Salvation Army not moving from Monessen site
The chapel inside the Salvation Army building in Monessen
The Salvation Army has outgrown its outdated building on Schoonmaker Avenue in Monessen.
Reports the Salvation Army Mon Valley Citadel is preparing to leave Monessen or move to another part of the city are premature
“We’re not going anywhere,” said Capt. Susan Thwaite, who commands the Monessen site at 308 Schoonmaker Ave. with her husband, Capt. Joel Thwaite. “Yes, we could use more space, but we’re staying here.”
Susan Thwaite, who also serves as pastor of the Monessen facility, said they have heard “all the stories” about the Salvation Army seeking to buy the building at Eastgate 19 that housed The Valley Independent newspaper for more than 48 years. That structure situated on 1.4 acres of land in the Eastgate district of the city is owned by Trib Total Media and has been closed since the final edition of newspaper was published Dec. 31.
“That’s all speculation at this point,” Thwaite said. “It is very premature to even talk about it.”
Thwaite said the Salvation Army was “genuinely pleased” with the demolition of a neighboring building at the corner of Third Street and Schoonmaker Avenue.
“We’re breathing a lot easier, that’s for sure,” she said of the razing of the building owned by Monessen plumber Bill Brown. “The situation created considerable concern for us for a long time.”
Part of the Brown building collapsed in November, sending bricks outward and damaging a fence on the Salvation Army’s property. Brown said at that time he was in the process of razing the building.
The Thwaites initially expressed concerns about the building owned by Brown in spring 2013 and erected the fence in the alley between the two structures in June of that year. Prior to the completion of the building’s razing late last year, the Salvation Army was not using a portion of its chapel and its back parking lot because of safety concerns.
Those concerns “have been alleviated,” Susan Thwaite said.
Several groups and individuals reportedly expressed interest in the former newspaper building. Monessen Mayor Lou Mavrakis said he is unaware of any current negotiations for the sale of the building but would welcome discussions with anyone interested in the structure.
“It’s a prime piece of property, no question about that,” Mavrakis said. “It certainly would serve a light industry or perhaps a distribution center very well. But any good business that would go in there would be a welcome shot in the arm to our city. I would be glad to talk with anyone who is interested in the property.”
The Monessen Citadel offers myriad programs for adults and young people and which benefit people throughout the mid-Monongahela Valley.
“We are here for anyone that needs us,” Thwaite said. “We are doing God’s work for God’s people.”
The Thwaites came to the Mon Valley Citadel in Monessen in June 2010 as their first leadership assignment. Among their previous roles with the Salvation Army was working at the branch in Washington, where Susan was a social worker and her husband filled in as a deacon and served as a maintenance employee.
“We love being in Monessen and the Mon Valley,” said Susan Thwaite. “We plan on being here a long time.”
Additional information about the Mon Valley Citadel is available at www.facebook,com/MonessenSalvationArmy or www.wpa.salvationarmy.org or by calling 724-684-4282.