From drive ins to shopping at Hills, Rostraver’s Allen’s Crossroads was the place to be

By RALPH STONE
MVI columnist

Last week’s column emphasized the important role some of the earliest occupants of Allen’s Crossroads played in, not only my own childhood, but in the lives of so many men and women who grew up in the Mon Valley and were drawn to the special attractions found at the Rostraver Township crossroads. Those attractions included the Dog House, the Diaper Bar and Toot’s Riding Stables.
As time progressed and businesses realized the excellent location at the crossroads, changes began to occur. Today’s column shall revisit a few of those sites. In doing so let’s go back to that big house, a 21-room residence for the Allen family which was run by Allie S. Allen, better known by the entire family as Mommy.
Mommy was the widow of Robert F. Allen, the property owner. Her grandson, Fred Allen, was born in 1938 in a smaller house, that sat at the approximate location of today’s McDonald’s. He spent his entire childhood right in the center of the crossroads and recalled to me being able to watch movies from his own backyard at the Super 71 Drive In.
By July 1966, the big house, the stables and other structures and homes of the Allens, had been leveled to make room for the several businesses, whose owners were waiting to sell their own products in those same spots. One of those businesses was Stringhill’s Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant. Stringhill’s pizzas and the introduction to the pizza burger became huge hits throughout the Mon Valley and would entice many new customers to venture out to the crossroads. The Stringhill Restaurant lasted at the crossroads until December 1979 when they moved to the corner of Perry Avenue and Route 201 in Washington Township.

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