ave. The building is now slated for demolition.
Rebecca Rizzuto, a lifelong resident of Monessen, works on her Valentines Saturday during a heart-bombing event at Greater Monessen Historical Society.
Adriana Ottaviani of Monessen puts the finishing touches on the last of the four hearts she decorated Saturday during the heart bombing at the Greater Monessen Historical Society.
Sarah Fafalios of Greensburg said it’s important to preserve history and attended the heart-bombing event Saturday to support her friend, organizer Matt Shorraw.
Matt Shorraw of Monessen, an avid community volunteer, wants to purchase the building at 500 Donner Ave. in Monessen and organized the heart bombing.
MONESSEN – Folks in Monessen have a lot of heart, and it was on full display Saturday, when a sizable group gathered at Greater Monessen Historical Society to show their love for the former Monessen Savings and Trust building across the street on Donner Avenue during a “heart-bombing” event.
Heart bombing involves showering an older or historic place with expressions of affection and devotion in the form of love letters, or in this case, Valentines bearing those heartfelt messages. The practice is supported and encouraged by Preservation Pennsylvania, as well as the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Matt Shorraw, a lifelong resident of Monessen and avid community volunteer, spearheaded the heart-bombing event.
“I think it’s an important part of our city’s history,” Shorraw said.
The structure at 500 Donner Ave. was built in the early 1900s to house Monessen Savings and Trust. After the bank moved out, a grocery store moved in, and Shorraw’s grandmother worked there in the 1940s. It was later converted into a pharmacy.
However, the building has been vacant since the mid-1980s, and the neglect is quite evident, with its broken and missing windows and boarded-up doors and windows a disheartening site.
“It’s a beautiful building. It’s worth saving at least,” said Shorraw, who is assistant band director of Monessen City Schools and serves as president of the Monessen Amphitheater, vice president of Monessen Communities That Care and is a member of the Monessen Community Development Corp.
Shorraw has been an outspoken advocate for saving the building since August 2015, and he would like to purchase the property. But he has been met with resistance from city officials.
“If I purchase the building, I’m basically buying a shell,” he said. “I would have to gut and rebuild the inside.”
In an extensive proposal for the $3.5 million renovation project, Shorraw outlines how he would convert the first floor into a café, the second floor into a music center and, eventually, the third floor into a music venue. The music center would be subsidized by profits from the café because Shorraw would like to offer free music lessons to young children whose families cannot afford them.
“If I’m crazy enough to want to buy it, let me,” he said, adding that he has received support from historical preservation organizations in Pittsburgh, but is unable to receive any funding until he owns the property.
He also has had plenty of support from the community.
Rebecca Rizzuto, a lifelong resident of Monessen, was happy to help the cause Saturday.
“I remember when Monessen was beautiful. My mom remembers when it was wonderful. I want Bella to have that, too,” said Rizzuto, pointing to her young daughter.
“I remember going out after football and basketball games and getting pizza,” she said. “There were seven restaurants here. You didn’t have to leave Monessen to get anything.”
Even now, Rizzuto marvels at the fine architecture of some of Monessen’s most treasured buildings. “Instead of everybody looking down, people should be looking up,” she said. “The buildings are beautiful.”
Messages written on the paper hearts left no doubt how the community feels: “Monessen is awesome,” “500 Donner Matters,” “#Iheartsavingplaces,” “Preserve Monessen History,” “Love Your City,” “Make a Difference,” “Save Your History in Your Hometown” and “It’s Important to Save our History.”
Sarah Fafalios of Greensburg has no familial ties to Monessen. She grew up in Belle Vernon, but joined the cause to support her friend.
“I am a big supporter of Matt’s,” Fafalios said. “It’s important to preserve history.”
Adriana Ottaviani agrees, saying the blight in Monessen has only worsened since she moved here four years ago.
“I’m tired of seeing everything historical torn down,” she said.
After participants created their hearts, they posed for a photo in front of the building they are trying to save. The photos will be used in a national social media hash-tag campaign. Some of the photos that Preservation Pennsylvania and the National Trust for Historic Preservation receive will be displayed to promote architectural history and encourage economic development through restoration and reuse of vacant properties.
“We’ll be a phoenix. We’ll rise again … I hope,” Rizzuto said.