The modest administrative building standing at 617 Midland Ave. serves as a symbol.
It’s a reminder of Midland’s past, when it housed the local United Steelworkers chapter, back when Crucible Steel was the driving force of Beaver County’s economy, before it closed in 1982.
Now, the property represents the town’s present and, quite possibly, future: One of six Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School support offices occupies the building, typifying the town’s attempted recovery.
The transformation began in 2000, when former Midland school superintendent Nick Trombetta founded the institution known more simply as PA Cyber, an online state charter school that quickly became one of the largest such schools in the country. It now more than 11,100 students from every county and nearly every school district in the state, with Midland as its base.
“He put Midland back on the map,” Lisa Adkins, the owner of local deli Sal Mari’s, said of Trombetta. “Who knows if any of us would still be around if the school wasn’t here.”
But PA Cyber, like Midland, has had to balance fortune with adversity — Trombetta was indicted in August 2013 for committing tax conspiracy. He was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison July 24 after pleading guilty and will pay more than $400,000 in restitution.
Many in the town still praise Trombetta for leading its revival, even if they disagree with his criminal conduct. Ms. Adkins, 44, believes “he had good intentions.”
The cyber school’s impact is reflected in how new developments mix with older ones on Midland Avenue. Wunder Bar has been a Midland institution since 1935; across the street, Sal Mari’s has operated in the city for more than 30 years. Just down the block in either direction, you can find the Dollar General store or Big Shot Bob’s bar, which both opened last fall.
The six PA Cyber buildings dominate the small main strip, while the Trombetta-inspired Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center — and the charter school it houses — has been Midland’s largest building since opening in 2006.
“We’re bouncing back — took a major hit in the ’80s when Crucible left,” said borough secretary Norm Kraus, 62. “That employed 7,000 — 8,000 people, not only here but in the county. … Now, businesses are moving back in. We’re getting a rebirth.”
From 1980 to 1990, with the closing of the steel mill and the local high school, the population dropped nearly 23 percent to barely half its 1950 peak. That drop has continued but at a slower pace. Its population stood at 2,512 in 2017.
Many of the town’s economic contributions come from those who live beyond its limits — mainly those who staff and use the two charter schools. PA Cyber CEO Brian Hayden said the school has more than 300 employees who work in Midland, patronizing its restaurants and other businesses. The Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School, meanwhile, has nearly 700 students from seven different counties.
Lincoln Park’s basketball program further ties new success to Midland’s proud athletic tradition: The school won a state championship in 2014, just as Midland High School did in 1971, and its games are big community events.
“A lot of [the success] has to do with the community just welcoming this team and showing so much pride in the team, even in its early developmental stages,” said Lincoln Park Principal Lindsay Rodgers. “They created that sense of community pride around it, so suddenly our students very quickly realized that they’re Lincoln Park athletes and Midland athletes competing for Midland, and they’re very proud of that.”
Despite the Trombetta scandal, PA Cyber continues to give the town’s citizens confidence: Mr. Hayden said the school’s enrollment has “ticked up a couple percent every year for the last couple years.” It even has plans to renovate and expand one of its Midland facilities.
Additionally, the steel mill — now operated by Allegheny Technologies Inc. in a partnership with the Tsingshan Group out of China — reopened last fall. It had been idled in 2016 due to the company’s financial struggles, resulting in layoffs of 259 employees at that time. Today, it provides approximately 100 jobs.
“I come down here [in 2008], and the town has done a complete 180,” said Midland Police Chief Keith McCarthy, 37. “It’s a beautiful town.”
Chief McCarthy said the crime rate continues to drop “pretty much year after year,” with data showing it to be well below national averages in recent years.
While Trombetta is no longer a local leader, others have been influential in the town’s progress. One is Angela Adkins, 63, elected the town’s first female mayor in 2005. Affectionately known as “Poobie,” she’s as active as ever in her fourth term. She often will drive around with Chief McCarthy and ensure citizens are taking responsibility for upkeep of their property; if they aren’t, she has no problem knocking on their door and letting them know.
“People will ask, ‘How’s Poobie doing?’” Mr. Kraus said. “People know that she’s part of Midland, what she’s done here, and what she represents. She signifies a lot of what’s special about this town.”
That’s not to say Midland has overcome all its problems. Carnegie Library, a local institution since 1916, had to reduce its hours due to financial issues, director Linda Slopek said. Lincoln Park continues to deal with funding challenges as a charter school. And while new businesses are beginning to come to Midland, young people have so far continued to look elsewhere for opportunities. Only 6.6 percent of the town’s population are college graduates.
But many still see good days ahead.
“I think Midland’s always been an up-and-down [town],” said Lisa Adkins, a distant relative of the mayor. “This place is one of those things where something awful happens, you go through the lean years, and it seems like we just somehow get back on our feet.”
First Published: September 15, 2018, 4:00 a.m.
Updated: October 5, 2018, 4:44 p.m.