Old Chester, PA: Guest Book entries February 2002 - Part 2
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TomCHS76: Yes that was "The Judge". He wasn't so bad. Got me out of some scrapes early on. He lived with my aunt Mame & Leggy Smith between 8th & 9th on Highland Ave. Had a magisrate's in the garage out back. I used to bump into him (and that was hard to avoid) at the WEBC, whenever I went down there. He was a pretty nice guy though.. Regards, Mike Charlotte, NC.
Bud, the Paul and Sam you refer to where my uncles, they where my fathers brothers. Sam lost his leg in that motorcycle accident. All three of them have pasted away. I was born at 1103 Hancock in 1949 and lived there until 1971, when I got married and move to Claymont, De. and then back to 14th St. until 20 years ago when I moved to Brookhaven where I now reside.
The Sunset Ballroom - do you remember where it was located and anything else about it? Did they feature name bands, etc. and was it really beautiful? And, the Wilson line, of course. Did they hold regular dances there? It seemed to me it was a family thing and it was during the day, if my recollection is right. But it was wonderful, really wonderful - just to see my mother having such a good time, was in itself wonderful. Had no idea RC lived in Texas. So, RC, do you also miss hoagies and scrapple? I know I do - really do. Also, your contribution to the site here regarding Media HS '35 yearbook is extraordinary - just exquisite. I for one, want to thank you for sharing that with us.
Jim Minshall:
Could that be the same Zoll Collins that we speak about? Both you and Zoll would have graduated "58 from CHS. You wondered what happened to him. Scroll down to the following post and read the message:
louis collachi Date: 2/28/2002 Time: 2:46:54 PM
Talked to RC today. She lives in Texas.
Pidipat, I remember my parents taking us on the Wilson Line, where they did a lot of dancing. Oh what fun. A lot of firehouses also had dancing. Oh the fun we had riding that ship.Sometimes all my cousins and Aunts would come over from New Jwesey, get on the Wilson line in Phila, we would all get on down by Scott paper and go to Riverview. Why can't it still be there. The Marian Clark was our age and she lived right in that area.
PIDIPAT.... Sunset Beach Ballroom?
Glad to see RC back. It has been tough trying to get on this board lately.
Talking about dances, does anyone remember dances that were held on a ship that was docked - probably at Delaware River? I clearly remember my mother taking me to a dance on a ship. I think it may have been immediately after WWII ended. I remember all the adults being gloriously happy and dancing and laughing. My mother was a good dancer and so she really had a ball that day - I think she even danced with me! Does that ring a bell with anyone? Also, one time I was taken on a date to a wonderful ballroom, took a while to get there from BV - and for young teenager me, it was the most exciting, glamorous place I'd ever seen - and a famous orchestra was there - don't remember who - and I think they had that huge revolving, brilliantly lighted ball on the ceiling that cast wonderful colored lights on the dance floor. Was it Riverside Ballroom? Don't remember. Any clues, anyone? I remember the name of the fella what brung me tho' - Paul Hefflefinger.
In my last post, I said Walter Clark. I found the pictures, and the boy's name is actually "Francis" Clark.
Florence - The "Marian" Clark I referred to, was a friend of my grandmother, so the one you knew, is not the same - could be a grandaughter tho'.
RHS75----------Yes I did know that. The Embert family has a family reunion in the summer and Jimmy was there this pass year.Also My Aunt Kitty and Jimmy are in touch quit a bit and more so since young Jimmy and Helen died. Thanks anyway just in case I did not know.
tom, i think your getting old.... maybe a little senile. the fight that i remember across from pic-way that lasted a few days was in fact...rocky lamey and phil workman....quite a few other fights went on there at bell also at our days from pulaski, but not as long as the rocky and phil.
Pam: I saw T.T. sister a few month's ago at home depot in Claymont and she never said anything, that was probably 3 or 4 months ago and Jack reads the paper everyday and lets me know stuff like that usually. So to answer your question. I don't think so unless it was recently.
Donna: I kind of remember a saying something like: Pic-a-trash pic-a-trash 2 pair 5 dollars cash.
Pam, yes, Paul and Michelle are my cousins.
I remember every year before school was about to start, that's when I went to Rez, my mom would drg me and my brothers to Pic-Way for new school shoes. Aghh! I used to feel so embarrassed 'cos I remember people would make fun of that place. There was some sort of teasing saying about Pic-Way my friend Brenda would say and I can't remember it?
Tom Got the 57 from your emale. My brother in law Tom remembbers you too. We heard that T.T. passed away, true?
Nicole Are you related to Paul or Michelle Scarpato? Sheree Ida taught @ the Leopard from 67 until the fire. When did you skate?
Does anyone remember the Mae family from Potter St., there was John, Eddie and Joe. Eddie Mae was a police officer, Joe was retired from the army then went to post office and John was a magistrate in Nether Providence. Any stories about the Mae's?
Betty Did you know that Lois passed away last year? Dee is married to Dr. DeAugustine and they live in Peach Bottom and still practice medicine.
Yeah, I remember going to PicWay getting my 2 pair of shoes for 5 bucks wearing them out by the time I got to Gino's for my Gino Giant and having to buy 2 more pair for the walk home.
Charlie Landis: Well you made me get out a map and you are correct, it was Ridley Ave That went to 14th St and not Vaulclain. I lived at 1418 Hancock St in 1927 then we moved to 1133 in the Court and then 2 houses away to 1129 Hancock where I lived until 1952. So we must have lived there at the same time. I would not want to live there by the spring, back then you could get in there by going on Sun Drive and under the B&O trestle. They dug pits of some type there or built up banks to contain the goo that they hauled in there for quite a while. Also I remember there was another spring which was near the intersection of Melrose Ave and I think it was 16th, the old beat up road that went over to Bullens Lane. Are you any relation to Paul or Sammy Landis, I knew both of them. Sammy was in an accident while riding on back of a motorcycle with Pete Peterson.
Bud - Yuma, AZ
Wow, this is pretty cool. I was just scrolling down the comments to see if anyone responded, and I saw someone mentioned Pic-Way shoes! hahaha Man, I hadn't thought about that place in a loooong time. Thanks 'cos that made me think of another old memory I had forgotten about too. Anyone remember Gino's?
Mike Mangan: I was reading in the police dept page and I seen that you note where you uncle was magistrate Smith. We use to call him Judge Smitty down at the W.E.B.C. if in fact he is the same guy. I think I was the only name of any of the kids he knew...Tom can you get me this or that, he was not real nice to the bus boys but I worked in the kitchen and he was always nice to me. But anyway I always thought he was a nice guy but a lot of the kids didn't and they were afraid of him, especially the new kids we use to tell them that they called Smitty the hanging judge back in the day. :)
Harvey: Sunnybrook is still there on Ridge Pike. It still looks the same. But oh the construction that is going on there. Houses starting at $200,00 plus. It ain't country anymore and now rich country at that. I think the actual location is Sanatoga. They still serve dinners there, etc.
Patti: if I didn't tell you before and happy to see you got the bands picture on the site. Thats a real bit of Chester History.
Lynn Thanks again for your reply. Joan already contacted me and we will be corresponding. Like I said, a number of old friends contacted me: Zoll Collins, Larry (Moose) Jones, Lou Calverese, Allie Ayres, Al Meekins,and Harvey Fellunbum (sp?). If there is anyone else out there that remembers me, please drop me a line. Graduated CHS in 1958, was a member of the band (played bass drum and others),was a member of the key club, was in Machine Design Class 57/58. This is a great site and again, Al Meekins thanks alot for turning me on to it.
John: Mae's was across from Vesuvio's next to Rube's.
Niki : Let me know what Paul says I forget who he was fighting it was behind PicWay shoes and across the street in the Bell Tel yard but then again he may not remember because we are so old and tell him I said Hi.
Hi, RC, Welcome back! South Media Fire Co...That was only a few blocks away for you. I was like your mother. I didn't dance but I sure did like to watch. I took my friend, Mary Croall Ridgeway to a dance once and when I got her home she said, "Harvey, the next time I go to a dance with you...I won't go!"
I used to go to Sunnybrook Ballroom in Pottstown though cause a lot of big bands played there. I know Louis Armstrong was there in June of '61. I saw him and Benny Goodman at the Academy too. Saw Stan Kenton at Steel Pier a couple of times.
Tom: Oops, sorry! Ok, he's my slightly older cousin. How's that? He really fought a guy for four days?? Good Grief, I can't wait until I see him again, just so I can bring that up to him!
nicole i guessed right, you were off yesterday. i'm up to my ears in paperwork today but i will check in from time to time.
tom, where was mae's at?
Hey Niki watch it Paul's only a year or 2 older than me maybe 3. LOL
John: I was off yesterday. I didn't tell Tom you were on here, it was just a coincidence. The last time I saw Lizzie was at my Uncle's (hers and Frankie's dad) funeral. I saw Frankie a little over a year ago, at his wedding!
Tom: Paul is my cousin! My much, much, older cousin ;)
Sheree: Paul is still very nice looking!
What happened to everybody? Now that I'm, don't tell me I have to talk to myself. I did a lot of that before I got this gadget! I know The Stanly Ballroom was before your time but if any of your folks danced, you've heard of it. It even had a dance step named for it--The Stanly Slide. You always tell SB regulars by their style. There were quite a few places to dance then-the '20s. DEl Rio, on West Chester Pike and Chez Vous in Upper DArby to name a few. It was a good time for musicians because all of these places had big bands. Of course they probably had a "day job" if they wanted to eat. Practically every organization around had an annual "Ball" with a grand march led by the dignitaries and their ladies with everyone dressed to kill. When I was little my mother took me to the dances at South Media fire house. She didn't dance but she liked to watch. That gave me an early interest in dancing. A great Saturday night out for a little kid. Some of the young fellows in those days were called "cake-eaters". I don't know why but they did wear trousers with really wide bell-bottoms.
There was an earlier post re "The Bald Headed Nine". Can anyone fill in the details about this West End gang?
RC- glad you are back. Pidipat-- I went thru Smedley with a Marian Clark, but she doesn't go on to the high school.
Bud you got the location right for that spring. Your years are different from mine because I was born in 37 but the spring was there through my growing up years. I was born and raised on 15th right up that hill. They filled that area all in somewhere along the way and now has a low income apartment buildings sitting on it,also on the 15th st side Crozer has there extended care unit there.Thanks for the response Bud
To RHS75, Rose Embert was also my Aunt through the marriage. Jimmy,Delores,Lois and Bobby are also my cousins. Your Uncle Jim and my father were brothers. Never really knew Aunt Rose's side of the family but knew the last name. Ask your Grandmother if she remember's Kitty that is a Aunt of mine on your Uncle Jim's side I'm sure she will remember.
I'm back! Thank God! It was a very frustrating couple of days. Thanks to the efforts of John Bullock and Harvey I can join all you nice people again. Nighty night now. Talk to you in the morning.
Bud, if you followed Ridley Ave it became 14th St. When they put in I-95 they tore down the houses on the one side of Hancock St. and moved the railroad tracks closer to the back of the houses on 14th st. They then removed all the dirt to lower the road bed down so that it would be level, all the dirt they removed they put in the quarry that was in eddystone. I lived on Hancock St. from 1949 till 1970, got married lived a short time in Claymont, De. and then moved back to 14th St. The area across from the store on 14th st was a practice softball and lacross field when I lived on 14th. also at that same time was when the Eagles held their preseason practice at Widner University.
TO George: I live in Drexel Hill, not too far from Chester. The weather was in the 30's today - about 34 degrees when I left work at 5pm. It was certainly winter weather today.
I grew up in Sun Village and graduated from Chester High in 1964. Any other class of '64 people out there?
Welcome back Lou Warfel - so glad to see your writings again! You gave a beautiful and loving tribute to Betty. God has surely blessed you in all aspects of life - art, music, literature and many, many children who love you. There was a post by Tom, the fellow who found all those old photos, and this weekend, he is going to generously work on them more. Your knowledge of old Chester is so valuable here - I started to type "invaluable" - somehow that word doesn't make sense. I am tickled that you are once again with us.
To Anonymous who asked about the Clark Family. My grandmother left me many old photos and identified everyone. I am not able to find them at the moment, but I remember people by the name of "Clark" being in some of the pictures. I was born on Potter Street - 1100 block. I remember perhaps Marian Clark and a young boy by the name of Walter appearing on a couple of those photos - blond-headed people with full-sized faces. I got the impression that Marian was a friend of my grandmother, Myrtle Hampton, and Walter was Marian's son. I think the house I was born in was my aunt's house (my grandmother's sister), and my aunt and uncle were Frank and Zeruiah "Ruie" Weber. If any one of these names sound familiar, let me know and I will find those photos. Good luck! Strangely, enough, I always wondered who the "Clarks" were. They appeared to have some kind of house at the beach somewhere. Long Island, NY is also mentioned, as is the Delaware Gap.
What was the weather like in Chester today, heard it was 70 yesterday???
To Tom: I meant to say I had a big crush on Paul as a kid.
Too much typing for me at work today, fingers just don't want to cooperate with me anymore!
I had caught a couple postings in reference to an Ida, I believe from the Great Leopard. Did she use to teach skating there?
I practically grew up at the Great Leopard, as did my Mom (Joan Pollock) and her cousin (Floss Brush). I remember my mom got me skating lessons from an Ida at the Great Leopard.
Anybody remember those "dolls" you would attach to your skates and skate with them?
To Tom: What's up with Nancy these days???? Also Sandy, Sharon and Linda??? I saw your posting about Niki's uncle Paul, I had a big crush as a kid.
Does anybody remember the Clark family from 8th. & Potter St., one of the brothers was George, if so what can you tell me about the Clark family?
RHS75: Hi Pam. I got a couple emails from Jackie today. Funny she thought I was talking about Pam Silva when I copied her in on the email I sent you, also I saw your post I don't know if Pam S. checks the board anymore, haven't seen her post in a while but yes she is the one from the west end. Tom
P.S. the board has been running slow today and I'm actually on a lan network so it is probably super slow by modem.
Florence: Yes, He was always quiet. Then you did know my father, his brother Totta but I think we went down this road already.
Harve Sometimes I can't either. I think that you have to keep trying one after the other till it happens.Sometimes it's just too busy.
Tom, I remember spider bulger, he lived down the street from us. Very quiet man.
Anyone remember Lawrence "Spider" Bulger worked I think at Baldwin's lived across from the Armory in Chester for like 50 years. Never married but I hear he was quite the lady's man.
Harvey, I just had the same problem as RC, I rebooted my PC.
i gotta go will check back tommorrow seeya
RC hasn't been able to get on this Bulletin Board since day before yesterday. She can get on other sites and send and receive email but she can't get on here. She uses Webtv. She is suffering from withdrawal. Does anyone have any suggestions or solutions?
Yes, we probably do know a lot of the same people, although I'm probably a few years older than you. I've been seeing your post to Niki. I know practically her whole family I used to live across the street from her grandparents, uncle Paul, aunt Patsy and John Gallagher... Saw her uncle Paul fight a guy for like 4 days straight everyday after school they would go at it. I think they eventually gave up kicking each others a-- and became friends.
Never really hung at T&E's though I was more at Mae's that's where I learned how to shoot pool.
Hi, Lou Warfel, Thanks for sharing memories of Bette with us. It gives all us married folks something to shoot for. I remember Bette telling us she used to sing with Julie De John when they were working at Scott Paper. Seems to me she even had you shaking your adam's apple at some of the variety shows at Our Lady of Charity.
i meant back to the eastside of chester, sorry 'bout that .
tom i bet we have some mutual aquaintences, i grew up on 9th and highland from about'78 on up to the late 80's. that's when i moved back to chester for a littla while, then to clifton heights then to lester then to eddy"rock" and so on and so on and now in claymont, DE.
Yes, I grew up in Chester. Born on 22nd Edgemont then moved to McCaffery when I was 6 lived there most of my life before moving to Eddyrock. Now in Propect Pk.
nicole
haven't heard from you today, off?
tom: i think i remember jack but only vaugly(don't jump on me about te spelling) so. by the way did you grow up in Chester?
Man I really messed up that last comment. That's what happens whe you type to fast.
Sheree: I ran into my cousin Nancy. She living in Eddystone.
John Barton: You know Jack he was the guy I always hang with dirty blonde hair. Another good shooter. But don't tell him I said that :)
Pam Silva Read your posting looking forCindy Sawyer. If she's the one I'm thinking of my son worked with her brother Kirk last year. He lives in Oxford, Pa. Are you from the West End? Also, are you related to the Pam Silva that graduated from Eddystone HS in 1955 ? I am named after her, my mom went to school with her.
I have to write this before I forget. I was remembering when hats were such a big part of outfits. I loved hats. Everywhere we went . To weddings,Church,Sunday School etc..
I have to write this before I forget. I was remembering when hats were such a big part of outfits. I loved hats. Everywhere we went . To weddings,Church,Sunday School etc..
Mr. Warfel What a lovely story, and you are right, your love will always be with you.I am a romantic and it goes on and on, until the 12th of never, i'll still be loving you.
Betty Yes, RoseMcElwee Embert was my aunt ! My grandmom is Jane, still living in Eddystone. John B- She also worked @ Ranger Joe. I think she lost her wedding band there.
Richard Tinney I too remember Pop Johnsons. All I can remember is getting gas there. I believe you were in my 6th grade class @ Eddystone with Mrs. Bundrock.68-69.
Niki (Nicole)
read your post from yesterday,i will have to stop by one of these days just to see what it's like. did you tell tom i was on this site or just coincidence? do you keep in touch with liz and the family? if so tell them i said 'sup (what's up). looking to hear from you, seeya'
Jack Kerch.
i used to live on eddystone ave right off of 9th st. i'm having a little trouble remembering exactly who you are. for some reason i can remember things from twenty years ago better than i can thingsfrom six years ago ..go figure. if you would, give me some info to jog my memory. i don't recall getting picked up to go to pool. i've always had at least one car but that doesn;t mean anything. post back seeya'
Betty: Let me see if I can get my streets right. If you went up Vauclain St (I think) in Sun Village and crossed the B&O tracks I think it turned in to 14th St. On the right side was a small dump and next to it was a path down the hill to a spring were we got our water. There was store across the street that I think was owned by the Klotz(?) family. Right in the area of the spring was a swamp and later on, when I was still a kid, maybe around 1938 or so they brought in truck loads of a liquid tar like material and dumped there, It was a large operation and may have been done by Sun Oil. I can't help but think that whole area may be contaminated and often wondered what was there now. Pidipat: You crossed my mind the other day, my daughter and her husband flew out to visit me and brought me some Scrapple !!! Of course I did not mention this until it was all gone.
Bud Haynes - Yuma, AZ
Neat 1950's site.
www.fiftiesweb.com/music.htm
(Don't know how to put in the hyperlink.)
Hey Nicole Lizzie,Frankie and Jeannie are my cousins too!
Hi. I'm Al Bufano 3rd...from Sun Village. I live in NJ now but still proud of where I'm from. My father is Class of '48 Chester High, My grandfather had his barber shop on Providence Ave. My cousin, Bud still has the car wash on Providence. Thanks for this site! Alf Bufano St James Class of '76
Lou Warfel Phoenix, Az. Many thanks to everyone for your kindness and concern for me when my wife, Bette Jane Brooks Warfel died in January. My family and I have had wonderful support from friends and neighbors, from the members of our parish, and everyone with whom we came in contact with during this difficult time. Bette was an extraordinary woman and I am grateful for the 55 years that she and I had together. As many of you know, we had 15 children and Bette was a devoted mother. By her quick capable actions in emergencies she saved the lives of two of them, Patricia, who accidentally set her clothes on fire, and Paul, who suffered a severe electrical shock. Excellent with the sewing machine, Bette made many nice outfits for herself and for the children. A member of the Artist Guild of Del. County, Bette did many nice oil paintings for friends and family. With a beautiful voice and a love of music she sang at weddings and funerals at Our Lady of Charity in Brookhaven. She also sang with the church choir and performed in several amateur musicals and variety shows. She enjoyed Bowling, Billiards, Golf, Bocce Ball and swimming. Bette also loved crossword puzzles, Pinochle, and Dominos, and she and I spent many happy hours together playing Upwords. Bette loved children. When ours were grown she took a job at the Day Care Center at Neumann College. She and I together wrote an account of the very eventful first 25 years of our marriage. Our children and grandchildren have copies which they read and enjoy. In 1978 Bette and three of our daughters went to California where Bette appeared on the Game Show “Match Game 78”. In a book by Jonathan Gash he says, “……….if you’ve ever loved -- and I don’t mean just had a fond moment -- you can never be alone ever after. She may have ………vanished beyond your ken, but you are part of each other for ever and ever. I believe this is true and it is helping me to feel better day by day. I am tentatively making plans to visit Delaware County in July to visit friends and family, perhaps to do a little research and to look at some of the old familiar places. Lou Warfel
john, i also shoot pool at spada's. still do.. i think i remember you shooting there with us. did you live down off of ninth st. in eddystone, if so you even stopped by my house once or twice on 11th st. i remember stopping by and picking you up cause we were short on players.( still the case till this day)
hi pam, i remember you, didn't know you were related to debbie (kershinski) my sister jackies been on this sight but i don't think to much. tell dave i said hi.
Talkin about the Carusos does any one know that that might have had a daughter who was a teacher at william penn school in the early 7o's i think i was in 2nd or 3rd grade so that would have been 1972or 73...i also know she was a very nice teacher,
Tammy
The congregation of First Presbyterian Church of Chester voted to idssolve our church as of April 7,2002. This was done with much prayer,thought, discussion, and sadness. However, with an ever declining and aging congregation we felt we had no alternative. We would like to issue an invitation to former First Pres. members to come and worship with us on or before April 7th. Services are at 10:00A.M. After April 7th, The Way Through Christ Ministry will be holding services at the church.
Re: CARUSO BROTHERS: Thanks to John, a very big thanks, I spoke on the phone with VINCE Caruso. He is 87 years (I typed "tears" - first - can fit sometimes when it comes to memories); mentally very sharp. Marty is 85 and Tony is 77 (lives in Florida). He asked about my dad; figured he had passed away because Vince said he always came to visit Vince when he was in Chester. And, to my delight, he knew right away who I was. He is extremely busy with students all the time (said he had some at the moment). He does not have a computer but has friends who do. I told him where to find the photo and he is going to look at the picture and get back to me/us. I told him the leader of the orchestra was very handsome and who was the most handsome - him or Marty? (Tony would have only been 7 at the time, so we know it wasn't Tony.) Vince laughed so loud and said, "Well, that would be hard to say."
So, if any one of you or your children or grandchildren want the best in musical instruction, look up the Caruso Bros. Music Studio in Brookhaven.
However, now that I know Vince's age and Marty's - I WAS DEAD WRONG. Neither of them could have been the conductor - too young at the time. I had no idea my father was 6 yrs or so older than them. Not the last time I'll be wrong, so keep your eye on me - I'm getting older by the day.
I hope you found this to be of interest and maybe someone can identify the conductor - very handsome and suave - looks a little like Rudolph Valentino. Oh me, so many handsome men and so little time.
Hi, Donna Welcome to the Club!
Dorothy Shay...try this.
Scroll down, put Shay in the Search this site box, click Search
Hi fellow chesterites, I'm brand new to the site and the computer thing. Someone told me about this site so I had to come visit since I hail from the West End and am proud of it. One of my fondest memory of Chester was going to school at Ressurection Of Our Lord on 9th and Highland. Any of my ole' classmates out there or some ole' rezzers?
Hi fellow chesterites, I'm brand new to the site and the computer thing. Someone told me about this site so I had to come visit since I hail from the West End and am proud of it. One of my fondest memory of Chester was going to school at Ressurection Of Our Lord on 9th and Highland. Any of my ole' classmates out there or some ole' rezzers?
harvey, thankyou. You are a music master. Pat, that sounds great. I wish I could have seen him perform. I have learned so many things from this site.
Eveyone keep's talking about the springs in Chester and Deshong's park where they got water. Does anyone know that there was a little pipe coming out of the ground where you could get spring water between 14th and 15th street right along side a dump? The water was good though. I don't remember the side street but it may have been Crosby.
John, I was in Spada's Friday night. Steve and I stopped in after the Elton John,Billy Joel concert. We hadn't been there in a long time, either. I saw some familiar faces. Believe me, with that place, some things NEVER change.
to RHS75 did your Grandmother have a sister named Rose?
TOM - All of your work regarding those pictures is very, very generous of you and there are many who appreciate your efforts. So glad you saw that post.
FLORENCE - My father was my hero. I grew up just seeing him every few months, but spent all summer vacations, with him and many letters back and forth. After CHS graduation, I moved to live with him and his new family in NJ. Until the day he died at 77 in 1986, he was still performing. He is the one who always encouraged me in everything and started me in show business. His sense of humor has never been equalled by anyone I know, and at his funeral, he was eulogized as having brought laughter to more people than those famous on TV. He was humorous at home too. So quick with his wit (and oh, could he handle the "bullies" - they were afraid to tangle with him while he was performing). When he died, me, my two sisters and one brother fell completely apart for quite a while (even my mother, his ex-wife was distraught) - his loss was great and still is. He had a passionate love for Ireland - visited there 2 or 3 times and kissed the blarney stone (I have the picture). My brother, Michael, then wrote a song after Dad died - "Heaven Must be Ireland to Him."
He was raised in the heart of Chester in a very poor family - loss of his father when he was a baby. He and his brothers also helped lay the foundation (bricks, etc.) for Resurrection Parish and school. He never got any further than the 5th grade - that's because he, a brother Bill, and 3 childhood friends went into vaudeville. He could take any situation and turn it into something hilarious. What a gift God gave him - and I told him so. Shortly, very shortly, before he passed away, he said, "Oh Pat, what have I done with my life?" I said, "Dad, are you kidding? You've brought so much laughter to so many people and without laughter, what a sad world this would be. You contributed more to this world than most." Love you - Pop - always will. I'm proud to be your daughter.
gotta go i'll check back in tomorrow. see ya
Yes, I do and I'm still the captain. They started a local Ridley league on Monday nights. We are in 3rd place and start playoffs in 2 weeks. This will be my last season. Getting married, got my daughter living with me now, you know all kind of personal stuff going on. Well I have to get back to work, so I won't be back on until tomorrow.
P.S. I'm still good...LOL
Also RHS75: It's Tom76 not Tom57 make me sound like a condiment LOL
Tom yes i remember. i guess my memory is fading in my old age. do you still go to spadas? i haven't been there in a looooong time. last time i was there i didn't know a soul. pretty busy but all new faces. oh wait, i seen al "eye" but he didn't recognize me at all. ii guess things change. post back its nice knowing someone on this site. hw long have you been on this site?
I was the captain you were on my team.... you know dark curly hair we used to shoot allll the time. I know you remember, now.
come on tom i need more than that. i mean nikki even told me her last name and i still didn't remember. were you on the pool team? when i think the best i keep thinking of myself LOL, so that doesn't help.
come on tom i need more than that. i mean nikki even told me her last name and i still didn't remember. were you on the pool team? when i think the best i keep thinking of myself LOL, so that doesn't help.
hey pam, i finally figured out that you are pam after reading a little. nice to hear from you. i live in de. and have 4 girls(including stacey). do you miss skating? keep me up on what's up. good to hear from you.
To Pat or Lou: It was I who found the pictures. I just snail mailed john 13 on a CD he should have them in a few days. Took me near 4 hours to scan and fix them the best I could, because they are so old and fading. I also inserted some text as to what where and who if it was written on the back. They are so old that when I take them out of the albums some of them cracked. I will try to send some more when time permits. I only have the weekends to do it because I work late and don't usually sit on the computer at home. So to the people who sent me email I have not forgotten.
Think pool Spada one of the best...:) Captain.
Yes, i am. that was a long time ago. i got out of the limo business and went into real estate. who is this?
pidipat That is a very nice picture and a goodlooking dad. How neat to have that. You must have been very proud of your dad.
To John B: Are you limo john?
To RHS75: Yes, I do remember you, we skated together(well not together) :( at The Big C... I was in the rink the night it was on fire. If I am correct I think you were, also. Ida was your dance and figure teacher. I also took dance and figure, but when they started the speed team I jumped on that. I remember a guy name Bobby was on the team, too. I am like family with the Kershinski's. I know Dave, too tell him I said Hi.. You use to go out with an old buddy of mine T. T. although I don't think it was to long. Question do you still have that long beautiful red hair?
Dorothy Shay http://24.25.20.4/SearchResp.asp
Somebody brought it up first so I don't feel so bad but the temperature in Denver this morning was 4 below with 5 inches of snow. I'll bet that makes you all feel better now doesn't it. George (Please, no jokes about brass monkeys, witches or well diggers, ok?) PS, the temp on Saturday was 72, man, ya gotta love it!!
68 degrees in Chester, Pa today.
People take a minute and click on the sites. Pidipat is telling you to do it. Controlling again?
Just a short "thank you" note to those people giving me "hugs" - made me feel warm all over. So, good does come from bad, sometimes, because the negativity that has been posted here, has just brought a lot of us closer and to a better understanding of each other.
FLORENCE - Don't ever knock your memory. Dorothy Shay (or is it Shea - not sure) the "Park Avenue Hillbilly". I never heard that funny song you printed, but if we know Harvey, he'll find it somewhere and play it for us. I'd really like to hear it. If you haven't re-heard Tem-Tay-Shun - "Well it were thisaway - you came, allerin' me on" (remember that) by Jo Stafford and Roy (or Ray) Engle - it's on one of the sites Harvey gave us. I laughed once again hearing it(after about 30 years).
I noticed on the Home Page here that John has an invitation to all to write about the current happenings in Chester. That would be interesting, especially about the young generation and their accomplishments, etc.
I received a reply to my email to Lou and he is doing better every day and says he will soon join us. He is interested in the names of those families found on the old pictures that were found in the tossed boxes. Forget who posted that, but I told Lou where he would find those posts. We are all grateful to the fellow who told us about those pictures.
Just a short "thank you" note to those people giving me "hugs" - made me feel warm all over. So, good does come from bad, sometimes, because the negativity that has been posted here, has just brought a lot of us closer and to a better understanding of each other.
FLORENCE - Don't ever knock your memory. Dorothy Shay (or is it Shea - not sure) the "Park Avenue Hillbilly". I never heard that funny song you printed, but if we know Harvey, he'll find it somewhere and play it for us. I'd really like to hear it. If you haven't re-heard Tem-Tay-Shun - "Well it were thisaway - you came, allerin' me on" (remember that) by Jo Stafford and Roy (or Ray) Engle - it's on one of the sites Harvey gave us. I laughed once again hearing it(after about 30 years).
I noticed on the Home Page here that John has an invitation to all to write about the current happenings in Chester. That would be interesting, especially about the young generation and their accomplishments, etc.
I received a reply to my email to Lou and he is doing better every day and says he will soon join us. He is interested in the names of those families found on the old pictures that were found in the tossed boxes. Forget who posted that, but I told Lou where he would find those posts. We are all grateful to the fellow who told us about those pictures.
YES! that's it. that's me. i don't think i ever knew your last name. or maybe forgot. do you still keep in touch with everyone from from the bar? i moved down to delaware about a year ago. i only come up to chester to collect the rent (remember?). ididn't know that lizzie was your cousin. last time i saw her was when i lived in collingdale about 5 years ago. i hope you are doing good. i can't quite remember the last time i saw you i would say about 2or three years ago? how's barb and chris doing? post back.
That's it! Columbas! In Eddystone, right? If you remember me, you probably know me as Niki. I'm sure you know my cousin Chris. He played pool for Columbas, and he worked there, too. He married Barb who also works there. The last time I saw you, you were living on 21st. St. You lived a few doors away from my cousin.
Frank, and Lizzie are my cousins.
John,
That's it!! Columbas! In Eddystone, right? You might know me as Niki. Chris H. is my cousin. He finally married Barb. I think the last time I saw you, you were living on 21st. St. My cousin lived a few doors away from you.
John,
That's it!! Columbas! In Eddystone, right? You might know me as Niki. Chris H. is my cousin. He finally married Barb. I think the last time I saw you, you were living on 21st. St. My cousin lived a few doors away from you.
Again for those interested in the Caruso family, John Bullock has now posted under "Recreation" on the left side menu, the photo I mentioned. Click on "Chester Radio Orchestra" and there's the photo. My dad (Tom McFadden) is to the right of the drummer holding his banjo. The gentleman standing to the left of the drummer is one of the Carusos (I am almost positive). If you can help identify some of the others, that would be wonderful. The faces are small, granted, but one never knows. Incidently, my dad was never that solemn - and I wonder what he's looking for in his pocket? Or, maybe he was just trying to look "dapper".
nicole
Yes i do play pool, very much so. i have played for several bars in the area, the columbas club, the alibi(now harry cats),the cliton inn and some others i'm sure over the years. i did know a scarpato growing up on the west end. it was lizzie and frank that's about all i can remember about them. i don't remember a nicole but the last name may just be a coincidence. give me some more information maybe we are or were friends at one time. see ya'
Harvey , Ruth, Piddipat is soooooooooright. It is beautiful. You always think of such wonderful things.
John,
No, that's not me. I think I know the Nicole you're thinking of. She lived on 16th St. My last name is Scarpato. I still think I know you. Do you happen to play pool?
RUTH and HARVEY - Oh my gosh. What an exquisitely beautiful and exceptionally done site for the Media Class of '35. People, take a minute and click on the sites (haven't gone to the second one yet) provided by Harvey. I understand Ruth is in her 80's (hope she doesn't mind me saying this - she appears to be as proud of her age as I am of mine (70). The opening page just took my breath away. This is one of the things that makes this site such a treasure. Thank you Harvey and Ruth.
To John Thank you so much for starting this site. As you can see I am really enjoying it. Sorry for so many entries but I'm new! Someof the articles make me proud to be from Chester. My whole family & my husbands' were from Chester. My great-grandfather had asuitcase store? and ajunk shop, downtown I think. His name was Pasquale DePaolo. His sons all went to St. Anthonys on 3rd St.. They lived on 3rd & Franklin. MY grandmother lived on Patterson St. near Penn St. She is a McElwee. Anyone remember any of those names or places? Thanks again!
RC's Class Photos...(Ruth Wingate)
http://www.mediahighschool.com/class35/35students.htm
http://www.mediahighschool.com/class35/35reunion.htm
To Jack & Jackie Kersinski My cousins' cousin is married to Rocky,Debbie. Jackie & I both took skating lessons from Ida Grande in the late 60's early 70's. I am still in touch with her.Jackie and I were good friends. Whatever happened to Charlie & linda? Remember roller derby?
To Tom57 You must know my husband & I because I saw back in Dec. that you were telling someone we were married, Pam Kline and Dave Watras. We were from Honan St. in the Gardens. I also lived in Sun Village & Eddystone. Are you the same Tom that posted under tradgedies that you were in the rink when the fire started?
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.
To Ruthann Do you remember my mom, she graduated from Eddystone in 55, Mary Jane DePaolo ?
Pidipat will keep on posting because she has a lot of interesting things to say and she truly has true grit as Harvey has said. (((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Pat my friend)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) that was a good idea. One day the wind told the breeze, Their is no one strong as I, I can uproot yonder tree, with ease I raise a roof on high.The gentle breeze said in reply, that you cannot replace the the joy I bring in spring to girl and to boy, And so I am as strong thee. something from childhood. Who ever heard of the New York hillbilly Dorothy Shay. I never knew that our romance had ended, until that bottle hit my head, and I tried to be aloof, when you pushed me off the roof, I feel our romance is dead, etc, from the 40's.We must have had that record at home on Walnut st, 15th.I can see it so clearly and I wish that when I pass on, I will wake up where I began. But of course noboddy can go back. I do know that. RC how are you doing today? Keep on telling us what we want to hear.
Dave Sorry about that, must have hit the wrong button. Haven't seen you since Sandys' wedding in 81. I think we went to Harrys Savoy Grill on Namans Rd. after. I graduated with your ex and went to Jeffries with Steven. Remember the dances at Linwood Fire house and of course St. James? {take your shoes off!} I also skated at The Leopard. Did you figure me outyet? Are you still with Pepsi? Dave & I are still married. We have 4 children & agrand daughter.My grandmom still lives in Eddystone. Message back.
Dave Thanks for the info. I haven't seen you since
Dave Thanks for the info. I haven't seen you since
Dave Thanks for the info. I haven't seen you since
Dave Thanks for the info. I haven't seen you since
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.
Nicole
ido not know your boyfriend but i did know a nicole in sun hill. if your last name begins with or used to begin with a "j" let me know. did you used to work at sears? post back.
Actually Marge, before you prounce on me, I had started to ask a question but changed to a sentence. Didn't catch the mistake on time to correct it.
Now getting back to what this board is about. Chester. It doesn't look too bad at night.
There still are some nice areas in the daytime too. From Providence Ave. to Melrose, from 18th to 21st streets. Those big old homes still look good.
Years ago, those homes were for the Professionals who eventually moved out to Swarthmore, then on to Nether Providence, then Media, then Upper Providence, going farther away from the city blight.
It would be nice to see some Victorian homes built in Chester. That period in time seemed to be the most loving, peaceful and beautiful. It might rub off again. They didn't have too many conveniences at that time but they took pride in their homes. You can tell by the ones still standing in that part of the first ward.
Hope the city does turn around because the location is prime.
Whoops! I used a question mark instead of a period. Ten demerits!
Only kidding, not really a teacher. If I was, I wouldn't brag about it.
Hey Marge, if you were really a teacher, you wouldn't use a preposition to end a sentence?
You did! "the best internet hug I can come up WITH?"
Marge: In our school district after 12 years you have tenure and the average salery is $56,000.00. I believe where you are with a masters degree it is at $26,000. We start higher than that. Maybe your the wrong Marge, but teachers here can make big bucks and get paid during breaks.
mary ann could you please write in chinese for my ancestors
George, if you e=mailed me I didn't get it...having problems with my server tonight...K.
Where is all this going?????
Hey Teach, if any of us were in your class we'd be too stupid to be on the internet in the first place.
If some of you were in my class, we would be staying in at recess to discuss manners and honoring other's feelings. I am thoroughly disappointed at the lack of tact some posters have in regards to other posters. Say what you will about my post... I am a teacher, you can't scare me!!!! haha!!
((((((((((Pidipate)))))))) <--- that is the best internet hug I can come up with. PLEASE keep posting.... I know you said you would... and I like your spunk! :)
repmujyks loa@56potder
Does anyone remember the Four Aces in 1951?
Does anyone remember the concert in Chester Park with the Four Aces in 1952?
MaryAnn I'm dyslexic so I would enjoy your contributions much more if you would please write them backwards. Thanks for your consideration.
Well, MaryAnn, Picky, Picky, Ican't believe it. the nerve of some people.
Floyd Murray
I love reading about your recollections of the past in Chester; it brings back so many memories. One suggestion, however; could you please make a few paragraphs in your writings. It would be so much easier to read. Thanks and keep up with the memories.
Mary Ann
Kate: I'm having problems e-mailing you, please e-mail me at the above address and we'll try again. Some folks have had problems getting set up but most slide right through. Ditto on dealing with AOL. G
George, I did get to the site, left & when I tried to go back it would not let me, said I had to be invited again...maybe others are having trouble getting on...I don't have AOL as they are a pain to deal with ...
Floyd Don't worry about awakening memories. I moved a long time ago. Life must go on. thanks
Kate you are welcome
Floyd Don't worry about awakening memories. I moved a long time ago. Life must go on. thanks
Kate you are welcome
George, Thank's for all your help....Florence, nice of you to help me out...Thanks.Kate
Floyd,I went to school with Joanne News Notre Dame '65 is she related to you? She was a friend of mine...When did you graduate? Kate
to rhs75chs75, there is a skating rink in nj(riverside) that still has live organ music. it is called holiday and they play tuesdays and sundays,fyi.
Kate: Yes, believe or not, there still is a Chester "chat room". There was some excitement about it in the beginning (last August) but activity and participation have dwindled to almost nil. It requires an invitation to join, but this is just to keep it "Chester" oriented and not intended to keep anyone from joining. Of course it is free and requires the downloading of a program called "AIM", also free. AIM is not required if you are an AOL subscriber. There were several requests to start Neighborhood nights, so I started with West End on Monday eve and East End on Tue eve. No one shows up. There was some interest in having High School nites, so I asked for suggestions and only got two replies. In discussing the lack of participation of the chat room with several cyberspace friends from Chester, I think we understand why it's not being used. I will not go into that here, as it would probably start another verbal fued. If you'd like to join the chat room or would like any other information on it, please email me at gpmalick@wideopenwest.com and I'll get you all set up....George
Floyd I remember you from when we went to CHS. I use to walk from Hancock St. in the Village to CHS going up 12th to Edgemont to 9th, along the way I would meet up with a friend of mine named Vince Healy, he lived at 12th and Walnut, did you know him and have you ever heard of or from him? The schools I attended where Jefferies, Smedley and CHS.
To Florence - You wrote "Floyd That was my father and yes my baby brother drowned at Woodland Beach.Yes, my father never got over that. It just ran him down. My mother was pretty much the same." Florence, I am so sorry - I hope I did not bring back any painful memories. But John was such a nice kid, and a good friend to me, that I remember his friendship even after all these many years. Even though his early death was a true tragedy, this is a testament to the nice boy he was and the very good man he would have become. And this is something to be VERY proud of. Smile now, OK? :-) Life always goes on - but we always keep the family and friends we care for in our hearts. It is a gift from God or Nature or whatever you prefer. But it is a gift from "wherever" and we need to be grateful for it. Gotta run. More later. And thanks to everyone again for this great page. :-)
Addendum - Quickly, to Tom - no sir, Phil News was not a minister, not that I knew of anyway. He was certainly not in Buckman Village circa 1974, and I know this. He and his wife - the former Mary Bradley - my Mom was a girlhood friend of hers ever since she came over here from Ireland in the late 1920's - Mary settled in Chester - were just very close family friends. Long story, but I was not baptized as a Catholic until I was 13 years old - Dad wanted me to be a Protestant, Mom wanted me to be a Catholic - anyway – Mom won – and since I had something to say in the matter, I asked for "Uncle Phil" and "Aunt Mary" to be my godparents. Mom had more - shall we say - "sedate" - friends than Dad did ;-) Anyway. Mary came to America from Ireland in the late 1920's and married Phil in the 30’s, I think. They lived for many, many years in a row home on Melrose Avenue - - RIGHT across the street from the Widener football field. Phil was not really my "uncle" but when I was a kid - I guess it was something to do with being an only child - I named my older cousins and people whom I liked - as "Uncle" and "Aunt". Mary was a tough, old Irish lady. But at my Mom's funeral - both of my parents are buried in Chester Rural - she tried to be brave but broke down at the gravesite and I comforted her. She had lost her life-long friend, you see. Me too. :-( Anyway. After Mom's death, I squirreled away in Media to start a new life, which I did. Made a LOT of good friends here. But one night, not too long ago, not quite a year I think, but I forget the date – I was in the West End Saloon with some friends and there was a copy of the Daily Times on the bar and I picked it up and browsed through it. Checked the obits – yeah, I know the joke – “to see if my name was in there” – but then I saw that Phil News had died. It was in that paper, on the bar, that I randomly picked up. Life is strange, etc. The obit said that his wife Mary had died several years before. I did not know that. We certainly never had any problems but they never called – even though I was something of a “public figure” at the time, as my home phone number was published in the Daily Times every Friday - and I never called - and we just lost touch over the years. My fault, really. I thought of them many times over the nine years I have been in Media, but I just never called. I do not know why, but I never did. Phil was quite a prominent person in Chester at one time – and when I was a kid, and even beyond, into my early 20’s, since we both used to love old horror films, he would always call and tell me that he saw that the original “Dracula” or “Frankenstein” would be playing on TV at such and such a time. He was the subject of a lengthy Daily Times interview circa 1977 or so – I took a secret pleasure in this, thinking something like “And THIS is the guy who calls me when a Karloff film is on!” When I was about 7 years old he took me to a science fiction film at the Mac Theatre on 9th St. OH! – An aside – Does ANYONE here remember Herb’s newsstand RIGHT next to the Mac theatre? – I have a LOT to tell you all about THAT place later on – :-) - anyway – and I freaked out at a scene of some guy melting or something and he had to take me out of the theatre. He was a little perturbed but very cool about it – Hell, I was only about seven or so. We laughed about it in later years. But I never called Phil or Mary when I left Chester – and now it is too late. And such is life. C’est la vie.
To Floyd Murray: My brother-in-law was a member of the "Bald Headed Nine". For some unknown reason he called himself Mat Sullivan. Really Harry Marin owner of The Gateway. Another member was Bud Laury.
kate
If you go to whats new in chester on the home page, there is the information
Floyd
That was my father and yes my baby brother drowned at Woodland Beach.Yes, my father never got over that. It just ran him down. My mother was pretty much the same.
Hi Everyone - Just popped in for a minute. To buffyk@fast.net - My Dad worked with another paperhanger whose last name was Smalley. I forget the gentleman's first name but I went to Smedley with his son, John Smalley, a very, very nice kid who drowned when he was only around 15-16 or so. I graduated Smedley in 1965 so this was around that era. I remember Dad talking about how devastated - obviously - his friend was over his boy's death. John was really a hell of a nice kid. Please feel free to answer privately, via email, if you wish. Later will write about that great Smedley reunion about 12 years ago. Rummaging through my stuff while packing, I found the class picture we all had taken. I also kept the videotape made of the reunion. That was a great reunion and quite a night - I got to see the girl I had a TOTAL and HOPELESS crush on ALL throughout Smedley and Chester High also. After the reunion, we all went to the Wharf Tavern in Aston and since she did not have a car (her brother had driven her to the reunion) I had the privilege of driving her to the get-together we “Smedleyites” were having. :-) I won't give her full name, but her first name was Ellen. She was still beautiful, and she does not live in the area anymore but I noted that she was quite the "keeper of the flame" - she showed up at the reunion with all sorts of Smedley memorabilia from those years. Pictures, papers, yearbooks, etc. It was the first time I had talked to her since a long-ago day in Chester High when I saw her walking home up 9th St. (she lived on East 22nd and I was still on Dupont street) and (GULP!) I actually got the nerve to ask her if I could walk with her. We had a nice chat on the way, but I still never got the nerve to ask her out ;-) Young love, eh? Ah, well. Anyway. Tina - I do not know if Dr. Deprophetis is still alive. Wish I could give you a better answer. Maybe someone else here could help? He was one hell of a great surgeon, I know that. Later he told my Mother and I that Dad's gall bladder was like "mush" when he removed it. My parents had me later in life and Dad was around 70 then. In the hands of a lesser surgeon, considering how truly serious this emergency was, he probably would not have made it but thanks to Dr. Deprophetis we had him with us for another six years. I think I saw Dr. Lachman once as a child and I know I did - when I was VERY young (I am blessed - or cursed, if you will - with what is called a "photographic memory") - see Dr. DeLaites a couple of times. However, my main pediatrician was Dr. Richard Barr, who had an office in the Smedley area. I forget exactly where. I switched to the family doctors (we had two) when I hit adolescence but I remember reading an article in the Daily Times about Dr. Barr - one of his own children had died and he talked about how it hit him so hard - naturally – and how he had saved so many other children in his career but his own was lost. Very, very sad. I often wonder – guess this is a syndrome for those of us on a site like this – where he is today. Still alive and doing well, I hope. Anyway. BTW - the files of the Daily Times - called "the morgue" in the trade - are open to the public by appointment. There is always a librarian there to help you. It used to be Peggy Chance, a nice lady who had the job for years - do not know who has it now. But they are invaluable and the “newer” files - say from 30 years ago, probably longer - are carefully indexed by name, subject, etc. They are clippings and Peggy would spend many an hour carefully cutting them out of the paper and carefully indexing and cross-indexing them. Virtually all of the older files are also on microfiche, both at the Times and the Widener Library. They go back for over a hundred years. I have not used them in ten years – but back ten years ago, a girlfriend and I were researching the Media serial killer of the 1940's - yes, there was a serial killer in Media back then, but I guarantee you won’t read about it in any Media “Everybody’s Hometown” PR releases - and the Times files were invaluable in our research. I recently gave my personal file collections to a friend - there are a TON of them - but somewhere in there should also be something about my search for the Chester Liberty Bell. Yes, my friends, there WAS a Chester Liberty Bell. It was cast at the same time as the much more famous - and MUCH larger - Liberty Bell we all know so well, and apparently by the same business which made Philly's Liberty Bell. Hope I can see those old files again but I am sure they are in there someplace, as I was pretty meticulous about these things. Bob O'Neill, who, back around 15 years ago, was the public relations representative for the Chester School District, and I worked on this one. He lived - and hopefully still does - in Springfield at the time. There is a belfry in the old Courthouse and even though the police station was also right there, the door to the Courthouse was left open one day and - well - :-) :-) ;-) - Bob and I stopped by the Courthouse one day - and - uh - :-) - well, I sneaked in and climbed up to the belfry to check out the bell. Not easy, as I'm pretty large to start with and was also lifting weights constantly then, but I got up there anyway. It was still a tight squeeze. Anyway, it was not the same bell Bob and I had in an old photograph from 1930 – it was in a picture with Mayor Ayres – Spelling right? – and the one at the Courthouse is much larger. I don’t think anyone had been up there in years. I spent the next hour wiping the dust off me. Will check with my friend this weekend, as my files on this research should be in there, but there are also a HUGE amount of files as investigating unsolved mysteries was sort of a hobby of mine since I was around 15 years old. Too bad I was never paid for it :-). Anyway, I forget exactly how we determined this, but we figured the Chester Liberty Bell was residing, packed away and gathering dust, in some long-forgotten storage space in Philadelphia. You see, it had been taken to Philly around 1935-40-45 or so for a Fourth of July celebration and it seemed to just disappear after that. Bob and I talked about taking the research further, but he was busy and I was busy and nothing else ever came of it. So the fate of the Chester Liberty Bell remains a mystery. Maybe Judge Crater and Amelia Earhart are making it gong once more, in some misty land beyond tomorrow and yesterday, and having a good laugh on those of us who investigated unsolved mysteries. Anyway. To ruthcarney@webtv.net - No, I am sorry - the name Bill Culbert does not ring a bell with me (no pun intended - really :-). My Dad knew a lot of people in his youth but the name Bill Culbert is one I do not remember. He talked about his drinking and partying buddies from "way back when" in Chester – 1930’s and beyond, since he lived all his life here after his family moved from Cincinnati when he was just a tyke. Some of the people he knew were quite notorious at the time. Dad, himself, made some extra money running liquor during Prohibition. Even as a boy, Dad was a brilliant pianist who was classically trained, starting at age 5, in Liszt and Chopin but he preferred jazz – I think he could have played Scott Joplin’s Maple Leaf Rag with his eyes closed – and he played piano in some of the “houses” in Bethel Court when he was around 14-15 years old or so. Not to denigrate the great Ethel Waters – but yes, her mother did work there. And yes, this is how she came to be born in Chester. Anyway. Moving on. Along with the other fun and games in Bethel Court, there was also a lot of gambling going on and Dad told me that the winners were always escorted to their homes, carefully and safely, by a couple of hulking bodyguards, to ensure that they got home OK and were not mugged on the way back. After all, they were “customers” and would no doubt be back the next week. Say what you will, but the place was run “right”. Anyway. One of Dad’s friends from that era was Johnny Traub, a small, slender guy with thick Coke-bottle glasses who Dad said was the best bar fighter he ever saw in his life. Bigger guys in bars would pick on this "funny-looking" little guy with the big glasses and Dad would recall how he slowly took off his glasses, set them carefully on the bar, and then all Holy Hell would break loose. He said he attacked like a wildcat and he never saw the guy lose a fight, no matter how big the opponent was. Needless to say - Dad always stayed on his good side ;-) Another was Jess O'Neill, a huge, red-haired guy whom I remember visiting with Dad when Jess and his wife - I forget her name - I think it was Ethel - lived on Bickley Place in Chester. He was friendly and nice as hell, but a bit scary to an 8-9 year old kid. He had hands the size of baseball mitts but a big Irish smile, lots of red hair, and he laughed real loud and I remember he gave me a big plate of ice cream and put a western on TV for me. Dad also knew some of the members of the infamous Bald-Headed Nine, an early Chester gang, from, I recall, the East End, around 9th St. I think. My Dad often used to talk about Chester back in the real old days and his memories, to an extent, also became mine. It fascinated me and it still does. My Mom, God rest her, led a much more quiet life. Anyway, gotta run – and thanks to everyone for such a great page about the great city of Chester!
To Floyd: Was your uncle Phil News a minister, too? Did he live in Buckman Village. I think he eulogized my brother when he passed away with MD in 1974.
To Tammy: I went to school at 5th and Waters St with Karen and we graduated together. I think we even dated for a couple of weeks. Tell her I said hi. Live on Pulaski Dr.
Today I snail mailed some pictures on CD from the 20's of old chester to John.
Can anyone tell me if the chat room is used by anyone ??And how to you get signed in. Thanks
Harvey, I remember getting a birch beer with my dad.How about Kresge's chili burger's.My mother loved Martha Washington candy store and so did I.
John B--- Your newest feature "What Chester Makes..." brought back many memories. I lived in a house at 5th& Madison and that sign on the other side of the Pennsy tracks shined in my bedroom window. Later in even harder times we moved across the street to a one bdrm appartment.I didn't have a bedroom and couldn't see the sign anymore. The sign was next to my best source of money in my pre-teens. The Junkyard on Crosby St paid for newspapers and scrap metal and I pulled many wagon loads there. In addition, in those days people would pay me to get gallon jugs of spring water from the springs at Deshong or Chester Park. The railroad siding was a great place to play because they sometimes left empty boxcars there for days. The Great Train Robbery was played out there many times. We even had batting practice under the RR bridge. Pitched on one side of the street and hit from the other. Those blacktaped balls really hurt your head when the bounced off the stone walls. This was before Little League. No ballfields nor anyone to organize so we did it ourselves.
Just a reminder that tonite is "West End" night in the chat room. It might be a good place to get some of this "hostility" off your chest. If you haven't joined, send me an email at gpmalick@wideopenwest if you need the link, its: http://prv-groups.aol.com/oldchesterpa
John B:
Really a good piece on your What's New section regarding the "WHAT CHESTER MAKES, MAKES CHESTER" . Don't know if anyone remembers, but Mrs. Mielke (5th Grade Dewey School) would have her students write an essay on those words and what the words meant to them.
Welcome Aboard Floyd - I look forward to more memories from you, too. All kinds of past history and little tidbits of information and help is posted here, and a lot of familiar names. Dr. DeProphetis was my doctor too - who was/is older, Rocco or Nino?
To Floyd and others interested in the Caruso family and music from old Chester:
I found the 8-1/2x11 picture of the orchestra my dad was in and it was taken in late 20's or very early '30's. The picture is labeled "Caruso Radio Orchestra - Chester, Pa. - Stations WIP - WFAN." Nine members in the band plus (Vince or Marty - no first name given) as the leader. It consisted of three sax/clarinet players, the piano man, guitar/banjo (my dad), drummer, tuba player, one French Horn/trumpet player, and one trombone player. It's a professionally-taken picture and I would really like to post it on our website. I think Harvey can tell me how to send this to John, or how to handle it. Unfortunately, no names are given for the members of the orchestra. Mr. Caruso is holding a baton, but not far from him on the floor, there is a violin - which possibly he played - don't know. If anyone knows who any of the other musicians were and would like to see this picture, I can email to you - not sure of the quality it would come out as. So, it would nice if I could post it somewhere.
To the folks who submitted information about the Post Office locations and the names of the postmasters: Could any of you tell me if the locations listed for the period of 1875-1880 would have covered Upland's delivery? I found info in obits and old newspaper articles that mentioned Joseph Dalton (Sr. and Jr.) were postmasters - but it didn't mention the location. I know they lived in Upland but wonder if the mail was handled through Upland or Chester? Where did find the info? I could use some help! Thanks.
John Barton, your name sounds very familiar. I'm 28 and I grew up in Sun Hill (I still live there). By boyfriend is closer to your age, he's 38 and grew up on Walnut St. His name is Steve Zalewski. Maybe you know him?
tammy, yes i did know karen from the west end and than met two other sisters when they lived on eighth st.
Hey Jack Scotts is still in Chester only called Kimberly-Clark...I should say the same plant is there...I worked in Eddystone plant after h.s.'65...Kate
NO ONE is dictating what is "ALLOWED" some have said personal use should be for e-mail's to your friends.
Is Scott Paper still operating in Chester? A corporate hatchet guy named Dunlap did a job on Scott in the 80s, I believe.
Worked at Scott Paper a few summers while going to college in the early 50s...ran a machine packing Scotties. Shift work too,7 to 3, 3 to 11, and 11 to 7.. Really had a negative affect on my social life.
Floyd Murray,glad someone new is on here with "good old memories" , to many have used this site for their personal forum..you know who you are...name blaming get's you no where on here cause they keep on doing it...so let the blame-game continue...
I was trying to stay out of the finger pointing but, geez, what is the big issue with some of you regarding Pitapat and "personal platforms?" I don't know about the rest of you but if the comments on a post aren't interesting to me, or I don't have anything to add, I move on. Quite a few of you seem obsessed with the comments of some of the regular posters. It isn't up to you or me to dictate what is "allowed" to be written on this community board. So now, if you want to flame me for stating an opinion - so be it.
FloydCHS48,we lived in that area many years' Floyd Murray. My father was also a paperhanger, S.D.Smalley. And Shae--I don't think it hurts one bit to be a little personal at times, sometimes that's how we help out people. I am sure a lot of us have put personal things out here. I know that this board is to try to bring back memories of chester.Their are a lot of people that should use e-mail, but they choose not too, and thats ok .Everyone has just found a lot of old friends and its hard not to say everything you want them to know. To err is human, but to forgive is divine
pidipat@earthlink.net: Please make your personal things private. Use emial, that's what it is for. This site is for all to post memories of Chester & surrounging areas, not your platform. You seem to have some social problem, could be too much time on your hands. You sound depressed at times. Please keep to purpose of this site.
Thank you so much, Floyd Murray. I'm more in your dad's era but you have preserved his memories very well. I saw Al Pike do his act a couple of times. He would bite a chunk out of a glass and chew it up--made your blood run cold. Do you have any memory of Bill Culbert(notsure of the spelling). He was a wonderful piano player with the most beautiful hands.
Good Morning all. To PITAPAT: You asked if anyone knew about cats like yours. I think the 6 toed variety are called Hemingways. That is what I have always heard, the author Ernest Hemingway had many cats of that sort. I've seen them but have never owned one. I have the "dumped off" variety - whatever ends up at my door!
Hello to Paul Crowther! I have been negligent in keeping in touch and I have always enjoyed hearing from you. Hope you are well.
To FLOYD: Is Dr.Rocco Deprophetis still alive? He delivered me back in 1956! I also remember Dr. Wyman (my mother's physician) and Dr. Lachman who was my pediatrician.
To BILL & MARY'S FRIEND: Last time I posted to you I screwed up and put your "handle" in where I should have typed Tina. Made the post look like it came from you - oh well....
hello everyone. i just finished reading ALL of the postings from over the weekend, busy site. i am still hoping to hear from someone from my "gereration" but it's not looking good. i still go to chester on a regular basis and would be happy to answer any questions about the neighborhood, as far as what is or isn't there anymore. i grew up in chester and didn't move out until i was 25. that was about 10 years ago. but my whole family is from chester. the Wrights,Thorntons,Bartons. my grandparents used to live next to joe(mayor)battle and his mom agnes. when i was growing up i stayed at my grandparents blanche barton and maurice(slim)barton house every weekend. they became very close. i was stunned when judge battle died last year. i remember alot of the stories my grandparents told me about how chester was when they were young. reading the stories here brings back those times. thankyou.
Carol52, I did live on Clover Lane in the 50s...can't recall Rostron family.
John, Thank-you for being able to add the *motto* of Chester to this site, for it brings back a lot of great memories to me. :o) Sharyn
Thanks for your memories Floyd...hope there is a lot more to come!
Hi Everyone – A cousin of mine, now living in Florida, told me about this wonderful page and I was amazed to see it, to say the least. It is fantastic! As a journalist by trade for over the past twenty years, I do tend to get “wordy” but will try to keep this first post relatively short. In the middle of a move from Media, where I live now, I took time out from packing to send in this post on this quiet and reflective Sunday night. I was born on Upland St. in Chester and my parents moved to 622 Dupont St. when I was about three or four and I lived there until I was around 20 and then we moved to 1119 Terrill St., in Sun Village. We lived there for around 20 years. My father was Floyd Murray – also my name – and my mother was Marie, a nurse at Crozer-Chester Medical Center. Dad was a local musician in the 1930’s and ‘40’s, a pianist who had his own band, and he was also at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. My good friend from the Daily Times, Ed Gebhart, wrote an article about Dad in the December 7, 1973 edition of the paper. Dad was a switchboard operator at Ft. Shafter in the Hawaiian Islands. As Ed wrote, Dad “missed his date with destiny by 55 minutes” as his shift ended at 7 a.m. that awful morning and the next fellow on duty was the one who first saw the blips on the radar screen. The “blips” were the Japanese planes. Ed wrote “(Murray) was sitting in his tent writing a letter to the woman who would become his wife when destiny came calling”. Dad described the bombing to her just as it was happening and I still have that letter. It is perhaps my most prized possession – not as an invaluable historical document, which is it, but as my most valued of family heirlooms. I also worked as a reporter and columnist for the Daily Times for some years, starting as a Chester correspondent. Today, I seem to be best remembered for the weekly Bar Hopping column I originated for the Daily Times and wrote for about 16 years. Oh, well. Anyway, I based that long-running column on The Needler, the bar paper of local entertainment news and gossip, published by George Grieco, the printer for Crozer-Chester Medical Center for many years. George was a great guy and when I interviewed him for one of my columns, naming him as the originator of an entertainment tradition I was then carrying on in the Daily Times, he gave me some of the old Needler copies, which I still have today. George published The Needler from 1939 to around 1982, quitting only when his friend and columnist Hank Stafford (he wrote “Hanky-Panks”) died. Anyway - today Len Casterline, another friend, is doing a great job carrying that bar column tradition on in the Times. Later, I will write a longer message to the fine editor of this wonderful site but the people whom Dad introduced me to as I was growing up will no doubt jog some memories. As a boy, I met the Carusos, as he knew all of the members of that great musical family; Andy Bufano, the barber who was also a piano teacher; Skipper Dawes, music teacher at – I believe – Smedley Junior High in the late 50’s or early 60’s – please correct me if I am wrong. Dad told me that Skipper used to work with Lawrence Welk. Bill Wallace, the auto mechanic from 3rd St. and a great human being, to say the least; Joe Rentz from Joe’s Hardware which recently closed – I saw Joe last about two years ago at a restaurant in Swarthmore and we had a nice talk. Dad worked part-time at his hardware store for many years and yes, I still remember the little post office in the front and Joe’s green eyeshade which he put one whenever he went in there. Joe is a great guy who always gave Mom and me an American flag each Veteran’s Day for Dad’s grave. Also, there is the much-missed Vern Triboletti, a good friend who really loved music, from opera to bog bands, from Hutchinson’s Pharmacy, and many, many more. Dad would often talk about the incredible Al Pike, a close friend of his before Al left Chester, and I always wanted to meet this man whom Dad said was a musical genius, with a Ph.D – a college professor – But who also used to eat cigars and light bulbs as a party trick! I’m sorry that I never met him too. Dad was the first non-Irishman to join the Irish American Club, back when it was on Edgmont Ave. in downtown Chester, I believe. He took me there when I was a kid and I recall it was on the second floor. I think later it moved to the West End of town. He also belonged to the Polish-American Club (not bad for a fellow who was actually French and Scottish!) and years ago, when I was a little boy, he would bring those delicious hot dogs from the Polish Club, loaded with sauerkraut and mustard, back home to Mom and me. Remember “Highball” who owned the corner grocery store around 8th and Crosby, I think it was? Johnny Moran, owner of Moran’s Bar on 11th St.? Eddie Dodds, a childhood friend of Dad’s, who owned Ryan’s grocery store on Morton Ave.? And his son Bill? Bill was a teacher who helped out at the store often. Both great people. Henry Shapiro from Henry’s Wallpaper in downtown Chester? Dad was a paperhanger until he had a heart attack and then he went to work for the city’s sewage disposal plant at Front and Clayton Sts. His good friend for many years, the wonderful Ernie Burke – “Burkie” – a Chester alderman at the time - helped Dad get the job so he could support his family. Dad told Burkie what was happening and he told Dad something like, “Don’t worry about it, just come to work there whenever your doctor says it’s OK.” I am an only child and I was in high school then and Mom went back into nursing, taking classes again and getting a job on First Northeast Ward at Crozer. They were tough times, but we got through it all. We had each other and we also had a lot of great friends in Chester. There is so much to go into but this will have to wait for a later date, maybe next week when my regular work is done and I can take some time off from packing. Remember Gene Banta? Nice man, fine family – he was a neighbor of ours on Dupont St. Later, he owned the Golden Slipper. Please add to your list of physicians Wasyl Polischuk, who tragically died in a fire in his 9th St. office about 25 years ago. He was a good and decent man and an excellent doctor. You already have Dr. William Cook from Providence Ave. – he saved me from a very bad case of pneumonia about 10 years ago. And his great nurse, Eileen, who was always warm, friendly and very competent. Dr. Cook is since retired and I hope doing fine. He was another excellent physician. And also it would be nice to remember my godparents, Phillip and Mary News. “Uncle” Phil was a union representative at Sun Ship for many years. Sadly, they are both gone now too. In July of 1976, Dad suffered a ruptured gall bladder and his life was saved at Crozer by emergency surgery by none other than Dr. Rocco Deprophetis. I can still see Dr. Deprophetis coming out to Mom and I after the surgery, still in his surgical greens, smiling and assuring us that he thought Dad would be OK now. And he was. Dad lived on, under Dr. Cook’s care, doing well after that very, very narrow escape, until February 13, 1982. As an only child, I stayed with my Mother after that and we moved to Folsom about 13 years ago. She died on October 17, 1992 and then I moved to Media. Wow, and I said I wouldn’t get too “wordy”! Sorry, but often our memories are like Chinese boxes – open one, and there are many, many more behind it which need to be opened also. Thomas Wolfe gave the poignant title “You Can’t Go Home Again” to one of his novels and this is true – but it never hurts to “go home” again in our memories and it’s especially nice to be able to share some memories with nice people like the ones on this web site. God Bless you all and will write more when I can.
RHS75: Hi Pam. I got a couple emails from Jackie today. Funny she thought I was talking about Pam Silva when I copied her in on the email I sent you, also I saw your post I don't know if Pam S. checks the board anymore, haven't seen her post in a while but yes she is the one from the west end. Tom
P.S. the board has been running slow today and I'm actually on a lan network so it is probably super slow by modem.
Florence: Yes, He was always quiet. Then you did know my father, his brother Totta but I think we went down this road already.
Harve Sometimes I can't either. I think that you have to keep trying one after the other till it happens.Sometimes it's just too busy.
Tom, I remember spider bulger, he lived down the street from us. Very quiet man.
Anyone remember Lawrence "Spider" Bulger worked I think at Baldwin's lived across from the Armory in Chester for like 50 years. Never married but I hear he was quite the lady's man.
Harvey, I just had the same problem as RC, I rebooted my PC.
i gotta go will check back tommorrow seeya
RC hasn't been able to get on this Bulletin Board since day before yesterday. She can get on other sites and send and receive email but she can't get on here. She uses Webtv. She is suffering from withdrawal. Does anyone have any suggestions or solutions?
Yes, we probably do know a lot of the same people, although I'm probably a few years older than you. I've been seeing your post to Niki. I know practically her whole family I used to live across the street from her grandparents, uncle Paul, aunt Patsy and John Gallagher... Saw her uncle Paul fight a guy for like 4 days straight everyday after school they would go at it. I think they eventually gave up kicking each others a-- and became friends.
Never really hung at T&E's though I was more at Mae's that's where I learned how to shoot pool.
Hi, Lou Warfel, Thanks for sharing memories of Bette with us. It gives all us married folks something to shoot for. I remember Bette telling us she used to sing with Julie De John when they were working at Scott Paper. Seems to me she even had you shaking your adam's apple at some of the variety shows at Our Lady of Charity.
i meant back to the eastside of chester, sorry 'bout that .
tom i bet we have some mutual aquaintences, i grew up on 9th and highland from about'78 on up to the late 80's. that's when i moved back to chester for a littla while, then to clifton heights then to lester then to eddy"rock" and so on and so on and now in claymont, DE.
Yes, I grew up in Chester. Born on 22nd Edgemont then moved to McCaffery when I was 6 lived there most of my life before moving to Eddyrock. Now in Propect Pk.
nicole
haven't heard from you today, off?
tom: i think i remember jack but only vaugly(don't jump on me about te spelling) so. by the way did you grow up in Chester?
Man I really messed up that last comment. That's what happens whe you type to fast.
Sheree: I ran into my cousin Nancy. She living in Eddystone.
John Barton: You know Jack he was the guy I always hang with dirty blonde hair. Another good shooter. But don't tell him I said that :)
Pam Silva Read your posting looking forCindy Sawyer. If she's the one I'm thinking of my son worked with her brother Kirk last year. He lives in Oxford, Pa. Are you from the West End? Also, are you related to the Pam Silva that graduated from Eddystone HS in 1955 ? I am named after her, my mom went to school with her.
I have to write this before I forget. I was remembering when hats were such a big part of outfits. I loved hats. Everywhere we went . To weddings,Church,Sunday School etc..
I have to write this before I forget. I was remembering when hats were such a big part of outfits. I loved hats. Everywhere we went . To weddings,Church,Sunday School etc..
Mr. Warfel What a lovely story, and you are right, your love will always be with you.I am a romantic and it goes on and on, until the 12th of never, i'll still be loving you.
Betty Yes, RoseMcElwee Embert was my aunt ! My grandmom is Jane, still living in Eddystone. John B- She also worked @ Ranger Joe. I think she lost her wedding band there.
Richard Tinney I too remember Pop Johnsons. All I can remember is getting gas there. I believe you were in my 6th grade class @ Eddystone with Mrs. Bundrock.68-69.
Niki (Nicole)
read your post from yesterday,i will have to stop by one of these days just to see what it's like. did you tell tom i was on this site or just coincidence? do you keep in touch with liz and the family? if so tell them i said 'sup (what's up). looking to hear from you, seeya'
Jack Kerch.
i used to live on eddystone ave right off of 9th st. i'm having a little trouble remembering exactly who you are. for some reason i can remember things from twenty years ago better than i can thingsfrom six years ago ..go figure. if you would, give me some info to jog my memory. i don't recall getting picked up to go to pool. i've always had at least one car but that doesn;t mean anything. post back seeya'
Betty: Let me see if I can get my streets right. If you went up Vauclain St (I think) in Sun Village and crossed the B&O tracks I think it turned in to 14th St. On the right side was a small dump and next to it was a path down the hill to a spring were we got our water. There was store across the street that I think was owned by the Klotz(?) family. Right in the area of the spring was a swamp and later on, when I was still a kid, maybe around 1938 or so they brought in truck loads of a liquid tar like material and dumped there, It was a large operation and may have been done by Sun Oil. I can't help but think that whole area may be contaminated and often wondered what was there now. Pidipat: You crossed my mind the other day, my daughter and her husband flew out to visit me and brought me some Scrapple !!! Of course I did not mention this until it was all gone.
Bud Haynes - Yuma, AZ
Neat 1950's site.
www.fiftiesweb.com/music.htm
(Don't know how to put in the hyperlink.)
Hey Nicole Lizzie,Frankie and Jeannie are my cousins too!
Hi. I'm Al Bufano 3rd...from Sun Village. I live in NJ now but still proud of where I'm from. My father is Class of '48 Chester High, My grandfather had his barber shop on Providence Ave. My cousin, Bud still has the car wash on Providence. Thanks for this site! Alf Bufano St James Class of '76
Lou Warfel Phoenix, Az. Many thanks to everyone for your kindness and concern for me when my wife, Bette Jane Brooks Warfel died in January. My family and I have had wonderful support from friends and neighbors, from the members of our parish, and everyone with whom we came in contact with during this difficult time. Bette was an extraordinary woman and I am grateful for the 55 years that she and I had together. As many of you know, we had 15 children and Bette was a devoted mother. By her quick capable actions in emergencies she saved the lives of two of them, Patricia, who accidentally set her clothes on fire, and Paul, who suffered a severe electrical shock. Excellent with the sewing machine, Bette made many nice outfits for herself and for the children. A member of the Artist Guild of Del. County, Bette did many nice oil paintings for friends and family. With a beautiful voice and a love of music she sang at weddings and funerals at Our Lady of Charity in Brookhaven. She also sang with the church choir and performed in several amateur musicals and variety shows. She enjoyed Bowling, Billiards, Golf, Bocce Ball and swimming. Bette also loved crossword puzzles, Pinochle, and Dominos, and she and I spent many happy hours together playing Upwords. Bette loved children. When ours were grown she took a job at the Day Care Center at Neumann College. She and I together wrote an account of the very eventful first 25 years of our marriage. Our children and grandchildren have copies which they read and enjoy. In 1978 Bette and three of our daughters went to California where Bette appeared on the Game Show “Match Game 78”. In a book by Jonathan Gash he says, “……….if you’ve ever loved -- and I don’t mean just had a fond moment -- you can never be alone ever after. She may have ………vanished beyond your ken, but you are part of each other for ever and ever. I believe this is true and it is helping me to feel better day by day. I am tentatively making plans to visit Delaware County in July to visit friends and family, perhaps to do a little research and to look at some of the old familiar places. Lou Warfel
john, i also shoot pool at spada's. still do.. i think i remember you shooting there with us. did you live down off of ninth st. in eddystone, if so you even stopped by my house once or twice on 11th st. i remember stopping by and picking you up cause we were short on players.( still the case till this day)
hi pam, i remember you, didn't know you were related to debbie (kershinski) my sister jackies been on this sight but i don't think to much. tell dave i said hi.
Talkin about the Carusos does any one know that that might have had a daughter who was a teacher at william penn school in the early 7o's i think i was in 2nd or 3rd grade so that would have been 1972or 73...i also know she was a very nice teacher,
Tammy
The congregation of First Presbyterian Church of Chester voted to idssolve our church as of April 7,2002. This was done with much prayer,thought, discussion, and sadness. However, with an ever declining and aging congregation we felt we had no alternative. We would like to issue an invitation to former First Pres. members to come and worship with us on or before April 7th. Services are at 10:00A.M. After April 7th, The Way Through Christ Ministry will be holding services at the church.
Re: CARUSO BROTHERS: Thanks to John, a very big thanks, I spoke on the phone with VINCE Caruso. He is 87 years (I typed "tears" - first - can fit sometimes when it comes to memories); mentally very sharp. Marty is 85 and Tony is 77 (lives in Florida). He asked about my dad; figured he had passed away because Vince said he always came to visit Vince when he was in Chester. And, to my delight, he knew right away who I was. He is extremely busy with students all the time (said he had some at the moment). He does not have a computer but has friends who do. I told him where to find the photo and he is going to look at the picture and get back to me/us. I told him the leader of the orchestra was very handsome and who was the most handsome - him or Marty? (Tony would have only been 7 at the time, so we know it wasn't Tony.) Vince laughed so loud and said, "Well, that would be hard to say."
So, if any one of you or your children or grandchildren want the best in musical instruction, look up the Caruso Bros. Music Studio in Brookhaven.
However, now that I know Vince's age and Marty's - I WAS DEAD WRONG. Neither of them could have been the conductor - too young at the time. I had no idea my father was 6 yrs or so older than them. Not the last time I'll be wrong, so keep your eye on me - I'm getting older by the day.
I hope you found this to be of interest and maybe someone can identify the conductor - very handsome and suave - looks a little like Rudolph Valentino. Oh me, so many handsome men and so little time.
Hi, Donna Welcome to the Club!
Dorothy Shay...try this.
Scroll down, put Shay in the Search this site box, click Search
Hi fellow chesterites, I'm brand new to the site and the computer thing. Someone told me about this site so I had to come visit since I hail from the West End and am proud of it. One of my fondest memory of Chester was going to school at Ressurection Of Our Lord on 9th and Highland. Any of my ole' classmates out there or some ole' rezzers?
Hi fellow chesterites, I'm brand new to the site and the computer thing. Someone told me about this site so I had to come visit since I hail from the West End and am proud of it. One of my fondest memory of Chester was going to school at Ressurection Of Our Lord on 9th and Highland. Any of my ole' classmates out there or some ole' rezzers?
harvey, thankyou. You are a music master. Pat, that sounds great. I wish I could have seen him perform. I have learned so many things from this site.
Eveyone keep's talking about the springs in Chester and Deshong's park where they got water. Does anyone know that there was a little pipe coming out of the ground where you could get spring water between 14th and 15th street right along side a dump? The water was good though. I don't remember the side street but it may have been Crosby.
John, I was in Spada's Friday night. Steve and I stopped in after the Elton John,Billy Joel concert. We hadn't been there in a long time, either. I saw some familiar faces. Believe me, with that place, some things NEVER change.
to RHS75 did your Grandmother have a sister named Rose?
TOM - All of your work regarding those pictures is very, very generous of you and there are many who appreciate your efforts. So glad you saw that post.
FLORENCE - My father was my hero. I grew up just seeing him every few months, but spent all summer vacations, with him and many letters back and forth. After CHS graduation, I moved to live with him and his new family in NJ. Until the day he died at 77 in 1986, he was still performing. He is the one who always encouraged me in everything and started me in show business. His sense of humor has never been equalled by anyone I know, and at his funeral, he was eulogized as having brought laughter to more people than those famous on TV. He was humorous at home too. So quick with his wit (and oh, could he handle the "bullies" - they were afraid to tangle with him while he was performing). When he died, me, my two sisters and one brother fell completely apart for quite a while (even my mother, his ex-wife was distraught) - his loss was great and still is. He had a passionate love for Ireland - visited there 2 or 3 times and kissed the blarney stone (I have the picture). My brother, Michael, then wrote a song after Dad died - "Heaven Must be Ireland to Him."
He was raised in the heart of Chester in a very poor family - loss of his father when he was a baby. He and his brothers also helped lay the foundation (bricks, etc.) for Resurrection Parish and school. He never got any further than the 5th grade - that's because he, a brother Bill, and 3 childhood friends went into vaudeville. He could take any situation and turn it into something hilarious. What a gift God gave him - and I told him so. Shortly, very shortly, before he passed away, he said, "Oh Pat, what have I done with my life?" I said, "Dad, are you kidding? You've brought so much laughter to so many people and without laughter, what a sad world this would be. You contributed more to this world than most." Love you - Pop - always will. I'm proud to be your daughter.
gotta go i'll check back in tomorrow. see ya
Yes, I do and I'm still the captain. They started a local Ridley league on Monday nights. We are in 3rd place and start playoffs in 2 weeks. This will be my last season. Getting married, got my daughter living with me now, you know all kind of personal stuff going on. Well I have to get back to work, so I won't be back on until tomorrow.
P.S. I'm still good...LOL
Also RHS75: It's Tom76 not Tom57 make me sound like a condiment LOL
Tom yes i remember. i guess my memory is fading in my old age. do you still go to spadas? i haven't been there in a looooong time. last time i was there i didn't know a soul. pretty busy but all new faces. oh wait, i seen al "eye" but he didn't recognize me at all. ii guess things change. post back its nice knowing someone on this site. hw long have you been on this site?
I was the captain you were on my team.... you know dark curly hair we used to shoot allll the time. I know you remember, now.
come on tom i need more than that. i mean nikki even told me her last name and i still didn't remember. were you on the pool team? when i think the best i keep thinking of myself LOL, so that doesn't help.
come on tom i need more than that. i mean nikki even told me her last name and i still didn't remember. were you on the pool team? when i think the best i keep thinking of myself LOL, so that doesn't help.
hey pam, i finally figured out that you are pam after reading a little. nice to hear from you. i live in de. and have 4 girls(including stacey). do you miss skating? keep me up on what's up. good to hear from you.
To Pat or Lou: It was I who found the pictures. I just snail mailed john 13 on a CD he should have them in a few days. Took me near 4 hours to scan and fix them the best I could, because they are so old and fading. I also inserted some text as to what where and who if it was written on the back. They are so old that when I take them out of the albums some of them cracked. I will try to send some more when time permits. I only have the weekends to do it because I work late and don't usually sit on the computer at home. So to the people who sent me email I have not forgotten.
Think pool Spada one of the best...:) Captain.
Yes, i am. that was a long time ago. i got out of the limo business and went into real estate. who is this?
pidipat That is a very nice picture and a goodlooking dad. How neat to have that. You must have been very proud of your dad.
To John B: Are you limo john?
To RHS75: Yes, I do remember you, we skated together(well not together) :( at The Big C... I was in the rink the night it was on fire. If I am correct I think you were, also. Ida was your dance and figure teacher. I also took dance and figure, but when they started the speed team I jumped on that. I remember a guy name Bobby was on the team, too. I am like family with the Kershinski's. I know Dave, too tell him I said Hi.. You use to go out with an old buddy of mine T. T. although I don't think it was to long. Question do you still have that long beautiful red hair?
Dorothy Shay http://24.25.20.4/SearchResp.asp
Somebody brought it up first so I don't feel so bad but the temperature in Denver this morning was 4 below with 5 inches of snow. I'll bet that makes you all feel better now doesn't it. George (Please, no jokes about brass monkeys, witches or well diggers, ok?) PS, the temp on Saturday was 72, man, ya gotta love it!!
68 degrees in Chester, Pa today.
People take a minute and click on the sites. Pidipat is telling you to do it. Controlling again?
Just a short "thank you" note to those people giving me "hugs" - made me feel warm all over. So, good does come from bad, sometimes, because the negativity that has been posted here, has just brought a lot of us closer and to a better understanding of each other.
FLORENCE - Don't ever knock your memory. Dorothy Shay (or is it Shea - not sure) the "Park Avenue Hillbilly". I never heard that funny song you printed, but if we know Harvey, he'll find it somewhere and play it for us. I'd really like to hear it. If you haven't re-heard Tem-Tay-Shun - "Well it were thisaway - you came, allerin' me on" (remember that) by Jo Stafford and Roy (or Ray) Engle - it's on one of the sites Harvey gave us. I laughed once again hearing it(after about 30 years).
I noticed on the Home Page here that John has an invitation to all to write about the current happenings in Chester. That would be interesting, especially about the young generation and their accomplishments, etc.
I received a reply to my email to Lou and he is doing better every day and says he will soon join us. He is interested in the names of those families found on the old pictures that were found in the tossed boxes. Forget who posted that, but I told Lou where he would find those posts. We are all grateful to the fellow who told us about those pictures.
Just a short "thank you" note to those people giving me "hugs" - made me feel warm all over. So, good does come from bad, sometimes, because the negativity that has been posted here, has just brought a lot of us closer and to a better understanding of each other.
FLORENCE - Don't ever knock your memory. Dorothy Shay (or is it Shea - not sure) the "Park Avenue Hillbilly". I never heard that funny song you printed, but if we know Harvey, he'll find it somewhere and play it for us. I'd really like to hear it. If you haven't re-heard Tem-Tay-Shun - "Well it were thisaway - you came, allerin' me on" (remember that) by Jo Stafford and Roy (or Ray) Engle - it's on one of the sites Harvey gave us. I laughed once again hearing it(after about 30 years).
I noticed on the Home Page here that John has an invitation to all to write about the current happenings in Chester. That would be interesting, especially about the young generation and their accomplishments, etc.
I received a reply to my email to Lou and he is doing better every day and says he will soon join us. He is interested in the names of those families found on the old pictures that were found in the tossed boxes. Forget who posted that, but I told Lou where he would find those posts. We are all grateful to the fellow who told us about those pictures.
YES! that's it. that's me. i don't think i ever knew your last name. or maybe forgot. do you still keep in touch with everyone from from the bar? i moved down to delaware about a year ago. i only come up to chester to collect the rent (remember?). ididn't know that lizzie was your cousin. last time i saw her was when i lived in collingdale about 5 years ago. i hope you are doing good. i can't quite remember the last time i saw you i would say about 2or three years ago? how's barb and chris doing? post back.
That's it! Columbas! In Eddystone, right? If you remember me, you probably know me as Niki. I'm sure you know my cousin Chris. He played pool for Columbas, and he worked there, too. He married Barb who also works there. The last time I saw you, you were living on 21st. St. You lived a few doors away from my cousin.
Frank, and Lizzie are my cousins.
John,
That's it!! Columbas! In Eddystone, right? You might know me as Niki. Chris H. is my cousin. He finally married Barb. I think the last time I saw you, you were living on 21st. St. My cousin lived a few doors away from you.
John,
That's it!! Columbas! In Eddystone, right? You might know me as Niki. Chris H. is my cousin. He finally married Barb. I think the last time I saw you, you were living on 21st. St. My cousin lived a few doors away from you.
Again for those interested in the Caruso family, John Bullock has now posted under "Recreation" on the left side menu, the photo I mentioned. Click on "Chester Radio Orchestra" and there's the photo. My dad (Tom McFadden) is to the right of the drummer holding his banjo. The gentleman standing to the left of the drummer is one of the Carusos (I am almost positive). If you can help identify some of the others, that would be wonderful. The faces are small, granted, but one never knows. Incidently, my dad was never that solemn - and I wonder what he's looking for in his pocket? Or, maybe he was just trying to look "dapper".
nicole
Yes i do play pool, very much so. i have played for several bars in the area, the columbas club, the alibi(now harry cats),the cliton inn and some others i'm sure over the years. i did know a scarpato growing up on the west end. it was lizzie and frank that's about all i can remember about them. i don't remember a nicole but the last name may just be a coincidence. give me some more information maybe we are or were friends at one time. see ya'
Harvey , Ruth, Piddipat is soooooooooright. It is beautiful. You always think of such wonderful things.
John,
No, that's not me. I think I know the Nicole you're thinking of. She lived on 16th St. My last name is Scarpato. I still think I know you. Do you happen to play pool?
RUTH and HARVEY - Oh my gosh. What an exquisitely beautiful and exceptionally done site for the Media Class of '35. People, take a minute and click on the sites (haven't gone to the second one yet) provided by Harvey. I understand Ruth is in her 80's (hope she doesn't mind me saying this - she appears to be as proud of her age as I am of mine (70). The opening page just took my breath away. This is one of the things that makes this site such a treasure. Thank you Harvey and Ruth.
To John Thank you so much for starting this site. As you can see I am really enjoying it. Sorry for so many entries but I'm new! Someof the articles make me proud to be from Chester. My whole family & my husbands' were from Chester. My great-grandfather had asuitcase store? and ajunk shop, downtown I think. His name was Pasquale DePaolo. His sons all went to St. Anthonys on 3rd St.. They lived on 3rd & Franklin. MY grandmother lived on Patterson St. near Penn St. She is a McElwee. Anyone remember any of those names or places? Thanks again!
RC's Class Photos...(Ruth Wingate)
http://www.mediahighschool.com/class35/35students.htm
http://www.mediahighschool.com/class35/35reunion.htm
To Jack & Jackie Kersinski My cousins' cousin is married to Rocky,Debbie. Jackie & I both took skating lessons from Ida Grande in the late 60's early 70's. I am still in touch with her.Jackie and I were good friends. Whatever happened to Charlie & linda? Remember roller derby?
To Tom57 You must know my husband & I because I saw back in Dec. that you were telling someone we were married, Pam Kline and Dave Watras. We were from Honan St. in the Gardens. I also lived in Sun Village & Eddystone. Are you the same Tom that posted under tradgedies that you were in the rink when the fire started?
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.
To Ruthann Do you remember my mom, she graduated from Eddystone in 55, Mary Jane DePaolo ?
Pidipat will keep on posting because she has a lot of interesting things to say and she truly has true grit as Harvey has said. (((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Pat my friend)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) that was a good idea. One day the wind told the breeze, Their is no one strong as I, I can uproot yonder tree, with ease I raise a roof on high.The gentle breeze said in reply, that you cannot replace the the joy I bring in spring to girl and to boy, And so I am as strong thee. something from childhood. Who ever heard of the New York hillbilly Dorothy Shay. I never knew that our romance had ended, until that bottle hit my head, and I tried to be aloof, when you pushed me off the roof, I feel our romance is dead, etc, from the 40's.We must have had that record at home on Walnut st, 15th.I can see it so clearly and I wish that when I pass on, I will wake up where I began. But of course noboddy can go back. I do know that. RC how are you doing today? Keep on telling us what we want to hear.
Dave Sorry about that, must have hit the wrong button. Haven't seen you since Sandys' wedding in 81. I think we went to Harrys Savoy Grill on Namans Rd. after. I graduated with your ex and went to Jeffries with Steven. Remember the dances at Linwood Fire house and of course St. James? {take your shoes off!} I also skated at The Leopard. Did you figure me outyet? Are you still with Pepsi? Dave & I are still married. We have 4 children & agrand daughter.My grandmom still lives in Eddystone. Message back.
Dave Thanks for the info. I haven't seen you since
Dave Thanks for the info. I haven't seen you since
Dave Thanks for the info. I haven't seen you since
Dave Thanks for the info. I haven't seen you since
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.
Nicole
ido not know your boyfriend but i did know a nicole in sun hill. if your last name begins with or used to begin with a "j" let me know. did you used to work at sears? post back.
Actually Marge, before you prounce on me, I had started to ask a question but changed to a sentence. Didn't catch the mistake on time to correct it.
Now getting back to what this board is about. Chester. It doesn't look too bad at night.
There still are some nice areas in the daytime too. From Providence Ave. to Melrose, from 18th to 21st streets. Those big old homes still look good.
Years ago, those homes were for the Professionals who eventually moved out to Swarthmore, then on to Nether Providence, then Media, then Upper Providence, going farther away from the city blight.
It would be nice to see some Victorian homes built in Chester. That period in time seemed to be the most loving, peaceful and beautiful. It might rub off again. They didn't have too many conveniences at that time but they took pride in their homes. You can tell by the ones still standing in that part of the first ward.
Hope the city does turn around because the location is prime.
Whoops! I used a question mark instead of a period. Ten demerits!
Only kidding, not really a teacher. If I was, I wouldn't brag about it.
Hey Marge, if you were really a teacher, you wouldn't use a preposition to end a sentence?
You did! "the best internet hug I can come up WITH?"
Marge: In our school district after 12 years you have tenure and the average salery is $56,000.00. I believe where you are with a masters degree it is at $26,000. We start higher than that. Maybe your the wrong Marge, but teachers here can make big bucks and get paid during breaks.
mary ann could you please write in chinese for my ancestors
George, if you e=mailed me I didn't get it...having problems with my server tonight...K.
Where is all this going?????
Hey Teach, if any of us were in your class we'd be too stupid to be on the internet in the first place.
If some of you were in my class, we would be staying in at recess to discuss manners and honoring other's feelings. I am thoroughly disappointed at the lack of tact some posters have in regards to other posters. Say what you will about my post... I am a teacher, you can't scare me!!!! haha!!
((((((((((Pidipate)))))))) <--- that is the best internet hug I can come up with. PLEASE keep posting.... I know you said you would... and I like your spunk! :)
repmujyks loa@56potder
Does anyone remember the Four Aces in 1951?
Does anyone remember the concert in Chester Park with the Four Aces in 1952?
MaryAnn I'm dyslexic so I would enjoy your contributions much more if you would please write them backwards. Thanks for your consideration.
Well, MaryAnn, Picky, Picky, Ican't believe it. the nerve of some people.
Floyd Murray
I love reading about your recollections of the past in Chester; it brings back so many memories. One suggestion, however; could you please make a few paragraphs in your writings. It would be so much easier to read. Thanks and keep up with the memories.
Mary Ann
Kate: I'm having problems e-mailing you, please e-mail me at the above address and we'll try again. Some folks have had problems getting set up but most slide right through. Ditto on dealing with AOL. G
George, I did get to the site, left & when I tried to go back it would not let me, said I had to be invited again...maybe others are having trouble getting on...I don't have AOL as they are a pain to deal with ...
Floyd Don't worry about awakening memories. I moved a long time ago. Life must go on. thanks
Kate you are welcome
Floyd Don't worry about awakening memories. I moved a long time ago. Life must go on. thanks
Kate you are welcome
George, Thank's for all your help....Florence, nice of you to help me out...Thanks.Kate
Floyd,I went to school with Joanne News Notre Dame '65 is she related to you? She was a friend of mine...When did you graduate? Kate
to rhs75chs75, there is a skating rink in nj(riverside) that still has live organ music. it is called holiday and they play tuesdays and sundays,fyi.
Kate: Yes, believe or not, there still is a Chester "chat room". There was some excitement about it in the beginning (last August) but activity and participation have dwindled to almost nil. It requires an invitation to join, but this is just to keep it "Chester" oriented and not intended to keep anyone from joining. Of course it is free and requires the downloading of a program called "AIM", also free. AIM is not required if you are an AOL subscriber. There were several requests to start Neighborhood nights, so I started with West End on Monday eve and East End on Tue eve. No one shows up. There was some interest in having High School nites, so I asked for suggestions and only got two replies. In discussing the lack of participation of the chat room with several cyberspace friends from Chester, I think we understand why it's not being used. I will not go into that here, as it would probably start another verbal fued. If you'd like to join the chat room or would like any other information on it, please email me at gpmalick@wideopenwest.com and I'll get you all set up....George
Floyd I remember you from when we went to CHS. I use to walk from Hancock St. in the Village to CHS going up 12th to Edgemont to 9th, along the way I would meet up with a friend of mine named Vince Healy, he lived at 12th and Walnut, did you know him and have you ever heard of or from him? The schools I attended where Jefferies, Smedley and CHS.
To Florence - You wrote "Floyd That was my father and yes my baby brother drowned at Woodland Beach.Yes, my father never got over that. It just ran him down. My mother was pretty much the same." Florence, I am so sorry - I hope I did not bring back any painful memories. But John was such a nice kid, and a good friend to me, that I remember his friendship even after all these many years. Even though his early death was a true tragedy, this is a testament to the nice boy he was and the very good man he would have become. And this is something to be VERY proud of. Smile now, OK? :-) Life always goes on - but we always keep the family and friends we care for in our hearts. It is a gift from God or Nature or whatever you prefer. But it is a gift from "wherever" and we need to be grateful for it. Gotta run. More later. And thanks to everyone again for this great page. :-)
Addendum - Quickly, to Tom - no sir, Phil News was not a minister, not that I knew of anyway. He was certainly not in Buckman Village circa 1974, and I know this. He and his wife - the former Mary Bradley - my Mom was a girlhood friend of hers ever since she came over here from Ireland in the late 1920's - Mary settled in Chester - were just very close family friends. Long story, but I was not baptized as a Catholic until I was 13 years old - Dad wanted me to be a Protestant, Mom wanted me to be a Catholic - anyway – Mom won – and since I had something to say in the matter, I asked for "Uncle Phil" and "Aunt Mary" to be my godparents. Mom had more - shall we say - "sedate" - friends than Dad did ;-) Anyway. Mary came to America from Ireland in the late 1920's and married Phil in the 30’s, I think. They lived for many, many years in a row home on Melrose Avenue - - RIGHT across the street from the Widener football field. Phil was not really my "uncle" but when I was a kid - I guess it was something to do with being an only child - I named my older cousins and people whom I liked - as "Uncle" and "Aunt". Mary was a tough, old Irish lady. But at my Mom's funeral - both of my parents are buried in Chester Rural - she tried to be brave but broke down at the gravesite and I comforted her. She had lost her life-long friend, you see. Me too. :-( Anyway. After Mom's death, I squirreled away in Media to start a new life, which I did. Made a LOT of good friends here. But one night, not too long ago, not quite a year I think, but I forget the date – I was in the West End Saloon with some friends and there was a copy of the Daily Times on the bar and I picked it up and browsed through it. Checked the obits – yeah, I know the joke – “to see if my name was in there” – but then I saw that Phil News had died. It was in that paper, on the bar, that I randomly picked up. Life is strange, etc. The obit said that his wife Mary had died several years before. I did not know that. We certainly never had any problems but they never called – even though I was something of a “public figure” at the time, as my home phone number was published in the Daily Times every Friday - and I never called - and we just lost touch over the years. My fault, really. I thought of them many times over the nine years I have been in Media, but I just never called. I do not know why, but I never did. Phil was quite a prominent person in Chester at one time – and when I was a kid, and even beyond, into my early 20’s, since we both used to love old horror films, he would always call and tell me that he saw that the original “Dracula” or “Frankenstein” would be playing on TV at such and such a time. He was the subject of a lengthy Daily Times interview circa 1977 or so – I took a secret pleasure in this, thinking something like “And THIS is the guy who calls me when a Karloff film is on!” When I was about 7 years old he took me to a science fiction film at the Mac Theatre on 9th St. OH! – An aside – Does ANYONE here remember Herb’s newsstand RIGHT next to the Mac theatre? – I have a LOT to tell you all about THAT place later on – :-) - anyway – and I freaked out at a scene of some guy melting or something and he had to take me out of the theatre. He was a little perturbed but very cool about it – Hell, I was only about seven or so. We laughed about it in later years. But I never called Phil or Mary when I left Chester – and now it is too late. And such is life. C’est la vie.
To Floyd Murray: My brother-in-law was a member of the "Bald Headed Nine". For some unknown reason he called himself Mat Sullivan. Really Harry Marin owner of The Gateway. Another member was Bud Laury.
kate
If you go to whats new in chester on the home page, there is the information
Floyd
That was my father and yes my baby brother drowned at Woodland Beach.Yes, my father never got over that. It just ran him down. My mother was pretty much the same.
Hi Everyone - Just popped in for a minute. To buffyk@fast.net - My Dad worked with another paperhanger whose last name was Smalley. I forget the gentleman's first name but I went to Smedley with his son, John Smalley, a very, very nice kid who drowned when he was only around 15-16 or so. I graduated Smedley in 1965 so this was around that era. I remember Dad talking about how devastated - obviously - his friend was over his boy's death. John was really a hell of a nice kid. Please feel free to answer privately, via email, if you wish. Later will write about that great Smedley reunion about 12 years ago. Rummaging through my stuff while packing, I found the class picture we all had taken. I also kept the videotape made of the reunion. That was a great reunion and quite a night - I got to see the girl I had a TOTAL and HOPELESS crush on ALL throughout Smedley and Chester High also. After the reunion, we all went to the Wharf Tavern in Aston and since she did not have a car (her brother had driven her to the reunion) I had the privilege of driving her to the get-together we “Smedleyites” were having. :-) I won't give her full name, but her first name was Ellen. She was still beautiful, and she does not live in the area anymore but I noted that she was quite the "keeper of the flame" - she showed up at the reunion with all sorts of Smedley memorabilia from those years. Pictures, papers, yearbooks, etc. It was the first time I had talked to her since a long-ago day in Chester High when I saw her walking home up 9th St. (she lived on East 22nd and I was still on Dupont street) and (GULP!) I actually got the nerve to ask her if I could walk with her. We had a nice chat on the way, but I still never got the nerve to ask her out ;-) Young love, eh? Ah, well. Anyway. Tina - I do not know if Dr. Deprophetis is still alive. Wish I could give you a better answer. Maybe someone else here could help? He was one hell of a great surgeon, I know that. Later he told my Mother and I that Dad's gall bladder was like "mush" when he removed it. My parents had me later in life and Dad was around 70 then. In the hands of a lesser surgeon, considering how truly serious this emergency was, he probably would not have made it but thanks to Dr. Deprophetis we had him with us for another six years. I think I saw Dr. Lachman once as a child and I know I did - when I was VERY young (I am blessed - or cursed, if you will - with what is called a "photographic memory") - see Dr. DeLaites a couple of times. However, my main pediatrician was Dr. Richard Barr, who had an office in the Smedley area. I forget exactly where. I switched to the family doctors (we had two) when I hit adolescence but I remember reading an article in the Daily Times about Dr. Barr - one of his own children had died and he talked about how it hit him so hard - naturally – and how he had saved so many other children in his career but his own was lost. Very, very sad. I often wonder – guess this is a syndrome for those of us on a site like this – where he is today. Still alive and doing well, I hope. Anyway. BTW - the files of the Daily Times - called "the morgue" in the trade - are open to the public by appointment. There is always a librarian there to help you. It used to be Peggy Chance, a nice lady who had the job for years - do not know who has it now. But they are invaluable and the “newer” files - say from 30 years ago, probably longer - are carefully indexed by name, subject, etc. They are clippings and Peggy would spend many an hour carefully cutting them out of the paper and carefully indexing and cross-indexing them. Virtually all of the older files are also on microfiche, both at the Times and the Widener Library. They go back for over a hundred years. I have not used them in ten years – but back ten years ago, a girlfriend and I were researching the Media serial killer of the 1940's - yes, there was a serial killer in Media back then, but I guarantee you won’t read about it in any Media “Everybody’s Hometown” PR releases - and the Times files were invaluable in our research. I recently gave my personal file collections to a friend - there are a TON of them - but somewhere in there should also be something about my search for the Chester Liberty Bell. Yes, my friends, there WAS a Chester Liberty Bell. It was cast at the same time as the much more famous - and MUCH larger - Liberty Bell we all know so well, and apparently by the same business which made Philly's Liberty Bell. Hope I can see those old files again but I am sure they are in there someplace, as I was pretty meticulous about these things. Bob O'Neill, who, back around 15 years ago, was the public relations representative for the Chester School District, and I worked on this one. He lived - and hopefully still does - in Springfield at the time. There is a belfry in the old Courthouse and even though the police station was also right there, the door to the Courthouse was left open one day and - well - :-) :-) ;-) - Bob and I stopped by the Courthouse one day - and - uh - :-) - well, I sneaked in and climbed up to the belfry to check out the bell. Not easy, as I'm pretty large to start with and was also lifting weights constantly then, but I got up there anyway. It was still a tight squeeze. Anyway, it was not the same bell Bob and I had in an old photograph from 1930 – it was in a picture with Mayor Ayres – Spelling right? – and the one at the Courthouse is much larger. I don’t think anyone had been up there in years. I spent the next hour wiping the dust off me. Will check with my friend this weekend, as my files on this research should be in there, but there are also a HUGE amount of files as investigating unsolved mysteries was sort of a hobby of mine since I was around 15 years old. Too bad I was never paid for it :-). Anyway, I forget exactly how we determined this, but we figured the Chester Liberty Bell was residing, packed away and gathering dust, in some long-forgotten storage space in Philadelphia. You see, it had been taken to Philly around 1935-40-45 or so for a Fourth of July celebration and it seemed to just disappear after that. Bob and I talked about taking the research further, but he was busy and I was busy and nothing else ever came of it. So the fate of the Chester Liberty Bell remains a mystery. Maybe Judge Crater and Amelia Earhart are making it gong once more, in some misty land beyond tomorrow and yesterday, and having a good laugh on those of us who investigated unsolved mysteries. Anyway. To ruthcarney@webtv.net - No, I am sorry - the name Bill Culbert does not ring a bell with me (no pun intended - really :-). My Dad knew a lot of people in his youth but the name Bill Culbert is one I do not remember. He talked about his drinking and partying buddies from "way back when" in Chester – 1930’s and beyond, since he lived all his life here after his family moved from Cincinnati when he was just a tyke. Some of the people he knew were quite notorious at the time. Dad, himself, made some extra money running liquor during Prohibition. Even as a boy, Dad was a brilliant pianist who was classically trained, starting at age 5, in Liszt and Chopin but he preferred jazz – I think he could have played Scott Joplin’s Maple Leaf Rag with his eyes closed – and he played piano in some of the “houses” in Bethel Court when he was around 14-15 years old or so. Not to denigrate the great Ethel Waters – but yes, her mother did work there. And yes, this is how she came to be born in Chester. Anyway. Moving on. Along with the other fun and games in Bethel Court, there was also a lot of gambling going on and Dad told me that the winners were always escorted to their homes, carefully and safely, by a couple of hulking bodyguards, to ensure that they got home OK and were not mugged on the way back. After all, they were “customers” and would no doubt be back the next week. Say what you will, but the place was run “right”. Anyway. One of Dad’s friends from that era was Johnny Traub, a small, slender guy with thick Coke-bottle glasses who Dad said was the best bar fighter he ever saw in his life. Bigger guys in bars would pick on this "funny-looking" little guy with the big glasses and Dad would recall how he slowly took off his glasses, set them carefully on the bar, and then all Holy Hell would break loose. He said he attacked like a wildcat and he never saw the guy lose a fight, no matter how big the opponent was. Needless to say - Dad always stayed on his good side ;-) Another was Jess O'Neill, a huge, red-haired guy whom I remember visiting with Dad when Jess and his wife - I forget her name - I think it was Ethel - lived on Bickley Place in Chester. He was friendly and nice as hell, but a bit scary to an 8-9 year old kid. He had hands the size of baseball mitts but a big Irish smile, lots of red hair, and he laughed real loud and I remember he gave me a big plate of ice cream and put a western on TV for me. Dad also knew some of the members of the infamous Bald-Headed Nine, an early Chester gang, from, I recall, the East End, around 9th St. I think. My Dad often used to talk about Chester back in the real old days and his memories, to an extent, also became mine. It fascinated me and it still does. My Mom, God rest her, led a much more quiet life. Anyway, gotta run – and thanks to everyone for such a great page about the great city of Chester!
To Floyd: Was your uncle Phil News a minister, too? Did he live in Buckman Village. I think he eulogized my brother when he passed away with MD in 1974.
To Tammy: I went to school at 5th and Waters St with Karen and we graduated together. I think we even dated for a couple of weeks. Tell her I said hi. Live on Pulaski Dr.
Today I snail mailed some pictures on CD from the 20's of old chester to John.
Can anyone tell me if the chat room is used by anyone ??And how to you get signed in. Thanks
Harvey, I remember getting a birch beer with my dad.How about Kresge's chili burger's.My mother loved Martha Washington candy store and so did I.
John B--- Your newest feature "What Chester Makes..." brought back many memories. I lived in a house at 5th& Madison and that sign on the other side of the Pennsy tracks shined in my bedroom window. Later in even harder times we moved across the street to a one bdrm appartment.I didn't have a bedroom and couldn't see the sign anymore. The sign was next to my best source of money in my pre-teens. The Junkyard on Crosby St paid for newspapers and scrap metal and I pulled many wagon loads there. In addition, in those days people would pay me to get gallon jugs of spring water from the springs at Deshong or Chester Park. The railroad siding was a great place to play because they sometimes left empty boxcars there for days. The Great Train Robbery was played out there many times. We even had batting practice under the RR bridge. Pitched on one side of the street and hit from the other. Those blacktaped balls really hurt your head when the bounced off the stone walls. This was before Little League. No ballfields nor anyone to organize so we did it ourselves.
Just a reminder that tonite is "West End" night in the chat room. It might be a good place to get some of this "hostility" off your chest. If you haven't joined, send me an email at gpmalick@wideopenwest if you need the link, its: http://prv-groups.aol.com/oldchesterpa
John B:
Really a good piece on your What's New section regarding the "WHAT CHESTER MAKES, MAKES CHESTER" . Don't know if anyone remembers, but Mrs. Mielke (5th Grade Dewey School) would have her students write an essay on those words and what the words meant to them.
Welcome Aboard Floyd - I look forward to more memories from you, too. All kinds of past history and little tidbits of information and help is posted here, and a lot of familiar names. Dr. DeProphetis was my doctor too - who was/is older, Rocco or Nino?
To Floyd and others interested in the Caruso family and music from old Chester:
I found the 8-1/2x11 picture of the orchestra my dad was in and it was taken in late 20's or very early '30's. The picture is labeled "Caruso Radio Orchestra - Chester, Pa. - Stations WIP - WFAN." Nine members in the band plus (Vince or Marty - no first name given) as the leader. It consisted of three sax/clarinet players, the piano man, guitar/banjo (my dad), drummer, tuba player, one French Horn/trumpet player, and one trombone player. It's a professionally-taken picture and I would really like to post it on our website. I think Harvey can tell me how to send this to John, or how to handle it. Unfortunately, no names are given for the members of the orchestra. Mr. Caruso is holding a baton, but not far from him on the floor, there is a violin - which possibly he played - don't know. If anyone knows who any of the other musicians were and would like to see this picture, I can email to you - not sure of the quality it would come out as. So, it would nice if I could post it somewhere.
To the folks who submitted information about the Post Office locations and the names of the postmasters: Could any of you tell me if the locations listed for the period of 1875-1880 would have covered Upland's delivery? I found info in obits and old newspaper articles that mentioned Joseph Dalton (Sr. and Jr.) were postmasters - but it didn't mention the location. I know they lived in Upland but wonder if the mail was handled through Upland or Chester? Where did find the info? I could use some help! Thanks.
John Barton, your name sounds very familiar. I'm 28 and I grew up in Sun Hill (I still live there). By boyfriend is closer to your age, he's 38 and grew up on Walnut St. His name is Steve Zalewski. Maybe you know him?
tammy, yes i did know karen from the west end and than met two other sisters when they lived on eighth st.
Hey Jack Scotts is still in Chester only called Kimberly-Clark...I should say the same plant is there...I worked in Eddystone plant after h.s.'65...Kate
NO ONE is dictating what is "ALLOWED" some have said personal use should be for e-mail's to your friends.
Is Scott Paper still operating in Chester? A corporate hatchet guy named Dunlap did a job on Scott in the 80s, I believe.
Worked at Scott Paper a few summers while going to college in the early 50s...ran a machine packing Scotties. Shift work too,7 to 3, 3 to 11, and 11 to 7.. Really had a negative affect on my social life.
Floyd Murray,glad someone new is on here with "good old memories" , to many have used this site for their personal forum..you know who you are...name blaming get's you no where on here cause they keep on doing it...so let the blame-game continue...
I was trying to stay out of the finger pointing but, geez, what is the big issue with some of you regarding Pitapat and "personal platforms?" I don't know about the rest of you but if the comments on a post aren't interesting to me, or I don't have anything to add, I move on. Quite a few of you seem obsessed with the comments of some of the regular posters. It isn't up to you or me to dictate what is "allowed" to be written on this community board. So now, if you want to flame me for stating an opinion - so be it.
FloydCHS48,we lived in that area many years' Floyd Murray. My father was also a paperhanger, S.D.Smalley. And Shae--I don't think it hurts one bit to be a little personal at times, sometimes that's how we help out people. I am sure a lot of us have put personal things out here. I know that this board is to try to bring back memories of chester.Their are a lot of people that should use e-mail, but they choose not too, and thats ok .Everyone has just found a lot of old friends and its hard not to say everything you want them to know. To err is human, but to forgive is divine
pidipat@earthlink.net: Please make your personal things private. Use emial, that's what it is for. This site is for all to post memories of Chester & surrounging areas, not your platform. You seem to have some social problem, could be too much time on your hands. You sound depressed at times. Please keep to purpose of this site.
Thank you so much, Floyd Murray. I'm more in your dad's era but you have preserved his memories very well. I saw Al Pike do his act a couple of times. He would bite a chunk out of a glass and chew it up--made your blood run cold. Do you have any memory of Bill Culbert(notsure of the spelling). He was a wonderful piano player with the most beautiful hands.
Good Morning all. To PITAPAT: You asked if anyone knew about cats like yours. I think the 6 toed variety are called Hemingways. That is what I have always heard, the author Ernest Hemingway had many cats of that sort. I've seen them but have never owned one. I have the "dumped off" variety - whatever ends up at my door!
Hello to Paul Crowther! I have been negligent in keeping in touch and I have always enjoyed hearing from you. Hope you are well.
To FLOYD: Is Dr.Rocco Deprophetis still alive? He delivered me back in 1956! I also remember Dr. Wyman (my mother's physician) and Dr. Lachman who was my pediatrician.
To BILL & MARY'S FRIEND: Last time I posted to you I screwed up and put your "handle" in where I should have typed Tina. Made the post look like it came from you - oh well....
hello everyone. i just finished reading ALL of the postings from over the weekend, busy site. i am still hoping to hear from someone from my "gereration" but it's not looking good. i still go to chester on a regular basis and would be happy to answer any questions about the neighborhood, as far as what is or isn't there anymore. i grew up in chester and didn't move out until i was 25. that was about 10 years ago. but my whole family is from chester. the Wrights,Thorntons,Bartons. my grandparents used to live next to joe(mayor)battle and his mom agnes. when i was growing up i stayed at my grandparents blanche barton and maurice(slim)barton house every weekend. they became very close. i was stunned when judge battle died last year. i remember alot of the stories my grandparents told me about how chester was when they were young. reading the stories here brings back those times. thankyou.
Carol52, I did live on Clover Lane in the 50s...can't recall Rostron family.
John, Thank-you for being able to add the *motto* of Chester to this site, for it brings back a lot of great memories to me. :o) Sharyn
Thanks for your memories Floyd...hope there is a lot more to come!
Hi Everyone – A cousin of mine, now living in Florida, told me about this wonderful page and I was amazed to see it, to say the least. It is fantastic! As a journalist by trade for over the past twenty years, I do tend to get “wordy” but will try to keep this first post relatively short. In the middle of a move from Media, where I live now, I took time out from packing to send in this post on this quiet and reflective Sunday night. I was born on Upland St. in Chester and my parents moved to 622 Dupont St. when I was about three or four and I lived there until I was around 20 and then we moved to 1119 Terrill St., in Sun Village. We lived there for around 20 years. My father was Floyd Murray – also my name – and my mother was Marie, a nurse at Crozer-Chester Medical Center. Dad was a local musician in the 1930’s and ‘40’s, a pianist who had his own band, and he was also at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. My good friend from the Daily Times, Ed Gebhart, wrote an article about Dad in the December 7, 1973 edition of the paper. Dad was a switchboard operator at Ft. Shafter in the Hawaiian Islands. As Ed wrote, Dad “missed his date with destiny by 55 minutes” as his shift ended at 7 a.m. that awful morning and the next fellow on duty was the one who first saw the blips on the radar screen. The “blips” were the Japanese planes. Ed wrote “(Murray) was sitting in his tent writing a letter to the woman who would become his wife when destiny came calling”. Dad described the bombing to her just as it was happening and I still have that letter. It is perhaps my most prized possession – not as an invaluable historical document, which is it, but as my most valued of family heirlooms. I also worked as a reporter and columnist for the Daily Times for some years, starting as a Chester correspondent. Today, I seem to be best remembered for the weekly Bar Hopping column I originated for the Daily Times and wrote for about 16 years. Oh, well. Anyway, I based that long-running column on The Needler, the bar paper of local entertainment news and gossip, published by George Grieco, the printer for Crozer-Chester Medical Center for many years. George was a great guy and when I interviewed him for one of my columns, naming him as the originator of an entertainment tradition I was then carrying on in the Daily Times, he gave me some of the old Needler copies, which I still have today. George published The Needler from 1939 to around 1982, quitting only when his friend and columnist Hank Stafford (he wrote “Hanky-Panks”) died. Anyway - today Len Casterline, another friend, is doing a great job carrying that bar column tradition on in the Times. Later, I will write a longer message to the fine editor of this wonderful site but the people whom Dad introduced me to as I was growing up will no doubt jog some memories. As a boy, I met the Carusos, as he knew all of the members of that great musical family; Andy Bufano, the barber who was also a piano teacher; Skipper Dawes, music teacher at – I believe – Smedley Junior High in the late 50’s or early 60’s – please correct me if I am wrong. Dad told me that Skipper used to work with Lawrence Welk. Bill Wallace, the auto mechanic from 3rd St. and a great human being, to say the least; Joe Rentz from Joe’s Hardware which recently closed – I saw Joe last about two years ago at a restaurant in Swarthmore and we had a nice talk. Dad worked part-time at his hardware store for many years and yes, I still remember the little post office in the front and Joe’s green eyeshade which he put one whenever he went in there. Joe is a great guy who always gave Mom and me an American flag each Veteran’s Day for Dad’s grave. Also, there is the much-missed Vern Triboletti, a good friend who really loved music, from opera to bog bands, from Hutchinson’s Pharmacy, and many, many more. Dad would often talk about the incredible Al Pike, a close friend of his before Al left Chester, and I always wanted to meet this man whom Dad said was a musical genius, with a Ph.D – a college professor – But who also used to eat cigars and light bulbs as a party trick! I’m sorry that I never met him too. Dad was the first non-Irishman to join the Irish American Club, back when it was on Edgmont Ave. in downtown Chester, I believe. He took me there when I was a kid and I recall it was on the second floor. I think later it moved to the West End of town. He also belonged to the Polish-American Club (not bad for a fellow who was actually French and Scottish!) and years ago, when I was a little boy, he would bring those delicious hot dogs from the Polish Club, loaded with sauerkraut and mustard, back home to Mom and me. Remember “Highball” who owned the corner grocery store around 8th and Crosby, I think it was? Johnny Moran, owner of Moran’s Bar on 11th St.? Eddie Dodds, a childhood friend of Dad’s, who owned Ryan’s grocery store on Morton Ave.? And his son Bill? Bill was a teacher who helped out at the store often. Both great people. Henry Shapiro from Henry’s Wallpaper in downtown Chester? Dad was a paperhanger until he had a heart attack and then he went to work for the city’s sewage disposal plant at Front and Clayton Sts. His good friend for many years, the wonderful Ernie Burke – “Burkie” – a Chester alderman at the time - helped Dad get the job so he could support his family. Dad told Burkie what was happening and he told Dad something like, “Don’t worry about it, just come to work there whenever your doctor says it’s OK.” I am an only child and I was in high school then and Mom went back into nursing, taking classes again and getting a job on First Northeast Ward at Crozer. They were tough times, but we got through it all. We had each other and we also had a lot of great friends in Chester. There is so much to go into but this will have to wait for a later date, maybe next week when my regular work is done and I can take some time off from packing. Remember Gene Banta? Nice man, fine family – he was a neighbor of ours on Dupont St. Later, he owned the Golden Slipper. Please add to your list of physicians Wasyl Polischuk, who tragically died in a fire in his 9th St. office about 25 years ago. He was a good and decent man and an excellent doctor. You already have Dr. William Cook from Providence Ave. – he saved me from a very bad case of pneumonia about 10 years ago. And his great nurse, Eileen, who was always warm, friendly and very competent. Dr. Cook is since retired and I hope doing fine. He was another excellent physician. And also it would be nice to remember my godparents, Phillip and Mary News. “Uncle” Phil was a union representative at Sun Ship for many years. Sadly, they are both gone now too. In July of 1976, Dad suffered a ruptured gall bladder and his life was saved at Crozer by emergency surgery by none other than Dr. Rocco Deprophetis. I can still see Dr. Deprophetis coming out to Mom and I after the surgery, still in his surgical greens, smiling and assuring us that he thought Dad would be OK now. And he was. Dad lived on, under Dr. Cook’s care, doing well after that very, very narrow escape, until February 13, 1982. As an only child, I stayed with my Mother after that and we moved to Folsom about 13 years ago. She died on October 17, 1992 and then I moved to Media. Wow, and I said I wouldn’t get too “wordy”! Sorry, but often our memories are like Chinese boxes – open one, and there are many, many more behind it which need to be opened also. Thomas Wolfe gave the poignant title “You Can’t Go Home Again” to one of his novels and this is true – but it never hurts to “go home” again in our memories and it’s especially nice to be able to share some memories with nice people like the ones on this web site. God Bless you all and will write more when I can.
To Florence: RE white mountains.The place we called white mnts was at the very east end of 19th or 20th St.I was about ten yrs old and we used to play soldier there, very steep white sandy banks and at the bottom was Chester creek. You also jogged my memory about a George Rhood that I knew and I think he had a younger brother. I believe they lived on east 20th or 21st street as I lived on e. 22nd.
regarding the city slogan those in the 1920s may have picked What Chester Makes Makes Chester but the old story is that the public really voted for Chester Wipes The World, in honor of Scott Paper
Around1937 my Mother would walk me down the street from my Grandparents house, she was taking me to kindigarten. We always passed this huge front yard with another Mother standing there with her little girl who was the same age. She is still my friend after all these years. Speaking of quilts, I thought I might try to make one. I have been doing a lot of sewing lateley. They sold the rags to the ragman.They bought material for quilts from yardgood stores or the saved a piecee of this and that. Also some were knitted and crocheted.My Grandmother had this little thing called a daisy maker. It eas metal and she would roll the string around this some how and it would make a daisy. Then she would make a lot of them and make a dress out of them for me when I was small,Then everyone that could made beautiful doilies, all sizes . How about when you washed the lace curtains and you would go outside and put up the curtain rod and stretch the curtains and hook on each little hook till the whole curtain was on thewre. It would dry and you could right back up, after you cleaned the windows. .
Pidipat, I didn't know you had a thorough bread cat. You are lucky she is well tempered. I usually prefer male cates, I always thought they were more friendly, but due to losing my special little friend at a young age and not in kitty season, I had a hard time getting a kitten, I had to get a girl kitten and she is so dark orange, she is almost red looking sometimes. What a disposition. She is our boss, when it is time to go to bed, she carries on terribly.My daughter's cat, has the same kind of paws that your girl has. She does a lot of work for no kill shelters, we make a lot of things for them to sell at bazaars.
Thank you Florence for your support. Florence and I know each other from our CHS days, and I think Florence could say I was never, mean or arrogant to anyone, just as I can say that Florence is the same as she was then. An extremely sweet, somewhat shy, and very likeable person. You can tell by the way she talks about her husband - she admires him more than herself. In my humble opinion, that's what life is all about - caring for someone else more than yourself - now that's true, unconditional LOVE.
So, paper was made from the rags he bought. But where did the women get all the cloth to make quilts, rugs, etc. Did they just wait for years until every piece of clothing was wornout? Did some people buy rags from the ragman? So many beautiful quilts were made dating back to I guess the mid 1700's or earlier - do you know where the cloth came from? Maybe just the well-to-do families had the resources to do that. I'd like to know the history of quilts - where the cloth came from originally, I mean. If it was from clothing, it had to take years to make just one quilt.
I also remember that pan of water that had to constantly be emptied from the defrosted ice from the "ice box". And that was when I lived in BV - so it was until the end, at least, of WWII. Then to think, after the new refrigerators came out, we could actually buy and freeze meat for a week - didn't have to run to the corner store for fresh meat every night. But oh, those fresh breaded porkchops and mashed potatoes were so good. I think the food was better then.
RC - Another thing I would like to know is about those gas lamps. My mother mentioned how happy she was to not have to clean those damn lamps all the time anymore. What type of care did they require?
I have an Absysinian cat with 6 claws on both front paws and 5 on one back paw. Anyone else have one or know anything about them? She is the best-tempered, most well-behaved, loving cat I have ever had. (Just a little diversion from old Chester)
Remember roller skating to live organ music at The Great Leopard/ Big C ?
There was a time when I was in Chester almost every day. I guess I kind of took things for granted...all the good places to shop...the food like Pete's Hot Dogs and Birney's Birch Beer, the Gus and Andy's? Hole in the Wall, the Yellow Bowl and Sherwoods. All good food and cheap. St Michael's had a 12:05 mass and there was a sextant there called Dapper Dan who always had something funny to say especially when he was passing the collection basket. You might say it was worth the price of admission. I remember parking right in front of St Michael's one day which you weren't suppose to do and the cop there at the Triangle saying, "I don't mind you doing that but don't do it while I'm standing here," so I moved the car.
please pidpat find another site to chat on
Anyone from Highland Gardens, Sun VillageorEddystone ?
Jack R Did you live on Clover Lane in the50s? My best friends family lived there.There last name was Rostron. one son Bob and one girl Shirley.Spent a lot of time over there I lived on Forwood St. Highland Gardens Carol
Well now, it seems as if everyone is not really interperting what pidipat is saying.Her writing is so good that you guys are getting all mixed up.Now we all mistakes and non of us are perfect. Now I know for a fact that the men did eat spam in world war 2. Now if someone tells me I am wrong then I will accept that.Pat is a fine , nice lady, who is due her respect.Just like all the elders.Pat has always been very interesting and intelligent, now I am not. So I don't have as much confidence, but I think she is feeling pretty bad and you just don't get it. It' the attitude. Now to get back to what this board is for, is to pass on any information that you might have about chester.
Pidipat: the rag man was buying. He didn't get much from our house (we were wearing them, he he) but no kdding, my mother made rugs and quilts and dust rags--there wasn't much left. Acually, they made fine paper from those rags. Our money is printed on this.
RC - you are such a joy and a breath of fresh air. I too remember the flat irons, the curling irons that my grandmother would get hot over some type of flame (not sure) and burn my ears every time she got close to them. It took forever to get it hot for each and every curl. The washing machines with the two big wringer rollers (always afraid to get your hand caught in them), milk delivery with the cream sitting on top left on the back steps, a mailbox on almost every corner, player pianos, long white stockings that had to be worn by every little girl, Buster Brown shoes and haircuts, and when there was nothing else sweet in the house, my grandmother was so tickled to give me buttered bread with a sprinkling of sugar on it. I used to pretend I loved it, along with orange juice laced with castor oil!! The rag man yelling out "any old rags today?" What was that all about anyway - was he buying or selling, never could figure that out.
I did not see the posting by Lou Warfel. I have his email address and will write him tonight. To have that great man join us would be wonderful.
Jack Mills CHS 55. Thanks for the info on Jack Mangan. Yes, he's the one i was looking for and I am so sorry to learn of his death. I worked at the Mac Theater where his dad was manager.
My brother, Ned and wife Mary Ann have lived in the Orlando, Fl. area for the past 15 yrs. They are doing well and have 5 grown children. I'll tell him you were asking for him.
I am still looking for anyone from the St. Michael's class of '52 for a possible reunion. Especially looking for Libby Glewwe Greenleaf, Pat Hefton Ferraro, Betty Trainor, Mgt Tyrell and Joan Klinger Wickert. If anyone knows of these women, please contact me or ask them to get in touch. Thanks so much.
Pidipat luke Cellini is still working. His office is out on Middletown road in Elwyn. I have been going to him since 1967.
Jack,,,can you tell me how you know us?Ithink it might be my older sister karen.
Tammy
I can remember when we had an ice box and the Iacona bros. brought ice to our house. We also had a victory garden out back in a field we shared with quite a few families.
You're right RC...it was used for tanning. I'm not sure about the wall.
Remember the "doggie diamond" man with the big bag and a stick with a nail in the end. Not sure what it was used for but think I heard it was used in tanning leather. Is that funny wall still standing on 24th st. near Providence Ave?
talking about the stores in buckman village, i remember a pool and pinball place opened in the 60's in the set of stores between pine and keystone, called POP'S.. i later lived in one of the apartments there in the late 70's.
talking about the stores in buckman village, i remember a pool and pinball place opened in the 60's in the set of stores between pine and keystone, called POP'S.. i later lived in one of the apartments there in the late 70's.
i remember the ritzels from gangster place and then from eighth st.in upland.
Way to go RC. I remember "Any old rags today?" The knife and scissors sharpener, the photographer with a pony, an organ grinder with a monkey and when I stayed with the Hardings in Chester Hts. walking up to Buckley's to get the mail, milking the cow, churning butter, I loved cleaning out the chicken coop on Sat. morning, there was even a traveling butcher and the umbrella man.
Top O' the to mornin to ye! Lets talk about the "good old days". No electricity, no washer or drier. Sad irons,wash boards, hauling the rugs into the yard and beating them --Icould go on and on. But there were conveniences. A lot of things were delivered right to the door. MilkF(it froze in winter and popped out of the bottle) bread (frihofer sp.?) ice (the iceman used to let us ride on the back step of his wagon and get the chips that tasted so good). Habbersetts started with a delivery wagon and there was always a huckster with fresh vegetables and fruit. I remember the excitement of getting electricty. No more gas lights, no more emptying the drip pan under the ice box. And the telephone!! Our number was 365.
Kate, you bet. We have always flown the flag, and I have red,white and blue ribbons all over my tree outside, also yellow for when they come home.Flags on the windows and bows on the door. We pray for all our men and boys and if we don't back them, who will. let their be peice on earth, My husband fought for it just like a lot of others. Many husbands and sons,fathers, uncles and etc. Also a lot of women were also in the service as they are now. GOD BLESS THEM ALL and GOD BLESS AMERICA. Their is no doubt we love our country. Amen
Buckman Village a Special Place. . . what a unique and well planned community. I do not know when BV was developed, but it was way ahead of the times.
The placement of the large multi-unit and the 4 unit apartments between 9th and 10th St on Meadow Land. ...with 4 unit Apartments along Keystone from Doc Johnson's Drug Store up to 10th Street and down 10th to Meadow Lane, and a few along 10th between Pine and Clover.
...The convenient retail stores and postoffice on 10th between Keystone and Pine. With more retail along what was then high traffic 9th Steet.
The single family attached homes started at 10th St with the exception of Clover and the north side of Keystone. The single family sturctures had larger houses on each end. I lived at 1121 Clover which had a livingroom, kitchen, 2 bedrooms and basement, great for a single parent Dad and his son.
The playground on Meadow Lane was filled with swings,seesaws, the kiddie area, and baseball and basketball court just after WWII.
Everything and everyone was within one or two blocks walking distance. Perhaps that is what makes our childhood memories so vivid.
Pidipat
You are so right. RC how are you doing today. Harvey, say hello to your wife for us. Our prayers are always with you. You are a very good person
Margie, I ate at HJ's in '77-'78 but tell your stories anyway.
You see how you don't read exactly what I say. I did NOT SAY that everyone who is Nameless is not acceptable here. I said those who post negative or nasty things to others without acknowleging who they are are under suspect. There are those of you who read only what you want to read, take it out of context, misinterpret what is written and enjoy attacking. Well, misunderstandings cause a tremendous amount of problems.
If you knew you could post what your older relatives say, then post them, don't make excuses for the fact that they can't write - I can't help but feel you thought I was belittling you - not at all - just suggesting something because you never explained yourself totally - my nice statement to you just gave you another reason to attack me. A lot of people seem to find enjoyment in attacking me. Well, that's OK with me. But dear God, be truthful and accurate when you make accusations. If you think you're making friends here by doing that, that's OK too. If you are not able to express yourself intelligently, then just attack - that's more enjoyable apparently, then expressing the fact that you knew that, were thinking about doing it, and will, in fact, do it. I thought I was making a really good suggestion - can't read your mind if you don't let us know what you already knew. And, futhermore, Quilter attacked me - I never attacked her/him. He/she is the one who came across as controlling and never, ever to be contradicted - not I. I think she said something like - "I know exactly what I'm talking about". Well, I'm never that sure of myself and I am an authority on absolutely nothing. I just post my personal memories. Let's hear some "memories" from "Quilter" instead of demanding she or he (another unidentifiable person) is exactly right! This is a motto I have always lived by - and again I know people will take great joy in attacking this, but here it goes:
"Don't walk behind me - I may not lead; don't walk in front of me - I may not follow; just walk beside me and be my friend."
Now, the above was said by a very wise person and if you care to attack that, I feel very, very sorry for you. If you don't enjoy humor - I feel terribly sad for you. AND, furthermore, you will, never stop me from posting on this board - try as you may - attacks are welcome - just make sure you attack the right person and don't be snide or anonymous - attack intelligently and remember, I will neither lead nor follow - just try to walk beside you and be your friend.
I am truly sorry to all the people on this board whom I have enjoyed so much. But, the Irish in me finds some things intolerable to this tough old lady. "True to all the Irish blood that's in me". I will never back off to false accusations or miss-interpretations. I will always fight for truthfulness and if I am to be accused, make damn sure you're right.
Ummm, just catching up on my reading here.. with all the back and forth "freedom of speech" that has been going on.. did anyone miss that LOU asked a question?? Now I don't know Lou, but I remember that he recently lost his wife and someone was hoping he would be posting soon.. if indeed, this is the same LOU who just posted, you all missed him and hoped he would post and now the poor man's post is lost in all the verbal crossfire! Is it you Lou? I don't know you but we share a name :) and I want you to know you were thought of and missed during your time of grieving.
Now.... anyone remember the Howard Johnson's? I can't remember street names at all.... but I worked there in 1977 - 1978...man, do I have stories about that place!
Great Website! Enjoyed reading about my hometown. Sounds like it changed a lot. Hear they are going to revitalize it. Chester is a great location, near the airport, railways, the Delware. Hope it comes to pass.
TO NAMELESS Thanks, prayers will help all the military....Kate
BUCKMAN VILLAGE STORES BETWEEN PINE AND KEYSTONE AS I REMEMBER WAS A GROCERY STORE, DON'T REMEMBER THE NAME WE JUST CALLED IT THE QUAKER STORE, THEN THERE WAS THE POST OFFICE AND DRY CLEANER THAT MRS. EARL BIGGER OPERATED, AND THEN THE SODA STORE THAT OPENED ONTO KEYSTONE ROAD. MY SON BOBBY WORKED THERE FOR A BRIEF TIME. I ALSO REMEMBER MC CLOSLEY HAD A NIGHT CLUB THAT FEATURE SOME BIG NAMES. I LIVED IN BUCKMAN FROM 57 UNTIL THE 90'S. THE BLISARD SENIORS HAD LIVED THE FROM THE TIME THEY WERE BUILT.
To Jack R. The teen club you are talking about was not in the early 50s.That started up about 53-54.Our teen club was about 49 or 50.The later one was up by Yanks and it was not in a barn.
Enjoy your site. I would like to know if anyone back there knows where I can find a 1950 Chester High year book.
Kate I pray that your son stays safe.
Kate I pray that your son stays safe.
If you have a copy of the 65 yearbook from N.D. you will see Sly's 1st wife, also 61 Rez....I have both if anyone wants a copy...
"Rocky" was in the ring & people were coming over to get his autograph & she was one of them...blonde, very pretty...you have to be quick to catch it..
We are at war& I have a son in tthe Military so I can speak about what 9/11 should mean to all of us...Fly the flag..
Kate
What part did Jane play in Rocky 3?
What does pretty have to do with anything....mean is mean
PAUL, yes, ssomeone from Highland Gardens, who went to Rez& N.D,. went to New York after H.s. & met Sylvester Stallone & helped him write the first "Rocky" I saw everyday at school...I'll never forget watching her come into the Academy awards when he won his OSCAR...they had 2 boys...one is autistic & he gives a lot of money to that organization and the other son is SAGE who has been in some of his movies...interesting, HUH? And Jane(sasha) is in Rocky 3..
I have several CHS yearbooks including 1950. I looked up Pat Mc Fadden's picture. A very pretty girl.
To Kate
Thanks Kate. Glad to see at least one person agrees.
The soda fountain at 10th and Keystone was Stockmans and there was a very nice lady who worked there and her name was Dot Baines.
The grocery store at 10th Pine was Fraziers before it was Lescyks.
You are so right, NAMELESS 9/11 didn't last long.Life is so short & we ARE at war so let's be nice to one another..
Pattie
I think you mean well most of the time and I don't want to add fuel to the fire but all this bickering will be stopped if each one thinks before they write.
Pattie, I am not criticizing you but I don't think you are aware of the fact that you do sound a bit controlling at times. I guess that's why Quilt called it Patti's Forum. You did it when you answered my post about my mother not having a high school education. You said that someone else could post for seniors who couldn't. I was aware that I could do that and sure others would know they could do the same. I didn't need to be told.
Then you did it again when you answer Quilt. You're telling him/her to inject humor so that what he/she writes would be more enjoyable (to whom) and suggested he/she write a column on canned goods. You appolgize but then you throw another comeback. You don't need to tell people what to do. Your enjoyment may or may not be someone else's enjoyment. We are all different.
As far as being nameless, fear has nothing to do with it. Thieves? vandalism? obscene phone calls? peeping toms? What are you smoking? "FEAR" FEAR WHO? "CAUGHT?" BY WHOM? "OPINIONS NOT VALUED BY RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE HERE?" Again, are you speaking for everyone? If someone posts something negative about Chester, he/she may just feel that way. Not to judge! What you are implying is that all nameless people are irresponsible. That's insulting.
Now let's just get back to Chester. With all this bickering from Chesterites and ex-Chesterites, it doesn't say much about what kind of people the city produced.
Be nice to each other, named or nameless. Remember 9/11! Everyone united. Didn't last long did it?
Paul: Now THAT'S funny!
QUILTER ...... " B"
pidipat. In the late thirties ann probably the very early 40's their were horse pulled bread wagons and horse pulled milk wagons. Also mr. ragman had his horse and wagon out on the road for a while.Almost every where they had brick sidewalks.Also a lot of people saved all their garbage in one can for the men who raised pigs back then, they took it for their food. Back then you could just throw it al together.Anyone ever hear of White Mountain. MY youngest son use to go to the woods and dig for treasure's, their was also a dump there. You would have been surprised of what treasures he did find.
Eh?!
OOPS.. HUMOUR?
Paul Crowther: Whether or not you see the movie, read the book. You know how Hollywood always "improves" a story....
Pidipat... My guess would be that building roads with stone was the best material available at the the time. I remember when Parker St. was that way also. One of the many things that makes me laugh is how so many Cities tore up all the beautiful old brick sidewalks and replaced them with concrete. Today,when they decide to "beautify" the downtown,they tear up the concrete and install brick! I laugh when I hear people say "it's the latest" Sort of like the new Mother to-be who said she was going to breast feed her baby because she heard it was the latest thing![excuse my feeble attempt at humor]!
100 yrs ago, beginning on Sunday, the pews in ST.Luke'sEpiscopalChurch,3rd&Broomal sts.,Chester, will be free to all worshippers.75yrs.ago-Plans to enlarge the Shober Hotel,4th st. and edgmont ave.Chester. It is owned by Jacob Felman.ye ars ag, way before my time a lot of the areas i around were known as vacation places for the city people , maybe the wealthy. Can you picture that. That must be the time when ladies wore long beautiful dresses and bonnets and carried parosols.
Hey Kate.... That is interesting. Someone from Highland Gardens making the "big time" !
P.S. Quilter... if I knew your name I could probably tell you if we went to school together. We're in the exact same time frame.
TO "QUILTER" Thanks for passing that info. I knew that " The Shipping News" was out on film,[it rec. excellent reviews]but was not aware it was a book first. I'll look for it.
I forgot to thank Ruth for telling us about the approximate time the tracks were pulled up. Everytime I looked at our Newstand photo, I wondered about those tracks and when they were torn up. Ruth, do you ever remember horses on any of the roads? Of course, there had to be sidewalks because of the horses, right? A lot of people think those days were nostalgic - and they were, but crossing the dirt road when horses were traveling there - had to be a little dirty??? Do you know why blocks paved some streets? I can still hear the horse carriages (only from movies) traveling on what sounds like blocks. That would be interesting to know, too.
Love your reminisces, Ruth. Please tell us more.
And I always wondered what those cute houses in Highland Gardens sold for. Very interesting. Today, developments like Highland Gardens are called "townhouses". We have thousands of them here in Phoenix with almost the identical floor plan - which I always liked too. So, that developer was way ahead of his time.
And to Kate - Phoenix is absolutely beautiful, as is Florida. Our heat is unbearable in the summer months - so few are outside, except in the pools. I am considering moving to Florida because I have family there. But the humidity scares me; however, we are getting humidity here too. So, we are where we're supposed to be, I guess.
Pidipat--I think Dr.Cellini is retired. He was my neice's Dr. and she had to get a new one.I think Edna was the dearest person and she was always so nice.I had to get a thumb operation, but they wheeled me down to the operation floor, aand while I was waitingto go in, they had an emergency. Imagine my surprise when I recognized the Dr. head of surgery down there. I couldn't believe it, but it was non other then another school friend by the nsmr of George Rhood. Do you remember him? I thought age gave us a little headway. I know when I speak outMy daughter always says I am getting grouchy, well that comes with old age and everyone will be that way. Thats what I told her, because I never thought I would be that way. What people misinturpit, I think It is attitude. Now I am not a goo d spellar I never went to college. But I am to this day I still respect my elders and always say miss or mrs.Pidipat you are one of the people who know so much and you have a great way of writing. I wish that I could do it the same way
Paul Crowther: Your name is familiar, we probably went to school together sometime. Have you read "The Shipping News" by E. Annie Proulx, which won the 1994 Pulitzer Prize (and other national awards) for fiction? It's set in the coastal areas of eastern Canada. A wonderful story. Wonderful prose. You have to stay with it through the first few chapters, though, then the author grabs you and spins a tale you don't want to end. You'll read it many times, if you haven't come across it already.
This site is Pattie's Forum & unlike other's I would rather go elsewhere.
This might interest the people from Highland Garden's...Sylvester Stallones's first wife went to school same time I did, rode the bus for 4 years to Notre Dame, she lived in H.G.& her name was Jane Czack...after she went to Hollywood she changed it to Sasha...
To Jack R - Sorry I am the worst when it comes to remembering the names of businesses back in BV - except Goods, and I didn't get that exactly right. It's been 52 years since I lived there, so- can't remember - but I'm good at names of people. I see someone else answered that for you so that's good. The pharmacy I remember because a neighbor across the street from me (Carpenter - I believe) was engaged to marry a young man who worked there - not sure if he was the pharmacist - but he was manager or something.
Jack Mills - I surely did know Luke Cellini and our classmate he married, Edna Vincent. A friend back there who lives in Prospect Park sent me a wonderful clipping from the Delaware Times regarding Luke's fantastic success in the medical field. He had a career in Italy for a while (or maybe just went to school there - not sure). When I was back home in '79 and '80, Luke was my doctor. Luke is one of the "success stories" from our class and both he and Edna were and still are well respected and liked. Isn't he retired now? I thought I read where he was going to retire. Hi Luke and Edna!!
Quilter - I stand corrected and you said it all. Now if only you could throw some humor in once in awhile, it would make reading what you post a little more enjoyable. It's nice to know that you are an authority on Spam, a claim few people can make and I'm sure you are proud of that. Everyone should be an authority on something - so your expertise is Spam. Why pick on me, I accepted your explanation; others are the ones who tried to "correct" you - not me! Read my posts again, I never INSISTED I was right. But, I don't mind being picked on - you may not agree with what I say, but you read it. Didn't you enjoy my little Spam jingle? That was done in fun - and believe me, you or no one else will ever prevent me from printing fun things - ever. It's obvious you are a well-educated person, but don't ever try to write a comedy column - a column on canned goods would be better.
My last controversial thought: There are no rules as far as I know about posting your name and email address. However, when something extremely rude and negative is posted and you don't identify yourself, that is the equivalent of a peeping tom, leaving obscene phone calls and thieving and vandalism in the middle night. It's FEAR of being found out and caught. So, your opinions are not valued by the responsible people here.
My final thought: If all this nonsense and bickering doesn't stop, John might decide to close down this board - at least for a while. I have been very diplomatic in trying to inject some new interests here, along with an apology, but a few people are insistent on arguing and misinterpreting and I feel compelled to answer them. But in the "grand scheme of things" what difference can all this make - right, wrong, etc. I'm wrong tons of times and will continue to be wrong. One person tried to extend an apology and he was even criticized for doing that.
Should I change my name to "Pattie's Forum" - kinda like the ring to that.
P.S.. I know for a fact that "MONTY PYTHON" liked SPAM!
To Ruth Carney.... I think Highland Gardens was built prior to the end of the war. I moved there when I was 5 yrs. old in 1943. It was brand new. I remember going to see our house before we bought it. The street was still unpaved. The day we moved in the workman were installing the kitchen cabinets. The floors were so slippery I fell every time I went up the stairs. Can still remember the smell of the fresh concrete on the furnace room floor. When I went out in the back yard I got lost and couldn!t remember which was my house. They all looked alike. A few times I walked into the neighbors. As a bit of trivia,they cost about $4200.00. An end was a couple hundred more. My Dad!s mortgage payment was $36.00 a month. He made about $45.00 a month. Over the years the value went as high as $22000. My Mother lived there until about a year and a half ago. She sold it for $5000.00 and was lucky to get that! I still consider myself very fortunate to have had the luxury of growing up with central heating and a shower! I never realized at the time that many people didn,t have such luxuries. My Wife still thinks I came from a rich family. She was born in Nova Scotia where she was privileged to have the use of a "one holer" and a washtub in the kitchen for bathing. She says "you haven't lived unless you had to walk out in the yard in the middle of winter with your long johns[with the trap door]on to answer the call of nature" ! Guess I was fortunate! I remember V-J day and V-E day. Was living in the "Gardens" at the time. Everyone was out with pots and pans banging them together and parading around the block. If some of my spelling seems strange it may be because I!ve picked up some Canadian versions of words over the years. Lived here 37 yrs. now.
Mary Ann Kessler Barrow, glad to hear from somebody from Eyre Park, how is your brother Ned and his wife. they used to live next door to me on sycamore st. If you mean Jack Mangan from 11th st. he died last year.
Does anyone know the Grasty's...Hart(deceased) Maryann was the only female in the family...brother Charles....
QUILTER>>>YES!
Dear Pidipat:
Regarding your comment of 2/22, intended for me:
"It did occur to me that someone who was only a toddler during WWII could know more about it [Spam] than those of us who ate it, read about it, etc."
I'm a "senior citizen" myself, and I don't take condescension lightly -- not from younger people or from seniors either. I was no "toddler" during WWII and I know exactly what I'm talking about regarding Spam not being a G.I. ration during WWII. If the Hormel family themselves (my source) knew they were not supplying Spam to our military during the war, then who are you to insist that they were? And to make fun of someone who was giving you some reliable information about it?
I've only been reading these postings for a few weeks, and it looks like this is the Pidipat Forum. Someone offers a different opinion from yours: look out. You definitely have been mean or sharp-tongued to a number of posters (named or anonymous) when your opinions have been challenged. Count how many of these postings in the past few weeks are yours and you'll get an idea of how you seem to monopolize the site. Your intimidations are unnecessary and unwelcome in a place that is supposed to be about friendly reminiscences of "Old Chester."
My grandparents, uncles and aunts, and cousins all lived in the Chester and Philadelphia area long before you were born. We were the ones working at Baldwin's, Westinghouse, Viscose, Sun Ship, Congoleum, and other local industries even before WWI. We ate "tomato pies" and "cheese pies" with our neighbors before there were pizzas. Nobody on a website had to tell me where hoagies were invented. I clearly remember the day FDR died and VJ Day - but then, I was "only a toddler" at that time, in your opinion. My education includes a college degree. Like many others of my generation, my family worked hard to give me that opportunity.
I'm sure a lot of people read these postings without ever commenting themselves. How many others have you discouraged with your prattle? As you are now aware, you won't dismiss me so easily with your flip replies.
Wow, a lot goes on here..To Pat, How is Arizona, that was my 2nd pick for retirement...as it turned out my husband & I love the part of Florida we are in b/c we do have some change of seasons, we are in the Panhanle P.C.B.
I agree about putting what year we went to school & where!! To nameless, I agree spelling is not what this board is about and someone once told me that "you will always meet people who have more than you and you will always meet people who have less than you" the important thing is treat everyone fairly, but I think the older generation should know that. Wish I could see Jerry Blavett......Kate
I mistyped and messed up Kenny Housely's name.
I am trying to organize a reunion of our St. Michael's class of '52 and hope someone will know the whereabouts of the following: Joan Broomall, Libby Glewwe Greenleaf, Joseph Burns, John Tkacz,enny Housely and John Mangan. Thanks for any help anyone can give me.
BTW, Jack Mills CHS 55, I lived on S. Eyre Drive from '47 to '63 and had many great times there.
sheree,
my sisters name was jackie (jacalyn) we live at mccaffery place. one row over from 12th and booth the end house. jack
Hi all,
Some people prefer not to put their full names & graduation years. If they did, then they would. I haven't seen very many people I know from school or my old neighborhood who have posted. So what would be the point? If I have something of interest pertaining to Chester, I would post it. Maybe other nameless feels the same. I don't know. This is my opinion.
As far as the "Flame war", from what I have been reading, someone must have got hurt, BUT, I haven't read where anyone named person was criticize either by Nameless or anyone else.
I think the nameless poster was generalizing. "HOPEFULLY"
Now on with the show!
I'm wondering did this all start because some nameless person didn't think my name wasn't "politically correct"? or nameless was just starting a 'Flame" war on the Chester Board?
To Pidipat: please keep writing I do enjoy learning about Chester. Without people like you and others how shall we "young uns" ever "experience" what Chester was all about a long time ago.
I am the world's worse speller but I do a cross word puzzle and Word Jummble every morning and complete them fairly rapidly.I've been lucky to have someone who can spell in residence. Also, I keep a small spelling dictionary at hand. About snobs. Don't you think that a lot of times they are just shy people? I wasn't raised in Chester (Media '35--me and Harv) but I did live and work there a lot of years and there was a trolly from Media to Chester every twenty minutes. One of my earliest memories is being lost in Spears! I was about 4. I remember when McCaffery village was built. Ninth street was being repaved at the time. Thats when they tore up the street car tracks. Highland Gardens came at the end of the war. I tried to buy a house there but couldn"t get a mortgage because I was female and my husband was over seas. I just remember something that might be of interest. A lot of the streets were paved with Belgium blocks--I think they came over as ballast in the ships. When they took the tracks up they gave those bricks away. A friend of mine got a bunch and saved them and evenually hawled them to MD where they now grace his garden!
I lived in Buckman village From1940-1966I married Kay Ryan.What a great place to grow up.
Sorry John I meant to say you and me.
John E---- if you happened to live on 11th st. maybe you can tell me with all the kids we had in Eyre Park there doesn't seem to be anybody but and me on this thing.
Pidipat I really enjoy reading all the things you write and I do wish everyone would put their full name and year they graduatedfrom school as it would sure help know who the are. You sure seem to miss this area in your writing. I think my doctor was in your class, did you know Dr. Luke Cellini.
Keep on writing Jack mills
1. The name of the store at the northeast corner of 10th and Pine was Lescyks. The father's name was Walter, (really nice guy too), and he ran the store with his wife and 4 kids. I know he had 2 daughters and 2 sons, but I went to the store to see his girls, they were very pretty.
My only comment is it seems unfair to criticize a person by name if you don't use one.
Snob was not directed to you. Don't even know you. You're on the defensive again. Why?
I just read another note here and found it very interesting. If there is some member of your family who has memories of old Chester, you could make notes of what they tell you, and you post them here. I for one truly enjoy the older memories that contain a lot of history and explains why some things exist. And, I repeat myself, spelling doesn't matter.
I couldn't decide whether to respond or not - but wordy old me can't help it.
If "snob" is directed toward me - rest assured I was never a snob and still not. There are two, maybe three people on this board who knew me in highschool - and they can verify that I was never a snob. My name is Patricia McFadden (maiden). My small family was extremely poor, extremely. In highschool, I had no time to join any sports or even participate in the drama club as much as I would have liked because I had to work everyday at Whelans to help support my mother and me. My mother wanted me to drop out of highschool completely, but I refused. Granted there were some "snobs" in our class, but I never labeled them as such. The many close friends I had fulfilled whatever needs I had socially and were so much fun to be with that I didn't feel "left out" of anything.
So, if my writing impresses you as that of a "snob" - you are making assumptions that gratify some need in you.
I will try from now on to not offend anyone, which was always in my mind anyway. By the same token, don't take things out of context. If an offense is taken, please realize that it was not intended. In the few areas where I was "mean" (and you bet, I can be very cutting verbally) it was in response to a few uncalled-for remarks on this board toward me - and that person made unfounded assumptions. I was very angry at him for portraying old Chester in such a bad light. However, as it turned out, he was right about the conditions he wrote about, and I told him so - that he was right. I also mentioned a young boy who gave me tons of trouble when I was extremely young - not everything was peaches and roses - and to pretend otherwise is like sticking our head in the sand. To him, I will never, ever apologize.
To those of you who continue to harass - calm down, have a hoagie, and think of all the good things in life and old Chester - and print them here. I wish I could have a hoagie - but Phoenix no longer has them.
I hope this ends this chapter and we can return to the good times we were having.
To whom did you look pretty darned good...the poor snobs who shunned you?
FYI Jerry Blavat DJ's at Richetti's Springfield INN on Baltimore PK. every Thur. or FRi. nite and I'm pretty sure he still does memories in margate. Sheree... I remember Higgie his step dad worked at a bubble gum factory and he used to bring home boxes of swell bubble gum, we would have bubble blowing contest, most of the time it would end up in our hair because we would have a wad in our mouths so big that the bubble would cover our whole face and when it popped it would end up all over our faces and hair. LOL that's why we always had bald spots in the front of our heads. Mom would get out the sissors. LOL.....
Tammy... I used to hang with a Karen (Ritzel) also went to school with her.
To the other Nameless
Yes, we should all get along. It would be very nice to be able to log on to this website and read about the old Chester we once knew.
I also agree with one of the other nameless that one should not be put down for misspelling or not leaving their name.
Some Chesterites did not complete grammar and/or high school. They should not be excluded or ridiculed because they did not. My Parents lived most of their lives in Chester. My mom never went to high school. She could contribute very much to Chester's history but because she didn't complete her education, she would be put down because she couldn't spell as well as others. That's not what this is all about.
It's not all (notice I said all) about who can dance, who can sing, who was in the know or who was on the honor roll, etc. it's about everyone who shared the same hometown.
In one of the previous post, I recalled reading that "we all had a good education" referring to English. (Especially in the writing & spelling field) Well that is not entirely true for everyone. Should they be ridiculed?
Let you conscience be your guide.
God Bless
To pidipat.
Do you recall the names of the stores in BV on 10th Street between Keystone and Pine near the Memorial?
There was a soda fountain at 10th and Keystone, with a row of stores over to Pine Lane. And a grocery store on the NE corner of 10th and Pine next to Corbetts.
what nasty things did you say
You are right about the snooty kids, guess they never change. There were too many in my classes at CHS. The holier or prettier, or smarter than thou attitude won't work in schools today. They are called bullies. Some people carry that attitude in their adult years. People that make fun of others. Those who are guilty need to grow up. High School is over. To the Snobs--you are no better than anyone else.
The best class reunion I attended was the one where some of the "IN",or "SNOB" crowd didn't look too good while some of the kids that were ignored or shunned, turned up looking pretty darn good. One of the pretty darn good ones was me.
I am sure John created this board for all Chesterites, regardless if they could spell correctly or not. I am sure he would not mind if an individual doesn't want to fill in the little name square. It's really insignificant to some.
To each his own.
Have a nice day all. (You see I'm no snob)
No, it was ME who said those nasty things to Pidipat but now I want to apologize with one p. I want to be part of the solution now not part of the problem. Can't we all just get along? 99% of you nameless people are giving the rest of us a bad name.
HEY PATTY BOYLE I HEARD YOU WERE LOOKING FOR A WEST END HILLBILLY E- MAIL ME IF YOU CAN CHIP
yes her comments are mean sometimes
you can tell the people that are still snooty today just like they were back when,there comments betray them
Oh, forgot - the Ewings (Bobbie and his sister) also from BV in that same time frame. I've seen Bobbie written up by Gebhart a few times.
Hey Nameless, move over.
That wasn't you who talked to Pitipat. That was me.
No appolgy is necessary. She needs to appologize to several people. I caught some of her denials. There are more if one cares to research back.
She may mean well but at times she was mean. Guess age makes one forgetful.
More names from BV during the 40's and 50's are: Smiths, Rooneys, Bacons, Carpenters, Doyles, Hodgsons (Babe and George) - only additional families I can remember besides the ones already posted by me.
Thank you for the apology - that means a lot. Hope you continue to enjoy and post here.
I am by no means making fun or criticizing - but I couldn't help laughing at the reference to Mcafarty Village. I'd never heard it pronounced like that - never entered my mind - but sometimes it was "Mc Farty" Village. No offense meant, just think that's one of the funniest, maybe freudian slips, I've ever heard. Now don't jump on me, anyone, because I'm sure a similar name could be made for Buckman Village, where I lived. I'm sure that reference could be made to any village, anywhere in the world. The term just made me laugh out loud.
SPAM, SPAM, the food of choice; if it hadn't been for SPAM, WWII could have been woice.
Hope everyone has a good day.
Good morning! It would be fun to chat with Dad & Mary in real time, We'll have to arrange a good time todo that. I appreciate you showing them the navigation of the internet. They don't have a computer. Dad came down to visit me after my last bout with cancer and we had a great visit - I want Mary to come along next time too. I tried to get Dad to open a Yahoo or Hotmail email account at that time - then he could check it and write once a week at the library. Do you work at Serendipity? I'd love to browse through there! Dad is trying to find me a wooden clarinet - maybe someone will donate one to the Serendipity!
Today I went to our Family History center as I have rented a microfilm of the "Minutes and Baptisms at the Upland Baptist Church from 1854 - 1946" Sadly they were closed so no research for me!
John Barton: I'm just a few years older than you and I didn't go to school in Chester - I went to Parkside Elem., Brookhaven Jr High then should have gone to Sun Valley. I used to go down to Chester alot with friends, probably against my parents' wishes, but did not go to school there. I would have graduated in 1974.
f.y.i. i am a ritzel.
f.y.i. i am a ritzel.
I would like to apologize to all of you for the way I talked to Pidipat last evening. Sometimes I forget to take my medicine and then I put the Caps Lock on and just lash out but I'm alright this morning. I sure hope somebody can help Tammy find the Ritzels.
To Shirl: No, no relation to me.
To Jack: Where did you live in McCaffery Village, and what is your sisters name?
Sheree
Anybody remember $2.00 NITES ?
Buckman Village 40s and 50s family names...of kids that I recall were......On Clover Lane - Graham, Doyle, Mortimer, Cauley, Barrett,Maillie, Marth... On Meadow Lane - Parks, McCormick,... On Pine Lane - Waldron at corner, Callahan (maybe on Pine or Clover), Coyle
Any others?
You are right Florence...life isn't all song and dance and I hope I didn't give any newlyweds the idea Jean and I never fight. It's just a matter of learning to say "I'm sorry" when you're wrong (and even when you're right sometimes.)
Any one know the Ritzels from ganster place in Mcafartty village?
Jack R:
Wasn't that teen club run by Jimmy Lynn who also had the dance TV show in Wilmington. Mr. Bell also had something to do with both. I remember my older sister had to take me with her (my parents were really strick) and her friends to see "Dick Lee" then he handed out these page size pictures high gloss. I think Dick Lee later opened a bar in NJ.
As for liver sandwiches, we usually had liver or giblet stew over toast. But for real chopped liver Mr. Lews was the only place that I knew in the Chester area growing up. Then the "Famous Deli" in Philly..still there...For a great mug of coffee with cheese Blintz no better place than the "Ambassador" in Philly. In those days they served the coffee in paper half cups with lids. Always seemed to taste better.
Didn't the Geator have a dance in 69th street called the "Cheevoo" or something like that. Took my Kid sister there a couple of times.
Harvery: your devotion does make the words in the sermon real. "In sickness and in Health"
Bill & Harvey: True Love is eternal..
Harvey, How wonderful to have love. I am sorry that your wife is ill. There is a song--To be loved To be loved, Oh what a feeling to be loved. Pidipat, I will pray for your friend, and hope she gets well. Another one of my favorites is I Love How You Love Me.I always wished life could all be song and dance, but of course it isn't.See you later.
To Tom N. and Carol
Tom you are right, The Teen Night Club in the barn was out near the Chester Incinerator in Feltonville. I went to mapblast.com and checked the map for Feltonville and a RR line and sure enough it was near Incinerator Road.
Tom N. ...Can't recall Mike's burger barn.
To Tom-the section of Chester that was known as "Little Italy" was mostly 2d and 3d sts from Chester Creek to Central Ave. St Anthonys Catholic Church was located at 3d&Franklin st.
SPEAKING OF DJ'S HOW ABOUT OAKIE MILLER!WHAT AN A_ _ HOLE HE WAS.I WON A CAR ONCE FROM WIBG AT A DANCE, GREEN RIDGE ELEM. SCHOOL JOE NIAGARA OR BILL WRIGHT SR. WAS DJ CAN'T REMEMBER WHICH ONE.IT WAS A 1955 RAMBLER,SPLIT THE BACK OF MY SHARKSKIN TROUSERS ALLTHE WAY UP THE BACK WHEN I JUMPED UP ON THE STAGE.COULDN'T DRIVE IT LEGALLY CAUSE I WAS ONLY 15 BUT WHEN MY DAD WENT TO BED I WOULD SNEAK IT.RODE ALL NIGHT ON $1.00 WORTH OF GAS BUT HAD TO PUT OIL IN IT EVERY GAS STATION I PASSED.BELIEVE GAS WAS 29 CENTS A GALLON.
Sheree, are you related to Larry and Josie McGowan?
Anyone remember the Avenue Trojens and Avenue Hotel located concord Avenue between 5th and 6th 1957 1958 until 1965
Anyone remember the talent shows at the Mac Theatre
To Pidfipat The Bridge Builder Your poem is a inspiration for all to absorb because it is luckily for us and future generations the life that exist in the U.S.A. Because of this spirit we are able to communicate on computers today.I have learned more about the west end of Chesterover this web site, than I knew as a kid growing up in Eyre Park,even though I was friends with a lot of kids from the west end. Madeline Jenkins Steiner, I think we went all through school together, Larkin ,Smedley, Chs.I was in vocational in high school.I was trying to remember names from Larkin school, can remember Jim Henderson ,Paul Hudak, Norm Downes and Bill Schuler. Remember your sister Kathleen, but don't remember many girls, guess I was to young for girls then, good thing or I wouldn't have made it out of Larkin.
sheree, i am from mccaffery village and remember a lot of what you hve been posting. most resently the community building dances. i remember the hullabulu but only been there once. hung out at the little leage and played. also remember the girls you mentioned. my sister even hung around with susan,and i hung out with sam, more in the later years, though i do remember all the names you have been mentioning. sure is nice to read these postings from the 60's and 70's. my name is jack kershinski.
FLORENCE - I just sent you an email and I was advised it was undeliverable. I just wanted to tell you that my friend is much, much, better today - and I will hear her voice again; I was afraid we were losing her.
When you get a chance, just send me your email address again.
FLORENCE - So, it was love at first sight, apparently? Between you and George. Tell George, he had good insight to marry you, one of the nicest girls at CHS.
HARVEY - So, you've had that wonderful sense of humor all your life - that's probably what attracted her to you - along with your good looks, of course.
PAUL - I am convinced that you knew her immediately as a "soul mate" that's why you blurted that out. People do recognize their future mates; the first time you see him or her, you have that feeling of "knowing" them already, having seen them some place before. I did not meet my first husband in Chester. The minute I laid eyes on him, I kept asking myself "where do I know him from?" I'm still asking that same question. Sorry you lost your wife, but you have wonderful memories, I know, and you come across as a loving individual. When my first husband died, we had been divorced for many years, but my heart still ached at his memorial service.
It's my personal feeling, that once we love someone, even through bad divorce, bad memories, whatever - somehow, deep in our psyche, a big part of that love still exists. And, it re-emerges when something dreadful happens to them.
I wonder if Lou Warfel has recovered yet from the loss of his wife. There is so much Chester history he could contribute here. Hopefully, he'll be back soon.
Thanks for your stories.
Harvey, Tell your wife "she is a very lucky woman to have you ", that story is so sweet, good luck.
I was a sophmore. We were standing on the steps of Media High School and this good looking girl came walking down Front St. My friend with me said, "She just moved into my block and her name is Dymond. So to get her attention I started yelling, "Pearl of the Orient...Gem of the Ocean...Jewel of the Universe." Despite all that she consented to go out with me and six years later we got married. When she went to work at Weinberg's right out of high school she decided to use her middle name Jean. We have been married 48 years now. She has MS and is pretty much confined to bed but I'm glad I have the opportunity to care for her. I love her.
Thanks to the person who answered my question, yes it was the Hullaballoo.
Pidipat Really nothing romantic.Looks like the kids up around Downingtown were trying to star their own club.How could anyone not know what was going own.When I first dated my second husband we took my two boys out to amusement park. We both had hangovers sitting there in the sun while they had a good time. The next date wwas to the movies all four of us to see South Pacific, next was a ride to New Jersey looking at what was left of Riverview, next a ride to Elkton and next Marriage. We didn't date very long, we just got married. He was 38 and I 28 and two little boys.He will be 80 on the 15th of Mar. We have been together all these years and raised 4 children.
good show but I had to matriculate from the old franklin school in 1948 between 3rd and 5 th [4th was a alley] m
Jack R: The airmail pickup and dropoff at Buckman airport was an experimental project. It was a big high-wing Stinson (not a biplane) that flew over the airport, dropping a mailbag first, then circling back for the pickup of another mailbag. A long line with a hook was lowered from the Stinson. The mailbag on the ground was attached to a looped line strung between two tall poles. The trick was to catch the looped part with the line from the plane. The pilot usually got it on the first try. You could watch the mailbag being winched up into the Stinson after the pickup. When I was a kid, my father used to take me to Buckman airport just to watch this. In the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum (in the Silver Hill facility), there is a Stinson painted like this airmail pickup airplane. I have seen it. It may even be the same airplane rather than one honoring the old project. www.spam.com is the Hormel website for Spam. At this website, notice that they never say it was G.I. rations but only that it was eaten in Russia and England by civilians. I myself would rather have scrapple made by the Amish in southeastern Pennsylvania or by Habersett's (?), but it's not available locally to me.
The dance club next to Penn Fruit was called the Hullabaloo and the best dancer there was a girl from Trainer,Sally Leary.
TO PITIPAT
Your quote on 2/19/2002 3:45:45PM
"To JoeCHS47......Now don't pick on the wise...s for not identifying himself. He more than likely doesn't know how to do that."
A BIT SARCASTIC and MEAN?
Your quote on 2/22/2002 6:03:54PM
"So his bridge must be treated with respect and dignity to all and for all"
CONTRADICTING AND HYPOCRITICAL, WOULDN'T YOU SAY?
Yes, "RESPECT AND DIGNITY" should apply to all including "NO NAMES" and people "WHO DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THAT."
Excerpts from The Spelling Bee by John E. McDonough
THE OLD ACADEMY stands on the South side of West Second Street, between Franklin and Fulton Streets. Originally built for some other use, it was afterwards a private school and subsequently was absorbed by the school system of the town. In its career as a grammar school such as it was in the Eighties, it was attended by many of those who became the substantial men and women of the ward, and from the portals of which they graduated to the more grave affairs of life. It was their final school and Alma Mater. The curriculum of those days afforded a very substantial practical education. Grades up to the ninth were efficiently taught there, and those who "passed" its 85 per cent or better were on fairly intimate terms with the three R's-all that they could be profitably taught about geography, history and anatomy with a super- ficial squint at algebra and geometry. The graduate from this school was "nobody's fool." This was entirely so because of the remarkably able teachers through whose hands they passed. Some of my schoolmates in this school were Howard C. Price, an officer in the U. S. Army; James McClymont, whose early facility at sketching bespoke his success as an architect; Josiah Sleeper, whose practical business college has unrequit- edly equipped more than one young person for work in the business world; Florence and Winifred McDowell, Gertrude McCardell, Reba Dickinson, Wesley Morgan, Lizzie Stevenson, Flood Bayne, Walter Pierce, George Illingsworth, Maris Wad- dell, Lindsay Bullock, Sylvester Rollins, Addie Anderson, Emma Keel, Fannie Rees, now a member of the teaching staff of the Mt. Airy School for Deaf, Dumb and Blind; George Scott, John Piggot, Charley Blackburn, "Joe" Hardman, B Frank Norton, Harry Simmonds, David M. Johinson, Jr., Effie Foreaker, Ella Christy, Harry L. Horning, now a physi- cian ; Georgeanna, his sister; George B. Eyre, Helen, his sister; Daisy McClure Tongue, Bertha Haney Oliver, Bertha Lukens, John Plumley, Albert Harvey, Ward Harvey, George E. Ward, Fred Davis, Annie Armstrong Fairlamb, "Dave" Armstrong, "Dave" Corson, Joe and Walter Iredale, William J. Laird, "Dory" Wilson, "Billy" Kershaw, "Dave" Cline and Lizzie, his sister; Bessie Ella, Madge Ward, Stella Stroud, Lena Hewitt, Ida Harkins, Jacob Lamplugh, Sam Kelly, Jack Broomall, now a Judge of the Courts and third in the line Broomall to wear the ermine in this county; Billy Ford, Sara Hamilton, Isophene Carey, Lou Hoffman, Gertrude Hoffman Lillie Kepner, John Chadwick, son of Robt. Chadwick, former councilman, member of State Legislature and postmaster; George Noblet, Jimmy Foster, Billy Deakyne, Emma Long, Teresa Schlegel, Isaac Hiorth, Lily Burns, John Watson, Walter Wilby, Clarence Wilby, Walter Cox, Gertrude Wallace, George McAldon, Frank Deemer, Roy Allen, Amy Allen, John Kline, Georgianna Kline, Katie Evans, John Miles, Lydia Phillips, Noble Dunn, Billy Douglass, Mort Hall, Fred Taylor, Will Armour, Sam Gott, Mary Miller, Harry Reaney, Harry Smith and Sidney Kimball. All but eighteen of these survive, and most of them have found no more attractive place in which to spend their lives. The writer of these sketches will not deny that the ink with which they have been penned has contained a considerable modicum of that which might be called assurance, but he disavows emphatically the ability with which to adequately de- scribe the idol of every pupil who came within the circle of the charm of Rachel Roberts. She lived on Kerlin Street near Fifth during her principalate of the Academy. Her face was not one that would be regarded as beautiful in any conven- tional sense, nor was her complexion one that indicated artificial assistance. It had about it, if not in it, the limning of .that artist without the ineffable beauty of whose touch the most classic features are devoid of real charm. It had about it the smile that indexed a mind serenely ruled by justice, the unconscious grace of which played in confident aura in and around it-a habit which found itself in such a congenial field that its almost perfect development was but the inevitable I result of that constant fidelity to it. Whether it was an irate complaining parent, whose conflict with some other school authority had gotten on her desk, a pupil whose misconduct had such major proportions as to require her attention or as sometimes happened some pupil in the school had brought a complaint concerning one of the teachers-in the adjustment of such matters and many of them trivial in fact were exceedingly tragic to the then interested parties, sometimes white, sometimes black, she would suggest a solution in which none of the temperamental or ethnological characteristics of the parties were disregarded and enter a final settlement which so neatly and comprehensively considered the consequences to pride, purse and pater- nity of the disputants as to compel the admiration even of the disappointed. When Miss Roberts opened the morning session of the school with prayer, it was prayer. Her reading of the Bible exhibited discrimination in the selection of some text having relation to some then important public enterprise, from which she would suggest a possible moral. None of the plastic minds that sat in affectionate reverence at her feet could be made to It yield their fidelity to fundamental Christianity, nor did any word drop from her lips that was critical of Jew or of any of the branches of the Christian family. Noah built the Ark. The whale swallowed Jonah. The son of the widow of Nain was raised from the dead. One was never late in the Academy if he reached his seat before the end of the ringing of the final bell. The camara- derie of the school was such that the bell could attest to some splendid exhibitions of endurance. Once when the writer was ringing the final bell it was telegraphed to him by gesture and primace that a fellow pupil needed some help in that regard. Each of the hands had "spelled" the other before the tardy one got in the door, after which in his haste he tumbled and climbed all the way up, and puffingly passing the exhausted ringer, he reached hls seat just as the last sound was made or vice versa. Entering the room to place the bell in its place, the ringer glanced at the three teachers. The principal was standing, Bible in hand, calm, imperturbable; the peeved assistants were glaring at the culpable duo. Shifting her text to that in which is announced the Golden Rule, the guilty ones were made to feel as if they had accom- plished something meritorious. But the ringer's arms were well rested before his services were required again. The clay that encloses this splendid woman is the richer for such association. If she is not in Heaven, in the language of an old Irish friend of mine, "sure where's the use in having one at all, at all ?"
Pidipat- My story starts in the early 60's. After a night out on the town with a friend of mine, and getting a little tipsy. We stopped at Jerry's Diner in Trainor about 2am. When the waitress aproached, "whom I've never seen before" I blurted out,"Hi Future" We dated about 3 months before getting married, and spent 37 happy years together. I'm sorry to say, my wife Nancy passed away last January. However, I do have a lot of good memories of our life together.
Jack R I dont know if you are talking about the teen club that my father started,but we had dances on Holloween and New Years eve in the old barn off of Chichester Rd.His name was Robert Reimschussel He also had the cub pack #350 in Highland Gardens t Hope to hear from you Carol
Jack R....I remember the Teen Club in feltonville. It was next to the Chester incinerator, right off concord road. Remember MIKES?? It was a teen burger barn. A converted garage on concord road about a 1/2mile past Yanks poultry. T.N.
HOPE the No Name Spelling Critic doesn't get me for 'day' instead of 'say' in my previous post...
FLORENCE - please tell us what you did to meet your first husband after he passed your house so many times. My much older Aunt Betty fell in love with a boy (Dick Jones) who always rode his bike past her house. One day, she knocked him off the bike, and they got married - lasted a long time too. Email me and tell me the name of your first husband, if you don't want to post it here. Maybe I knew him. Hope he was as nice as you were and still are. I didn't meet my first husband in Chester, or I would tell you how we met. But I would love to hear about the first meeting from anyone else - no matter what the year. I like love stories.
It's nice to now, since I'm the one who brought up Spam in the first place on this Board, that my original explanation has been vindicated. It did occur to me that someone who was only a toddler during WWII could know more about it than those of us who ate it, read about it, etc. I still like it, fried with eggs, or fried on buttered bread.
Now, besides hoagies, who made the best chopped chicken liver sandwiches in the city?? Oh, ouch, stop throwing those rotten eggs at me! Just a thought.
Re a Teen Club
There was a TEEN Night Club in an old barn out in Feltonville in the early 50s...you had to go up an old country road and under the RR to get to the place. Music, dancing etc...Obviously, No Booze...only POP as they day here in the Midwest. I ask for soda out here and I get soda!
Harvey, that is exactly who I mean.I just love them, even my husband does and he is 80. Pat and Harvey--To have a friend and be a friend. Is what makes life worthwhile. The geeter is still around. I think he was at the wing bowl.
It gives me a good feeling to know that you appreciated "The Bridge Builder". First time I read that poem was about 30 years ago. I was much younger, but the poem, even then, held a special meaning for me. I cried first time I read it. The man who wrote that possessed more wisdom than most and an extraordinary compassion for his fellowman.
John Bullock has built his own "bridge" here by creating this site for people his age and those before and after. So, his "bridge" must be treated with respect and dignity to all and for all.
Thank you for listening to my rambling on again, but that happens with "older folks" - at times, we have too much to say, but look at all we (hopefully) have learned.
It gives me a good feeling to know that you appreciated "The Bridge Builder". First time I read that poem was about 30 years ago. I was much younger, but the poem, even then, held a special meaning for me. I cried first time I read it. The man who wrote that possessed more wisdom than most and an extraordinary compassion for his fellowman.
John Bullock has built his own "bridge" here by creating this site for people his age and those before and after. So, his "bridge" must be treated with respect and dignity to all and for all.
Thank you for listening to my rambling on again, but that happens with "older folks" - at times, we have too much to say, but look at all we (hopefully) have learned.
Sheree, I remember the Community Bldg. in McCaffery having dances
Also remember a lot of Firehalls had singers...one was in Norwood..I saw Dion& the Belmonts & Del Shannon. Also saw Patti LaBelle back then when she was a teenager...
Kate: The Geatter. That's how I remember him. What in the world did that mean anyhow????
Does anyone remember in the 60's a "dance club" for teens on near the old Penn Fruit?
In the early 50s, who was the DJ that had an afternoon program in the summer that originated from a swimming pool in the Chester area? And the station?
Florence Are you talking about a music group like this? http://www.citybeat.com/archives/1996/issue245/music1.html
Sheree, In the 60's & maybe before Jerry was on a radio station from N.J. at night , it was hard to get in on the station sometime's b/c of the flight pattern from the airport & the technology wasn't what it is now, does anyone remember the call letters...as far as I know that is how he started out...some of the saying wasthe GEATTER WITH THE HEATER, BLAST FROM THE PAST, BOSS WITH THE HOT SAUCE and he went on & on maybe the first rapper, huh? that's all I can remember...Kate
Found out that text entered is strung together...thought my last post would list each memory item on a separate line...CR makes text a string.
Spam History
http://www.cusd.claremont.edu/~mrosenbl/spamstory.html
To Kate: I remember Jerry Blavett. What was his saying "He was the ....." He had a club in Center City Philly for awhile and he owned Memories in Margate, N.J.
Dear Quitter: rather than wage a Spam war with you, please use "search" and type in Spam. You'll be surprised at the part Hormel and its Spam product played in the war. It was very popular with the civilian population because you didn"t need a stamp to get it. To Pidipat:like your choice of poems.
George,Don't know what happened to Jerry Blavett but I sure did listen to his radio show all thru my teens, he had all the slow hits before they hit WIBG ...I cant remember the black station , are they still on? I'm in Fl. now so I haven't a clue
Pat, that is a beautiful poem, thanks to you I am learning something more. You are wonderful with words.
\SPAM go to your home page and type spam, you will find quite a lot of places to go, but one spam, hormel place. Anyone ever heard of The Squirrel Nut Zipper. I go from one range to the other. Pat I met my first husband as he walked up Walnut Street, pass my home in the yearof around 1947.
Ed Hurst is on again on Wed & Thu from 1 til 3 pm but the guy who really cracks me up is Tom Moran who is on weekdays from 3 til 7 pm. I also used to listen to the Bud Breeze program.
Tom CHS76: Yea you're right, you young kids were just a pest, always following us around (lol) I remember Susan and I always having her brother Kevin and little sister Patty with us. Their father, also named Sam, was friends with your Uncle Tony. I remember seeing him at your Uncle's house many of times (on Chichester Ave).
I know both names, Ronnie and Joey. Ronnie lived next row over, closest to Highland Avenue. Had a brother George. I remember Ronnie's mom always, always screaming Ronnie's name that it was time to come home, and always Ronnie was never to be found. His mom would then go searching through the neighborhood for him. If Joey is the same person I'm thinking of, he lived across the street from Ronnie and my Mom was friends with Joey's Mom (Pat). Did Joey have an older sister?
We used to hang out behind the school in the field. Yes that is the same house. I actually got up the nerve to go inside one day. By the looks of the inside, we weren't the only ones who decided to visit. Was there a creek of some sort that ran through those woods? I remember going to a creek near our houses.
Do you remember Joey Higgenbotthem (?). He lived near Scarpato's across from your house. The Thomas's, Barbara, Gene....
I forgot in my last e-mail. Gloria Hinson was someone else I hung out with. Did you know Dennis or Ed Kounas?
Kate: I dug Jerry Blavatt, Hy Lit and Georgie Woods. Is Jerry still down "Memories" in Margate? Great rock n soul back then. I miss it.
Hey Pat...I got it
I was a big fan of "The Geatter with the HEATER, THE BOSS WITH THE HOT SAUCE...jERRY bLAVETT" dID ANYONE GP TO THE cHEY VOUS BALLROOM IN PHILLY/ HE PLAYED THE BEST OF THE BEST MUSIC BACK THEN...
Jack:
Before Dick Clark was Bob Horn. Then there was Grady and Hurst. Then The Geator - Jerry Blabit (sp.) and in Wilmington DE there was Jimmy Lynn.
Nice poem Patti!
I would like to share one of my favorite poems with everyone.
THE BRIDGE BUILDER
An old man, going on a lone highway Came at the evening, cold and gray, To a chasm, vast and deep and wide, through which was flowing a sullen tide. The old man crossed in the twilight dim - That sullen stream had no fears for him; But he turned, when he reached the other side, And built a bridge to span the tide.
"Old man," said a fellow pilgrim near, "You are wasting strength in building here. Your journey will end with the ending day; You never again must pass this way. You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide, Why build you the bridge at the eventide?"
The builder lifted his old gray head, "Good friend, in the path I have come," he said, "There followeth after me today. A youth whose feet must pass this way. This chasm that has been naught to me To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be. He too, must cross in the twilight dim; Good friend, I am building the bridge for him."
By: William Allen Dromgoole
I remember Sat.&Sun. matinnee's at the Lyric, mostly horror films like the Blob & Godzilla, Dracula & Frankinstien movies...guess we all had nightmares from them.
Doubt very much if any messages can be deleted
also I applaud the much older generation that are computer literate& give us info about day's of old...Thanks
Are some posts being deliberately deleted?
Where did my post go?
40s and early 50s...Remember? Iron Lungs, Polio, Salk Vaccine Trucks spraying DDT in the summertime Tuesday night with The Men from Texaco and Uncle Milty Magnifiers for postage size B&W TV screens Airshows at Buckman Airport Air Mail Pickup by a swopping bi-plane Building the Little League field behind McCaffrey Admin Bldg Getting jugs of spring water at spring in field end of Keystone The name of WFIL-TV afternoon Dance program before Dick Clark The names of show's 2 TV DJays in the Main Line sex scandal. NO Air Conditioners in Cars or Homes. ICE COOLED Movie Theaters with big blue and white signs. Saturday afternoon serials at the Lyric
Nameless, Spam's been around a lot longer before there was even an internet. Technically you are correct "SPAM" is an internet word. The other SPAM was food made by Hormel that could be cooked, fried, baked and made into hash anyway you wish it could be cooked. Tasted like Ham anyway to me.
Spam has something to do with the internet didn't think you could eat it whats hormell have to do with spam
I was just wondering if any of the old timers remember. Was there an Italian section in Chester? I think my grandparents live on Potter St not sure though. Their names were Augustus and Antionette Matranga. My mom was Mary Matranga, I think she dropped out of school in the 6th grade because of sickness. She had a brother named Anthony "Mustang" Matranga. I think they also had an adopted or step brother named Joe Corollo who I think married a Helen April. Ring any bells to anyone?
I forgot, I was part of the mini bike club...Bobby Harris, Ron Silva, Jerry Crowley, Myself and a few others had mini bikes and we rode behind Wm. Penn, if we rode them on the streets the cops would chase us. I don't know why though we were probably safer then all the guys hot rodding around in their cars.
Sheree: Yes, I did hang out behind Wm. Penn I don't know if you are referring to the playground or the tree houses and forts we always had something going on back there. It's was our secret place when we were kids.....no parents allowed. I think the haunted house you are referring to was the old red house over by the Goodyear tire shop? Had many a dare there... I haven't seen Susan in a while last time was at Max's when she was working there, my buddy Dave Brown was trying to pick her up, but I think she said she was getting married. She knows me, too. I was probably out there playing ball when you were buying candy. We didn't know the score either and we were playing. I know we crossed paths but you know how you "OLDER" girls were toward us kids....LOL your heart throb was probably an older guy. Hey a name just came to mind Ronnie Tarbutton and Joey Mersick..
RC: The stuff the soldiers ate in WWII was a "potted meat product," but was definitely NOT Spam. The Hormels did not have the contract but have suffered the blame for whatever was in those cans. This misinformation persists, but spicy Spam is not the stuff your husband ate overseas as a soldier. It was the shape of the can that probably caused the confusion. Hormel had suggested to the government that they use the rectangular shape rather than a cylindrical can because it saved space. We ate Spam as kids in the '40s and '50s, and I eat it today. My husband eats it, too, and he served overseas (Italy) in WWII.
How envy you 50, 60 and 70 people---you have so many to share you memories with. When you get to the 30s the ranks are mighty thin. I have a couple of old friends that I really enjoy old Chester memories with. Somebody mentioned "Spam" a while back and said they liked it. Well I never met a WW2 vet who did. My husband positive ly banned it from our table. I think they had to eat too much of it. But for you Spam lovers, I see in our local paper that Spam was introduced to the world Feb.22,1937. The Hormel Co. has a large museum dedicated to Spam in Austin, Minn. Now you know everything about Spam and you're sorry you brought it up!
to Tina: i went to St Michael's from 72 to 80 then onto ST. j's i pretty much hung out in chester. if you're familiar with the west end i could run off a list a mile long. as far as the east side, i moved away when i was about 10. i did move back (to Crosby st.) when i was about 16 but by that time Chester was starting to go "Bad". it was a shame growing up during the time such a once beutiful and prosperous town was on it's decline. as bad as it is now i still like to go there and look at the places i used to hang out at like T&E's around the corner from 9th& highland. And to see just how much Two J's has changed, although there hoagies have not.even walking through town and seeing the stores that used to be other stores, if you know what i mean. although i am "only" 35 i still have very fond memories of Chester.
In 1952 I got fired, on a Friday night, from Whelan's in Chester, where I was a soda jerk. It was against the law to transfer milk into a paper container and sell it. The pharmacist told me to do this and I refused so I was fired for "insubordination". I threw my apron at him and caught the bus to Third and Highland Ave,. and stopped in Troboletti's Drug Store. "Trib" asked me why I was home so early and I told him that I was fired. He immediately called Charlie Seidman and I walked directly to Seidman's and was hired on the spot. In fact, when I went into nursing school Charlie called me and told me that I could work for him any time, Just call ahead. They were so kind to me. His wife, Millie told me not to dare miss any school activities because of work--she worked in my place. What lovely people! What a great place to work! What considerate customers! What a great city to be part of in the 1950's!!!!!!!! P.S: Betty forgot about the talent show at Dewey, brought back memories.
To John Barton: I was around in the 60s and 70s - Did you go to school in Chester or Brookhaven? One of my dear friends from childhood was Patty Gormley. She went to Our Lady of Charity in Brookhaven, had an older sister named Lorraine. Then in the Jr. High period I ran around with Patty Doyle, Kathy Parent, Jane & Yvonna Gray, Donnie and Joan Rogers.
To Bill & Mary's Friend: Thanks for giving them the message - I appreciate it! I didn't know Pike's Cold Cuts was gone now. My brother (Jim Jackson) used to run around with the owner's son named Lenny. Jim graduated in 1963 or 64. He lives in California now. My sister Linda graduated in 1962. Her friends were Marion Hall and a girl called "Cabbage". Linda died in 1993. A little further down on Edgemont Avenue was my Aunt Stelle's house, right across from Chester Park. Sledding in Chester Park was soooo much fun. Loved the "snow days" when school was out. My Mom would let me take the sled out. Did you know my mother also? Her name was Stella Pierce Jackson.
i can't believe there's no one out there from the mid 70's on up. if there is trust me some of us have some very good memories to share. i love hearing about all the stores and shops from the "more expierenced" croud but believe it or not chester was not THAT bad back in the 70's and earlie 80's. also if anyone wants any updated info, just ask. i go to chester all the time(i have rental property there) and can probaly tell you what you want to know. see ya.
JodyMr. Prosser also got me a job at Roger's in 48.I had him for a class called Sales.
My grandmother Joined the Goodwill fire co, in the year 1912, I still have her pin, she was member in good standing for over 50 years, I still have her piece of crystal she received at a banquet,
When I think of Columbus Center the first thing that comes to mind is Tavy Calvarese and the Minstrels. Any memories out there?
Does anyone remenber Cookie Jar. use to play at the bars on Chester Pike. I thought I saw him a few years ago on TV from out west some ware. What Chester Makes Makes Chester. And Chester Made all great people. God Bless everyone. A old Chester Person.
Well, I'm with SP73 - young enough not to have gone to the El Rancho (just remember my older brothers talking about it) and old enough to remember McCaffery Village, Chester Hospital (born there) and Rodgers Dept Store. So that puts me in and around the 60's and 70's group - talk on 60's group, I'm listning! See lots of people mentioning Marty Caruso, he goes to the same dentist I go to and if you want to see him go to Pathmark in Brookhaven on a Saturday or Sunday morning....looks great for his age! A note to MADDY JENKINS-STEINER...AND a great secretary and friend you were to all us kids at Smedley..how have you been? long time no see... Also a note to Rebecca Mocciaro..I worked at your Uncle Charlie's store, Rodgers, when I was a student at CHS "65, Mr. Prosser (great Business Dept Head) got me "my first" job there. Rebecca, you are correct, your Uncle Charlie was a wonderful person. He was such a kind and gentle man... so was Eli and Mrs. Glass was very nice also. That was a great "first job" experience for me.
Well how about some other 60's thoughts.....and don't worry SP73 I won't give up your identity!
To TomCHS76: No, no brothers (or sisters) Lived next door to Sammy Seifert, hung around with his sister Susan. I can't believe I don't remember you, we had to cross paths somewhere. We all hung out during the summer at the Little League field. Never knowing what a score was of a game, because I was too busy spending all my money on the great penny candy at the concession stand. Did you ever hang out at the field behind William Penn? We used to go up there to the old abandoned house. We truly believed it was haunted. What imaginations we had!!!
Hope you enjoy the Chester site as much as I. I always had a great childhood living in Chester.
Sheree
jacko
My husband said he might know you. He spent quite an amount time in that club.I am sure we are from the same area,maybe not. It was great at one time. I loved the organ player.
An other watering hole brings back memerories the one and only Columbus Center Stuck in the main stream of good old Chester Pa. Greatt meals, good enterment (have a aughapht photo of Joni James any one rember her. good to here from mike and Jack R. jack was your dad the same Jack Ralsyon who loved to sing My heart belong s in San Frisco at the annual LLoyd Ac Banquets? Suchks another great great place that was------------no no can t get into that lol
Dear "NO NAME", Then don't.
LOOKING AT THE PICTURE OF THE NEWSSTAND AT 7TH AND WELSH STS. BROUGHT BACK MEMORIES I HAD FORGOTTEN. THE TROLLY TRACKS THAT RAN IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE AT 155 E. 7TH. AN THEN THE CARS THAT USE TO RACE BY THE HOUSE AT 25 MILES AN HOUR....REMEMBER WALKING OVER TO DESHONG PARK AND GOING SWIMMING IN THE POOL OR PLAYING TENNIS ON THE COURTS. OF COURSE, YOU COULDN'T GO HOME WITHOUT A COUPLE OF JUGS OF DRINKING WATER FROM THE SPRINGS IN THE PARK.
PAUL, you are correct, thanks for the memory...I loved those chocalate cokes too. Kate
I think this site is trying to bring out the best that Chester was and a good time for many in it's hey day but for any one to talk about it now that is a waste of time. All of us who grew up there have great memories. I don't want to talk about how depressing things have been in Chester for a long time.
KATE.... I think you may be referring to Seidmans Pharmacy. They were on the far left of the row of stores that were built by their family. Charlie operated the Drug Store. His Brother Morris[Moe} and Nephew Abe operated the Garden Food Market. I worked in the grocery store when I was about 12. All the stores in that row did a huge amount of business as they were the only ones at that end of Highland Gardens. The City of Chester,for some strange reason,wouldn't allow any stores in the "Gardens" To this day,I think that the Seidman Ins. Agency is the only exception.[doubt if that's legal] The stores are on the corner of Highland Ave. & Chichester Rd.[also called Bethel Rd.] Today either Charlies Son Stanley or his Grandchildren operate an Appliance store there. Had my first Cherry Coke there. Charlie would also make a Chocolate Coke too. Delicious! One of the original tenants in the row was Louises Restaurant. When the Conchester Highway reared it's head through the area it was filled every day with the workers from the Berlanti Cons. Co. who built the Conchester.
Time has not been good to the city, the previous lady said, what an understatement. some should tell it like it is, those who could afford to moved!
Hi. My great-uncle was Charles Glass, who I believe was one of the proprietors of Rogers' Department Store. Uncle Charlie was a wonderful man, and made a huge difference in my life. Is there any way you have any photos of him at the store, or just of the store front, that I could buy and frame to keep in my home?
My memories of Chester are for the most part wonderful. I remember when my great-aunt Cecelia Glass (Charles' adored and adoring wife) would meet me in Center City Philadelphia at the train station when I was a teenager. We'd then take the train to Chester, and go to Uncle Charlie's store. I also have distant memories of when Uncle Charlie would drive us to the store, and they'd let me pick out the kind of party frocks my own mother thought were silly and frivolous. I just remember the big store, the busy street, and all the attention I would get at the store from everyone who worked there. It was clear they liked my uncle very much. Of course, those days are long gone. We visited Chester sometime in the mid-1990's for a short visit, and I was sad to see that times had not always been good to the City. I hope things are improved.
Best regards, Rebecca Mocciaro, Los Angeles, California
What was the name of the place across 95(now) from Highland Ave, they had a soda fountain with the real cherry-cokes....there is still some stores there, I think. around early 60's
I remember Halls very well and Pike's nice people working there always friendly and helpful even during their busy times. Across the street there was another deli/store in a square building on Edgemont and W. Avon anyone remember the name of that one?
To Tina
I will tell them. I did work with them and they are the finest people I ever met. Like I said we are neighbors and see each other more often since I moved in the area. In fact, when they found I was moving here, they were right there offering to help. Since there wasn't any furniture here at the time, they brought over a couple of chairs to sit in when I was tired from cleaning. Halls is there but is now owned by the Emmi's. Pikes is no longer there.
Tom,My youngest son will be 25, his name is Bob Replogle, I still call him Bobby.....he works at Anne's 9th& Saville...was born in Crozer & Eddystone is the only home he has ever lived except at the beach in Del with me....now I am sure there are people on here that know the Replogle's-big family from Aston...Bobby's brother is in Calif....
Kate: I lived in Eddystone for 10 years. Before moving 5 years ago. What is your son's name? I probably know him, too. I saw Janey a couple of weeks ago at Walmart with Lorraine. She looks pretty good considering, you know.
Dear Friend of Bill & Mary Jackson: Next time you see my dad and Mary please tell them hello and I LOVE them very much! Thank you - I wish they had a computer cause I'd email them all the time. Did you work with them for many years at Westinghouse? Dad retired after 42 years but that has been ages ago. I always thought I'd move back there one day cause it's "home" and always will be. Miss the hoagies. I have told my husband about Halls drug store where we'd get the penny candies and the soda fountain treats like vanilla cokes or ice cream floats. I liked the big tall backed wooden booths in there. Pikes' Cold Cuts was located next door and they'd give me a smaple of swiss cheese when I was a kid and tell me not to eat the holes. Fun memories.
FOR MARIA (CHS 73) AND MOOSE (SJ 73).I see that someone asked about moving the reminiscing up to the 60's and 70's. Then I read on and I find the two of you here(I do recognize some other names on this board, but they are mostly friends of my parents or parents of my friends! Hi, Mr. Chiominto!). Anyway, Maria - I'm pretty sure you are who I think you are. I won't put your last name up here (like I could remember how to spell it, anyway! I did know how to spell it back in the day!). Just confirm for me that your last name begins with "M" and your sister's name is Steph. Now, on to Moose. Moose, think 23rd St.; and you'll know who I am by the initials. I'm sure I've reminded you of this story before, but now I'll put it up here for all of Chester to see. Since you used your entire name in your post, I can use it now. Anyone here who went to Wetherill's kindergarten in around 1960 (can't remember the year exactly!)? Well, if you did, you may remember Dave Muscella. I may be the only one who remembers this, though. Dave Muscella was one of the cutest boys in the class. He was so cute that all the girls liked him. And he liked them, too! So much so that he used to chase all the girls around so he could kiss them. Guess that's how he got his nickname - "THE KISSING BOY." Boy were we sad when Moose transferred to Saint Robert's. Guess I'm one of the lucky ones, though, 'cause I still know him in real life. And he's still a great guy (there 'ya go, Moose; you can't be mad at me now!). CONFIDENTIAL TO BLANCHE! - Yeah, it's me. Don't give me away, OK?!
I graduated Rez in Mike's class, Anna too, funny how they wound up married....pass a big hi to Anna for me, i have picture's of her & I on Townsend St., where her parents had a house....I now live in Fl., with my 3rd husband....I have 4 sons, one is still in Eddystone...
Kate: I didn't marry Laura, we went our separate ways. I married and divorced a girl from Swarthmore and Laura married a guy from Essington. I still keep in contact with Rita. And yes that was ashame about Mike he was a good friend of mine always had a smile on his face. Anna lives in Trainer in what used to be Mike's mother's house.
Hey Tom,I will call Jolly at work to get his new number....Did you marry Laura, I heard about Anna's husband a few years ago, didn't know she married Mike until then...I moved & married about '67, but the family used to let me know what was going on sometimes....
Kate: Did you get my email for Jolly's number? I went with Laura for 4 years. I just emailed Rita this morning as to when she was going to invite over to her new house for dinner and I also told her to invite Anna, so she could bake me a german chocolate cake. They were delicious.
Sheree: The Elizabeth you mentioned. If her nickname was just Beth with brown hair. I think she married my nephew's father Carl Bracken. Don't remember her last name. Did Kenny Wichert have his yellow VW "THING" when you lived there. Remember Gloria Hinson. I see her once in a while.
As long as the guys are talking about work places..Did anyone work at Scott Paper-Eddystone Plant? I worked thier in the late 60's & 70's...and the guy who went with Laura....I went to school with her older sister Anna, lost touch with her after she quit N.D.
Mike, I remember all the guys you just mentioned plus Miss Kitty too. Didn't she work in the Erecting Floor office? I use to see her quite a bit after the plant close. Use to see her waiting on 24th & Edgmont for the bus. She lived in that area. For a long time at the plant, she didn't speak to too many people but later she mellowed & was more sociable. Glen Frech married a friend of mine who incidently was also the daughter of my Supervisor. Elmer DeBoo. They live in Delaware, have been to their home. Glen is a real nice guy. I also remember Bobby, Mike Ardeto & Walt Buggy. I think there were several members of the Buggy family that worked there. Did you know Jean Gruber? She worked in the GM office in 1 shop. Then there was Laverne who worked in the Blueprint room on the Balcony in P-25. Oh those names I haven't heard for years. Thanks for mentioning them because in my memeory they bring back the best of times. Like I said before, there were a great bunch of nice people who worked there. Thank God I was a part of that time. Not too many people have had that experience in work places, especially today where it is dog eat dog. I think of the ones I still have contact with today as part of my family. Will get back to you later. If you remember any more names, please post them. It'll help get the cobwebs out. Heading for Atlantic City today. Hope to talk to you again. Thanks & regards to you too.
TO: George... The Harry Stewart I mentioned was over all of our facilities, including maintenance. I am not sure where Harry lived.. He did not stay at Charlotte but a few years.. Mike...
I should have said my last name is because I didn't change it.
Sheree, Tom here, My last name was Bulger (Bolger) I lived at 1244 Pulaski and yes it was directly across from Paul Scarpato second house in from corner. My dad always sat in his lawn chair out front with his beer in his homemade beer holder on the side of the chair. I hung with Sam Siefert once in a while. We used to always play ball behind the building and down at the Little League. I went with Laura Palucci all through high school. Did you have a brother? The girls you mentioned don't ring a bell. I was mostly into cars and sports,,,go figure LOL. I tried to send this through our network at work but it was rejected. I don't think our network like anything that might insenuate Xrated ie..hotmail.
TO: Westy Vet... Yes I worked with Walt Hyliwack,very nice guy, Tom Platt worked in another area, I think up stairs in the Balconies. Also in that group were Bobbie Apfl, Mike Ardeto, Glen Freck our manager, Walt Buggie, Miss Kitty our secretary and several others who I can't think of their names right now. That sounds like something only Honey could pull off. Like I said last night, she's a great gal. Pete's a nice guy,also.. I was unaware that they bought back the property. Into real estate business, now. Jerry Adair does not ring a bell. I was there in or around 1963.
i agree with tom b. i am a little younger than most of the people on this site but i enjoy reading every comment. i would like to here ask if anyone remembers matthwe's newsstand? i used to go in there and watch my father get his shoes shined. then we would by some hot roasted peanuts, and go to deshong park accross the street. sometimes the pigeons got more of the peanuts than we did. matthews was on ave. of the states near the corner of 10th st. up the st. from dr. rumford and the M.A.B paint store.
They were located across from the firehouse. When they closed, a restuarant took over. The place is vacant now.
The Hoagie shop in Boothwyn could have been E & M's.
Since I left Chester many years ago, I have never had a sub/hoagie like Chester Hoagies. When I went back during my Dad's termninal illness, I would get TastyKakes and hoagies to travel with all of the ingredients in suran wrap at a shop in Boothwyn across from the firehouse. Don't remember the shop's name, a liitle place with great hoagies.
The security screeners at the airport knew exactly what was in the bag and that many former residents from the area did the same thing.
The aroma from my bag in the overhead compartment had everyone salivating.
By the way, were was DiCostanza's located?
Glad to see all the bickering done with. I really enjoy reading the board when I get a chance. Being a lot younger then most of you ladies and gentlemen. It's refreshing to take my mind off work for a few minutes when I'm not busy to catch or maybe learn something about the place I grew up. No matter how trivial it may seem to one person it does have meaning to others. And I for one thank all of you. Have a great day. Tom Bulger
Mike,
I don't know if you know it Mike, but Westinghouse had bought back the property. They had sold it but because the new owners were going to sue for environmental contamination, W bought it back to avoid a lawsuit. Were you in the 1 shop IE? Did you know Tom Platt, Walt Hyliak? (Not sure of the last name spelling, Honey's cousin) When Honey retired, she paid for and gave herself a big retirement party right there in 1 shop. She had tables set up in the aisles and had all kinds of food. The bash went on from lunchtime and continued on into the afternoon hours. Only Honey could carry that off. Use to see her & Pete, after their retirements, at the casinos. After being laid off, went to work at Boeing and had occasion to go back into the Westy plant. Boeing had rented space there in B Plant. It was eerie. All the machines had been removed of course, but remembered seeing on a wall, a blue electrical box, with the Westinghouse logo, still there. Also a coworker saw his old locker with his name still stenciled on it. Do you remember Jerry Adair who worked in the Receiving Dept?
100 yrs. ago today--George M. Dunlop, leading cash grocer in Chester advertise's coffee at 12 cents a lb.-W.H.Jeffries manufacture's the Penn Club 5cent cigar at 526 Market St.,Chester,Pa. 75 yrs. ago today--A man entered the Morris Deutsch tailor shop , tried on a suit and overcoat and fled, leaving behind his Bible and old clothes for payment. 50 yrs. ago today--John Smoker Gallagher of Chester thinks this season's basketball team is the finast he has ever seen, he has watched them for 40 yrs.. A scarlet fever outbreak at Watts and Garside School's closed the schools. chester Colonial club met at the new building on 31 East 5th st., Chester, Pa.
George I knew a Harry Stewart that lived on Walnut St. during the early 40's.That was 9th and Walnut. Pat, keep up the good work. RC where are you with your older memories.
Mike M.: Was Harry Stewart you mentioned from Walnut Street?
TO: Westy Vet...Charlie Balsley was a foreman in #3 Shop, Dick Bostedo worked in the IE Dept., used to be a fitter, Don Pease was a Mfg. Engineer in the Heavy Shop,Paul Armstrong was Manager in #2 Shop. Yes I knew Honey very well. She's a great gal. Bill Rudloff was also our Gen. Manager, was made multi=plant GM. Then Howard Pearce stepped in. Dave Taylor was another guy who transferred down to Charlotte. He & Howard started together in Lester when I was in the IE Dept..They were ME's. Both were from England. Dave passed away a few years back. Very young.. I ran mostly VBM's, but have run then all at one time or another.. While at Sun Ship, you were assigned a machine, but on weekend, you ran anything. I was assigned a 14' VBM & quess what I was machining? Westinghouse Blade Rings.. Don Riggins was another Lester ME from the Fab Shop there that came down & was our Fab Shop Manager & Operations Manager..Dick Armstrong was an ME on the Assembly Floor that came down with us.. Regards, Mike...
TO: Westy Vet... I worked as an apprentice in the Fab Shop in B plant & then the Control Shop. Finished up the program in the Training Building, where the old AGT test cells used to be. I spent a little time in U building, the Blade shop, Light shop but 3 of the 4 years were in B Plant. When I finished, I ended up in the Balconies running VBM's. Got bumped back during slow times to the Receiving Dept..Then I bid into QC in B Plant. Got layed off for a couple of years & went to work at Sun Ship as a Machinist. Back to Westinghouse in the IE Dept. for a while in the Heavy Shops. Got hired by Bill Barnes as a Foreman before transferring to Charlotte.. Regards, Mike...
Just before my computer blew a gasket I had received several e-mails inquiring about the address of the Chester Chat room, unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to respond. So here goes, the address is http://prv-groups.aol.com/oldchesterpa/ If you would like information on/or want to join, just send me an email and I'll get you set up. BTW this is my new email address gpmalick@wideopenwest.com (That HAS to be the LONGEST dot com on the internet) Later.........George
I was a graduate of Chester High in 1957. My first job was with Western Union on Edgmont Ave across from the Post Office. I then got a job with Smedley Jr High as the Secretary from 1957 to 1965. My husband, son and I moved to Florida in 1973 right after the hurricane that took the life of Ralph Worrilow a classmate. My two sons and I moved back to PA after my divorce in 1981. We live in Garden City and was quite surprised to see the changes everywhere. I hope someday we can bring Chester back to its old glory.
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