This is one of a series of caches to memorialize & bring to light the amazing history of Pittsburgh.. This series has been inspired by a fellow cacher and historian, Classixiii. Please look at some of his great caches as well. When I finding this, don't just go for the smiley. Take a moment to read the history attached.
The Mann hotel, which sat on a cliff overlooking the Chartiers Creek, is believed to have been the oldest structure in McKees Rocks, and possibly the region. Family owned its whole life, was a hotel for over a century and a half, and later a bar. Many attempts were made to restore and maintain the building, but those attempts failed. Finally, in 2009 the building was demolished. The cache is located across from the site in a little park, as the building site is private property.
Corny Mann, who died in 1984 at age 86, often regaled visitors with stories of the bar and hotel. A man was once killed in the restroom, drunks rolled off the back hill and motorcycle gangs hung out there.
He also liked to show off the deer heads -- victims of his hunting prowess -- mounted on the walls and talk about his days of raising chickens for cockfighting.
In old newspaper stories, the building was variably described as a one-time trading post, barber shop, post office, dry goods store and even a jail.
More than once, Corny Mann escorted visitors through the trapdoor in the middle of the barroom floor to show off the jail cells in the basement. At one time, thirsty constables transporting prisoners to the courthouse in Downtown Pittsburgh stopped by the hotel for a drink, hitched their horses to the posts out front and dragged the prisoners to the cells.
If anyone has any memories or history to share, please do!