Grassroots effort: Organization’s goal to rebuild West Newton
The view along Main Street from the Second Street in the direction of the West Newton Bridge in West Newton.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
The office of Downtown West Newton Inc. at the intersection of Main and Second streets in West Newton.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
Looking west on Main Street toward the West Newton Bridge in West Newton.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
Simeral Square on North Water Street as viewed from the West Newton Bridge in West Newton.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
Simeral Square on North Water Street in West Newton.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
Gary’s Chuck Wagon on South Second Street in West Newton.
West Newton is filled with historic homes along the Youghiogheny River — and plenty of history.
“This is the part of the community which was laid out and developed in 1797,” said Aaron Nelson, president of Downtown West Newton Inc.
“That’s when the community began to develop.”
It was known as Rob’s Town at the time. The name West Newton came about in early 1800s, although there are varying accounts of the origin of that name.
There was the Massachusetts town named Newton. The Westmoreland County community was west of Newton. Another story notes that during the 19th century West Newton was the first town west of Hannastown.
“This town had a lot of businesses that were located down here from the 1800s until the 1970s,” Nelson said. “When the 1970s hit with development of the malls and urban sprawl, and a lot of those business owners retired and there was no one to take over those businesses.”
Many of those old business buildings sat vacant for years, Nelson said.
“It was like what happened with a lot of these small river towns,” Nelson said. “A lot of these just shut down and went to sleep.”
Downtown West Newton Inc. was formed in the early 1990s as a grassroots organization to revitalize the downtown business district. Its goal seemingly was to awaken the community.
“We’ve always pushed for bringing new businesses into the community,” said Nelson, president of DWNI since 2001.
“We also help with restoration of old buildings in the community. We offer our advice for new property owners who have questions with that restoration.”
What makes Downtown West Newton Inc. unique from chambers in other communities is that there are no paid staff members, Nelson said. It is all comprised of volunteers and residents of West Newton.
Much of that development began when a Main Street program was started in West Newton in 2002. DWNI became a part of the Main Street program, which operated through 2007.
“That’s when a lot of the development plans were put into place along with the facade improvements and signage,” Nelson said.
Prior to the development of the Main Street program, DWNI’s efforts were focused on beautification projects and other work aimed at cleaning up and improving the look of the downtown.
“It became more or less high scale when it became part of Main Street program,” Nelson said.
West Newton’s reinvention was not by accident. A group of plans covering parking and businesses development, for example, were created.
“Those were the blueprints for downtown improvements in the downtown business district,” Nelson said. “I would say right now, about 80 percent of downtown businesses are occupied, and that encompasses this whole area of town, including in the residential areas.
“There are lot of businesses here, but unless you live here you don’t know about them.”
Gary Johnson is a lifelong resident of West Newton. Most days he can be found at Gary’s Chuck Wagon, a popular restaurant in the center of town.
“It’s an original diner location that people of all ages go to eat, meet and talk,” Nelson said.
Johnson also owns the LeGrande Room and Gingerbread House bake shop.
Johnson has bought several downtown buildings and renovated them to bring business back to his hometown.
“I wanted to see (West Newton) come back,” Johnson said. “It was falling apart. I want to see us grow again. We’re blessed with the trail. It brings lot of people into town.”
The Youghiogheny River Trail was built beginning in the early 1990s on the opposite side of the river, across the West Newton Bridge.
Johnson is in the midst of revitalizing four additional storefronts in town.
He is negotiating to bring a Chinese restaurant into one of those storefronts. A country gift shop will be built where Nista’s Shoe Store was located, a convenience store at the site of the former G&J Bakery, and a consignment shop at the former home of Agular’s Fitness.
“I believe in our town and I’m not going to give up on it,” Johnson said. “People will come once they see all we have here. The trail people are always walking around town. So many who stay in bed and breakfasts (along the Youghiogheny River Trail) come over.”
Johnson renovated and now resides in an old Victorian home behind his restaurant.
“I love it and I plan on staying here until I die,” Johnson.
Most recently, DWNI completed Simeral Square, located at Water and Main streets in the community.
The Simeral Square project was headed by past DWNI member George Sams. The property was a vacant building and shuttered former gas station.
“His thought was why not try to develop it into a parklet so people who use trail could venture on this side of the bridge and bring in more foot traffic,” Nelson said.
Overlooking the river, Simeral Square was named for the Simeral family, who operated a river ferry and trading post in West Newton. Simeral Square is used for various outdoor activities throughout the summer and fall.
“With the development of the park brought development of the Subway building across the street, which was funded by the Progress Fund by Westmoreland County,” Nelson said.
“Subway is completely different than any other Subway building. It’s a new concept with seating that overlooks the river. There are lounge chairs there. It has the feel of a Panera Bread.”
DWNI has also built community spirit.
In 2002, Miracle on Main Street was created as a “Black Saturday” to bring visitors to West Newton to promote the business community the weekend after Thanksgiving.
“When we have good weather, we get on average 1,500 people from throughout Westmoreland County, the Mon Valley and beyond,” Nelson said. “For the parade, the people line up three and four deep for four blocks.”
Future plans involve working with Mon Valley Initiative and Westmoreland County to fund housing development, such as rehab for resale on old existing properties in the community.
So why has DWNI been successful? In a word, Nelson said, “perseverance.”
“A lot of volunteers from different backgrounds got together to work on these projects … to make these projects a success,” Nelson said.