Old Chester, PA: Guest Book entries March 2002 - Part 1
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HAPPY ST. PATTY'S DAY .........
An Irish Blessing
May you be poor in misfortune, rich in blessings, slow to make enemies, quick to make friends, but rich or poor, quick or slow, may you know nothing but happiness from this day forward.
and thanks to the message board so many have not only found old friends, but have made new...
Back in the early 70s a bunch of us hung at the old jefferies school grounds...what a motley crew we had back then. there was the cocchi brothers, bobby shaw, pete zlupko, eski, mole, monk , droopy webster, twiggy, bill deghan and mario. we had the best of times then, does anyone see any of these guys? be good to see them again.
PamRHS
No I'm not Barbara's brother, I'm her cousin her brother is Joe Vaul. By the way Barbara passed away a couple of years ago sorry to say.
To Just Wondering
When you posted about Josephs Tackle Shop you brought back some pleasant memories of my brother and our youth so,Thank You.I have been hoping to see some old names posted from that era and area. GP
U. W.
Does Steve have a sister nicknamed Penny?
Pasqual DeJohn's sisters are Antionette, (Toni, married to Tony Iacona, former principal or superintendent (not sure which) of the Chester Schools,) and Lucille, aka Chickie. I believe there may have been a younger sister but can't recall her name. They are cousins to Julie, Dux and Leo DeJohn.
To GP You are 100% correct. They are the Josephs I was thinking about. I couldn't remember the other brothers' names. Thanks for refreshing my memory. I think their Fathers' name was Bill too.
He made beautiful lures.
That was a long time ago but when the name Ron Joseph came up, it brought back some memories.
Thanks again, GP
Sorry, of course, Peticca. Then there's DeMedio. DeProphetis, Constantine, Collachi, Tenuto, Rinaldi, Pelligrino, D'Amato, Mancuso, Arcamone, Barbato, DeFerdinando, Dorazio, Rossi, Russo, Teti,
Trying to find these folks for a St. Michael's reunion. Please contact me if you know their whereabouts. Thank you so much.
Peggy BODEN
Eileen CARPENTER
Patricia HEFTON
Joan KLINGER
Elizabeth GLEWWE
Frances PAZNOKITIS
Joyce SCHULBERGER
Betty TRAINOR
Margaret TYRELL
The last sentence should have read there would be "no question" - sorry. Hate it when that happens - but it does, all too frequently.
To Just Wondering
I remember the Ron Joseph you speak of from the old Penn Project.He did have an older brother I think named Robert.He also had a younger brother named Billy.His dad had a tackle shop on 3rd st as you stated.My late brother Jim spent many hours at the shop learning to tie flies under Mr Josephs watchful eye.That goes back at least 55 years.I remember when Ron and the rest of us as kids were playing some game and Ron came running around a corner and ran into Gerald Gilbert who was coming around from the other direction and they both had to go get their head stitched up. I don't believe he is the dejay talked about here though.
This board is getting more famouser and more famouser every day. Ain't life grand?
I just happened to remember something humorous that took place a year or so ago. I work in a law office and of course, everyone is expected to have word knowledge and spell things correctly - even if you're not sure of the correct spelling or proper name of a person or business establishment, school, etc., common sense should lead you in the right direction. Well, I was looking over a legal document that one of the women in the office typed. The plaintiff in the case was from Philadelphia and the local school she attended was typed as "Little Flour". After laughing, I debatted whether or not to change the spelling to Flower. I really liked the woman who typed that and not wanting to embarrass her and feeling confident she would catch the mistake, I just let it go. But I also felt that would give the attorneys one more thing to argue about, because how can any school be named "Little Flour"? So, naturally, the plaintiff again, was "lying". Our lawyer happened to have the Irish name of "Ryan" and was possibly Catholic. So, he could (or probably would) say it was named for a baker so good that he was elevated to sainthood because of the miraculous rolls he made for the local hoagies. Surely, then, there would be question, the plaintiff was telling the truth.
Happy St. Paddy's Day - St. Little Flour!
5 Guys Named Moe Get Out of Here & Get Me Some Money Too Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby
http://community-2.webtv.net/Bob618/RB/
2-just wondering:
while at the airport heard a DJ called RJ on FM 92.1.listened as long as I could the adv. for the program said weekends from 7PM sounded older, but one phrase that the person said did sound like the young RJ for a moment. Maybe the same one..
beth, i was referring to both, carl's and pete's. i use to hang around with carl jr. in the late sixties and early seventies. i use to work with pete jr. also knew the parent's well.
jack.
pam, alice said hi! i will have to e-mail my sister and tell her..she has been on this sight before.
jack.
I can't beleive of all those italian names there wasn't a Peticca.I'm sure everyone knew Hank and Charlie
Pam: I think you meant to respond to me about Alice. I know this board tends to blend together. So many questions so little time.LOL Anyway, yes she is married to Jack.
Here's a coincidence for you. Alice and I have known each other forever, but our parents had never met. When my mother had past away some 13 years ago (she was sick for awhile) Alice came to her funeral. Well by the grave side Alice was crying her eyes out. I turned around and hugged her and said honey it's ok (we were kind of prepared even though it still hurt) and she said no it's not that and she pointed to the grave stone right next to us and her father's name was on it. As big as Chester Rural is and our parents are from opposite ends of the city they are buried next to each other. Now our mothers and fathers are next to each other. Alices mom use to say he better not be messing with your mother. I wonder if he got the third degree when she arrived. One other thing both fathers were life time members of a fire company (Goodwill & Eddystone). I guess firemen really do stick together.
hey everyone, good to here hiball is still with us. pam, wendy sounds familiar but can't place her.mrs myers taught 3rd. john vierra's beer outlet was at 10th and potter.hiball at 10th and upland when i was growing up.
Fabulous how so many names are remembered after all these years. THAT'S what MAKES OLDCHESTERPA the best Maybe Philadelphia Magazine should have a "BEST OF" for this type of page. JOHN'S OLDCHESTRPA would then wear the banner #1
By supporting Johns emporium we can keep this web site going. John, how about a T shirt.. www.oldchesterpa.com...Or a terry beach towel..giant sized of course. With a pix and the call letters to get online. or filling a OldchesterPA mug with penny candy or Jelly Beans what a great Easter Cup for someone special.
Sorry John, just cannot get the marketing out of me even if its not for myself...
Thanks Pat,
You mentioned a lot of others that I couldn't think of as I was posting early this morning.
Dave-- I went to school with Alice for years. Wegraduated together. Isn't she married to Jack K. Jack-- Get your sister on here!
I remember Pie from around 70 , he went out with Mary Christie.
Dave-- Yes, Julian is Dave's cousin, haven't seen him in years.Do you remember Wendy Dower? She lives down here in De. also. The Gills lived on the corner on the 1000 block of Elsinore. Frank Vaul-- are you Barbara's brother?
And then there were others around the city: Anemone, Antonelli, Biordi, Buccella, Carlone, Caruso, Coiro, Catone, Chiaravalloti, Corradetti, Cresta, DaVinci, DeCostanza, DeVito, DiMaio, DiOrio, Donofrio, Faverio, Ferrone, Ficca, Filiaggi, Filippone, Lucchesi, Marcello, Mercadante, Merlino, Montisano, Mirasola, Mignogna, Masticola, Perpetua, Petrillo, Papi, Rossi, Ruffini, Sordi, Totino, Troffo, Trosino, etc.
2 Hungrey: Hardees at 22nd & Upland road - The house behind it was the one we spoke of earlier as a semi-prefab by CHS students. Could not remember the exact name of streets. Thought that was 24th St. Thought it was a Hardees but has changed several times since 1950's that I was not sure of the original fast food operation.
yeah,gigi and pie, brothers from chester, i remember them. think gigi runs his dads body shop in twin oaks. his dad died several years ago and now the boy runs it. someone said that pie was dead.dont know.
Speaking about diners, I spoke with my Dad a few nights ago and he said there is a diner near Crozer now that served great food. Lots of food for a reasonable price. Can't remember tha name of the new place though.
Does anyone remember any of the Pierces from the Brookhaven/Chester area? Lew Pierce was an electrician and his son (also Lewis) was also an electrician. Lew senior is dead since 1969 but the son is still alive.
Sure i remember Michael and Stephen Cameron from McDowell Avenue, there Mother was the late Delores DeTulleo....
2 Just Wondering:
RJ - radio music personality on WEEZ early 60's. At that time he lived in Springfield behind the Lambs Tavern somewhere. I may be wrong but I think he used his First and middle name as his radio signature. As far as his Dad owning a Fish and Tackle store that I don't know.
Piasano: Remember Steve Coletta - I think Steve was in the CHS band. Pasqual (sp?) Dejohn, his sisters have been mentioned on the board several times, these postings are in the archive section of JOHN's message board. Ruffini, Quattra, Zizza, Farrara. Santucci,Boscolla, Stanley Tussey,(Tucci) -Slicky how are yea.
whats all the hub-bub about the gill family? does anone remember their cousins from mcdowell st, gigi and steve cameron?
Bill T: You are correct about the other corner at 9th and Morton Ave. It was a Drug Store and was either Carrolls or McCarrolls. It was owned by an older widow. A young guy from Sun Village by the name of Carl used to help her out. If I recall properly he worked for Nucar Carriers as a driver. That would have been in the late 1940's.
Some one else commented about Vernies Shoe repair. I used to hang out at the Root Beer Stand, one of the other guys that hung out there took a pair of shoes to Vernies for repair. The owner of Vernies looked at the kid, then asked if he hung out at the Root Beer Stand and the kid said "yes", Vernie said "take your shoes somewhere else and don't come back".
Bud - Yuma, AZ
To:Karen Wilson Ragni Mr & Mrs Howlett lived directly across the alley from my Grandmom and next door to me when we moved to the apt. between them and my aunt on the end of the street. I remember when the old brown wood garage of Mr. Howlett's fell down. I always thought there must be some kind of treasures in the old thing with no roof. The house was empty for a very long time but I kept thinking someone was looking out the side window thru the sheer white curtains. The black fence was replaced by a silver chain link one by later residents. I did go to school with Debi and had no idea she was related to the Howletts. I saw her postings on the board. Yes I will admit that is my Uncle Kevin known as Ginker by many and he hasn't much changed-i mean never grew up. Can you beleive he is a grandfather- not that he acts remotely like he is that old? Yes, of twin boys. They are beautiful babies and will be one this year. Mrs.McGinn on Culhane st was my Aunt "Pat" (Helen). Her son and his family that lived up the street moved to NJ.
How about some good old Italian names from Chester's Little Italy?
Fusco, DeMeglio, Marusco, Pileggi, DeFuria, Marino, Mattero, Carletti, DiNicola, Sanbe, Calderone, Zaffiri, LaSpada, Moretti, Ciliberti, Marrone, Iacono, Iacona, Jacona, Stackeni, Chivolotti, Spaccarelli, Dilucidio, Mazza, Ieradi, Walio, Albertini, Ciprano, Crispino, Summa, Cocchi, Bruno, Lombardo, Meli, Buemi, Zappala, Agostinelli, Tavani, DeJohn, DeSanctis, Pierdemenico, Guardiello, Restaneo, Zangari, Ippoliti, Giampalmi, Emmi, Georgini, DeMarco, Grieco, Buono, Ferriola, Scattolini, Tassoni, Trasatti, Borregini, Borgese, Bocella, Bonaquisti, Mucella, Coletta, Passaro, Calvarese, DiSalvatore, Pace, Balestieri, Oronzio, Pisano, just to mention a few!
To U. W.
Is the Ron Joseph you mentioned from the old William Penn Project? Did he have a brother? Did his father have a Fish & Tackle Shop on Third Street? (Sold all kinds of fishing equipment)
Noticed Diners have made a comeback. Not the old fashion buildings but existing ex-eateries.
Howard Johnsons on 12th & Edgmont is now the Edgmont Diner.
The old Hardees at 22nd & Upland road is now the Upland Diner.
Wojies's on Bridgewater road is The Bridgewater Diner.
The Philly Diner on the Industrial Highway (rte 291) replaced Shoney's.
Bridgewater Inn is on Bridgewater Road in the Shopping Center going into Toby Farms. Wojie's just sold out, now it's The Bridgewater Diner.
The old road by the incinerator goes from Chester Township (Feltonville) into Upland.
In reference to the Madrid Inn, was that also at one time called the Pink Poodle?
Tooter was in my class. I believe her first name is Mary. The last name was either Ditullio or Tullio. Can't remember exactly.
To Beth B. My grandmother Florence Shropshire Howlett lived on W. 10th St.right behind your familys beer distributor...I also know your Uncle Kevin (Ginker) fairly well from years ago....I think you also might have went to Ohara with my sister Debi Dugan...my grandmother lived there for many many years...she had three children Robert Howlett, Murrell Howlett and my mother Elva Howlett who graduated CHS"60"...When i was in rez in 76 we rode bikes across the bridge and on Incinerator Rd as we called to the Pusey House...I also lived next to Mrs.McGinn on Culhane st. with my husband,Chris for many years she was a very sweet lady.
To Beth B. My grandmother Florence Shropshire Howlett lived on W. 10th St.right behind your familys beer distributor...I also know your Uncle Kevin (Ginker) fairly well from years ago....I think you also might have went to Ohara with my sister Debi Dugan...my grandmother lived there for many many years...she had three children Robert Howlett, Murrell Howlett and my mother Elva Howlett who graduated CHS"60"...When i was in rez in 76 we rode bikes across the bridge and on Incinerator Rd as we called to the Pusey House...I also lived next to Mrs.McGinn on Culhane st. with my husband,Chris for many years she was a very sweet lady.
To Pam that is the same Kitty,Clayton died 3 or 4 years ago and kitty just sold the house on 15th st. about 2 years ago, she lives in Brookhaven with her daughter Patricia now.
And speaking of W. 15th St isn't there any one out there that lived on 15th st by Crozier Hospital or 21st St by the Hospital. I am an only child but I know I grow with some kids in the that area.
Well, tomorrow is the "Ides of March". One day in history that lives in infamy and is never celebrated. Let's keep up the tradition, which goes back centuries before the name "Chester" was a city in England or a word, that mattered.
Jukebox - Improve your english...
http://www.esclub.gr/jukebox.html
"Tooter", that name rings a Sun Village bell in my memory. What was her maiden name? On what block of Elsinore did she live? Just trying to place names & people.
Someone posted in the archives that this Gill that was arrested was not the son of Tim & Tooter
oops forgot to say that was me responding to Jack
Jack wrote: also knew the mcginns and stepkyes and carl delorio. pete blandiak now lives in eddystone, know him well also. jack the slow reader!
Jack were you referring to Carl the beer man or his son and Pete the father that worked at BP or his son? I knew them all growing up.
always late on here. by the time i read through most postings are answered.(not complaining just stating) i remember the madrid in aston and than it changed so many times after that and is now harry kats pub. also tom, i was going to say that i thought jane was john,s cousin. also knew the mcginns and stepkyes and carl delorio. pete blandiak now lives in eddystone, know him well also. jack the slow reader!
charlie......a crime it was my angry friend, but he will pay and is paying for what wrong was done....i think i know you charlie, sad but true...you drink at the bridgewater inn,dont ya? orange soap?
To Chester Native- Have any orange soap at home. Bottom Line Is that he he did plead guilty to the charges, I think if it was your daughter you would call it more than a mistake it was a CRIME. And a crime hopefully he does'nt make again, but anyone will tell you this type of criminal is the hardest to rehablitate and almost always repeat this type of crime. When these prople are caught the first thing people say is he was such a nice boy- Jeffrey Dalmer was also a nice boy from his neighbors growing up.
To Chester Native,
I could not have said it better regarding "Charlie's" statement regarding Buckey Gill, with Easter so close you would think people would reframe from being so nasty and judgemental....OWell, it takes all kinds...have a great Day!
for charlie...i have know the Gill Family my entire life, went to grade school and st james with bucky and think of him as a friend still. one mistake on his part does not deserve a stranger(charlie) to call such names as pervert. never did an immoral thing in your life charlie? back off with the judgement my friend, have a soft heart and take personel stock and stop throwing bricks
Seen the posting about Timmy Gill, hard to believe his son turned out to be a pervert, understand he's still in Del. County prison, when released must register as a pradator under Megans Law. I believe the son is either Gooch or Buckey. We trust or teacher to teach our children not to make hay with them. And Timmy Gill was a police Inspector and was one hell of a displinary should should have done the same at home.
Pam At 9th and Morton Ave. Hot dog stand next to that(toward the river), was Billy Richies which later became ReDavids.The other bar was the Mal-Tone (played Country Music.) Gas station. And a big red brick building that might have been a drug store(not to sure of this).
Thank you, whoever you are, The Madrid is it, now I can call my ex who lives in Eddystone who could not remember either...Another problem solved...
Wasn't the bar in Aston during the 70's called the Madrid Inn....
Geo. K. a blast from the past...remember RJ (Ron Joseph) Just spell the name right Joseph....Thanks for the memory..Nice guy did me a major favor once while broadcasting. May you live to be 100 RJ.
Harvey...WOW that was great, I love Seegar & that song...Thanks, if you didn't post it, was still great...
Turn the Page - fiction
http://www.geocities.com/phishtar/oneshots/turnthepage.html
I thought the Bridgewater Inn was in the shopping center that was actually on Bridgewater Rd at the main entrance to the development. There is a restaurant across the way now called Wolfie's I beleive. The one on concord was the alibi and it was painted white with black trim.
John, do you ever hear from Jane(Sasha)??? So her son's with Stallone are your cousins, do you know them??? the one son who acts looks just like Jane but with dark hair, how interesting!!!1And TOM, Bobby was a lady's man & was a hottie back then...
Tom, where the Alibi is or was is the place we all use to go to hear the Bobby c Trio was it not called The Bridgewater before (70's)???
Floyd: I do remember Frazier coming into the Meeting House Tavern in Twin Oaks a few times with friends on a Sunday night when they have Karaoke. And yes I can sing a mean version of "Tie the Yellow Ribbon" NOT :) My favorite was "Turn The Page" and some stuff from Springsteen or In The Ghetto by Elvis, but I haven't been to one of those places in a year and a half. It is a Sunday night Monday morning thing. Bobby C use to go out with my sister a long time ago, but then again I heard that he was a ladies man anyway. I don't think Kate was referring to the Bridgewater wasn't that in Toby Farms? She's referring to Concord Rd and what was the Alibi, I think.
This is a great page. So many cool memories of a great lifestyle. Now is it bygone? I don't think I enjoyed it fully when I lived there. Romanticizing it now? I dunno.
I left the Delaware County in '76 after High School (dull). Holy Ghost grammer school rocked. I went east until I got to the end of NJ on LBI and surfed, rocked, partied, and became the next IGGY POP clone. Then I followed punk rock around Boston in '77. Great era.
Do I think fondly of those years? Yeah, I was gloriously mis-spending my youth, but there was some times. I am 1.000's of miles away now, and this page brings it back. To even here RJ on WEEZ again would be a trip. And the Wee Willie Webber Show on WPHL 17.
Those were the good years for me in Chester until '76. That's all I remember. And thanks to all involved with this web page.
Kate&Tom Jane is not my sister she is my couson.She has three brothers joe,john and kenny.I Have two older sisters connie and linda. John is a couple years older than me.He has a son named john and so do I.
Floyd, thanks, was racking my brain & could not think of the Bridgewater Inn, yes BoBBy C Trio put on some great shows, his brother Billy was in the group & they also hail from McCaffrey , they did a mean redition of Jethro Tull called "Locomotive Breath" Your right I saw Joe Frazier come in another Night club, I think in Essington & he signed autographs and was really apprecitive of his fans...Lots of good memories from the 70's...
Hi Everyone - Gotta make this brief - but I always say that, don't I? :-) Duffy (ironically this was also the first name I had to write the Times Bar Hopping column under. New editor Andy Reynolds finally gave my real name back to me) wrote - "Floyd: HiBall's was on the corner of 10th and Potter and then moved to 10th and Upland. HiBall is still around and kicking." WHOA, great to hear that! I remember going there to Hiball's with my parents when just a child. They were friends of his and shopped there a lot. Glad to know that he's still with us. Thanks for the info, Duffy! Re Bobby C - Yes, knew him also and he is still performing from what I understand. He used to put on some great shows at the Bridgewater in Aston some years ago. He was pretty heavily into karate at one point and knew my friend Grey Givin, who ran the American Karate Studio in Holmes, on Morton Ave. Gray lives in Georgia now. Re Joe Frazier - One of Joe's attorneys is in Media and he is a good friend of mine, and I met Joe through this gentleman. About five years ago, another mutual friend was running for State Representative on the Republican ticket (what else? :-) and I was helping to work on his campaign. The candidate was planning a large fund raiser at the Chadds Ford Ramada Inn and he wanted some first-class karaoke singers to appear at the event so for about three different nights, he, Joe and I would travel around to all of the karaoke bars in the area looking for new talent. Joe would cause a sensation just by walking in the bar as people would flock around him and he was always polite and friendly to everyone. He was just as nice a guy, privately, when he was "out of the spotlight" too. He would almost always do a number onstage, which was cool - but I was "karaoke-ed" out by the time this mission was over. To this day, I pretty much avoid karaoke bars. Listening to screeching, off-key renditions of "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree" night after night can knock you over faster than Joe's legendary left hook. We did find some good singers in some of these places, however, and got them to come (everything was taken care of :-) to the fund-raiser. Harry Kalas and his wife were there also as well as the then-reigning Miss Pennsylvania. Our candidate lost, sadly, but it was an interesting time and a LOT of fun. Not exactly a Chester memory, I know, but thought ya'll might find it interesting. More later.
Thanks BETH, Neither one of those names ring a bell but I am talking about 73 -75, I haven't been on that road for at least that many years but you are right about the location, maybe somone elso remember's some other names...ya, was a scarey road but we all used it for a short cut to Brookhaven....have to get my 64 yearbook out and see if i remember your relatives..
That would be Concord Rd That goes from Chester Twp thru Aston to 5 points and continues to rt 1. I think I know which bar you mean even though I was never in it. It was just down from Sun Valley and next to the gas station. It was called Your Alibi for a long while and Rick's Sheds are now on the other side. I also remember Incinerator RD with the scarey bridge and it was the shortcut to Toby Farms.
TOM, are you & Pam talking about The same Jane Czack that married Stallone & helped him write Rocky??????????A lot of the girls she graduated with were really impressed!!!!!!!!!She did graduate '65 even tho we all read an article she did in Redbook mag. some years ago and our age was 5 years younger, gotta love that.......anyway what is the name of the road near where the old incinerator rd. use to be, remember that sharp turn under the bridge?? the road i'm thinking of goes past the firehouse in Felton & goes into Aston, there was a bar on the right that changed hands many times & the guys I kew all hung there & Bobby C was playing one night & in walked Joe Frazier, the Boxer, he got on stage & did a few numbers with Bobby, was anyone else there that night from this site? Rocky reminded me of this because of Jane....
Floyd: HiBall's was on the corner of 10th and Potter and then moved to 10th and Upland. HiBall is still around and kicking.
HEY 7 TH WARDER WHERE, WHEN ?
Lou
You are so right. Hope more people from "our" neighborhood, which you described, will find this site and start posting on it so we can read about the old days.
I am surpised that the only ones posting so far are prodominately from the East and West ends of the city.
Come on 7th ward people. Tell your friends about oldchesterpa.com Would like to know about our old friends and neighbors and what went on in that part of the city.
Tom-- I talk to John almost everyday. He works @ Chrysler with Dave. I'll tell him to get on. His sister is the one who told us about this site. I plan to try your suggestion with the computer. Dave-- What grade did she teach? The name sounds familiar. I also had Mrs. Caldwell & Mrs. Wetherill. Remember Mr. Lowe the Gym teacher?
HI ALL GREAT SITE ! A THOUGHT : I SEE A LOT OF POSTS FROM THE EAST SIDE AND WEST END OF CHESTER. I WAS FROM, I GUESS YOU WOULD CALL THE CENTER OF CHESTER. LETS SAY FROM DOWNTOWN CHESTER TO CENTRAL AVE. LLOYD, PENNELL, KERLIN, LAMOKIN, BROOMALL, PARKER ETC, FROM 9TH ST TO THE RIVER. COLOMBUS CENTER, ST ANTHONYS, FRANLIN SCHOOL, LLOYD FIELD, NIGHT OWLS, APPOLLO MOVIES, MADELYNS MARKET, BALESTERI'S MARKET, LETO'S, POST 17, DEMEGLIOS RESTRURANT. EZ 'S ON THIRD AND LLOYD,MAILMANS STORE, IMMACULATE HEART PARISH. JUST THOUGHT I WOULD THROW THIS OUT.
hey pam, i remember redavids and they had the best pizza. how about mrs myers at jeffries school she gave us fudge and the stick pretzels. chester east looked huge when we were kids and now it looks like a backyard. is your husband related to jules from the firehouse(moyamensing)? i can't remember, see ya.
Pam: I haven't had a lot of time on my hands to look into the name connection thing. Been some problems at home with my 17yo that kind of had me tied up. I saw John Czack sign in do you remember him? Where is he? Do you remember the Reeves from Eddystone? They are like family to me, also. I was chatting with Ed B before our class reunion he told me that he got your son into Williamson. Good deal. Ed's a good guy his grandmother used to live next to me. Glad to see you got the modem issue resolved. I used to have my own computer repair store called "PC Clone Doctors" in Prospect Park but anyhow if your modem locks up try this. Click on My Computer then control panel, then modems, then diagnostics, look for the com port where the modem is listed, click on that then click on more info and it will tell you if the computer actually sees the modem.
pam..... The Shoemaker on Morton was called Vernies..Before your time there was a Drug Store on 9th and Morton Ave,(your Grandmother would remember) ReDavid's was on Morton Avenue used to be Billy Richies years ago ....
Betty- Last week you asked me if my grandmom remembered Kitty. I talked to her this am & she does. She was married to Clayton & had a house on 15th St.. Same Kitty? Tom- Did you start the connection? I would like to share a Christmas memory of my grandmom's who was a young girl during the Depression with 10 brothers & sisters. One year they had no money to buy a tree so her father made one out of an umbrella & angel hair & the few balls they had. She said it was beautiful & children came from all over the neighborhood to see it. She says that the did not usually go in firends' houses back then. I think people then appreciated things more, they were thankful to have a pair of shoes! Incidently, that large family all lived in a row house on Patterson St. Hope you enjoyed!
Glad to see all the bickering is over! Does anyone remember Mrs. Sarah Brown Baron who taught 5th grade @ Jeffries Elementary? Floyd, I do remember The Melrose in Sun Village, a bunch of us kids would pack into a booth & get 2 orders of fries! That makes me remember someone mentioning the Gills from Elsinore St., my grandmom saw Timmy a few weeks ago @ Crozier & he told her that Tooter was very ill. Anyone remember Chester East Little League? They had so much penny candy!! I always swore my boys would play ball but they both ended up playing soccer & lacrosse. My younger one now plays for Williamson Tech in Media. Any other soccer parents out there? Gotta do my housework since I'm off today. Check back later for more memories.
Beth: I know most of the relatives you mentioned. Gerry Sr., Gerry Jr., Tom, They all use to come down the Boat Club and I hung around with Tommy once in awhile. Jimmy, Jimmy, Stevie, Tom, John, Ginker, they are friends of mine. I just saw Stevie and Jimmy down at Grotto's pizza down the Delaware shore 2 summer's ago. I also used to hang around with Bill Waldron Jr. and have even been down to Jimmy's, Stevie's and Bill Sr. place down at Pot nets a few times for them wonderful crabs.
Kate: John Cz is Jane brother he is Jolly and my age.
John Czack how are you remember me. Tom B from the village.
Wasn't there a bar on 9th & Morton called Redavids'in the 60's? There was a Sinclair gas station, another bar and I can't remember what was on the other corner. I also remember a shoe repair shop, I think Pellegrinos? It was by the Mac movie. Anyone remember staying at the movies all day? 2 movies & cartoons! My husband once stayed so longg it was dark outside & his parents had to go & get him, didn't he get in trouble!
Hello Beth ,
I was just reading one of your postings. I am from Trainer and you mentioned the name Gus Bucella is that the Gus who lives down by the river in Marcus Hook. If so he is my grandmother-in-law's brother. I was just wondering.
Take care
p.s. alot of the places you mentioned bring back alot of memories I went to St. Hedwigs and hung out in Chester.
My pc is not picking up when there is a cd in the modem. As I am computer challenged, can anyone help!?
John J. McClure residence
Howard H. Houston residence
Photo of the Chester Theatre
Pidipat and Tom, my Aunt Carma and Uncle Jack Mullen lived on Clover Ln but on the part between 9th and 10th. My cousins, Babe and Gerald Stepkke lived on the block between 10th and 12th and so did my friends the Balandiaks. Mike Mortimer was a friend of the family that lived in Trainer while I was growing up and one of his 2 daughters was in O'Hara at the same time as me. (ND closed just before I left grade school)
Just a few door up from Millers bar was Patros bar, 900 blk. Morton Ave.,lots of thirsty people in Chester those days.
Sorry - it was HOLLOWAY'S gift shop - not Halloway's - was remembering it as I pronounced it - and spelled it wrong tonight - but would really like to hear from anyone who may know something about those old bank vaults under the street there.
Hi Everyone - to "Chester native" - you wrote "to floyd: millers bar was located on the north corner of the intersection of 9th and morton ave." OK - THAT'S what I thought -THAT'S where I remember it - will take a "sentimental journey" down there this weekend anyway and report back to the group on what I find. You also wrote - "i remember the owner of the bar , his name was bill miller and was good friends of my family...he died sometime in the late 70s or early 80s." You certainly nudged my memory on the name - yes, it WAS Bill Miller. I had forgotten. My family knew him and I MAY have met him as a child. Thank you, "chester native". Now speaking of businesses - anyone here remember Highball's corner grocery store, around Kerlin St. or Crosby? Near 8th, I think? Tall, bald-headed fellow owned it. His nickname was, indeed, "Highball". Or Henry Shapiro's wallpaper store in downtown Chester – Welsh St. I think - his long-time employee "Tang"? Or Henry's son Lee, I think his name was, who later became a lawyer - moved to Kansas City I think? Or Brownie's barber shop on Morton Ave.? His name was Clifford Brown, I recall. Dad took me there for my first haircuts until I was about 6-7, something like that. Brownie died and then we went to Andy Bufano's shop, on Providence Ave. Andy had a laryngectomy and spoke by swallowing air. Medium height, slim, he had white, wavy hair, somewhat prominent nose. Dad also told me that Andy was one of the best piano teachers in the area once. I can still remember his place, almost in detail. As I mentioned once before here, I was either blessed - or cursed - with what is called a "photographic memory" - my brain sometimes seems to take "snapshots" of things and people. I sure as hell don't ask it to - in fact, we're not even on speaking terms right now ;-) Anyway – anyone remember Irene's hoagie shop? Same area, around Rose, Kerlin et. al. I can still see it on the corner there but I guess my old brain lost the address - put it in a different photo album someplace :-) or Halloway's Gift Shop, on the corner, just across from St. Michael's in downtown Chester? My Mom used to work there, for Mr. and Mrs. Halloway. This is circa 1965. I think it's an empty space now. It was also the site of a bank many years ago, long before Halloway’s Gift Shop, and later, during the “hippie” era in the early 1970’s, it was the site of a “head shop” called Headquarters. I bought a few metal pipes there before I got legit and switched to Peterson’s briar pipes and Paladin Black Cherry tobacco. ;-) Now, there ARE old bank vaults under the street, right there on the corner, under where Halloway's used to be. Trust me on this. I know there are vaults under the street as I was down there several times. In the back of Halloway’s was a door, to the right, behind the counter space, as you walked into the store. The merchandise was out front, as you walked in, then the counter against the wall, in the direction of Burman’s newsstand - only employees were allowed behind the counter – well, only employees and their nosy sons :-) - and this door led into the basement – bathrooms, etc. – and then ANOTHER door which led down to the vaults. Mom would let me go down to the vaults and root around there with the typical motherly – “Don’t get hurt down there! Call me if you need me!” type warning. God Bless her soul. Anyway - I recall there were only just tons of old papers and ledger books and file cabinets there, nothing very interesting to me at the time, and it was a large, dark space but still, as I recall, it had the electricity hooked up – no doubt from the store upstairs somehow – I know nothing about electricity or wiring except not to stick your finger into a light socket while standing in a bathtub. But I was not prowling around in there with a candle - and yes, it was “hooked up” to electrical wiring somehow. The overhead light bulbs went on when I flicked a switch someplace. I have no idea how. The vault must have been somehow wired to the store upstairs. But it was a large area where you could easily walk around and did not have to stoop down. It was also as dusty as Hell but fun for a snoopy kid to prowl around in. Halloway’s and Headquarters are certainly gone – but the vaults must still be there, under the street and long forgotten. Buildings are easy to raze, but vaults are a different story, unless they were filled in long ago. I just don’t know. If anyone can add to this little mystery, please do so. Anyway, best to all here and more later
TO BETH: Reading your story now tells me what happened to the children and grandchildren of some of the friends I grew up with in BV, particularly the McGinns. I think Butch McGinn was probably a cousin of yours, and Bill and Jack Waldron I also grew up with. All three were most "marvelous fellows". Butch and Jack are now gone, but Bill is still around. If you should see him again, please tell him Pat McFadden sends her fondest and very best regards. I think Bill would have liked nothing better than to see me and Butch spend our lives together. Bill was always the greatest and he and Butch were lifelong, close friends. I think they would have done anything for each other.
Believe me, it seems like only yesterday when me and my friends were even younger (much younger) than you. I hope this board is still around when you're my age (70) and you have the opportunity to read the postings of the children/grandchildren of your friends. It's wonderful to be able to do that.
Kate, Just noticed the year you graduated from Notre Dame. I think my mom, June and her twin sister, Joyce, graduated in 1964. They were friends with Betsy Walker from w 9th street. My mom and Betsy went to the St James Dog's on the Dunes event and said she saw lots of relatives and others she knows.
Yes, I am related to John Mcginn and the many Jim McGinns. I don't know if the Highland Cafe was called that before my relatives bought it but I do know of it. My grandfather was Jim (Bus) Mcginn that had the beer distributor between W. 10th and 11th in the alley. My grandmother, Millie still owns it and my Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Sandy run it. They still live there. My Uncle Stevie moved to a trailer at the beach in Delaware and when I visited him he took me by boat to Bill Waldron's trailer. I think S'Bandi's burned down but I am not sure. I do remember McCloskey's being in the middle of the shopping center in the next block and that it had an entrance in the front and back. From what I heard my mom met my dad at Rube's when she was there with her sister, Babsie. When i started bartending at Rube's the place was nothing like the stories I had heard growing up, and they were very colorful ones including how it was a biker bar for awhile. We had a pool table in the back room but my game was shuffleboard which I think is really shufflebowling. I worked at Dominic's Other Place in Trainer on Tuesdays which was league nite but when I stopped I started playing for the Village Cafe (aka Rube's)and traveled the Marcus Hook league circuit and was able to visit many of the bars that I had heard of in the alley at the beer distributor growing up following the drivers Carl Delurio and my Uncle Kevin around. Bonner's (over the bridge) was in the league too. My grandfather's brother, Tom McGinn was well known in the area, too. He lived over in Highland Gardens but moved to Jersey. I don't believe I am related to the Bucella that was mentioned from Smedley. There were Borsellos in the West End. My dad's family was mostly in Marcus Hook and the East End. My Grandpop Gus Bucella drove a beer truck for JJ Kelly's. I also remember going to wedding receptions at the West End Boat Club. As for Trainer Rocks, I remember when I was in Rez, hearing stories about the older kids having parties up there at night when I had to be in.
Beth, I am a older than you and it sure surprised me that anyone went to Trainer rocks after the 60's. we use to take a lunch and sit down thier for the afternoon, we were about 12...I also live at the end of a dirt road but it's mostly sand because we are 5 minutes from the ocean, which I love....I also tell my husband "you can take the girl out of Chester but you can't take Chester out of the girl" that has been said by many & I don't claim it for my own....Peace out.
to floyd: millers bar was located on the north corner of the intersection of 9th and morton ave. i remember the owner of the bar , his name was bill miller and was good friends of my family...he died sometime in the late 70s or early 80s.
John Czack, you didn't leave a message but I must know are you related to Jane?
Tom - regarding the elderly lady who lived on the corner (would have been maybe NE corner) of Clover Lane and 12 Street, I don't know what year you are referring to, but when I was there ('42 to '50), there was a dear old lady who lived in that house. I lived at 1209 Clover Lane. Her house was adorable from the outside - I never knew anyone who visited her inside and I never heard her speak. She is another neighbor of mine in BV that I have thought of. Hardly ever saw her and she was a true recluse. At least you have given me her name; I don't think anyone ever knew her name.
Right next door to this lady, north of her, there was a family with two little boys. I remember them because I visited them a few times and played games with the boys (they were maybe 5-6 yrs old). I loved little kids and they were sweet boys. Bradley could have been their name - because I haven't the slightest idea of what their names were.
Hi Everyone – To Tom – yes, we probably did shoot pool together at one time as I knew ALL those places – Rube’s (Village Café); Sbandi's; Highland Tavern; Bonner's in Highland Gardens; Castle (or Castel – whatever) Franci's, the after hours bar owned by Mort on Morton Ave. in Sun Village; Hunt's Annex across from Crozer – now in Woodlyn; LLoyd Athletic Club (Lloyd AC) under the firehouse; Columba's Hotel in Eddystone AKA Spada's later on. Yes, sir - “Memories of a Misspent Youth” – name of a novel by Vance Packard, which somehow turned into my own life - :-) Oh, well. I still talk to Kathy and Vince at Hunt’s Annex – both great people and Kathy is even MORE beautiful than ever before, if that’s possible - and Art McCloskey got me a membership at the LLoyd AC under the firehouse. He and his family also owned the old Imperial Bar, just across from Burman’s Newsstand at 7th and Edgmont. About a year ago, I was having drinks with friends at a bar here in Media and who walks in but none other than Art! He still owns the Hilltop Tavern in Chester Heights. We had a great hour or more reminiscing about Chester in the good – or “bad” - old days. Depends on how you look at it. Actually, I liked that time. Will leave most of the names out, but my newer friends in Media raised some eyebrows as they overheard Art and I talking about “Peggy the Blade” and the “Flash Bandit” – yeah, I knew Cliff too, long since reformed and a VERY nice gentleman who was not a hypocrite – he never made any secret about his past and I respected him for this. Later, I got the ‘ole “You KNEW these people?!” questions from my Media friends. Yes, I did know them and I am damned glad of it. Tom, I was never good enough to head a pool team and, frankly, the discipline of being at a certain place at a certain time for a game would have cramped me. I was a pretty good pool shooter but mostly I played for fun, as the pure beauty of the game intrigued me. Newton’s Third Law of Motion – “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction” - all right there in front of you, on a slate table, covered with green felt. Fascinating. And the “action” coming from a stick from a rack, which you had to “site” first to make sure it was not bent, even a little. Used to shoot downstairs at the old Royal pool parlor, next to the State Theater, also – that’s where I cut my teeth on the game when I was just a kid. You’d walk downstairs, and past the people and the smoke, and line up for a game. The only time I did anything like “hustling” was when I traveled throughout Texas and New Mexico and pool kept me in beer and hot dogs for dinner. Other than that, I played the game for the sheer fun I found in it. Anyway, you mentioned Lou's Junkyard – was that the one at 2nd and Tilghman? And a fellow named Rossi who worked there? Any relation to Nick Rossi (or Rocci) from Dupont St.? His father was also named Nick – or “Big Nick”, as he was known - a huge, powerful guy whose size scared me when I was a little kid (they were neighbors of ours) but who also was as friendly as they could come. The whole Rossi family were good neighbors on Dupont St. – there was an older sister named Cookie, and a younger sister, Margie. “Young Nick” and I were friends growing up. Saw the posts on here earlier about the coal heaters – Yeah, we had one at 622 Dupont St. also. I used to carry the coal ashes out in those big, bent, gray tubs also, after shoveling them out from the grate. My friend as a kid, “Young” Nick, was damned near as strong as his Dad was and he carried them out with no problem, as they had coal heat there also. We were the same age but I had to drag our tubs out with both hands, like deadweight, until I got strong enough to lift and carry them, by the handles, upright. Last time I saw “Young Nick” was about 20 years ago, at the after-hours club in Highland Gardens. I think Gene Banta owned that one also. It was close to the B&B bar and Bonner’s – anyone here remember the name? Played pool there too – funny story about the night a girl totally slaughtered me on the table, game after game. I was working at Tedeco, a factory in Glenolden, at the time and had brought some friends from there with me, after our nightly visit to the Rendezvous go-go bar on Chester Pike in Crum Lynne – then named the Nitespot as Mickey Drill was no longer the owner – Mike Falcone was the owner then. It later burned down. He also owned Venus Beauty Salon on Chester Pike. Anyway. I heard about it from my friends for the rest of the night – “A GIRL beat you! A GIRL!” It didn’t bother me – my friends from Delco had never seen the female pool players at the bars in Commerce, Texas. I saw those ladies wipe out MANY a big cowboy, who strutted in the bars in their Stetsons, with their $200 pool cues, in those fancy leather-carrying cases. Some of the girls there just picked a cue from the rack, sited it, then sent the cowboys out the door after beating them at every game. But those good ‘ole boys were always polite about it and this I really respected – the ladies whipped their butts and the guys left, quietly hiding their tails between their legs, but the boys would ALWAYS leave with a respectful “Very good game, Ma’am – thank you”. That’s life – you win, you win. You lose, you lose. Just do it all with class and respect. Anyway, that’s another place. But young Nick and I reminisced – I recall he told me his Dad had died – and we exchanged phone numbers, but, as these things go in life, we never saw each other again. He was a good guy and a good friend to me. I really hope he and his family are doing well today. To the anonymous poster about Miller’s Musical Bar – a nice, older gentleman from a western state sent along an email that did nudge my memory a bit. I may have been wrong about JUST the exact location – am not sure, but this weekend, will drive down there again - wearing my bulletproof vest of course - ;-) - just kidding - and find the exact spot for sure, as I do remember just where it was. It was RIGHT on a corner – this I do know. At 9th St. - follow past it, just go straight, then you’re in Eddystone. Anyway, will let y’all know if you want. Gotta run – thanks again for this fantastic page - Webmaster John – you’re the greatest! – And God Bless to everyone.
I was just thinking about when I was young. I had a huge paper route for a kid. About 200 customers combined. I delivered papers for the Daily Times and had a Sunday route for Otti delivering the Inquirer. I delivered to a lot of people in McCaffery and Buckman. I remember a Mrs. Dickerson she was very old, lived on Clover Ln. I don't know why I remember her just I guess it was alway that she use to put my money in an envelope in her mailbox and she always left a note in it to keep the change (.50) which was a pretty big tip for a kid delivering news papers. I had a lot of customers but I don't remember many of thier names, but Mrs. Dickerson I do she was always nice when she did come to the door to pay me, she had an old little black change purse and made sure she always gave me that tip.
Another buddy of mine that disappeared and no one heard from was Jack Bradley, him and his brother Mike lived with his grandmother on the corner house of Clover Ln across from where Goodsie's candy store was right next to the ally that divided McCafferty and Buckman. Any info on this one?
Tom, would love to hear from her, maybe she can use Rita's PC...anyway I know what she did but should not say, Rita can tell you.Peace out
Kate: I just sent Anna's sister Rita that question. Inquirering mind want to know. Anyway, I don't think Anna has a computer.
was me, forgot to sign my name ...Peace
thank you Harvey for putting the website on here for the country songs, and especially Bill Haley. It is a great site of the record lady. so many songs, its great. thanks again, Doris
TOM,I remember most of the names you mentioned b/c some of you guys hung out with my brothers but Mike Mortimer graduated with me from Rez and later married a good friend, Anna, ask Anna if she remembers the time her & I, Mike & Frank skipped school in our Jr. year, rode around & wound up in Beaver Vally, went down there to park and lo & behold a car pulls in behind us & it was a truant officer & Anna & I were in our uniforms & he wanted to know why we weren't in school...we lied but got found out by the school & Mom's & I spent detention days on off days with the nun's, Anna can tell you what she did.....Memories, in the corner of our mind's....Peace out..
Before someone else corrects me, I will correct myself. It was Mr. Phillips who married Miss Dimm at Dewey Mann. He was a shop teacher and she taught Home Ec. I don't know why I was thinking it was Mr.Pichuk. He was also a teacher at Dewey, wasn't he? I just remember that he was cute and we (Midge, Lynn, Sammie and Joan Miller) used to harrass him. He lived on Culhane St. for a while. I think he rented a room there or something. Oh well. To be that 14 again. No thanks.
pidpat..Mornin' Just wanted to thank you for bringing up "Orphan Annie". Now, I have a copy, too. I have a four year old grandaughter, Kiara Rae, who will love this. She lives about three hours away from me but we spend a lot of time on the phone. We call each other and I sing to her or read her a story. Last night, she called to ask me where babies came from. Next time we "talk" I will read her this poem. Thanks again and Thanks to Harvey.
Last sentence.... It meant up and away.
Mike: Probably knew my dad "Totta" he used to go in Rube's and McCloskey's all the time. He worked for the school district on the lunch trucks along with Billy Henderson who was quite a few years younger than he was. He used to do this hand thing when he waved goodbye. He would twist his hand under around and up. I ask him what it meant and he told me it was a jester that airmen in the service used. I meant up and away. He always used it to say goodbye.
To TOM:: Tom, You mentioned a lot of friends that I knew very well, growing up in BV, McC, & HG's. Frank Sbandi was a dear friend of mine, Mike Mortimer was one of my younger custermers when I worked at Rube's. Really nice guy. My brothers and I always spent Saturday afternoons in Rube's when Ray, Rube's step-brother worked. Then I had to work the night shift. Albert Sbandi was pretty young back then. He stopped to see me one year coming back from the Mardi Gras. I sure miss the old neighborhood & the people that lived there. John McGinn & I went all thru Rez & St. James together. I bumped into him about 6 years ago in Ft. Lauderdale, while I was visting Danny Hodgson & Dapper McLaughlin. By the way, Dapper died 2 weeks ago in Florida. Man your sure hit my memory buttons.. Thanks, Mike..
ATTENTION: CHS Class of 1947 CHS Class of 47...Final plans for 55 yr Reunion Dinner Dance are now complete and invitations are being mailed. it will be on Friday, June 7, 2002 at the Concordville Inn (Route 322& Route 1) Cost is $30 per person. Cash Bar 4:00-5:30 PM.. Dinner at 7 PM & Dancing until 9:00 PM. If you have moved in the last 5 years (and do not receive an invitation E-mail me or contact Carold Buonsante Hindsley - 60 Ruby Drive, Claymont,Delaware 17703.. Also check the CHS 47 Class Reunion section on this site.
Catbird that was the 6th guy not catman.
Floyd: I probably shot you pool at one of these places that you mentioned in some of your post. I worked at Sbandi's for about 2 years back in the 80's. I worked there with Marie, Jackie, Jack, John Cunningham, Ginger, Joe Corsey, Albert's father Frank was always nice to me used to call me Tommy Boy. I used to give him rides home once in awhile after he got done his shift. That was after he stopped driving. I shot pool in the Delco league and was always shooting even when I was working if it wasn't that crowded. I was the captain of quite a few pool teams, Sbandi's, John McGinns Highland Tavern, Bonner's, Castle Franci's, Hunt's Annex, LLoyd AC under the firehouse, Columba's, Spada's. I remember one time when I got done work at 2 in the morning 6 of us jumped in Albert's Datsun 280Z and went down to Atlantic City. If you know any of these guys just try to imagine what it looked like Mike Mortimer, Tom Corsey, Joe Corsey, Myself (6 ft), and one of the Rossi boys who work at Lou's Junk yard (Catman or something like that) all like 6 ft tall crammed into a 280Z hatch up legs dangling out the back we got pulled over twice and the cops just laughed thier butts off told us to pull our legs in and close the hatch, if they catch us again they would lock us up. So the rest of the ride there we are crammed in I thought I was going to die. And that was only the ride down. By the time we got there the casinos were closed, so we ended up taking a life boat down to the ocean and going swimming in our clothes. Then we ended up renting a (1) hotel room and slept on the floor until about 7 or 8. Of course we never made it into the casino, we smelled like the ocean and looked worse. The next week I noticed that my pay from the bar was short. When I questioned Albert he "Oh, that's the money you owe me for the room." I was pissed he split the room rate 6 ways and took my cut out of my pay. I don't know if he got any money off of the other guys or not, but I don't think he did.
Betty, sorry for my mistake, you were right "Little Orphan Annie" {lease forgive. Piditpat was wrong, wow a first.
MAN, I JUST READ YOUR LETTER ABOUT MILLERS BAR ON THE CORNER OF 9TH AND MORTON AND I REMEMBER THAT PLACE TOO.....USED TO GO IN THERE WITH MY GRANDMOTHER AND GREAT GRANDFATHER WHEN I WAS A KID...WE LIVED ON 9TH STREET IN THE 60S AND THAT PART OF CHESTER WAS A REALLY NICE PLAACE...WHAT MEMORIES...COOL STORY FLOYD
Tracking Delco's role in the Underground Railroad by Loretta Rodgers
http://www.delcohistory.org/articles/undergroundrr.htm
Hi Everyone - Much more to post but am getting so crunched for time now. To Beth A. Bucella Beal - any relation to Diane Bucella, Smedley 1965? Is S'Bandi's, on the corner, still there? Shot more than a few games of pool in that back room once :-) - knew Rube's across the street very well also - my last visit there was not long before it closed, but I was usually there later than 8 p.m. :-) And also in the bar located in the middle of the little shopping center right next door. Funny, cool, but goofy, story about both those places all on one night that I may share here sometime, from about 15 years ago. IF I get the nerve to tell it on a public forum and IF the statute of limitations on crashed Chester police car doors has expired. Thank GOD the little bar from Rube's Village Cafe was only two quick turns to the right from Rube's parking lot ;-). Hence my very narrow escape to there, as a fight went on in Rube's. Yes, I knew the area well :-) Jeez - WHEW! - moving on. Anyway, you mentioned your Mom's side of the family -McGinn - any relation to a John McGinn? He may have worked with my Dad once. And, while this was before my time, my family were also true Chester-ites and later I want to get something on here about Miller's Musical Bar where, my folks told me, Bill Haley started playing rock 'n roll music, interspersing it along with his C&W music, back in the late 40's and early 50's. Miller's Musical Bar was right on the corner of Morton Ave. and 9th St. I knew it slightly, as I was in there a couple of times, when I was just a tadpole of 13-14 years old, as a relative took me there once in awhile. He bought me Cokes while he had a beer. And yet Cleveland got the R&R museum - but Bill Haley started in Chester. Ergo - Rock 'n Roll started in Chester. Haley was playing this music from the beginning. Sorry, Cleveland. What we know today as "Rock 'n Roll" music started in Chester, courtesy of Mr. Bill Haley. Not to denigrate the great Chuck Berry, but Haley blended country and western music with other musical roots and perfomed them publicly for the first time - in Chester. I looked into the history of Haley and also "Lord" Jim Ferguson. My roots in Chester run VERY deep, you see. Anyone here remember Jimmy Lamb? He lived in the North End of the city. Former councilman, I believe. When I was covering Chester as a correspondent for the Daily Times, I interviewed him for some article or the other. A very nice, elderly gentleman who knew my Dad "way back when". Jimmy gave me a gift to give to my mother - a limited edition collector's plate (number 980 of 1,000 - just checked it) of the 1724 Chester Colonial Courthouse. I hung it on the wall for her and now, today, it hangs proudly on my wall. When I move, it will hang proudly on my wall again. It will be wrapped in a load of bubble wrap and it will be safe, as I have carried it with me from Terrill St. to White St. to Folsom and then to Media. And I will treasure it and carry it with me wherever I go.
I grew up in the West End. Rez c/o'82 & O'Hara c/o'86. Before getting my job in operations at Fidelity Bank, I worked at Rube's part-time from 4-8 and left about a year before they closed down, because I was hit by a car riding my bike to work. Rube's daughters Franny(nights) and Janice(mornings) worked there 'til the end. Now it is occupied by Enterprise Rent-a-Car. The neighbor on one side was Joe's junk yard and across the street was Vesuvio's and S'Bandi's Bar. The bartender from S'bandi's would get done work and take up a stool at my bar after loading the juke box with money & playing Patsy Cline over and over. Jimmy, that lived in the junk yard, would come in and growl at him until his selections of Magic Carpet Ride and Pretty Woman finally got thier turn. I left Meadow Ln in '95. Over the past year it has been very strange that while visiting my mom's side of the family(McGinn), I could stand on Harwick St. and see clear across to Buckmann Village since they leveled McCafferty Village. I drive down West 10th to see how things have changed and remember all the corner stores that were there. (Joe's which became a dentist office for his son, Sadie's which is now a church of some type, the sandwich shop at Booth St which I remember was run by Borsello that has changed so many times I can't keep up, Lesyk's which last time I checked was still there and I loved the penny candy, and Ben's in Trainer which was converted to living space). Now, I wouldn't even walk thru Highland Gardens like the days at Rez since I would be afraid of being caught in some crossfire or see something awful like the police officer that was gunned down in the street. I remember looking out our classroom window to see the progress of the Commodore Barry Bridge being built to replace the ferry which took us across river to many summer vacations in Atlantic City. My hubby says he is working on taking the city out of me, but I told him I spent too much time in Chester and South Philly so I keep bugging him about "street lights" for our driveway. He just laughs an says, "way out here?"- we are on a private road that is not even paved. I did marry a master electrician so I at least have a light to shine toward the pond in our yard and catch a glimpse of the cows across the creek! I told him that growing up I could walk the rocks of the creek between Chester and Trainer and sometimes trek up to Trainer rocks. At least I can see and hear I-95 so that helps! But I just have to remember being held up at gunpoint as I was moving my stuff out of Chester to make me happy that I am not there now. Gone are the days of having "little Ireland" between W. 10th and 12th with all my relatives close enough to lug around the Farmco Christmas kit to sell stuff for the school fundraiser and having "the Wren" arrive each year. Bye 4 now! P.S. Hi Debi Dugan, Betsy Walker Anderson, and Tom Lastowka -glad to see names I know.
Raymond Flyod Hurst was my grandfather through my dad James Flyod Hurst Sr. Raymond married Bonnie Ann Mitchelle Hurst & had 9 childern. Bonnie and kids all reside in Ok. Raymond had twin brothers named Army & Shorty ,abrother Garvin & Robert(bob), a sister.(unknown name). We believe that she is still alive & living in Ca. Garvin had lived in Ca. & Robert lived in Chacotau? ok. with his wife & kids. In the late 70's or the early 80's we lived in Ca. and at that time Stanley & Alice Hurst recieved a letter from a cusion on the Hurst side but lost contact. please E-mail me with any info. that you may have or write @303 Charlotte pl. Chelsea ok. 74016.
I love this site; I sincerely and deeply love this site and all the friends I have made here. I get some wonderful emails too from people who have visited here and I am so touched by so many of you. I can't say enough about Harvey - he's such a special person in so many ways. He's such a sentimentalist and so generous in what he shares with us.
It hurts me a lot when this site is scarred for any reason, and from the bottom of my heart, I want everyone to know that I love contributing my memories and what has been forgotten is always filled in by someone of you - always. What John Bullock has provided to us here is more precious to me than any material possession I have. As promised, I will no longer respond to any unhealthy remarks and will endeavor to make this cherished site as fun-loving and informative as I possibly can.
I don't think I have ever written anything that I mean more than what I just said. You have given me so much, and I want to return as much as I can.
2 Jim L:
Was that the same mr. Phillips that taught at Dewey? Maybe not, because I was still at Dewey in 54 and that Mr. Phillips was still teaching. I seem to remember his name being Phil Phillips. He married one of the other teachers.
I don't know if you realize how industrious that was for those times. Today we have the vehicle capability to haul total houses. I think I can remember parts of the house you built being moved by dump trucks. Not a flat bed. Then the framed walls being raised. You did not have the cranes to lift the walls off the trucks, the students did that as I recall. I stood there with my dad (I bumped school one day) and watched the first floor deck go down, then thetwo sides of the house. I think the carpenter apprentices came back the next day to raise the other two sides. Several days later my Dad and I came back and the roof joist was being set. How many of those houses did CHS build. If memory serves me well the money from the sale of the house was suppose to build another. On the rare occasions that I pass the house I remember the kids that built it and wonder if any went on to becoming builders or part of the construction trades.
Oh my gosh, my gosh, Harv - you did it again. Betty was right and I was wrong. It is called "The Little Orphan Annie" by James Whitcomb Riley. What wonderful fun reading that again. No wonder I loved it as a kid. It can be scary too for a little child to hear that poem. Oh, that was great. Harv - you priceless rascal, you. Somehow just saying "thanks" isn't enough. That is exactly the poem I have been looking for for over 50 years!! I copied it and will paste it in DOS.
(1) Thanks for the information about Albert DeSanctis. I'll look him up at reunion time.
(2) I sure hope that the few people that use this site to air differences don't spoil a "Good Thing" for the rest of us. I live in Arizona and only get back there to Chester every few years. This Chat Line is my Life Line to Chester. Let's all try hard to keep it going and and adding a little sunshine to someone elses life. There will be plenty of time for misery down the road. Don't rush it.
Thanks for responding "U W. I worked on one of those houses moving it to it's permanent location. I recall hoy cold it was. We spent more time keeping the ice iff the walkways than we did putting up the house. Tom Phillips was the shop instructo at that time Later
Obit for Pete Conway - January 14, 1903
http://thedeadballera.crosswinds.net/Obits/ConwayPetesObit.html
Orphan Annie - the poem
http://www.judyn.trest.com/OrphanAnnie.html
piditpat: you're right, it's Little Annie Rooney, sorry Betty you lose.
Bill Haley - Rock Around the Clock
http://judyoh_7.tripod.com/oldiesparty.html
Bill Haley - Candy Kisses
http://recordlady.webgcs.com/page4.htm
Hi Buck, I don't remember my oven blowing up when I lived on Pine Lane. It wouldn't surprise me, though. It was older that dirt. I do remember when I lived in Marcus Hook, I thought I was spraying oven cleaner into my oven and instead, it turned out I was using Spray Starch. I got a bucket full of hot water and my baby, who was Chuck came into the kitchen to see what I was crying about and he backed up and sat down and of course spilled my hot soapy water all over the kitchen floor. So then I had a baby to clean up, a floor to dry up and an oven that I had to scrape Spray starch off of. Happy Memories, Buck. Thanks for stirring up those memories. Give my love to Mary. Betty
Well Betty, are you saying they are two separate poems? That could be. I'm really curious. It's just one of things always in my mind, and I could never solve it. I got the impression that even though she came to the house to clean it, she also told scary stories. Maybe Florence can help, after her guests leave.
Harvey:
Thank you so much for the link to NP. My Mom was born in Sacksville and attended Sacksville school. My grandfather and other family members worked in the mill and lived in one of the mill houses. I think my Uncle Johnny worked there until the very last day. I believe both my great grandparents died in Sacksville in 1918 from the flu epidemic where hundreds died nationwide. My mother worked at the mill as a child of 15. There were overseers there.
Mom over the years made this wonderful lima bean soup which she called "Columbia" Soup she said it was named after the town. That Sacksville was once called Columbia. It may have been the mill town area called by who ever owned the mill. But finally a connection for the Columbia soup. I could not find the connection in research until now. There are still some people in my family that have vivid recollections of their time there. Now I am prompted to get their stories. Before they get lost thur death. I went there when they were demolishing the tower and got my Mom a brick.
spelling correction, "civilized", please forgive me.
pidipat...Right church, wrong pew. It goes, "Little Orphan Annie came to our house to stay to wash and dry the dishes and put them all away." I don't remember anymore..only the fact that I always wished that I had an "Orphan Annie". Have a great day.
It's about time all acted like mature adults, myself included & stop this back biting. After 68 yrs of being a proud Chesterite I find this site being abused and offensive. Pleast try to be cicilized adults & thank God you are alive & well. Just look at the abuse the USA is suffering by arrogant people and try to not emulate them. A Proud to Be From Chester & surrounding areas.
A hundred years ago when I lived in Chester, I learned a poem at school and all I can remember of it is: "Little Annie Rooney, came to our house to play, to wash all the dishes and brush the crumbs away . . .." then it ends with, "And the goblins will get you, if you don't watch out."
For many years, I have asked people, when I thought of it, if they knew that poem. One person said she had heard of it, but didn't remember it all either. Since I learned it back home, is anyone familiar with that poem?
J. Pius Barbour. Barbour, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Chester, Pennsylvania, from 1933 to 1974 and mentor to Martin Luther King, Jr., during the latter’s Crozer Seminary years
http://www.religion-online.org/cgi-bin/relsearchd.dll/showarticle?item_id=885
1925 Train Wreck in Marcus Hook...
http://hometown.aol.com/hermanssite/Wreck.html
Ed G.jr.and family: I am sorry to see that your father died. How fortunate that you had him with you for so many years. The wealth of history he must have given you. Chester has lost quite afew wonderful people these past few weeks. Some did not make the headlines , but this world has certainly been a better place because of them. My thoughts are with you and your entire family far and near.
Flo: I saw your post regarding Josephine and her recipe in the Chester times many years ago...in the same paper was the obit. of her neighbor directly across the street. Mr. Fedgchin. and by pure chance, I was passing through the old neighborhood where both lived (2nd & Booth) and within the last week or so the homes on the River side were torn down for development of the 95 alternative. That would have been Mr. Fedgchin's house along with others.
2 Jim Lock : Remembering the shop at CHS. I can remember when they made their first semi pre fab house and put it together over on 24th street on the triangle behind the new fast food place. Just before you turn the corner to go to Upland from Edgmont Ave. That school was far ahead of its time in those days. I did not go to CHS. moved after 8th grade graduation from Dewey but was impressed by the program that put that house together. Somewhat like Williamson Trade. But a public school...
To John, I think you need to shut the site down for a least a week and give everyone a time out.
, ,Hope you all are doing better today. I am worn out this time of day, getting ready for younger son and wife and two little girls,. My cat is all mixed up, she don't know where to hide. We bought her a gold fish and she is trying to get the net off. Harvey, do you know a place a friend of mine can go to hear western songs that Bill Haley sang.
So sorry to see Pity Pat still feels she has to attack me...I will be the better of the two & ignore her...Ignorance hates to be ignored.Last word on this is ...went back to previous months and she said the same thing about others, so that vindicates me. I will continue to visit this site so carry on "Old Chesterites".
There are photos of the Chester Opera House and the Boyd, Nickelodion, Stanley and State Theatres here. It is worthwhile downloading the viewer to see details of the photos when you use the small magnifying glass.
http://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/view_location.cfm?LocationInfo=NULL,13208,045,1,1
Kate So that you can stop voting for yourself, please find another Cat I'm sorry I meant Chat Room to exercise your freedom of speach.Trash talk and personal attacks certainly have their place. It just doesn't happen to the oldchester site. Pattie "How To Handle A Bully"= Ignore them
In memory of the police officers who gave there lives go to the web site God'S First Police Officer.
Gosh, I'm late getting on the board today and after reading some of the comments, I guess I'm required to respond.
Kate - you are filled with hate. I detest having to direct this message to one person in particular, but that is the sad case. From your first appearance on this board less than 2 months ago, one of your first comments was directed to me - that I should find another Chat Room. An incorrect assumption on your part; this is not now, nor has it ever been a CHAT ROOM. NOR, is it a debatting forum. That was the beginning of the first "controversy" on this board. I'd been posting writings here for quite a time before you joined in. I even said "Welcome Aboard" to you. As Paul has pointed out once again, this board is for reminiscing and sharing of the old times in Chester.
Now, you have instigated another one and have tried to twist it to where I am the culprit. You again wrongfully assumed that Pidipat was Not the person who posted the Cindy Adams writing, which you thoroughly enjoyed. Why did you have to bring my name at all into your post? You don't even know me, but from the very beginning, there was something in my writing that you detested. Doesn't bother me, but it certainly is eating away at you. You've got my email - send it to me directly instead of upsetting other people.
No, I do not know nor have I ever known Kate. I do however, know a few people from my childhood on this board and when one of them posts that we should pray for all the families of the 911 halocaust, she is sincere, and she shows her christianity and loving ways in a consistent manner on this board. She is never vulgar or cheap or downright nasty.
Many of the things I write are in jest!! I enjoy writing things to hopefully get a "chuckle" out of someone or two - never directed at any one person on this board. Good grief, I can't go through even one day with some laughter for my soul.
SO, if you consider yourself a long-time resident of Chester, let's hear some remembrances from you that can be enjoyed by all and add to the meaning of this board. And, this will be my very last response to any further hateful and hurtful comments about anything I post. It's a waste of good times, which I will continue to have, right here on this board. God willing.
Yesterday was a day of remembrance, and we asked everyone to pray for all, I don't know if any one did. Don't read what you don't want to. It is time to move forward. Their are so many families affected by this, family extends to quite few members. These people will never forget this, but they will eventually learn to live with it.Please pray that this doesn't happen again. All We Need is Love. Love is All We need. I have always tried to love all, but of course the world is not perfect. To me it was perfect when I was a child, when everything was quiet and clean and friendly
Well Said Bill! Now on with the purpose of this magnificent website! "oldchesterpa"
Moved out of Chester in '89 from the first ward. What is most depressing is seeing the boarded up homes where once were beautiful homes, rows, detached, and singles. I know the boarding is to prevent window breaking and entry but it still is an eyesore. One "plus" is the "memory" of the earlier days when there were no eyesores and so much crime. But we all need to remember that Chester isn't the only city that went down the drain. It happened & still happens everywhere. The best memories are when one didn't have to lock their doors or windows and could walk the streets late at night without being robbed, mugged, carjacked or hurt. We had it good there, good memories for most of us, but as I said they are only memories.
Keep up the good work John.
John, ignore the posters who go off the track. The ones who use this board for their own agendas.
I enjoy reading contributions about the "City of Chester".
To: "Whom It May Concern"
What is wrong with some of you people on this site? You are turning a place that is meant to share memories of time gone by of a wonderful city, into a place of controversy and hate. I'm sure John is not very pleased at some of the things going on here, and may be considering putting a freeze on the site for a cooling off period. Remember, you are not required to read the post of anyone on this site. Just scroll past them and go to the next one, and lets stop all this bickering back and forth. It does not accomplish anything of interest to anyone but yourselves. It makes me wonder, if you knew one another back when, and are just sprewing the hate you had a long time ago. Grow up and quit acting like children, and allow other people to just enjoy this site.
P.S. If you care to attack me now, be my guest. But I will not respond and add to this mess.
Bill
Delaware County Heros
http://www.delcoheroes.org/heroes/index.html
History of Nether Providence by J. Mervyn Harris
http://www.delcohistory.org/nphs/index.htm
time for chill pills. make LOVE not war!!!
It's obvious the 2 posts by unknown on 3/12 at 8:39:03 & 9:12:12 AM are by the same person. Is that Arizona time? or East coast time?
Games kids must play. Have a nice day!
Kate,
Stay with the "site", You have every right, You are a delight! Keep posting every night.
It seems, one must live her dreams, Those dreams which must fester, This site is here, not for dreams It's here for Old Chester.
Don't let pushy people intimidate So stay on the boards, we love you Sweet Kate!
You are refreshing!
I said "Shimmy Like My Sitr Kate!"
Kate Find a new sitr and let us live our dreams
I HAVE BEEN READING SOME OF THE COMMENTS ON THIS SITE, AND IT HAS BECOME VERY CLEAR TO ME THAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO LIGHTEN UP, THIS SITE WAS SET UP TO DISCUSS CHESTER, NOT PERSONALITIES! IF YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT HAS BEEN WRITTEN, THEN SCROLL PAST THE COMMENTS. THE WORLD HAS SO MUCH HATRED, I DON'T LIKE READING IT HERE. MOST OF US ARE ADULTS AND IT SURPRISES ME THAT SOME ARE ACTING LIKE CHILDREN. HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY, THANK GOD THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO LIVE IN A COUNTRY THAT HAS FREEDOMS ( YES, EVEN FREEDOM OF SPEECH)
Yesterday morning Tom called for us to pray and reflect on those who were lost on 9/11. Later someone else called for diversity. What we ended up with was divisiveness. Let's try to do a little better today. Thanks!
Pity Pat, Do not quote an old Irish saying when you don't mean it & are being sarcastic...and just who are your people from back home, thought everyone had left good old Chester.....And I am not embarresed, no matter what you think...I can stand my own...Kathleen
on your side Kate
Atta Girl Kate!
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN???????
I am nobody's fool & don't know who Bobby Darling is!! You are still arrogant & deceptive & I spent more years in Chester than you did...You left befor things got started and all you know is what you read in the old papers ...you did not actually live a life in CHESTER...you sit in Arizona and think you are an expert about the City some could not wait to escape....you were here when it was not that bad, what if you would have stayed and seen the change, maybe then you would have some compassion for people who are still there..... You no what I DON"T LIKE YOUR ATTITUDE so from McV to BV GO YOU KNOW WHERe!!!!
Hey pat are you now signing on as Kate?
Thanks, & goodnight....
Well now, let's see. That is not the first time I posted something on this board anonymously. One time I was "Ghost Writer", another time I was "Moonrider" and later identified myself as such. Had I identified myself with my latest anonymous post, you apparently would not have said how much you enjoyed it. Incidently, I wasn't looking for credit, I was sharing something with my people from back home. Intelligence alone would have told you it was written by Cindy Adams - who cares who posted it? You would merely say, "no one else on this board to read, except Pidipat" (reminds me of the song, "I'll be Glad When You're Dead, You Rascal you"). I post what I feel is of interest to this board. This is not a money-making proposition for me. It is something I enjoy sharing with people from my home town, including those who criticize. I am wondering if Kate isn't somehow related to Bobby Darling? Are you Kate, darlin'?
Pity Pat would not have said a word about being the one who posted that great Cindy Adams article if it hadn't been for Kate's total distain for me (which I find interesting) and bringing up my name. Now, remember, everyone, I did not stir up controversy, I merely posted something very nice, and then ATTACKED because I said I did it. Kate's embarrassed because she looked like a fool when she found out anonymous was me. Ah, Kate, may the road rise to meet you; may the wind be always at your back; may the sun shine warm upon your face; may the rains fall soft upon your fields, and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.
Way to go, Kate!
Albert DeSanctis lives in Brookhaven. He is a frequent customer of the Tom Jones Restaurant in Brookhaven. Saw him recently in K-Marts also in Brookhaven.
I would like to know if anyone has any information about Albert DeSanctis. I would also like to hear from or about any other Slug that was in our Vocational (Building Maint) class that graduated in 1952. Let's hear from you. PS . I'll be there for the reunion in Oct.
I am glad to see other's see Pity-pat for what she is!!!
Pity Pat, Makes one wonder if you like to stir up controversy on this site by condemning unknown writers & then posting as one.
Wouldn't be a bit surpised if you post then answer your own posts.
Games are for kids, not mature adults. Guess you're still back in Buckman Village.
From one 100% Irish woman to another Irish person, he who laughs last laughs loudest, so don't be so smug , you were told off well by the Quilter so you are not the favorite person on here for a lot of us, so even though some items might be good you should not refer to others as a joke.....you are rude & arrogant and that is not a good place to be...just because you are old does not give you the right to laugh at anyone.... we all answer to our own maker in the end....Kathleen
Your comments justify what I think about this web-site, you like to play.. & you don't play fair...
well, well, Pat, are you saying you post items on here under noname????At least I post my name, are you being sneakie???????
TO KATE: The jokes on you, Kate, because Pidipat is the one who posted the Cindy Adams writing. I felt what she wrote about blended right in here - so awfully glad you enjoyed it.
Betty Marth Isee that you had to get dinner out of the oven.Do you remember the time your oven blow up on Pine St.?
pidipat..Hi again. I live in Washington state...where your big red apples grow. We used to live in Bellevue which is 20 miles East of Seattle but the rain started to bother my husband so we retired over here where we have four seasons. Bellevue has one. But it is so beautiful living in the Seattle area that we put up with it. I would pay to watch the DBacks because you guys got our Randy Johnson. He's welcome back on our field any day he wants unlike Ken Griffey, Jr. who is a whiny pain in the hiney. We started coming down to Phoenix quite a few years ago and we have always had to pay to get into the games......they won't even allow you to bring in your own food or drink but we still go. Seattle fans really back the Mariners and when you go down to Pheonix, you always run into people you know at the games. I used to like basketball. We used to follow the Ukranian's and the Ukranian, Jrs basketball team. Mike Pichuk (Spelling) was a doll and he was one of the players. He was a teacher at Dewey Mann when I went there. He married Miss Dimm. I would love to go to the Sonics games here but the tickets are out of my price range. Same with the Pro Football. Give me baseball any old time. I must say, we do most of our game watching on TV these days.We go through withdrawal when the season is over. It is sick, I tell you. You would love the California-Oregon area. It is so beautiful. The ocean beaches are something like you would never see on the East Coast. They take your breath away. Have to go get dinner out of the oven before it isn't fit to eat. Take care. Have a great day. Betty
Whoever you are that's not such a bad idea
No it doesn't make you a bad person, but it does say what a lot of us don't know how to say......KUDOO"S
NO NAME, Was that a piece by Cindy AdaMS? iT WAS GREAT READING.....gLAD YOU ARE ON HERE, IF YOU WEREN'T ALL we would have to read is Pidipat...diversion is great, don't ya think, Pat???????
To the Unknown Poster who posted on 3/11/002 6:41:37PM
KUDOS and AMEN
That's one of the best and funniest post I've read.
LOL LOL
Betty Marth - PS - I forgot to answer your questions about sports. I do not now, nor did I ever care for sports. I know all the guys in the BV crowd from our day are dyed-in-the-wood sports fans, but I was into music, never sports - still the same today. I was routing for the D-Backs though and always will - I found the series to be a lot of fun. If and when you get to Phoenix, though, you must visit the ballpark (BOB - Bank One Ballpark) where the series was played. It truly is magnificant and just takes you breath away when you are at the very top. The ceiling opens and closes - like the "parting of the waters". Imagine what the air-conditioning bill is like in the summer here - and yes, they have games during the summer. Just the other day, someone mentioned they had "tickets" for spring training!! That was news to me - even making money off of spring training. As I've told many people, show me a basketball game with midgets, and I'd be more than interested.
Thanks for helping connect Bernie and our other friend. I would like to be a fly on the wall during their luncheon, wouldn't you? I know they'll have fun.
OH, FOR COLD WINTERS AND PLAIN HOT COFFEE ~
Cindy Adams - The New York Post - March 3, 2002
I HAVE a friend. This, I realize, is a surprise to people. But, continuing on, I have this friend who says:
"I'm not going out today. I can't figure what to wear."
What happened to our four seasons? To winter weather?
It's in the 40s, and New Yorkers are sashaying out in throws, shawls, boas, sweaters, vests, jackets, leather. The temperature's zapped furriers, boot makers, hat sellers, coat buyers, glove manufacturers, outerwear designers, boiler fixers, oilmen, coal men, Florida travel agents and how about cloakroom attendants.
I don't want change. I don't want global warming. I don't want different. I want gentlemen to open heavy doors for me and salesladies to sell lovely coats to me. On sale, of course.
I want things as they were. I want Michael Jackson to be black again, Roseanne to be frumpy again, Geraldo to be Jewish again, Katie to be brunette again, Elizabeth to be young again, Rudy to be with Donna again, the Daily News to be relevant again, Sharpton to be fat again, Sally Struthers to be thin again, Russell Crowe to be grateful again, Christopher Reeve to be whole again.
I want burgers with a side of fries off the endangered list, and movies with naked sex scenes on the endangered list.
I want back to the work ethic. Big stars making millions of billions snivel they want time off. When I was growing up, "time off" meant unemployment or retirement.
I want old-style Chinese food, not this Szechuan-lite junk. I'm talking egg rolls so heavy they'd sink a ship, spare ribs that left you clotted with barbecue sauce. And no sun-dried tomatoes. What the hell is that? All my life I had tomatoes. Now restaurants hustle sun-dried tomatoes. So how else would they dry? On an ironing board? In a washing machine's drying cycle? Another thing. What's buffalo mozzarella? Buffaloes make mozzarella? Who knew they had buffaloes in Naples. Ask the guys on "The Sopranos." They'll tell you mozzarella is mozzarella. The buffaloes can go stuff it.
Another thing. A mushroom is a mushroom is a mushroom. Or used to be. Now they're European royalty. They have titles. This is a porcini mushroom. This is a shiitaki.
Yeah? No shiitaki.
Everything's changing. Where are my Mallomars and animal crackers? OK, potpies and mashed potatoes are back, but what happened to my Dixie cups? What's with pancake makeup? Where is Noxzema when you need it?
We just reprised Carol Burnett on TV. We're showing Jackie Gleason's "Honeymooners" now. But remember........... dum-de-dum-dum... just-the-facts,-ma'am "Dragnet," starring somebody named Jack something? Today it's Monica Lewinsky telling her side and Jeffrey Skilling telling his side and Gary Condit.....................telling nothing.
Teeth. You want them bonded, veneered, laminated, capped, implanted, bridged, whitened or pulled? Just fix my teeth, OK? Coffee. You want it cappuccino, frappuccino, latteccino, mochaccino, skim milk, whole milk, boiled milk, steamed milk, Carnation milk, powdered milk, fake milk, half-and-half milk, lactose-intolerant milk, no milk, lots of milk; with cinnamon stick, without cinnamon stick, with two cinnamon sticks. Look, I don't need to graduate MIT for a cuppa cawfy, OK?
Take the uneducated bagel. What could be simpler than a bagel, right? Wrong. You want it should be regular, whole wheat, pumpernickel or marbled? You want seeded? Which seeded? Black seeds or poppy seeds? Some got onions. You want with onions? Some got raisins. You want with raisins? Sweet, not sweet? Mini or big size? Toasted or with a shmear? Aaahh, you want with a shmear? What kinda shmear? We got plain cream cheese, scallion cream cheese, lox-flavored cream cheese, vegetable cream cheese . . .
I want winter to be cold. I want cobblers not to be so expensive that it's cheaper to throw out your used shoes. I want the corner candy store back.I want the neighborhood grocer to say, "Good morning."
I want singerswith names I recognize like Irving, Sam, Max, Estelle, Sylvia, Irene, not Wu Tang Clan, U2, Five Inch Nails or however long those nails are. I want clothes that cover the navel. I mean, what's next? All-over cover-up long-sleeved turtlenecks with just the crotch and armpits cut out? Your only choice being waxed or unwaxed?
I want everything back the way I always remembered it. Letterman on NBC, that Van Susteren broad with her old face. And winter. Cold. Brrrr. Thick cuddly coats.
This doesn't make me a bad person, right?
Hi out there.Does anyone remember Minshall Brother's Funeral Home at 3rd and Yarnall Street's? Smiths Candy store( next to the Brothers.Dewey Mann School across the street(same side). Maugers Drug store across the Street, oh how good the ice cream was.I could go on and on about the West End where I was born. Lots of good people from that part of town. I love this web site. I also went dancing with a nice guy named Paul Heffelfinger. Hope to hear from you
Talk about timing. Check today's Delco Times site. Ed Gebhart's article on the editorial pg deals with the 4 Aces. More Chester nostalgia.
Hi Betty Marth - I just cleaned the outside of my computer, glass and all, and like when you get your car washed, it seems to work better!!! So, I decided to check out the board now that things were cleaner.
Betty, this has been the coldest winter I can remember (been here since '55) in terms of length of time, I mean. Last year, we had two weeks of winter and that was it. It's already March and although today is gorgeous, 82 deg. I think, by the end of the week cooler weather is again expected, which is what I prefer. I absolutely hate the heat during our long 6-month period.
Your friend Birkhofer may be the person who emailed me about our local Taste of Philadelphia. She took her daughter there and the place had closed. I felt so badly, but I had no idea it had closed.
Phoenix has it fine points though; engagements, etc. rarely are cancelled because of the weather, and it is nice to see the sun all the time, but we really relish it when it rains - oh, we love it - everyone goes outside and just looks - it's a real treat for us.
Thanks for replying so quickly - and is it eastern WA state or DC where you live? I've had an offer to join a cousin who has a B&B inn on the California/Oregon line - she just added a Swiss Chalet. I would love to live there, but so many roots are here for me now. Hell, if I died up there, wouldn't anyone show up for the funeral - my last and probably best performance.
pidipat....Hi Pat, Great to hear from you. It's a little warm in Phoenix, isn't it??? We saw that it was 85 there yesterday. My husband, Marty drools when he hears of weather like that. Where do you live in Phoenix? Our daughter owned a home in Chandler, then Douglas, and then moved to Mesa. She still owns the home in Mesa but moved up to the Seattle area to get married and lives in Bellevue, Wa. We love the Phoenix area but it was too hot for me to retire there so we moved to Eastern Wa. It was a good choice for us but Marty would have sold his soul to move to Arizona. It's just that he also like to be married. Choices, choices. He was recently in Phoenix. He visited Bill and Mary Birkofer who were in Chandler visiting their daughter, Jane. We were sure we were going to be able to go to Spring Training there for the month of March but I was too homesick after spending two months in Newark, De. for my Mother's surgery and I needed to get home to spend time with all my babies. We love the Mariner team and will definitely get down there next Spring. Do you go to any of the Spring Training games? I know you must be a Phillie rooter but so am I as long as they aren't playing Seattle. The friend of Bernie's that you were talking about EMailed me. I was so glad we could rejoin those two. Bernie is a wonderful person and he values old friendships. Take care. Betty
After waking up this morning I put on tv to see and listen about the 6 month anniversary of what happened to us. I observed the moment of silence at 8:46 and prayed for everyone then watched and listened then again another moment of silence when the 2 plane crashed our other tower then I put CNN on for awhile. Listened to Rudy, the new mayor then our President. What hurt me the most is the victims family members that they talked too. I started feeling real sad inside again about the whole thing so I had to turn off the tv. It's still hard to believe that that shit happened to our country. People really should take the time to pray for Peace! I just needed to get that out!
Florence hello, I know I don't know you but I just read your comment today about praying for all the people we lost and their families because of the senseless tragedy that occured to our country on 9-11. Well I prayed also this morning for God to comfort the many many people who are probaly still hurting alot. This morning on the Today show , the country singer Alan Jackson performed for all of us the beautiful song he wrote about 9-11. The song is so touching and beautiful about everday people just trying to live and then that. Listening to the song made me cry. It's called "Where were you, when the world stopped turning".
Hi Roy: 25 years congrats. Lin being as nieve as she is probably believed I had an auntie Em, too. I was in your neighborhood a couple of weeks ago. Just did a drive thru looking at ranchers. I will be getting married again soon, probably Aug. after 16 years of divorce I'm ready to settle down again laugh at that one go ahead Jack will be my best man again. Hey I just thought of something her name is Linda, too and she's pretty nieve wonder if it runs in the name.LOL
I find this a great service to those of us who grew up and shopped in the old chester. Kep up the good work
Mike, Yes that's my dad. If you remember any stories he might have told I would certainly be interested. You could e-mail me direct. Also, what was the bartender's name who was the same age as my dad?
Tom This a day I know I will never forget. Pray for all the victims and pray for all the families who lost their loved ones,pray for all extended family members. This will be with them forever. Now above all pray for the men and women of our service's who are over there trying to make sure thios never happens again. Pray for their families who have lost their loved ones. Pray for all the children who have lost a parent or parents, or who have been maimed. Their are so many extensions to a family and their are so many people hurting. Pray for peace. And pray that they get that murderer before he hurts again. I know that this will be with the families forever, but pray that time will help a little.
GOD BLESS AMERICA
I say on this day of rememberance of 9/11 we reflect and pray for those lost to this monster of a human being. I urge all of us to email everyone we know to form a massive celebration of prayer and demonstration in the streets when they catch or kill this coward osama. Pass this message to everyone you know by word of mouth or email lets make this an event to let the terrorist know we will not forgive or forget. When the day happens that this murderer is captured or killed celebrate in the Streets.
Four Aces I went to school,Eddystone High Woodshop ,Lou Silvestri was a seniorthat would have been about 1942 Frank his brother was in my class.Where did all those years go?
Roy: I remember a Duke who was a regular in Rube's. A very dapper dresser & used to smoke cigarettes with a cigarette holder if my memory serves me right. Spoke with a soft southern drawl..Is that your dad. I think he lived around W. 11th st. regards, Mike..
To Mike Mangan, Read your comments from march 3rd about Rube's and I was wondering if you remember my Father "Duke" Palmer. He was a regular at Rube's from 1955 to 1975.
I was wondering if anyone remembers my sweet beautiful Grandmom Ruthie Ashworth? She was a waitress at the RanchWagon restaurant and she worked at the Voyager Restaurant for a real long time?
Yo, Tom & Jack, found me out, pretty easy as long as we've known each other. Tom, Lin believed the story about your uncle but I was a little skeptical. Took 30 years to call you on it. Jack, Lin and I will be celebrating our 25th anniversary in May and I was hoping to get some addresses or phone numbers from you. I got your number from the phone book so I'll give you a call in a couple days. Later for now.
Hi PidiPat! thanks for responding. that day I put the post on was the first time my dad ever heard about the chester site. He had just stopped over to visit and I just couldn't resist letting him scroll down and read allthe comments. I just knew he would defintely go down memory lane BIG TIME! Because everthing I read that's posted all the places people comment about I've heard my mom and dad and aunts and uncles talk about all my life. I wish my dad were here right now cos he could answer your questions better than I about where exactly is the 5th ward. All I know is that he told me his family grew up on North Street and I think they lived on 4th and Concord. He has a big family and his brother Joe Lewis drove me by there a couple of times , and I still wouldn't know how to get there. I think though PidiPat that maybe their must of been another Jack Lewis cos my dad married my mom and she was from Sun Village and her name was Arlene Ashworth. They moved to Garden City when I was a Baby til I was 1 and then we moved to the West End to Peoples Street over the bridge from Highland Gardens. My dad had 9 brothers and sisters!
Pittipat: That show is celebrating "40 Years of R/B". It's at Heinz Hall in Pittsburg. Dianne Warwick & Jerry Butler are hosting it right now. I'm watching. All the old great one's.. Now playing "My Girl".. Mike...
TO: Pittipat: Pat, We are having the same telethon here in Chalotte, NC and it's been great. It started last week here. regards, Mike..
Hi Pidipat. What's up? I was just thinking last night that when we were younger, we did not only know the people in our block, but we also knew people from around the other blocks.Everyone knew each other. Where I live I didn't know the lady who lived 2 blocks from us till I went to work and she also got a job at the same time.It's living in the wilderness, only it isn't.
Hi - have to make this brief for tonight - the misspelling was my fault - there are two "d's" in gooddoc - I was an EMT-medic about 20 years ago, hence the name. Sometimes I post when I am quite tired and typos can slip in. Sure, look forward to hearing via email from anyone. Also to Dottie - are you my cousin? Was your mother's name Dot also? To Mike in Key West - sure, I remember you from Terrill St. - great to hear from you again! - how are you doing and how are Pat and Jimmy DiCave doing today? Every time I check in here there is more response - and once again I thank John for creating this marvelous website. Best to everyone till I can post again :-)
To those interested in the music of the 40's & 5o's, each of the last 2 yrs I've seen and listened to the Glenn Miller Band and the 4 Aces. They are on the same card at The 3 Little Bakers Dinner Theater in Pike Creek, Delaware. Only the leader of the band actually played with the original band and 1 of the Aces came to the group later. I believe it was after Al Alberts went solo. The show will be back in August. It's a great evening with music and performances like we don't get to experience any more. We have our tickets and are looking forward to it again.
Floyd I tried to e-mail but it said the address was not valid. goodoc02. Please post and let us know if that is right
Hi Betty Ratliff Marth - I am the one who posted the Playmate thing, just forgot to identify myself. My real name is Pat McFadden (maiden) and I lived in BV and knew the Marths well. Thanks for the second verse; I had forgotten it - and that one makes more sense. She probably did have a rainspout and cellar door, but didn't wanna use them - so pretended her dollie was sick (he-he). I knew Bobby and Bernie but not the Marth you married (I remember an earlier post by you saying, I believe, that you married the youngest Marth brother?) But Bobby and Bernie were an integral part of the boys who ran together in Buckman Village during the late 40's and early 50's. I understand Bernie just recently lost his wife and Bobby has passed on. I told a good friend of mine (through email and one of the guys in that group) about Bernie. He called him and they are having lunch together soon. He is really looking forward to "reminiscing" with Bernie, as we do everyday on this board. Once again, I say, by creating this website, John has provided a place where "miracles" happen. Never, ever, has anything like this taken place in this old world, that I know of, anyway. No more wondering about what happened to so-and-so. As I said once before, no one in Chester was ever "missing" - someone always knew where you were - same thing applies here on this board today. Ain't life grand?
Here in Phoenix, our public broadcasting system is having one of their "drives" for money and I just watched and listened to "Little Anthony and the Imperials" do "Take Me Back" - what a fantastic rendition - and Anthony gets on his knees at the end with a tear in his voice and pleading to be taken back. It's great. About 5 months or so ago, I heard that on the radio, called the disc jockey, found out who it was and ordered it on Amazon.com. Never realized what a great talent "Little Anthony" was. I hope he made a fortune from that one tune alone.
Well, the beginning of another week - looking forward to it and hope it finds everyone here in good health and good spirits, and maybe locate a "lost" (but not "missing") old friend.
hello my name is dottie shepherd-skonecki.i grew up in chester both east and west.i went to st micheals for elementary.and later went to wm.penn and pulaski.my sister is faith and my brothers are bobby&billy.
To RP: Or should I say Booth Street RP I had many a kids believing that Ray was my uncle and was going to dance his way through the village. Until they realized that his name was spelled different in which case I just told them that it was easier to pronounce spelled that way.
Dear "No Name" 3/9 There was a second verse to "Playmate". It goes: Playmate, I cannot play with you. My Dolly has the flu. Boo Hoo Boo Hoo Boo Hoo. Ain't got no Rain Spout. Ain't got no cellar door. But we'll be jolly friends for ever more. So see, even if you don't have a rain spout or cellar door you can still play. Just watch out for the splinters. Have a great day and Best Wishes from Washington State.
DOT MY DAUGHTER LISA HAD TRIPLETTS AND THEY ALMOST 10 YRS OLD.JACK IS A NICKNAME FOR JOHN. YES MY WIFES BROTHERS NAME WAS JOHN.
Hi everyone, I enjoy reading the comments on here, I guess because I can relate to so many of them, as Florence knows. I have a request, if anyone knows a site where I can hear Bill Haley songs from when he was country, I would appreciate it. have a great Sunday.
JACK MILLS CHS55 DO YOU HAVE TRIPLET GIRLS FOR GRANDDAUGHTERS? DID YOUR HAVE A BROTHER NAMED JOHN? I MIGHT BE YOUR WIFE'S SISTER IN LAW.
To: Michael Patrick regarding Sun Ship. At the top of this site's home page, click on SEARCH and enter Sun Shipbuilding. Check each item for the info you need.
In today's time's, Ed Gebhart has an article about the Four Aces,The origional Four Aces were not even a siging group.They were a bunch of skater's from Linwood, who had jacket's made saying the Four Aces on back. They probably wanted to impress the girls at the Great Leopard Skating rink.Ask Silvestri, he was an origional, in more ways than one. Some years later Silvestri thought that would be a nifty name for the musical group they were starting.They debuting in 1951,played their last job in 1989.They recently were inducted into the vocal group hall of fame.
Does anyone remember the singing group called "The Four Aces singing in Chester Park in June 1952? The Chester Times said that there were 20,000 people were there. The Mayor was there too. It was a big event.
painter, is that you, roy! jack
cement mixer is on the same site & page as mairzy doats.
Jack:
It was Patty, not Karen I was thinking of. Your right, Lantana and Lake Worth are close to where I was. Lived in Lake Worth for a while. I Don't miss Florida at all.
RC - "Cement Mixer" was done by "Slim and Slam" - Slim Gaillard (spelling may be wrong)and Slam Stewart. Slim went on to do bigger and even better (and exciting). "A Tisket a Tasket" is the song sung by Ella Fitzgerald at a talent contest in New York (when she was a very young girl) which she won, hands down. That's the tune that began her "stairway to stardom." Another GREAT of our time.
I think the silliest song ever written was "When I Fall in Love." Just kidding, just kidding - stop with the rotten tomatoes already.
I can't resist...598 Burma Shaves.
http://www.thoughtforyourday.com/BSsigns.htm
Dear Deaf One - no offense intended, but I almost wrote in my post about coal bins, when I said who would want to do that, I almost said "except boys, of course." So, you confirmed my thought (he-he). I just hope you didn't do that when dressed in your Sunday best right after church. You males are so different from we females in so many ways - and "viva la difference". Thanks for that. Of course, grandmas are different that mommas; grandma probably laughed at all the soot on you, while momma would have been very upset. Ain't life interesting?
Speaking of silly ditties---do you remember "Cement Mixer, putty putty" or "A tisket a tasket I had yellow basket"?
Just got done reading about coal bins and chutes. Wow, what memories those days were, loved to visit my grandparents and hoping my parents would visit on the days they deliver!! it was a lot of fun watching them setting up the chutes to roll those coals down to the cellar, after it's all done it became really spooky down there with all that coal dust and of course getting all sooty at the same time. I loved playing on the "storm cellar" doors which were made of steel or tin and used it as a sliding board.
Interesting thing about the rowhouses back then is it seems kinda funny when you think about it the outside looks so small but when you walk in it's big inside the house!!! I can never forget my grandparents house that bathroom had such high ceiling with a sun roof with a chain to open it. I guess they were ahead of our time....LOL but,the garage in the back yard that almost resembled an alley and a great place to play because of no traffic going thru there I doubt that many of us had cars back then when stores, shops and bars were nearby.
Harvey,
Thank you so much. I should know better than to challenge you to anything. Don't know how you do it but you sure make my day finding these ole songs. I just recently got rid of my old 45's and regreted it. But after going to the sites you post, I still can listen to them.
After listening to Mairzy Doats, I found My Old Flame by Spike Jones. It is hilarious.
Thanks again.
FYI: Ed Gebhard's Editorial about PMC and the movie We were Soldiers is on the Delco News Site tonight
Mairzy Doats
Click novelty - then page 4
Tom, is it true your uncle was the cowardly lion in the Wizard of Oz? Always heard so much bullsh.. in the project I could hardly believe any of it. I'll reveal my name after I have a little fun with you & Jack.
Little Sir Echo, how do you do, helloooooooooooooooooooo, hellooooooooooooooo. First song I ever sang. Speaking of that last night before I crawled into my trundle bed, I decided to play Jan Peerce's CD with Bluebird of Happiness on it. It is played at the beginning and also the end. So, while laying there I listened to it all, including the ever-popular "Macushla" (that seemed to go on forever, and not understanding a word of it, I almost got up for a drink - of milk, of course). Then, Bluebird finally came on again. When he got to, "So be like I hold your head up high . . . ", the CD got stuck on "be"; so it was bebebebebebebebebeb - even the cat bolted. So, I'll wait another time to listen to it. Needless to say, even though you don't understand the language in which Mr. Peerce is singing, it's still wonderful to listen to.
Florence - how about Soupy Sales - did your children watch that very funny show. If the kids weren't watching, my son and I were - just loved Soupy and that big claw that would come out and a pie in the face when he least expected it.
Because Harvey posted one time that he "needed some Sea Breeze for his acne" and I suggested that it sounded like a good name for a song, through emails, Harvey and I composed lyrics for a gross song - sung to "When it's Roundup Time in Texas" (Harvey's idea). Harvey says it's ok if I want to post "our song", but I'll leave it up to you - would you like to hear (see I mean) "I need Sea Breeze for my Acne"?
JACK, saw where you said the GEETER Jerry Blavett will be at Caman's...if I was back up that way I would go hear the fab music I am sure he is still playing...K.
I used ti sing Mairsy Doats and Doesy doats,all the time to my baby's. They loved it.I used to sing Kiss Me Once to them, also.There are so many songs and so many remembrances. Perry Como with More Than You Know.How about Shrimp Boats are Coming.What was the name of that show long ago, I know now. The Hit Parade.The cartoon's my kids watched, Speed Racer, Ultra Man,. When we were first married, New Years Evebegan when Our Honey and Dadcame home from 2nd shift with a 1lb. ham, a small rye bread and a pickle. My kids thought that was great, now after all these years it's like going to a buffet. Better to much than never enough
Harvey, Enjoy your links to the music of the good ole days.
Here's a challenge for you. I know you can do it. I just like to hear this one.
Mairsy Doats!!
Mares eat oats and Doe's (deer) eat oats and little lambs eat ivy, kids will eat ivy too, wouldn't you?
(I think it repeats) then,
Does the words sound clear or funny to your ear, a little bit jumbled and jivey
Sing Mares eat oats and Does eat oats and little lambs eat ivy.
My grandmother used to make what she called rusk. It was a sweetbread. After she kneaded the dough she would cover it with a cloth and let it sit overnight next to the register in the living room floor. Next day she would bake it and put a butter icing on top. Good stuff!
Needless to say we had a coal stove. Our house was crowded so I was alloted a cot in the living room. I remember several times someone coming in the front door and saying, "Don't you smell that coal gas?" Oh, well, I'm still here.
I remember Playmate, Little Sir Echo, Little Man You've Had a Busy Day, and Barnacle Bill the Sailor.
Pidipat, I can also remember that. What a pain in the neck it was, shaking down the heater grill, catching the ashes, putting more coal in. What didi they call that? Stoking. How hot that grate in the floor got, but oh how warm it felt. When I was a bout 5, I burn't my knee on one of them, I can still see the scar. I was chilly a few minutes ago, all I had to do was walk over to the thermastat and push it.Easy! Think about splinter's that we could have gotten from that door.
Oops - forgot to identify myself on the last post re the coal, etc. Some of you probably already figured it was wordy me.
Someone posted here about the coal bins. I'll never forget them. The days the coal was delivered were days I'd go somewhere else. And the noise it made. I think that's the main reason my mother remarried so there was a man in the house to "fire up the furnace". The house was always freezing in the morning, but before you even had coffee, it was down to the basement to shovel in the coal. And the ashes that had to be hauled away, and the grime. I can still smell the heat from the furnace when it started, and oh, that heat felt so good. We don't appreciate how lucky we are today with central heating and electricity. Utility bills are high, but consider the alternative.
There used to be a song called, "Playmate". It went something like this. "Playmate, come out and play with me; and bring your dollies three, climb up my apple tree; climb down my rainspout, slide down my cellar door, and we'll be jolly friends for everymore." That one line: "slide down my cellar door" never made any sense to me, or even the rainspout. The cellar door was grimy with coal residue - who would want to do that? And how about that rainspout? How could you climb down a rainspout? Maybe we never had one, don't know - but I didn't go looking for it either. So, first you climb down the rainspout and get soaked, then you slid down the cellar door. Can't you just picture the look on your mother's face when she saw you? Oh well, just wondering.
Cellars, however, were a vital part of any house. Teen birthday parties were held there with music and dancing (and "post office" - remember that). Halloween parties were the most fun in the basement - bobbing for apples floating in a big tin tub. As long as we steered away from the furnace, our clothing never got soiled. We didn't have much in the 30's and 40's, but we had huge imaginations and that's one of the reasons the memories of our generation are so delightful.
FLO My Aunt Alice loved that song & at her grave side she requested that it be sung and it was! Her maiden name was McElwee, married name Dzedzy.
50 Years ago today:Josephine L.Dyshewa of 3030 W. 2nd.st.,Chester, offered her favorite recipe for chocolate sundae pie to readers of the Chester Times.Josephine is employed at Bomberger's Pharmacy, 3rd and Highland, Chester,Pa.
Harvey, I bet you remember this one. On The Road To Cape May.
Anyone remember Dr. Rosen. I don't know what I would have done without him. He helped me and my children quite a bit. He was a wonderful and generous man.The chester I knew was quiet,clean and friendly. We loved it. We will never have again what we have had. It's like that song Again
to all of you who have been posting about the geeter.(jery blavet) he will be at caman's on macdade blvd. tomorrow night broadcasting live.
sheree, i'm tom's friend ,who goes down to see fox and al vantine. just seen al last month. he had two sisters, named patty and donna. i was just talking to al and fox last weekend and fox is now in tampa with al. he had resently lived in lantana and lakeworth,near west palm. jack.
to my friend that questions my life in chester....i did live in the east end of chester most of my life and was making what seems to have been a bad joke to floyd, no direspect was intended to anyone, only that what was and what is now is all i was leading too......sorry folks.....saw the town change for the worse is all...and i miss the old chester too.....
to my friend that questions my life in chester....i did live in the east end of chester most of my life and was making what seems to have been a bad joke to floyd, no direspect was intended to anyone, only that what was and what is now is all i was leading too......sorry folks.....saw the town change for the worse is all...and i miss the old chester too.....
Tom: I can't believe Art's name Fox has still stuck with him after all these years. I remember the Valentine's. Didn't he have a sister Karen?
What part of Florida? I was in West Palm Beach for 11 years.
Sheree
Floyd- Up @ 0400? I work midnites & sometimes it's difficult to sleep on my nites off. Keep those memories coming! Some time ago someone mentioned the Ginos on 9th & Booth. I remember when it was a walk up only. My sister-in-law worked there in the late 70's.
Hi , I was just told about this site , And after I read through it. I sent it on to some more of the chester people that I know . Thank you for a nice web site , I injoyed it very much .Boy I remember alot of how it was . After looking at the web site. Thank you again. Natalie (Dinkinson) Russell
Ithink Toms' idea to connect the Chesterites is a great idea! Jim Croce's grandparents and my great-grandparents came over from Italy together. I knew them as Goomod & Goombod(sp.) He grew up in Upper Darby. (That means God parents by the way) I never met Jimmy though.
Former Terril ST.-- I had planned what to say to you but Floyd replied in my exact words, this site is for remembering. Maybe you should find another site. I enjoy reading our seniors memories and look forward to it. We may be the last generation to remember Chester as it was then, safe and "the place to go". Maybe you don't remember. Are you really from Chester? Besides, I thought the the 70's were pretty good!
Hi to all Sun Village Folks.......and to floyd,aka duncan.....i lived next door to you and your folks in the late 60s and 70s...jimmy and patti were my folks, jimmy was my step pop and i do remember those yrs very well....it was a cool place to grow up..when i was up there last summer for the annual st james dogs on the dunes i traveled to chester to check out the old haunts...how the area has changed, wow......it was quit an experience to be back in the village again.....i did stop in old dons bar in eddystone to see my old friend susan kornog from morton ave in the village, she has been ther for 25 yrs now, and butch still owns the place....memories of chester is what i have now that i live in key west, fl......reminds me of wildwood, only 365 days of sun and fun......does anyone remember joey blaze? he lived on morton ave above the old 5 and dime...lemme know if anyone knows where he is.......thanks
To: Michael Patrick:
Search on http://www.google.com for Sun Ship.
In response to the "former terrill st. resident" if Floyd wants to talk about the 70's I enjoy reading . I'm of the younger generation Ilived in Chester for the remaining 21 years 68-86, I was deeply lost when we had to move away. I moved to Delaware and cried for years, I missed all of my old friends from the neighborhood, I thought I was the only one. When I found this sight I was so happy to see I wasn't the only one that felt the way I did. I am so very proud to be from Chester. It makes me even prouder to see the older generation on this sight, not like children of today they take things for granted. My son of 12yrs old doesn't understand how things were back then. I try to teach him and I showed him this sight.
Hi Everyone – Just zipped in. Yes, “former terrill st. resident”, there was a lot about the 70’s that were not that good and believe me, I am firmly ensconced in the 21st Century – but anyway, the purpose of this site is for reminiscing and, I don’t know, it’s sort of good to look back like this. I know memory can play tricks on us, but reading the posts on this page and contributing helped to get my mind off the latest computer horror show. Back then, even though it was not all that long ago, it somehow seemed like a simpler time in life. At least it seems that way in retrospect. It’s amusing that at one time, perhaps not that long ago, all a computer meant to most people was HAL. But of course, if it were not for computers and the Internet, this page would not exist. So, I guess it’s six of one and half a dozen of the other. Anyway, did we know each other back then? I’m sure we did. Please, write to me privately at my email if you wish. I don’t mention the names of people I have heard from personally on this page, unless I would ask them first if it was OK. To Charlie Landis – sorry for not writing your post sooner, but, yes, these are hectic times. Sure, I remember you – how have you been? Again, write privately to my email if you wish. We were always friends. Sorry, I don’t recall, offhand, a Vince Healy, 12th and Walnut – at least I can’t place the name. I remember a Harry Root from the same area. But I certainly remember the Mallas brothers grocery store – they were twins, if I recall, one was named Nick. After they left, a fellow named Ziggy took over. We continued buying some stuff there. Once, I ate a Swanson TV Swiss steak dinner and ended up with one horrific case of food poisoning. Dr. Polischuk made house calls, which was good since I was too sick to even get out of bed. Seems that the freezer had broken down and then, after a day or more, and after the frozen food had thawed, the fridge was turned on again – and the food was left in there and refrozen. I’ll spare the grisly details, but suffice it to say I was never so sick before or since. Hmmm, maybe “former terrill st. resident” is right – the 70’s WEREN’T all that good – Ha! Ha! ;-) Joe Squire had a very successful business with his hoagie shop but before, he earned a master’s degree in philosophy. We used to sit together in Nick’s Tavern, of all places, have a few beers and discuss Plato and Nietsche. Later, after he closed the store, he went to work for the Internal Revenue Service and has since retired. His kids used to work there and I forget his son’s name, but his daughter Kim later became a registered nurse. Nick’s was first Colonna’s and then later, Cat’s Pub and Grub, run by Vic Catalino, who also, for years, had a sandwich wagon outside of, I believe, Sun Ship. Also worth noting is Joe Allen’s carpet store, at the corner of Morton and Remington, and, of course, Ryan’s grocery store and owner Eddie Dodds. Eddie was a boyhood friend of my Dad’s. It was a lady named Edna and a Mr. Bookman who ran the 5&10 – until around the mid-70’s. I used to have auto work done around the corner at Pop Johnston’s gas station and garage. I was also a good friend with Eddie Wresneski, owner of Eddie’s Café and a very prominent local sports figure. I gave a speech for him when he was honored at a Delco sporting event. In life, as time goes on, we often wonder about our old friends and go into the “where are they now?” syndrome. I think this is the special appeal of this web site – I’ve seen a lot of posts from folks asking if “this or that” person was the same person they knew in a certain Chester neighborhood years ago. And lost friends can, and have, found each other here. I still have one to answer via email. I think this is why this page gets as much response as it does. I know I also enjoy reading other’s people’s memories too, as much as I hope that they enjoy reading mine. Hell, the Old Chester website even makes computers worthwhile ;-)
I know a nice lady who used to work in the SUN SHIP YARD during WW2. Her name CAROLINE DEGLER. Anybody remember her? Also: Where are pictures or data about the SUN SHIP YARD to be found on the web?
Thank you kindly.
I lived in Chester from 1956 to 1966 (Highland Gardens,Swarts St.;the "horse shoe" Swarts St.,not the one right off of Highland Ave.)I went to William Penn Elementary til the 4th grade,which was across the street from the main school at the incentorator building; had Mrs. Eckler.Remember the Welsh Restaurant,Linton's Restaurant,McCrory's,John's Bargain Store(which had this fanastic train display in the basement at Christmas time)frequented the State and Boyd theaters,learned how to swim at the "Y",remember that less fortunate kids went to school at the "Nike Site",went to Trinity Methodist Church, took lot of guff from the kids who went to "Rez" when they had off and we had to go school,"Kicking" out the street lights,playing buck,buck,building a "dam" when some one up the street washed their car,the May Day parades,etc.My wife of 23 years this month lived on McCarey St.(What's that saying about marryin' the girl 'round the corner? Hats off to the webmaster, John for allowing us to relive our memories of a Chester we all knew and loved.I noticed that McGlone's(spelling) Market is missing from the list of grocers.It was next to a barber shop on an alley somewhere between Culhane and Highland Avenues.I should remember because many was the day that my mother sent me there with a dollar to get a loaf of bread(.27) ,a pack of Kents (.35 )and two packs of TastyKake chocolate cupcakes(2 for .25)and still came home wih change!I hope to hear from other people who remember the the same things about Chester that I do. Also remember Mr. Softee and the Darlington milkman.I remember the families (Please forgive the spelling) Favinger,Emhay,Orlonski,Heilaman,Moylan,Margerra. Chester was a great place to grow up in! Bye,all
floyd.....come on into the 2000's and leave the 70's alone, if i remember right, they were not all that good.....
floyd.....come on into the 2000's and leave the 70's alone, if i remember right, they were not all that good.....
To John- the recruiting office for all branch's of the service was located in the old L&H Sporting Goods store on 7th St and at the corner of 7th&sproul St in the 70's. I was at both locations prior to serving my time.
MARY ANN KESSLER BARROW ND 56?
I KNEW A JOAN KLINGER IN WAYNE PA, SHE USE TO BE JOAN MCGINN IS THIS THE PERSON YOU ARE LOOING FOR. I THINK HER MOTHER AND BROTHERS STILL LIVE IN ASTON BY FIVE POINTS. OR MAYBE THIS IS JUS TTHE SAME NAME. SHE WAS A VERY NICE AND FUNNY LADY, I THINK SHE WANTED TO BE A NUN AT ONE TIME BUT ENDED UP MARRYING WM KLINGER.
Florence, I too pray for our servicemen and woman, glad you are there with me.
St.Michael's class of '52 50th reunion. Looking for the following:
Joseph BURNS
Francis JACKALOUS
Aloysius JONES
John KOTLINSKI
Robert MORETTI
Thomas OLSON
Michael PIETRYSKI
James QUIGLEY
Maurice THIBAULT
Thank you for any help.
St. Michael's class of '52 50th reunion. Looking for:
Peggy BODEN Eileen CARPENTER Libby GLEWWEE Greenleaf Patricia HEFTON Ferraro Joanne KANDRAVI Barbara KENDRA Joan KLINGER Wickert Anna KOWAC Dorothy McCAFFERTY Mary MULLANEY Frances PAZNOKITIS Joyce SCHULBERGER Doyle Betty TRAINOR Margeret TYRELL
Thanks for any help!
Floyd, I remember the 5 & 10 and the Melrose dinner, when I lived on Hancock St. the back alley of our house use to empty into the alley behind the stores. Also remember the Mallas brothers grocery store, Eureka TV shop, Joe Squire hoagie shop and Foulks jewelery store and Pop Johnston gas station. I had ask you before, but you may have missed the question with your move and crash, did you know Vince Healy, he lived at 12th and Walnut.
Read quite a few posts mentioning the name of Mini-gal's.(Don't know the correct spelling or proper name) who owned the candy and ice cream store on Concord ave near Fifth with her husband Tony, The store was up the street from Franklin School where many a kid bought their sweeties. Their last name was De Sanctis. Her husband was Tony. They had 5 children, Gabby, Dessi, Biddy,(Albert, now retired and frequents Tom Jones in Brookhaven), Jeanette and Antionette. Al (Biddy) and Jeanette survive.
To DONNA: I had a close cousin named Jack Lewis. What years or timeframe are you asking about? My cousin Jack married a gal named Lorraine and they lived in Linwood in their later years. Also, Jack had one fantastic sense of humor - made everyone laugh. Let me know. I don't remember where certain wards were. Where were the 4th and 5th wards located?
Good evening, just sitting here thinking that we should all say a prayor for all of our Service men and women. Pray that they come home soon and that someday, they will be here talking about their memories.
Does anyone remember Jack Lewis from the 5th ward or 4th and concord ave. Mini-gals store? Does anyone remember any ole' Snowflakes? JR.,Pigeon; Hungry;Truck ? I haven't thought about the Bluebird of Happiness song in a long long time. Me and my mother used to listen to it every nite at midnite in the forties. I also haven't thought about the old rat house The Washington Theatre in a real long time. My daughter Donna just showed me this web site thanks so much for the memories.
YO PAMRHS TRIED TO CONTACT YOU VIA E MAIL DO NOT KNOW IF YOU RECIEVEDIT WAS IN REGARDS TO BENETTES PET SHOP CAN YOU GIVE ME A CLICK? ZAC
Saw Alfred Hitchcock's movie "THE BIRDS" last night...It brought back memories of Buckman Village. Every Spring the Starlings would gather in the trees on Clover Lane by the thousands.
The Clover Lane birds didn't attack they bombed...I was on my way to a Prom in a white dinner jacket and had a purple deposit land on my shoulder.
My Aunt saved the day, she took off as much as possible and then used talcuum powder liberally on the tux jacket and voila... all white again
Hi Tom - Jim DiCave's son many now be a police officer in East Goshen as, frankly, I have not seen him for many years. I don't know if he worked at the West End Boat Club or now however. Yes, I am pretty sure that Swamp Fox bartended for awhile at the Castel Franci's on Morton Ave. in Sun Village. I used to see him there and was a member myself. Mort, who owned the after-hours club, recently sold his "new" version of Castel Franci by the old Hanley House Co. and moved to Florida, by the way. I was only at the new club once, about a year ago, with a friend who was a member and it was not the same somehow. Yes, I like your idea for a Chesterite Name Game - the old "six degrees of seperation" idea. Or, as Charles Fort wrote - "One draws a circle beginning anywhere."
Hi Tom - Jim DiCave's son many now be a police officer in East Goshen as, frankly, I have not seen him for many years. I don't know if he worked at the West End Boat Club or now however. Yes, I am pretty sure that Swamp Fox bartended for awhile at the Castel Franci's on Morton Ave. in Sun Village. I used to see him there and was a member myself. Mort, who owned the after-hours club, recently sold his "new" version of Castel Franci by the old Hanley House Co. and moved to Florida, by the way. I was only at the new club once, about a year ago, with a friend who was a member and it was not the same somehow. Yes, I like your idea for a Chesterite Name Game - the old "six degrees of seperation" idea. Or, as Charles Fort wrote - "One draws a circle beginning anywhere."
Kate: Yes, Jim Croce did teach at Pulaski. I had him for a teacher a few times, but he was only there for 2 years as a subsitute. I guess teaching wasn't his bag he left and the next thing we knew he was on the radio. When I first heard his name it didn't click until I actually saw his face on an album cover. I guess that's because we use to call him Mr. Croce.
Floyd: You mentioned Jim DiCave I beleive his son Jimmy worked at the West End Boat Club for a while and if I am not mistaken is an East Goshen policeman. I saw him in the WAWA in Goshen in uniform that was about 5 years ago we were talking for a little bit because he remembered me from the boat club. Also, you mentioned the swamp fox would he be the same one that bartended at Castle Franci's and was on my pool team?
We should put together a Connect the Chesterite Name Game. Similar to the Kevin Bacon Name Game.
For those of you that don't know the Kevin Bacon game there is a commercial on tv now for a credit card that references the game. The object is how does kevin bacon connect to such and such. It is a real game out there.
TOM, thanks for getting back to me...I found Jim's address...Now a question for you, didn't JIM CROCE the singer teach at Pulaski at one time,,,I didn't see him listed in the faculty? You do know who I mean, don't you?
Sheree: I seen in one of your previous post while looking for someone else's email address that you mentioned my buddy Fox. He is in Fla, me and my friend Jack went down a few times to visit him. Last year we went down to see Al Vantine. We use to all hang around together.
To Paul, I don't know a Bobby Dugan, my father was Larry Dugan from Ogden, Pa., He was an only child.
I remember when I was real young before we moved to the West End. I lived on 21st and Edgemont we had coal heat and when the delivery man came you could hear the coal going down the shoot into the basement. I used to love going down there and playing in it. I'd come out all black. So my mom to keep me from sneeking down there came up with story and me being 5 years old beleived her. She told me that if I kept playing in that coal one day I would not be able to wash it off and I would stay black the rest of my life. Needless to say that changed my interest in coal. The guy who owned our house sold it to a guy who put a shoe repair business in the basement. I think it is still there.
Names I remember from the East end are my relations Hamilton's, Osowski's uncle Al was a councilman for years.
Other names Foster's, Reynolds, Phillips, Worrell's, Pileggi's, Johnston's, Carletti's, Dormer's, The Twins on 21st street, I forget their first names lived next to Billy Johnston my best friend when I was a kid. The Boyd's lived in the scarey house, Smith's.
Good Morning to all. Pidipat, I remember the side walks. Every day my Mother had me scrub the porch floor and the front and the sidewalk and clean the street out front, and I didn't mind one bit, because it looked so nice and smelled so good. You are right about getting cleaned up and sitting out front and talking to everyone and their was always a safe house.Noboddy around here would know if you lived or died, thats why I am glad to have a friend to write to. I was reading in the newapaper today that 50 yrs. agoIrene Radowsky and Bud Deguire are featured in the "Alice Blue Gown" number of the annual musical presented by the men's Bible Class of Eddystone Methodist Church. Chester's city jail was rated poor by the state Department of Welfare. My brother-in-law used to work for the vet. Dr.Beatty, who used to be on 24th st.
PAUL CROWTHER- THE SALTZ DENTAL CENTER HAS BEEN AN ESTABLISHED PRACTICE FOR OVER 65 YEARS, IT WAS ORIGINALLY OWNED BY A DR. MALICE, THE PRACTICE WAS ON THE 2ND FLOOR, THERE WAS A SHOE STORE ON THE FIRST FLOOR(NO, NOT SLATERS),AND THE LINCOLN STORE WAS NEXT DOOR, WHICH BECAME THE YORK STORE AND NOW VALUE PLUS. DR. SALTZ WAS EMPLOYED BY DR. MALICE, DR. SALTZ WAS ALSO A BAND LEADER DURING HIS EMPLOYMENT WITH DR.MALICE.(30S & 40S), AND PLAYED THE CATSKILLS, ATLANTIC CITY AND NEW YORK, HE HAS QUITE A HISTORY. HE RETIRED IN 1991 AND WE ALL MISS HIS ANTICS AND HIS WONDERFUL DEMEANER. BY THE WAY, WE HAVE NOW EXPANDED AND WE ARE NOW IN THE OLD SLATERS SHOE STORE AS WELL AS THE ORIGINAL BUILDING. SOME THINGS CHANGE IN CHESTER BUT WE ARE STILL HERE AND THE BUSSES MAY NOT STOP AT THE BAY WINDOW, BUT THAT BAY WINDOW IS STILL HERE AND THE PRACTICE IS DOING VERY WELL IN THIS WONDERFUL CITY WITH ITS GREAT PAST AND HOPEFULLY WITH ITS GREAT FUTURE.
Hi! Does anyone remember Edna and Mr. Bookman from the variety store on Morton Ave. right in Sun Village? It may have been named Stewart's, I am not sure. Or the Melrose Diner on the corner - Jan, the owner - thin, blonde haired lady and Dave, the cook - large, redhaired fellow - from the Melrose Diner? Or Moretti's barbershop? God, the memories can keep coming, can't they?
This is No Name again. To the person who posted about living in row homes and dirty streets in Chester, I forgot to mention the fact that we hosed down our brick sidewalk and street after sweeping.
Betty or other Larkin students from 1944-48--I know that the principal at that time was a Ms Dougherty.According to the info John received, there was a Laura Dougherty principal at Wetherill School 1931-56. What was the 1st name of the Larkin Miss or Mrs Dougherty? And yes I do remember Ms Dacey from Larkin but not at CHS. I looked in our yrbook and of course you are correct. How slowly we forget.
If you love Louis and classic jazz you'll think you've died and gone to heaven...it just doesn't get any better than this!
http://user.icx.net/~bcassady/music.html
My apologies - I just went through some of the previous posts and saw there were questions asked which were not answered – just got over a major computer crash and this can really mess things up when you work from home, combined with moving horrors. To PamRHS75 – thanks for the kind words. You wrote, "To Floyd I figure if you know Ed Gebhardt, you might remember my dad,Russ Kline. He was a fast ball pitcher in the late 50's early 60's for Fat'sBar & I think Moyamensing. Ed has written many nice articles about him. Thanks to Ed. Dad is in the Delco Softball Hall of Fame." No, Ma'am, I am sorry - I do not know nor remember your Father, not by name anyway. This is a little before my time and anyway, I know very, very little about local sports, aside from the people whom I met in various softball leagues in bars, when I would drink with them, or those who, like Jimmy DiCave, I came to know as neighbors or friends. You see, Pam, I cannot play sports, as I am simply clumsy and uncoordinated and always have been. I knew many softball players in the 70’s and especially the 80’s – for example, the softball team at Nick’s Tavern on Morton Avenue in Chester – and occasionally I would go to see their games, but I wouldn’t even consider trying to join them on the field. Pam, they were WAY out of my league. I was once seriously into weight lifting, and some karate and boxing – and I was a pretty good pool shooter - but that was it. I once tried out for the basketball team at Smedley Junior High, since I was rather tall for my age as everyone said, “You should try out for the basketball team!” Yeah, right. Anyway, I did. DUH! Ray Hagy and Mr. Schmidt – I forget his first name - were the coaches then. My Smedley yearbooks are packed away for now, but when I get settled in again, they will be among the first things unpacked. Anyway, Mr. Schmidt held the tryouts and he was a good guy but he obviously knew who could make the team and who couldn't. After my "tryout", he politely held back from laughing – did a great job of keeping a straight face, I recall - and told me, in essence, "Uh, No, sorry. Thanks anyway. BYE!". Oh, he was right. After all, tripping over the ball and falling on the floor, on your face, when you are just trying to dribble the basketball down the court, does not for a Ken Shamburger or Mike Marshall make (for all you Chester High grads, circa 1968 - you know who I mean ;-) - those guys were GOOD players) Pam, that was the beginning and end of my school athletic career. But, re your Father - Russ Kline – while I draw a blank on this one, I DO have a good friend of mine, a physical education teacher in the Ridley School District, who, frankly, is a real expert on Delaware County sports, from today’s athletes to the ones from the recent past and also ones from many, many years back. His research and dedication is truly amazing. Is your Father still with us? I hope so - and if so, I am sure my friend would like to talk with him sometime, if he hasn’t already. While I cannot speak for him, I can tell you that this guy is great on research, believe me. Will talk with him this weekend. You may have heard of him already, as he writes a local historical sports column for a weekly newspaper in this area and has done so for several years. Now, I first met my friend Ed Gebhardt back in 1973 when he wrote an article about my Father's Pearl Harbor experiences, which I have written about here previously. Ed came to interview Dad when we lived on Terrill St. He did a great article, which I still have, of course. As I wrote earlier, around 1980 I started work for the Daily Times and stayed there for close to twenty years and, along the way, I created the Bar Hopping column, which is now carried on under a different name every Friday by Len Casterline. Ed and I later got to know each other much better as friends when I wrote for the Times. We also had some mutual friends, including former Times editor Andy Reynolds, well known as one of the main members of the great Marine Corps League in Upland. Ed and I still keep in touch once in awhile and I value our friendship. I count him as one of the only people who ever took me in totally with a personal practical joke, thanks to my tendency to get pictures of girls who won local bar bikini contests into my Times column. Every time I had a picture of a local, pretty girl in a bikini published in the Times, I would sit back and wait for the complaint calls to come in, since my home number was published each week. That’s how that rascal Ed “got” me and his practical joke gave me a huge laugh. Pam, if you are personally in contact with Ed, please go ahead and ask him about me. This also goes for anyone else who knows Ed personally, for that matter. Ed Gebhardt is a truly great guy and he has done a lot of good things, for a lot of people, over the years. He is a local treasure who is a great writer and a walking history of Delaware County and Chester and the people who have lived here. He knows and understands. To Tina - you wrote "To FLOYD: Speaking about doctors, did you know Dr. Plafker? I may have the spelling wrong...he was a dentist and a very patient one! When I was in 2nd grade I had the misfortune to have broken a collar bone and have a very bad toothache. So, Christmas Eve comes and my mouth is hurting badly - Dad calls Dr. Plafker at 9:00 PM and asks him to get my tooth out. Dr. P. met us at his office, me a pathetic sight with a sling on my arm and a puffed out cheek. Once we got in the office I was scared and wouldn't open my mouth. He never fussed but talked to me and waited patiently - finally got me to breathe in "hoagie juice" as he called the gas and the tooth came out. That wouldn't happen today - I mean having a dentist meet you at night without a helluva emergency fee." To Tina – I loved your story! Many thanks! The name of Dr. Plafker does ring a bell - was his first name Nathan? – but I do not recall ever seeing him. I did see a Dr. Posoff once - and yes, I am not sure about that spelling either :-) I am sure one of our Chester friends here can help with this little mystery. But Dr. Posoff (sp?) had an office on 9th St. - a large fellow, balding, very unusually broad shoulders, who used gas on his patients but he was also formally trained in dental anesthesiology and really knew what he was doing. About 20 years ago, I had a seriously sore tooth and, being afraid of dentists, he was recommended to me by a friend as I was assured he would simply knock me out cold and remove it and I could quickly and happily get back to my youthful carousing. I was told not to eat or drink fluids for some hours before the tooth extraction and to bring someone with me to drive me home. I went with my Mom and my cousin whom I called my "Aunt Sis" - Winifred Kirkland, a wonderful lady who was the school crossing guard at the Melrose Ave. - 12th St. intersection for Jefferies School, for many, many years. I am sure she crossed some members of this page here, carefully and safely guiding them across the street, when they were children. I miss her too, still. So very much. Oh well. Anyway. I had never been knocked out with anesthetics before - or since – and his nurse took my blood pressure, said it was OK and into his dental operating room I went. I was as scared as hell, but he was cool, very reassuring, nasal canula goes on, gas starts, he tells me to count backwards from 100 and breathe deeply - think I hit about 92. Then I went into a netherworld and had a sweet dream about a girl whose last name was Cropper (first name deleted) and whose family lived on Walnut St., near Dupont St., for MANY years. She and I worked together at the time and we were just friends but we liked to buddy around together with our other pals outside of work, but my gas-induced dream was a lot better :-) Anyway. I was lifting weights all the time back then and I thought I was King Kong and that I was indestructible but when I came to, I regained my consciousness too fast and I tried to stand up too fast. I don't know how long I was "out" – it was not long, however, it couldn’t have been - but when I came to, back to the "real" world, the aching tooth was gone, very little bleeding, and I jumped up from the chair WAY too fast. I saw Dr. Posoff (? - the spelling gets me too, Tina - sorry) - and I saw Mom and Aunt Sis and I said something like, "I'm OK". Then I reached for my wallet for the money as I just wanted to pay the bill and get the hell OUT of there as FAST as I could! And then everything went blank and I promptly fell over, face first, like a sawed off oak tree. This is what I was told later anyway, as I completely lost consciousness. They caught me, thankfully, and helped me into a room where I was laid on a reclining table and the doctor kept saying something like, "Relax, big guy, lay back and breathe deeply". Fifteen minutes or so later he said I could leave, that I was OK, and Mom and Aunt Sis took me to a drugstore, where they filled a prescription he had given me. Years later - you can check in the Times files on this - he was robbed outside of his office and was locked in his car trunk. Thankfully he got through this ordeal. The Times published the article. Then he seemed to have disappeared - left Chester, I would guess. Later, maybe this week, I would like to send a post just featuring names of the people I have been friends with over the years in Chester and the places I was in. No other comments, just the names. I have compiled a list of them but it keeps growing – it is just names but I knew them all at one time and they are all part of my Chester memories. They start from childhood to when I reached young adulthood in the early 1970’s – from St. Michael’s Church in my youth to Jeffrey’s bar in my young adulthood, the one right in the middle of Edgmont Ave. which was located one flight underground and which I was told was considered for use as a fallout shelter in the early ‘60’s. Trust me, I won’t tell “any tales out of school” but they are people whom I remember fondly. Chester was a good city that produced many good people. They range from Mr. Hoffman who had the drugstore on 9th St., at the corner down from the Mac theater and whose death was linked to the Eyre Park flood in the early 70’s; Dr. Beatty, the veterinarian from the area of 25th and Providence; fine Chester law enforcement officers such as Mike Mancini, big John Tyler, who lived a few doors up from me on Terrill St. (he watched over our street and kept us safe, even when off-duty); County Detective Tom Worrilow; Danny Elder; Joe Bayle (sp?) and others; Gene Banta – the first owner of the Golden Slipper and his nice family, neighbors of ours on Dupont St.; Jack Riddell printing teacher from Chester High (still the fastest and funniest wit I ever met); my good friend “Swamp Fox”; girls I had secret crushes on, who will not be named; to a few names which might raise a few eyebrows as they were considered notorious at the time. There are so many. But I knew and cared for them all. And this was the magic of the City of Chester - we can never forget the friends we knew nor the memories we made. If we could, then this great web site, with so many postings not only from locals but also from people from all over the country, would not exist nor would it be as successful as it is. I recently answered a private email from someone who had seen my name here, and as I did, the words of the writer Mark Hellinger came back to me. He once wrote, “In time, all memories become precious.” I think this Old Chester website proves just that. Thanks for being here. And as always – my very best to everyone.
Memories, oh my gosh, memories. Talk about row houses - whether they were all one big long building with doorways (just as in old England and Ireland), or all connected with big porches and separate stairs to the sidewalk, all had the same good neighbor feeling. At twilight, after dinner (and dishes all washed and dried and put away or on the table for the next meal), people would sit on the porch and rock and talk to their next door neighbors (doing the same thing) and every passerby - and there were many, many people walking along. That was "television" in those days - where we got the news. My grandmother and great aunt always bathed me - dressed me in the proper clothing - and then I was welcome to sit on the porch with them. One time I had a brand new pair of "Buster Brown" shoes (they were white though) and they were put on my feet (heaven forbid you had a dirty child sitting and rocking on the porch with you) and I distinctly remember sticking my feet out through the railings and saying to everyone who passed by "See my new shoes." I think I would up with blisters on my legs from flinging them through those railings so many times.
In downtown Chester in the mid-30's, no one was ever missing, because there was always someone who knew where you were, and they would take you home, if needed. I, for one, could always run to my grandmother's house, my aunt's house or even Mrs. Clatterbuck's house if I had to and help was always there. Yeah - in those years, there was lots of loving goin' round - 'cept for Bobby Darling.
TO DEBI DUGAN... Any relation to Bobby Dugan?
TO ELEANOR... Glad to hear that Dr.Saltz is still around and doing well. Do you know what year he opened his office? Seems like he's been there forever!
TO U.W. ....Yes indeed I went to school with Janice Duman!
Hi fellow Highlandgardeners, I graduated from Rez in 82 and Cardinal O'Hara 86. Clayton Park sounds like a great idea! I miss the old neighborhood. As someone else said, I would too sell my townhouse to live in my old row home in Chester ,LOL!!
Hello Tami and Tony, Pam and Karen!
Remember the Tres Bon diner 12th. & Edgmont Ave., Rainbow Diner 9th. & Sproul St., Jerry's diner across from Vesuvios rest., and Speedy's diner on Chester Pike. And how about the drive in movies Chester Pike, McDade Blvd. and Naamans Rd. those were the days my friends.
THE NAME OF THE BAKERY NEXT TO CHARMING SHOPPES WAS CALLED PROSPECT PARK BAKERY, ANNS DONUTS WAS ON WELSH STREETS.
Hey pammy no wonder u didnt answer phone...the bakery wasnt called Ann;s was it....that was on Welsh st.which i think is 1 block over from the ave of thestates
Pam--- I know about city living in row homes. My best friend and I both say we would never have given up childhood in the city compared to what it is , even in the suburbs. No one is as friendly. Shame the kids today won't have such a childhood. Perhaps things will never be the same since 911 florence
We currently have 79 members of Chester High School,Class of 1959 on our RSVP list. If you are a member of the Class of '59 and have not contacted me, please do so and I will be happy to add your name to the list. I'll need your current address and phone numbers to put you on the list. For a complete list of those who plan to attend, you can contact me at lakeemeraldmgt@aol.com and I will send you the list as an attachment to the E-mail response. Hope to see all members of the Class of '59 at the 45th Reunion!
No name- Many of us grew up in row homes & I agree with you, people were closer & really cared about each other. It saddens me that my children missed out on that. I could walk down the street to my grandparents or around the corner to my aunts. If you did something you weren't supposed to, the news of it usually beat you home!
Doc Floyd It was good to hear from you. I love your reminiscing. Did you see my posting to from last week about Ed Gebhart? Good luck with the move.
Ted there's nothing wrong with row houses, they are now called townhouses, and some are quite expensive. Use to live not far from 5th & Penn. We use to sweep the sidewalks and clean up the streets in front of our "row houses." I would trade my single house in the suburbs to go back to the closeness of the row house community where we knew and frequently saw our neighbors of which the majority were excellent. I think that's why the majority are on this board, that is to think back to the good memories of the "Good Ole Days" in Chester, PA
The site is a delight for one who grew up at or near fifth and Penn during the thirties and early forties, witnessing the transition from grim depression to bustling war town. In fact, the war was the opportunity for my family to "escape" the city confines to Garden City, which was like paradise to a kid who was used to row houses and dirty streets, among other things. I thank you for the memories and wish I could make a more meaningful contribution to the history. Ted van Deusen
Harvey, Love the jukebox site! Can't listen at work since we don't have audio, but tuned in last night at home.
Harvey, my husband use to always have a can of red salmon and also he always chopped up tomato with oil,vinegar and oregano, and he will be 80 next week. Now I son't know if that is what kept hom going, I think it was the shot and beer every day and sometimes more. But since I have been trying to follow diabetic diet with less everything. I have found out that salmon does have considerable chlorestal, also does turkey. Hey give it a whirl. I read that article somewhat, very interesting, I do like The old Lamplighter by Hoagy Carmichael.
Harvey, my husband use to always have a can of red salmon and also he always chopped up tomato with oil,vinegar and oregano, and he will be 80 next week. Now I son't know if that is what kept hom going, I think it was the shot and beer every day and sometimes more. But since I have been trying to follow diabetic diet with less everything. I have found out that salmon does have considerable chlorestal, also does turkey. Hey give it a whirl. I read that article somewhat, very interesting, I do like The old Lamplighter by Hoagy Carmichael.
Thanks, Eleanor.
TO HARVEY- REFERRING TO THE SALMON, CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME BUT IT WAS NOT PINK SALMON, BUT RED SALMON, ALSO HAD A TOMATO A DAY WITH VINEGAR. A VERY HEALTHY EATER, AS WELL AS A VERY LOVELY MAN TO WORK FOR.
Highlights for Class of 1948 and what happened in Sweet Home, Oregon USA and the world.
http://www.sweet-home.or.us/community_news/alumni/SHHS-1948/1998-Reunion/
Eleanor...Would you mind telling us what brand of canned salmon Dr. Saltz eats for lunch? I've never played tennis but I'm only 70. Maybe I could learn.
Hi my friends! Will have to keep this relatively brief for me - just got over a MAJOR computer crash and have some personal emails from old friends on this site to answer - hope they do not think me rude, but with the packing and then the crash, time was at a premium. But had to chime in about Jimmy DiCave as he and his wife Pat are among my fondest memories of Chester. They lived right next door to us when I lived with my parents at 1119 Terrill St. in Chester and were the nicest neighbors anyone could ever ask for. Pat and my mother would sit on their respective porches on summer evenings and share ring bologna and drink sodas. Jimmy worked at Sun Ship as a safety inspector and he was, and I am sure still is, one great guy. On one Saturday evening, Mom told me how the three of them were all quietly sitting together on their porches and some biker types hanging across the street were carrying on and really cursing in a loud voice and Jimmy wasted no time in barreling over to them and telling them to watch their language, as there were two ladies sitting there - and they did! To Pam - yes he was a fabulous softball player and yes, you are right, they did open a hoagie shop for a brief time on Saville Ave. in Eddystone around the early 1970's. They later moved to Brookhaven but we would still see them from time to time and it was always a great reunion. Their son Jim Jr. became an Eddystone police officer. We were lucky in neighbors - after the DiCaves moved, our next neighbors there - Mike and Theresa Babicki - were also fabulous people. It's great to have a forum like this to share these memories with others. More soon, later this week, after I get caught up a bit more. Thanks again to everyone.
Don't know about Dr Meilarek,but do know the dentist above the bank in Marcus Hook was OPACK
SHERRI, THE NAME CHIPPY IS FAMILIAR BUT DON'T KNOW THAT IT WAS MADE IN CHESTER, I KNOW THEY MAKE BEER-SILVER DIME AND QUAKER. I BEKIEVE THE PLANT WAS DOWN ON TRAINER STREET..GEORGE'S BAKERY WAS ACROSS THE STREET FROM ST. MIKE'S. WE USE TO WAIT FOR OUR ND BUS THERE AND EVERY MORNING HAD OUR JELLY DONUT, BUTTER HORNS, AND ELEPHANT EARS. GEORGE MUST HAVE HAD A SECRET REDIPE FOR THOSE JELLY DONUTS BECAUSE I HAVEN'T FOUND ANOTHER LIKE IT. AFTER GEORGE CLOSED WE USE TO GO AROUND THE CORNER ON WELSH STREET WHERE A SMALL BAKERY OPENED THAT HAD REALLY GOOD GLAZED DONUT. DO YOU REMEBER DEAKYNE CANDY FACTORY ON THIRD STREET?
Hey dey dey, give Sister Angela the cigarettes!!!!!!!
Does anyone from Buckman Village remember Melvin Boyd? He lived three doors from me, next to the Rooneys - would have been 1215 Clover Lane, I think. His mother passed away while he was very young, while I still lived there. They had a beautiful collie dog who would "babysit" me when my folks were out at "The West End Boatclub". He was the nicest boy and didn't mind sharing his wonderful dog with me. I've thought of him over the years and wanted to post this about him, if anyone knew or knows him. He never ran with any particular crowd that I know of.
Harvey, my good friend, can you find "I Sold My Heart to the Junkman" for me. It was a favorite at our dances, and it could have been done by the Billy Williams Quartette or a similar group - very popular in '49 and '50. Lyrics such as those are hard to match today.
Say Harvey - what do ya think - should we publish "our" song?
hey dey dey,
how's it going. haven't seen you in a long time..maybe the last time was at columba,s in eddystone or at verna's. jack
Good evening to all: Let me think I have 1942 National Geographic Magazine , Jan. 1942. On the backside is an advertisement SPAM. Hormel good foods.Spam bake,spamwiches,spam n eggs, spam n pancakes. We must have music, their is so much available on this board, mostly thanks to Harvey,He seems' to know a trillion of them.A very long time ago one of my favorites was, More Than You Know, sung by Perry Como,then it seems like everything that comes up you have a different song for.Time To Say Goodbye is a beautiful tune and Whistle Down The Wind. I think my Grandfather took me to the Boyd theatre to see Alice Faye and John Payne in Hello Frisco Hello, another pleasant tune, You Must Have Been a beautiful Baby, I think my sister sang that at a dinner the goodwill had years a go . I wish I could remember more about high school, I must have been in some kind of fog.
TO PAUL CROWTHER:
JUST THOUGHT I WOULD LET YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED AT THE SALTZ DENTAL CENTER FOR 32 YEARS, WHEN THAT LOGO WAS STILL IN USE. DR. SALTZ IS STILL GOING STRONG AT 90 YEARS OF AGE, HE IS RETIRED AND HE IS DOING VERY WELL, LOOKS LIKE A MAN OF 60 AND STILL PLAYS TENNIS EVERY DAY. THE PRACTICE IS STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BLOCK AND ALL IS WELL HERE IN CHESTER. THE BAY WINDOW STILL EXISTS.
Pam
I only went skating once at the rink. I went with a couple of friends named Florence Watson and Jim Gamble. Jim passed away a few years ago. He was also a friend of Ron and Maries. I went once,but after that I couldn't hardly walk to work..
Pat- I remember my Dad playing with Jimmy DiCave. Didn't he open a hoagie shop on Saville Ave. in Eddyrock in the early 70's. My grandparents knew him. Hey everyone, where is Doc Floyd, moving?
Florence-Did you skate too? Flo & Tom- Thanks for the info on The Magees.I don't think I've seen them for 20 years either. Welcome to DeyDey & Mrs. Lapper!
I remember Dr. Mielcarek on 9th St. I want to say across from the Mac movie. I had the traumatic experience of having an abscessed tooth extracted at age 8. OUCH! I still hate the dentists'. Give me gas!
Hi Karen, I just got your email and yep your right. It's me. you got the right Donna. So I guess I was right when I thought you were you. HAHA that's cool. I dont see many people from school or the hometown. I live in Brookhaven now and love it! I do wish chester could be like it used to. Even if it was a little bit. Well take care and keep in touch.
Harvey, thanks for the link to the greatest oldies, I especially like the DoWop section....thanks
You can download music from winmx.com I'm not sure if they have what you are looking for but it's still fun to check it out.
Harvey, you are amazing!
Thanks to the anonymous tip at 10:15 this morning I found two good sites for 50's music using Google.com...
http://www.hhbrandy.addr.com/master.html
http://community-2.webtv.net/Bob618/HaremSheiksReal/
Hi TOny and Pameeelllaaa or Pan as pumpkinhead would say! Good question Who's the OLd timers now?!Sike just kidding....I just wanted to add my piece about Dr Saltz....I worked for him for a year in 1981....he was probably about 80ish then...He is a small man probably about 5'4"....the secret of his long life is probably the canned salmon (ugghhh) he ate EVERDAY for lunch..probably still eats it to this day.
I forgot to give the address. Edith McCrae's at 7th and Kerlin Sts.
Harvey's song of the brings back this memory: In the 1920s there was a dancing school run by Edith McMrae (not sure of Spelling) Every year she gave a recital at the Stanley Theater. One year a girl named Nellie Coulter did a "song and dance" solo to Let A Song BE Your Umbrella".She was really good. My class did their piece to When You Do The Kinkajoo. If you remember that one, your really over the hill!
Pam: I saw Marie and Linda (daughter)for the first time in 20 years at the Granite Run Mall around Xmas. I didn't even recognize her but she recognized me said I look exactly the same as I did when I was a kid. I said maybe add about 50 lbs. LOL anyway she told me Ron had past away :( sorry to bring bad news. I too remember the GIANT pig ears at that bakery but I actually thought it was next to McCrory's.
Dey-Dey what's up? Are you still in Upland? How's Verna?
I kind of remember the recruiting station being on Welsh st, then it turned into the blood bank.
Does anyone remember Shane Packing company? We used to hooky school and go over there to watch them bring the pigs off the trucks and into the cattle shoot. We used to climb the fence and chase them down the shoot. Thinking back then we were actually sending them to their slaughter :( so cruel...but then I guess we wouldn't have bacon or sausage. Mom would say what the heck were you playing in you smell like an animal. If she only knew.
try google.com then type in music from the 50s and you will find plenty of music!!
Could it have been for carpeting.
I think Bigalow was a carpet.
Does anyone remember the old radio commercial "sagamore six, eight nine hundred. (sagamore 6-8900) In New jersey call Bigelow ?????? What was the commercial for?
To: Sheree(Austin) McGowan
Chippy's was located on the corner of Ridge Road (9th St.)and Yates Ave. in Linwood.
Jack - Wake the Town http://www.theguitarguy.com/wakethet.htm
Hi Danny, When I went to Larkin School, I had Mrs. Daisy for a third grade teacher and then by the time I got to CHS, she was teaching there. She was a great lady. She always stood at the door until we were all in the classroom and then she would close the door and go to her desk. One day, in preparation for a test, I had made a little cheat sheet...don't know why. On her way to her desk, she stopped by my desk and said, "Do you really need that?". I said "NO" and she said "I didn't think so" and held out her hand for the paper. I was so embarrassed. Needless to say, I never, ever did that again in my life. God Bless her. She taught me a lesson.
one more try: Looking for the following song from the 50's:
Wake the town and tell the people.
Not sure who sang it, but any leads or information on where I can find, or better yet, download this music would be appreciated.
Flo: The Dr. Mielcarek I remember had his office on the second floor over the bank on the Cornoer of Market street in Marcus Hook. He lived in the beautiful stone house about 10th and Highland. I believe Dr. Leon Mielcarek is his son. Another dentist was Dr. Francis.
Jim M.*******I do remember "Motherless Child" I think I may have the sheet music packed somewhere. Must have had another Senior (OUCH) moment since I was not sure if that was sung at graduation or Baccalaureate so did not mention it. When remembering how beautiful her voice was, I can remember thinking she would one day be famous.
Zoll C. I think Barbara went to the prom with Frank.
Did you go to Clayton?
Paul C: Was Janice Duman in your class?
You are not alone, I think O>J> is innocent too.
In the 70's the recruiting office for the militay was located in the colony hotel 500 blk. Welsh St., prior to that it was in the basement of the post office. To the one who believes OJ was innocent leave your door open for the Easter bunny, also it's ok to eat yellow snow.
Let a Smile Be Your Umbrella
http://justlaurie.com/umbrella.html
I still think OJ is innocent.
Does anyone know if there was a bottling factory, either in Chester or nearby, called Chippy's?
Sheree
Hello. (To the WEB MASTER I SAY THANKS for this great site.)Q.does anyone remember the (recruting station)all i remember it was in town at i think was a hotel.
Thanks for that Sax.. hilarious!
To all interested..MAE`s hoagie shop was first located between Franks Barber shop & Zeitz`s drug store.it later became T&E something happend maybe a fire.they MAE`S reopened next to Rube`s and the Star car wash aside from the PENN FRUIT.and next to Rube`s was JERRY`S Diner.
TO: Paul Crowther: Your comment about Dr. Saltz being 150 years old reminded me of a tag line we once had on his radio commercial on WVCH. It read "ALL BUSSES STOP UNDER DR. SALTZ'S BAY WINDOW". If you recall his office was in the middle of the block with a bay window above. Don't know if Saltz was a large man or not! It wasn't long, however, before that line was pulled, anyway.
I remember that dentist. I also remember Dr.Getz, who was on edgemont ave, up above tenth. Dr.Mielcakek on 9th.st.My husband thinks Dr.Algaze was on Market st. Dr.Plafker
hi karen, i didn't go to rez but i do remember a chris ragni. i grew up in mccaffery village.
Paul, I don't know but I think there was a Dr Algaze who had a singing commercial. Anyone remember it?
Thanks Harvey! LOL What's the name of the other long time dentist on Edgemont[oops,Ave. of the States]?
under the LLOYD FIELD page,an anonymous poster mentioned that he used to play at the field. he named some prople, Brother, Dickie, Jimmy Pee, James etc. Well I was in the neighborhood and played eith those guys. i was wondering who posted it. it has to be someone i knew then. SO if you see this post , please respond.this is what the site is all about. thank you
pamrhs75 Sonny may is still in the water ice businss, but christmas tree sales may have been ended in 2001 as Sonny 's tree yard is being taken by Penn Dot for widing of Rte 291. His store at 2nd and kerlin may be goingh also as penndot is taking everythin along most of 2nd street. sonny was in the tree biz since 1967.
Hi, Paul, I should have said The Saltz Dental Center is still there...the dentists are:
William D. Graham III, D.M.D.
Ashvinkumar H. Dhruva, D.D.S. (Dr. Ash)
DR.SALTZ MUST BE ABOUT 150 YRS.OLD. AN AMAZING CAREER!
John,
Not to mention great fast pitch softball catchers like George Lupi and Jimmy DiCave......
Dr Saltz is still there...no appointment necessary...Dentures made in one day!
Pam
I am also an old friend of Ron and Marie's, although I haven't seen them for quite a while. I read in the Dailey Times that Ron had passed a way. We had great times with mutual friends who are now gone.
Hi Karen Wilson! Your name sounds real familiar to me. did you have blonde hair and hang around with Barb Mascot? I feel the same way you do about the appearance of the old neighborhood. I had to go to Claymont today and I went via of Highland Ave. then up by where Gino's and Rube's and Vesuvio's was and man it is not the same. I think its a shame too. I didn't recognize one person or store. I went to Rez for 8 years and Notre Dame for 3. I was in the class where they closed down in our jr. year and we had to go to O'Hara. We got jipped of the senior steps! Donna
Pam, I seem to remember a bakery in that location called GEORGE'S Bakery.. And that it later moved across the street from John's Doggie shop and St Michaels School..
Pam, I think the bakery you are referring to was called the Prospect Bakery, for my friends & I would stop there while we were downtown on Saturday mornings for either cookies or other goodies. :o)
Zac- I used to live next door to Bennets' Pet Shop in the late 60's My cousins lived around the corner across from Marys' store with Franks' bar in the front. Used to watch the brides leave The Polish Club after the reception!
For those who have moved away- there is now a Walmart where Baldwins Used to be. Jeffries Elementary was converted to a town house development.
Help! We are trying to remember the name of the bakery next to Charming Shop on Ave Of The States in the 60's & 70's. They had great pigs' ears. Anyone else get in trouble for jumping on the doors in the sidewalks that lead under the stores? They made a great noise, but I always heard," You're going to fall down there and break your neck!" When you went past the butcher shop it smelled like blood & saw dust. Is Dr. Saltz still there!!
After my Dad died I hadn't been to a softball game for years. My husband took me to a game at Memorial Park and I thought man, this pitcher stinks. I didn't realize it was slow pitch! Anybody remember Sonny Mays waterice truck ? The best! There was also Happy who had a truck & sold candy and the shaved water ice. He lived on 9th St. in Eddyrock.
Hi Tom. Yes, I remember Ron and Marie well. After the rink burned down they went to Merryland with us down here in De. They would give Sandy & I rides too. The last I heard Ron was really sick. I'll have to call Ida & see if she knows anything. They were in the old timers club. Now who's the "old timers?"
Great Pictures, Tom! Thanks!
And thank you John B.!
Dan go ahead and add them to your list, just happy to help.
To anyone interested: John has posted a few of the old pictures I sent him in the Whats New section down at the bottom. Enjoy more to come soon....
Good Morning to all
Where would we be Without a Song and Harvey?Such a good person
I don't know where all the graduating classes from Dewey-Mann had their prom but the class of 52's was at Booker T. Washington. Could be most of them were there?
Another Larkin school teacher, 3rd grade, was Mrs Ludwig. Mr Volzone, before becoming principal, was a gym teacher in 1954 & 1955.
I grew up in Highland Gardens. Its a shame...it used to be a really nice place to live.... many, many years ago!
To UW and Zoll, The name of the song, is, "You'll Never Walk Alone" I'am trying to rack my brains to remember where the prom was. Remember Virgina Abrams sang "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child" at the graduation. Was the prom held in the gym at Horace Mann?? It seems to me, we had some sort of dance there.
I grew up in Highland Gardens, and I went to Rez and I graduated from ND in 1980. I think this is a great website, there are a lot of people that I know who are very excited about it.
Jack--I don't remember Mrs Bailey but I do remember Mrs Dougherty, Mrs Teeter, and Miss Kidd. I'll pass them along to John unless you would like to add them to the Larkin School list. Let me know.
I CAN REMEMBER MY UNCLE STAN THE MAN (STULGINSKY) TAKEN MY BROTHER & MYSELF TO THE GREAT LEOPARD EVERY FRIDAY & SUNDAY NIGHT'S GREAT FUN!
it was called the sneaker by everyone who went there
I seen your posting about the Golden Slipper from the stories I heard it should have been called the Golden sneeker.
greetings, everyone.
I am in need of an old picture of the Golden Slipper Bar and Motel located at Pennell and Dutton Mill Roads, Aston. Around 1987, The Bar burn down and the property was eventually sold. A Shopping center is now located on the site.
If you have information or a picture(s) of this famous spot, or know someone who may have pictures in their possession,, I would appreciate hearing from you. I wouol like to share this picture and information with the Aston Tpoownship Historica Society.
Please spred the word. Thank you s/jack c
Paul - Could the 5th band be Woody Herman?
Dan M. saw your list of Larkin School teachers. I was one ,year behind you and I remember mrs. Bailey 4th grade and mrs Teeter for music and miss Kidd for gym. Do you remember any of these. Also the principle was Mrs Dougherty a very good looking women with jet black hair.
Another accolade for Harvey for "Fifties" Jukebox. Thanks!
Tony and Tammie
Move the slide to Schools in the left frame and go to Rez...pictures and list of teachers from 1943 to 1951 by grade taught. Also, names and close up of the class of 1951 (click classes) under the Rez heading.
You've done it again, Harvey!!!! The "Juke Box" site is GRRREAT!!
hey,this is tammie boroi-rssi and my husband is tony dey-dey rossi. we both went to rez any body out there who went to rez and or notre dame moylan drop us a line.
The Keeper of the Eddystone Light by one of RC's relatives.
http://www.contemplator.com/sea/edlight.html
New jukebox and lots of old time radio...
http://www.rhs51.com/jukebox.htm
Geez, Buck...after knowing you a million years you still have surprises. I always thought you graduated from CHS or ST. James. Just goes to show you all we did was Party, Party. Do you and Mary remember going to Jack and Joyce's one time in Wilminton and Barney Ashbridge and Marty threw the State Trooper's wife in the pool?? I thought we were all going to jail that night. Take care. Give Mary a hug for me.
John: Your really keeping busy with all the up dates on your what's new section--we really have to check it daily if we don't want to miss a beat. Just a little walk down memory lane mentioned on this board and someone in this vast world gets the information to you.
EX: Frank Kelly, fkelly@adelphia.net, former WPWA and WDRF announcer. He has provided an excellent first-hand account of some of the programs and personalities on WDRF (copied)
Really an interesting read. Thanks to Mr. Kelly for dropping in on the OldChesterPA site and adding to its history.
Just dropping in Wanna see what a reaction I get from an old Eddystone grad "45"& fan of west end Chester
Once again, I went to the Delcotimes.com site, brought up Gebhart's column and it apparently is not the same column that appears in today's hard copy of the paper. Wonder when that column will appear? I thought the website brought up the current news, or column.
The Gateway Inn was located next to Zeitz Pharmacy below 9th and Highland Avenue
TO: TOM NICOLAIDES: How very interesting that you would remember BOBBY SHERWOOD. He was a fantastic musician and extremely talented, not to mention sooooo handsome. I thought of him when I was listing orchestras, but I didn't think anyone would remember. Bobby would have been very pleased.
I had the privilege of knowing Bobby personally when I lived in Las Vegas. He had his own local orchestra there and would perform for certain local events. Someone recently asked me what my all-time favorite song was and I said, "Something I saw Bobby Sherwood perform, at the request of local residents, on the stage, alone, with the light directly on him, when he was nearing the end of his career - in the late 70's." The band had just taken a break and at the request of many people, he took someone's guitar and got on stage. He was a "regular" at that particular lounge, and all the musicians and locals loved him. He played and sang "Someone to Light Up My Life" - a most beautiful and haunting song - and Bobby did it so well. I saw him do so many great things, but that particular, informal, performance has never been forgotten by me. I would give just about anything to see and hear him do that again. He passed away about 15-20 years ago - time goes so fast, it's hard to remember exactly when.
I would go to his band rehearsals, and even though he was in his mid-60's probably then, he stood in front of that fantastic hand-picked bunch of musicians and he still looked so great leading them - unlike a lot others, Bobby moved his body in rhythm to the music - never just stood still and waved a wand.
Bobby Sherwood has always been underrated, and he was one of the most dedicated (till the day he died) musicians ever made by God. A little-known fact, he was married at one time to one of Judy Garland's sisters. He was driving a wreak of a car when I knew him, all dented to death on one side. I always wondered how a car could have so many big and small dents all combined on one side of the car. He explained how the "accident" (and it was a two-car accident) happened. He had an incredible sense of humor, along with that glorious talent. Oh, to hear him and his orchestra one more time, or just him performing alone. What a treat. He's in music heaven now, along with so many other greats. Good golly Ms. Molly, they are sorely missed.
Dawn Patrol
http://www.geocities.com/broadcastpioneers/hall.html#McCauley
Let's hear it for TN!
can t remember the other dj s on wip besides miner but wasn t Jimmy Lynn the top dog on wvch or was it wpwa?
5th Band????How about Bobby Sherwood???? TN
My vote for the 5th band is Vaughn Monroe - probably wrong, but that's the one I feel the strongest about.
Gosh - 5 bands, eh. Truthful ole me must say that although Kitty Kallen was given some of the best tunes, if not the best, of that time ("Little Things Mean a Lot", etc.), she was not, in my humble opinion, a great singer. I heard a lot of sour notes and weakness in her sustaining of notes. Nevertheless, my bet would be that Harvey could win this hands down. I haven't the least idea who the 5th band was, but to add to the list of orchestras, there was Charlie Spivak, Jerry Gray, Les Brown, Tommy Dorsey, Isham Jones (remember ole' Isham - I don't), Paul Whiteman (I'll bet she sang a song or two with him), Bob Crosby (if she sang with Teagarden who was mostly dixieland or jazz, could have sung with Bob) - don't think she ever sang with Will Bradley, Ella Mae Morse was his singer - and what a singer she was - "House of Blue Lights", etc. - Benny Carter, Don't think she sang with Duke or the Count; Frankie Carle, Glen Miller died during WWII, Lee Castle, Claude Thornhill, Vaugh Monroe had his own orchestra - you know, I have a feeling it might be him. I'm not much help when it comes to the big bands. I know more about the small groups, like Louie Prima, Tony Pastor, etc., and vocalists - male and female.
But Paul, you really came up with one I had no idea she sang with - Teagarden. Kitty was more of a ballad singer, I thought. What a surprise.
Well good luck to everyone - hope I helped in some way. Please let us know the results.
My brother, John Ratliff pitched fast pitch for a team around Ridley Park in the 60's. He was great! He broke his finger during a game but refused to come out and he finished and won the game before he got treatment. I do love my baby brother.
I'll name 4 bands that Kitty Kallen was singer for. Whoever comes up with the 5th. is a winner 1-Jack Teagarden 2-Jimmy Dorsey 3-Harry James 4-Arty Shaw
Pidipat...It was in todays paper.
Pidipat He saysJack Roden,our favorite Delaware correspondent, says he'll make a 90 minute tape of singer Kitty Kallen to the first five readers who can name the five orchestras that Kitty sang with back in the big band era.Frankly I am not expecting any winners. Rode used to dance to Oscar Dumont's band at Sunset Beach in Almonesson, New Jersey. He claims Tex Beneke and Ronnie Duville were the most underrated singers of that time. What do you think Pat, do you think Harvey could win, I say yes.
Remenber the Starlite Ballroom in Wildwood and Sunnybrook Ballroom in Pottstown dancing to the Big Bands of the late 40's & Early 50's. Double dating and flipping to see who would drive back. Saturday nite trips to Wildwood & Pottstown, dancing and then to Wunders Dog House in Springfield for a late snack, Cherry Cokes, Burgers or Chicken in the Basket.
I just read Gebhart's column dated 3/1 and there was no mention about Sunset. Was it an earlier column or perhaps one that doesn't appear on the internet? I would really like to read that.
Remember all the fast pitch softball teams of the 60's, that was true softball not the slow pitch softball that was a girls game , now the girls play fast pitch in college and the men brag about there slowpitch teams. Could you imagine these slow pitch teams facing Donnie Westbrook, Bobby Jahonnet, or Johnny Boulware. Somebody needs to bring back fast pitch league for real men.
Regarding the photo of the 1951 grads from Resurrection. I recall two younger (and shorter) girls from Buckman Village who walked to Rez everyday behind me and Connie Leibischak (we were both tall for our age anyway). The only reason for that is that Connie and I had many things to talk about and they had their own personal conversations - so many differences in just one year,the sidewalk only held two at a time, and Connie and I walked faster. Anyway, their names were Jean Bacon and Barbara Darcey. They would have graduated Rez in 1947. They were the best of friends and Connie and I felt like their protectors. They were real cute and sweet. Anyone remember those girls?
Is the Nancy Doyle in the one picture the younger sister of Matt Doyle who lived in BV? If it is, I'll never forget the day she was crossing the street in front of me and Connie, coming back to school after lunch, and was hit by a car. It was at Highland Avenue and 10th or 11th (whichever street the entrance to the school was). She was just a tiny girl and we were hysterical. But, she survived and healed well, as far I knew. Hello Nancy.
Hopefully, Gebhart's column is on the internet today. I will go there. Thanx
Talk about coincidences.... Ed Gebhart's column in todays Delco-Times mentions the Sunset Ballroom in Almonesson N.J.
Heard yesterday that my old house at 1516 Perkins St. now has a bullet hole in it from the shooting incident a few days ago. Guess the neighborhoods not quite the same as it used to be!
Leo: Did you play softball for Sbandi's?
Hello from a former resident of 9th. & Pennell Sts., also Immaculate Heart of Mary School. Looking forward to reminiscencing with "long ago" former friends & neighbors......
The old days: On Beaty Rd. in Media there was an aviation field--really just a plain field but if any planes came to town, that's where they landed. One Sunday,a couple of friends and I walked over to the "aviation field" to see a plane that was there (fairly rare event).It was a Barn Stormer. He was taking people up for $5.00 an impossible sum of money for us.But we talked to him for a while and he agreed to take us up for a penny a pound. I ran home to get permission to spend the Indian-head pennies I had saved and permission to go up. I must have caught my Mother in a weak moment and she said yes.I was 10 years old and weighed 88 lbs. We got our ride! Three of us in an open cockpit bi-plane. The thrill of a life time!!
Charlie, thanks for the information.I had a great desire to write Mr. Landis. Old habits never die. Hi to Pidipat and RC.Nothing much to say lately.
Hey WESTENDERS, ST.J grads and ND grads - take a look at the close up picture with names of 50s westenders at REZ school, click on classes go to photo. Really neat to see faces that I remember
Thank you FRANK for giving me the information on the Caleb Pusey House and the log cabin and the fact that they are still there. I remembered the name of that ceiling ball - strobe light? Is that correct.
If you looked at the archive area at the top of this board, it will give you an indication of it's popularity and growth. John has provided a wonderful service for us.
Florence, the Geeter with the Heater is Jerry Blavet, also known as the boss with the hot sauce. That was a great show last night. I beleive Jerry still does a few shows around Del. Valley. I know he is doing a big show in March at the new Kimmel Center in Phila.
Florence: I saw the same show last night. It was Jerry Blavett (?). There were a few of us on the board who were just talking about him. Wondering what happened to him.
To UW and Jim No, I do not remember where the prom was was held. I remember Carol Guzek, Frank Kaminski. I do not remember who was with Frank. Has anyone heard from Carol or Frank?
Zoll
To UW and Jim No, I do not remember where the prom was was held. I remember Carol Guzek, Frank Kaminski. I do not remember who was with Frank. Has anyone heard from Carol or Frank? Zoll
I graduated from CHS in '64 and married Sylvester "Sonny" Pompilii SJHS '60 in 1968. We have 3 sons. Our oldest son, Joe, is a Chester Police Officer as were both his grandfathers (Sgt John "Snapper" Ryan and Sylverster "Pompy" Pompilii) and one of his great-grandfather (Hugh J. Ryan).
I graduated from CHS in '64 and married Sylvester "Sonny" Pompilii SJHS '60 in 1968. We have 3 sons. Our oldest son, Joe, is a Chester Police Officer as were both his grandfathers (Sgt John "Snapper" Ryan and Sylverster "Pompy" Pompilii) and one of his great-grandfather (Hugh J. Ryan).
Pat...
http://broadcastpioneers.tripod.com/wip/news.html
Good morning, last night while watching one of the PBS stations with the old music and singers doing their tune's, which always brings back memories. When they are having fund raisers, during the intermission, the spokesman was non other than the geeter,I can't seem to remember his name, maybe geeter with heater, oh I don't know. My husband said he can remember when they had nothing but crystal sets to listen to.We've come a long way.
John B:
My sister received the Chester calendar that you have put together she loved it. It has not only the pictures but a history. Very nicely done. She graduated class of "54 CHS..
Your Community interest has also allowed her to add to a historic ornament collection that she has been collecting for years. I sent her the Chester High School ornament it is spectacular. And the Chester Court house is a gem.
I think your mugs will make a great Parents day gift. Can fill them with quarters for those that take the bus to AC or whereever the one are bandit resides or to put in their vacaction kitty. Or one of the Totes...filled with money.
Regards.....C.
Re Dawn Partol on WIP. Who were th DJ's on that station in the late 40's early 50's? Anyone remember Gene Milner?
To Pidipat, that settlement in Upland is called the Caleb Pusey House and yes it is still there. The log cabin you refer to is the Morton Homestead located on Route 420 and Darby Creek in Prospect Park.
Ken & Eleanor Tried to send a E-Mail at the address posted andit didn't go through,seems to be a aol thing because I also sent one to another aol address that didn't go through.If you see this send me a E-Mail
to uw could mean The Blue bird of Happiness by Jan Peerce? played every night/ on The Dawn Patrol Wip at 600 Am as the closing number
PAUL CROWTHER - I think Sunset Ballroom must be the one then, because Camden was really not that far away to drive. Thank you. It certainly was beautiful and exciting for me. Can't think of the name of that revolving ceiling ball - but it came back again during the disco era - I liked that era too.
I read on this board about all the wonderful places all of you ate, and things that happened after I moved away in 1950. Gosh, I wish I'd hung around for some of them. It's not the city life, it's the life in the city and I know personally that having fun was a big part of the hard-working people in Chester.
From a few things I have read, Upland was one of the very first settlements in the US, along with the courthouse on Edgemont Avenue being a first. When I was there in '79, I visited the replica of a first settlement there in Upland. Soooooooo interesting and well kept. More interesting than the village replica at Plymouth Rock. Is that "settlement" memorial still in Upland? Also, near Glenolden on the side of a creek, is a replica of one of the first wooden cabins. Hard for me to describe it, but I was so delighted to find it. There is a hole in one of the walls of the cabin specifically made to look out of and fit a rifle through. I was told this was because of the Indians coming up the "creek" or whatever that was. I never realized when I was growing up there, how historical that city is. And, in Media - is that where most of the "underground" was for the runaway slaves? Think that's what I was told. Can anyone contribute to this?
Oscar Rainey I tried to send you a E-mail at the address you posted and it didn't go through.If you get this send me a E-mail with a correct address.
What a site!! Boy, the West End. Lyric. George Hoven.(Sin. Four Aces.) Yeah, Buckman Airport. Sorry, no pictures. Highland Gardens. Sideman's Phar. The old Food Fair on 9th. Honeysuckle. St. Hedwig's Hall. Rez carnivals. Buckman Villiage movies in the summertime. Oh Boy, that's enough for now. Your turn.
Talk about amusement parks, does anyone remember Woodside Park, it wasn't too far,matbe in Upper Darby area, I am not sure.
To Jimmy CHS 54....Fellow classmate?? Any chance of getting a last name to make sure you are on the re-union list?? Take care....TN
Tom: Was there a Michael Giberson? I recognize the last name, but not any of the first you mentioned.
Sheree
To:Former Westinghouse employees: After leaving Uncle Sam I was employed in Lester about '56-'57 in the "Gear Cutting" dept. set up and cutting on the "Side Entry Machines" "Double Enders" and "Hobbers". What I remember was a great bunch of guys there. Red
The gateway Inn was located below zeitz pharmacy at 9th the Highland Avenue
To those who are interested in the old amusement parks...Riverview and Alomonessen Park go to www.amusementparknostalgia.com and use the slide on the screens left to go to New Jersey parks. Great pictures of Riverview rides, Wilson Line etc.
PIDIPAT... This aging memory thinks the Sunset Beach Ballroom was in [as Tom Nicolaides pointed out]was in Almonesson[sp?] New Jersey. We didn't think about the Fed. law at that time. Seems to me it was near Camden. I double dated once and we went there. Being even more naieve then now I didn't know that there was a dress code. We had shirt and tie o.k.,but no jacket. Needless to say we were pretty disappointed we couldn't get in. Remember seeing the revolving ball in the middle of the dance floor.
I am looking for photos of the old Buckman Airport. As a child, I remember seeing the mail plane drop and pick up mail. My uncle learned to fly there. In 1942, as a co-pilot of a B-24, he was shot down and killed over Budapest, Hungary. The sole survivor of the crew is writing a book about all of the men. He would love to include a photo of Buckman Airport in his book.
The Giberson's moved to Fayetteville, North Carolina when I was 16 a year later Gene and Walter were killed by a drunk driver. We drove down for the funeral. I gave Greg a stop watch that was the last time I ever saw him or Emma. Emma's maiden name was Greene her brother owned a tobacco farm.
Anyone remember the Giberson's? Emma the mother, Gene, Walter and Greg. They lived in McCaffery.
RHS75: Remember Marie and Ronnie Magee? That's who I used to come to the rink with if I didn't have a ride. What Marty Worrell?
Ruth Carney: You mentioned your brother owning the Gateway near (th & Highland, was that Harry Marin. Mom & pop took me there on payday. Somebody earlier was asking about a Piano player by the name of Bill Culbrith. I remember him like yesterday. He used to play his piano at the Gateway. Someone else asked about the Pagans.. In the early sixties, while working at Rube's we had some local bikers who used to frequent the place, nice guys, never gave us any problems. Then the Pagans would show up & it was nothing but problems. We had police from Chester, Trainer, Upland, and all the surrounding areas converge on the place, including the state police. They escorted them to the state line & informed them never to show their faces around Rube's any more.. They came up from Baltimore & the DC area. Regards, Mike...
UW : I don't know offhand where the place is your talking about. Every one I talk to say they make the very best BBQ sauce in the eastern part of the state. You might just find what your looking for around Wilmington, NC..There are a few really good spots in and around Charlotte. Spoons in great. We used them quite often at work when we had family day's. You get the Brunswick Stew, Hush Puppies & the whole ten yards.. Regards, Mike... Charlotte, NC
Sorry...forgot my name on last post.
U.W. http://www.spectatoronline.com/2000/120600/maindish_feature.html
Harvey:
That could have been it. But I really thought it was the "Blue Moon" BBQ Pit. I have tried on the web, but nothing comes up on it. I received an email with a place in Wrights Beach area suppose to have the best bbq sandwich. But the writer forgot to give me the name..and I thought I was the only one that did that.. So I will jot down the location of the Blues pit and try their pork bbq.
Heres a harmony song that I loved to hear while growing up. My Dad could play almost any instrument by ear but when my dad, uncles and their friends got together after the war this song stands out in memory. "Heart of My Heart" others I liked that they sang were: "You are my Sunshine" "Have you ever seen a dream walking" "Irene Goodnight" "Baby Face".
Last week when I was heading to Pittsburgh I saw a trolley similar to the one we discussed on theses boards going north of the Blue route atop a flatbed. Wonder where its new home will be.
Zoll:
Can you remember where the prom for the Dewey class of 54 was held. do you remember what group you went with? Jim and I can't seem to remember where it was held. I do remember that one of the class girls sang the song "When you walk thru a storm hold your head up high" (that may not be the title but the works stick in my mind) at the graduation. I left Chester shortly after June of 54.
To RC, I was talking about the Gateway in the 60's & 70's.
My sister and I and anyone who cared to join in lked to harmonize. We did a mean "down by the old millstream". And my specialty was "Ace In The Hole" Now you know my deep dark secrets! Also "Smile the While".
I remember the old Woolworth's. My mother would take my brother and I every Saturday for a hot dog and root beer. I remember it cost 25 cents for both. They are still the best hot dogs I ever ate.
U.W. Could it be this one?
http://www.barbecuenews.com/northcarolina.asp
I guess there aren't a lot of people around any more who remember those dances on the ships, except for delightful Florence. Why don't they do that again? It could really be a money-making business, I would think. Think of all the people you could throw overboard. "There goes another one!!"
Also, the ballroom I asked about, it couldn't have been in NJ - taking a minor across the state lines would have caused trouble, I would think. It might have been Sunset Ballroom, but I don't know where that was.
Every day I read the obituaries on the Delcotimes.com site. The other day I saw the obit of another fun friend of mine when I was at Notre Dame ('47-'48). Her name was Margaret Whelan (maiden). It seems, although we meet thousands of people before turning old and gray, that the mention of just one person's name that you knew will bring back a certain "one-time" memory that has always stuck with us regarding that person. Margaret was fun loving and somewhat of a "rascal" - that's why I liked her.
My one-time memory of Margaret: We were standing in front of our homeroom classroom. Margaret said to me, "Pat, you are so "perfect" - you never miss a day of school. You're here everyday. What's wrong with you (indicating I'm not really "perfect")? I thought I was supposed to there everyday; maybe she was tired of seeing me everyday or would just like to know how it would feel to miss me, don't know, so I was shocked that that was considered unusual or "perfect". So, wanting not to be "perfect", I took the next day off from school - don't remember what I did that day, must have been bored to death. When I returned to school, nothing was said by anyone about my no longer being "perfect". It has been that way ever since. From that day to this, no one has ever mentioned that I was "perfect". I still enjoy being "imperfect"; however, I'm never late for anything. I wonder what Margaret would say about that? True story. Farewell to another friend, Margaret Whelan, that I really loved and enjoyed. By her obit, she married, had children, and I'm sure she taught them that having fun was more important than "being perfect."
Pam: I was in roller skates at the Great Leopard (with my Mom) before I could probably even walk. I was definately there in 67.
Sheree
I just remembered the first perm I ever had and it was given to me by a Mrs.Terrell in her hair dress parlor. It was on 9th.st., around Upland or Madison sts. My grandmother always went there.There was this huge thing hanging from the ceiling with all these wires and clips hanging there. Can't you imagine.I was about 5 or 6.
Mike M:
Several years ago while in NC (Franklin) came back over to Charlotte..Somewhere along the way there was a bbq rest. called the "Blue something" They had this great pork bbq with a sauce to die for.. Work takes me to Wilmington soon-- thought maybe someone in the area could remember the name. The sauce was a orangey color. The meat bbq was not a rib, it was a thick slice off the roast.
thanks.
RC, that's the kind of place I would have been. We used to sing around Tony's bar around 14th and Prov. Someone was always singing.I think the other day I read in the Daily Times that The First Presbyterian Church around 24th and Providence will be cloosing their church, I believe in early fall.That is a lovely church.In fact they are all lovely.. I know in the late 50's I used to walk to work and sometimes walk home. It was quite nice at that time.Especially in the spring, when the bushes and trees along the way were in bloom.
RC Did you sing or dance?
My sister and brother-in-law owned and operated the "Gateway". It was before motorcycle clubs were heard of. It was a very popular musical bar during the war. They had a microphone that they passed around around the bar so the customers could do their act. Everybody was a star.
Harvey, tonight I got a really good look of your Father's class. You are right, lots of hats.I can't seem to remember too much any more. I think a lot of my old neighbors have gone on.
BARBARA BERNARD ARE YOU OUT THERE?? DROP ME A LINE.ZAC
It's Friday see you at the "GREAT LEOPARD" 7:00PM..Get in line early looks like it's going to be packed. Everyone I talked to said they were going.
Does anyone remember a bar The Gateway? at one time The Motorcycle Club The Pagans hung thier.Are they still in Chester?
JOAN MCCRACKEN BONOQUISTI ARE YOU THE DAUGHTER OF TOM AND DOT THATWENT TO REZ?
Ruth, Thanks alot. Your brother Joe, (Juggy)was always great in my book. A good father & husband. Send Marie my regards. Regards, Mike
Charlotte, NC
Riverview Beach is still there, it is no longer a Amusement Park but it is is a lovely Park , the Pond is still there, lots of Wild Ducks and such, they have a nice Restaurant there named Riverview Inn...located in Pennsville, NJ......
Mike:I've got you placed now. Your Mother and Father were the best looking couple in the west end. Marie keeps in touch with me. It was so good to see someone I recognized on here. That's what makes this a great site.
tom: i know where your talking about but i just can't picture a "mae's" there. maybe it was before my time LOL. BTW my mother, Pat Barton used to be the manager at Pic-Way shoes sometime in the late 70's early 80's. someone mentioned mae's being on 9yh & highland. it that where the florist used to be ? does anyone remember that lady who had a shop there that sold nothing but Elvis memorabilia?
Lou C. Are you the Lou C. that lived on 5th St. You had a brother John. You hung around with Bobby Grubb. Bobby and I lived on Patterson St. I graduated from Franklin School in '55. C.H.S. in '59. You lived on 5th between Barclay and Penn.
Jim Received an email from Zoll and he lives in Houston Texas. He was transfered down there while working with Amoco. He and Jo are doing fine.......retired living the good life. His email is zoll@ev1.net.
Thanks U.W. for pointing out the story of 2nd Lt. John L. Geoghegan. I'm glad this unsung hero has finally come into light.
For Movie Buffs: Todays Daily Times front page celebrates a Delco connection to the Vietnam War. The Movie is called "We Were Soldiers" Starring Mel Gibson as a Vietnam commander 2nd Lt. John L. Geoghegan. This movie is about a PMC graduate. Pull it up online thru Johns side frame. Interesting reading.
A tidbit regarding Pickway Shoe Store at Ninth and Harwick Steets. Also in the times today...It was 25 years ago that a gunman held it up. He escaped with a small amount of cash. Everyone bought shoes there from the West End, there and cloths at Robert Hall..Even some at Wilmington Dry Goods..
Pidipat....I think the ballroom in NJ was the Almanesson(?) ball room. TN
RC, The Smiths were all my relatives. Young Marty, Jasper, Buddy, Mary are my cousins. Peg & Helen Anderson were Aunt Mane's daughters by her 1st marriage. Her 1st husband passed away during the Flu epidemic. Helen is my God mother. I guess the only ones alive now are Buddy & Mary. My mother Loretta McCarthy Mangan & Mame were sisters. Regards, Mike...
Mame an Marty Smith,young Marty,Jasper,Mary, and the Judge were all friends of mine. Peg was my sister-in-law. I must have met you sometime. Pidiat: whoever that was who thought they were talking to me in Texas was way off. I'm in MD. But it may as well be Outer Slovinia when it comes to hoagies and scrapple and good bread!!
Tom CHS76 Tom, in an earlier response, you mentioned Mae's being located next to Rube's. Rube was a dear friend & I worked there for quite a few years before leaving for NC in 1968. I knew his entire family. Great people. Anytime I got up that way I'd always go see Rube. Unfortuntily, my last trip, he was sick at home, talked to me over the phone. A short time later I heard he had passed away. I don't know how long his daughter ran the place, but from what I here, it to is closed down. I remember Mae's, both at 9th & Highland & also next to Rube's. I think I worked at Rube's when the building burned down. I grew up in McCaff & Buckman Villages. Got out of Rez in '53 then to St. James until '57... Regards, Mike...
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