The Homestead Borough was an ideal place for the steel industry to take root. By the 1920as, over 20,000 people lived and worked in the area which had become the meeting and gathering place for the Steel Valley. The steel mills disappeared after World War II, but the heart of Homestead continued beating. The Waterfront shopping plaza has transformed the industrial space into a vibrant retail district attracting visitors from all around the region. Across from the shops, walkers, runners and bikers are able to enjoy miles of green space along the Great Allegheny Passage Bike Trail. Homesteadas growth continues as local businesses discover the historical beauty of Homestead artists discover inspiring spaces, visitors frequent our restaurants, and residents maintain that friendly, close-knit feeling. Source: Homestead Borough Website The Homestead Masonic Hall was built in 1917 by established freemasons of the area. Freemasonry evolved from the stonecutter guilds that existed in England