Save 500 Donner Make a Music Center
Donation protected
My name is Matthew Shorraw and I am a lifelong resident of Monessen. Having lived in Monessen my whole life, I have become involved in various volunteer groups and organizations throughout the city. After completing my Bachelor’s degree at California University of Pennsylvania in Commercial Music Technology in the Spring of 2015, I am currently pursuing my Master’s degree in Technology Education, also at CalU. My love and passion for music has granted me the opportunity to work with Monessen students as the new Assistant Band Director at Monessen High School. Similarly, my love and passion for my hometown gave me the privilege of writing Images of Modern America: Monessen, which was published through Arcadia Publishing earlier this year, in conjunction with the Greater Monessen Historical Society (501-c3).
I am hoping to unite both my love of music and my passion for Monessen, as well as my interest in architectural preservation, by attempting to restore one of Monessen’s most prominent downtown buildings. Located at 500 Donner Avenue, the former Health Mart building has had a long and very illustrious history within Monessen. In fact, the building itself was constructed from locally sourced stone, and steel from the Pittsburgh Steel Monessen Plant. It was also home to the Monessen Savings and Trust Company for much of its existence. Unfortunately, this beautiful building in the Beaux Arts style has fallen into disrepair. Some individuals believe 500 Donner is unsalvageable and should be torn down. I strongly disagree with them, and would love to see it restored back to its former glory. Not only that, but it will also encourage more businesses and people to visit and invest in Monessen’s downtown.
My dream for 500 Donner incorporates all my passions into one project that I am determined to see to fruition. The first floor will have a café open to everyone and will serve coffee, pastries, and sandwiches. The second floor will be home to a Music Center that will offer free lessons to those who are passionate and have an intense desire to learn. Finally, the third floor auditorium will be restored and used as a concert hall for students from the Music Center, as well as for other cultural events within the city.
I am aware that this is a very large undertaking, but I am willing to do what is necessary to see Monessen flourish once again. It is my hope that you will be able to give me some insight into how I should proceed. My plan is first to acquire the building by offering $5,000 and spending an additional $5,000 to have it sealed to prevent further damage, before the Winter. It is already in need of quite a lot of repairs, including replacing the windows, patching the roof, replacing the first floor, stabilizing upper floors, and repointing and sandblasting the exterior. I hope to accomplish this before the year is over and begin structural work and cleaning by spring 2016. I would like to have interior work complete, such as wiring, plumbing/heating, cooling, etc., and the first floor finished by summer 2017 so that the café can be opened while the upper two floors are being completed.
If this is a project you would be interested in helping me undertake, I would be extremely grateful. Although I am very new to projects such as this, I have boundless energy and a deep love for Monessen, which I hope will more than make up for my lack of experience. Ultimately, I want to restore a piece of Monessen history, and bring life back to our city. Won't you help me?
Thank You!
I am hoping to unite both my love of music and my passion for Monessen, as well as my interest in architectural preservation, by attempting to restore one of Monessen’s most prominent downtown buildings. Located at 500 Donner Avenue, the former Health Mart building has had a long and very illustrious history within Monessen. In fact, the building itself was constructed from locally sourced stone, and steel from the Pittsburgh Steel Monessen Plant. It was also home to the Monessen Savings and Trust Company for much of its existence. Unfortunately, this beautiful building in the Beaux Arts style has fallen into disrepair. Some individuals believe 500 Donner is unsalvageable and should be torn down. I strongly disagree with them, and would love to see it restored back to its former glory. Not only that, but it will also encourage more businesses and people to visit and invest in Monessen’s downtown.
My dream for 500 Donner incorporates all my passions into one project that I am determined to see to fruition. The first floor will have a café open to everyone and will serve coffee, pastries, and sandwiches. The second floor will be home to a Music Center that will offer free lessons to those who are passionate and have an intense desire to learn. Finally, the third floor auditorium will be restored and used as a concert hall for students from the Music Center, as well as for other cultural events within the city.
I am aware that this is a very large undertaking, but I am willing to do what is necessary to see Monessen flourish once again. It is my hope that you will be able to give me some insight into how I should proceed. My plan is first to acquire the building by offering $5,000 and spending an additional $5,000 to have it sealed to prevent further damage, before the Winter. It is already in need of quite a lot of repairs, including replacing the windows, patching the roof, replacing the first floor, stabilizing upper floors, and repointing and sandblasting the exterior. I hope to accomplish this before the year is over and begin structural work and cleaning by spring 2016. I would like to have interior work complete, such as wiring, plumbing/heating, cooling, etc., and the first floor finished by summer 2017 so that the café can be opened while the upper two floors are being completed.
If this is a project you would be interested in helping me undertake, I would be extremely grateful. Although I am very new to projects such as this, I have boundless energy and a deep love for Monessen, which I hope will more than make up for my lack of experience. Ultimately, I want to restore a piece of Monessen history, and bring life back to our city. Won't you help me?
Thank You!
Organizer
Matt Shorraw
Organizer
Monessen, PA