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Mike, I was probably wrong thinking Frank Richards worked in the Light shop because he definitely went to North Carolina. He had sent me something from there but can't remember which plant it came from. Where in B plant did you work? I worked in the Control Shop for a couple of months when I was close to getting laid off. I made my rounds in the Plant. Started in 1 shop, then Heat Transfer, (U Build.), 2 shop, B office Build. Y Lab, Control shop, then back to 1 shop, then out the gate. Lots of good memories from circle W.
Wow Mike, you mentioned some of the guys I knew. I started out in 1 shop. O-1. I remember Bill Barnes. Dick Bostedo,(Big Guy) Charlie Balsley, Len Farrington, & Lou Murphy. The Armstongs & Don Pease names ring a bell too. Do you remember Honey and Pete Androsko? Ruth Croasdale? Charlie Balsley was a foreman wasn't he? I think his brother worked there too. Bill Rudloff was General Manager when I worked there. Did you know Bobby Burns? Did you work the drill press, lathes, horizontals or verticals? You brought back a lot of old memories. Regards to you too.
To: Westy Vet....If he worked in the Light Shop, he probably ended up in Round Rock, Tex..That's where most of those guys went. I spent a lot of my time during the appreb\ntice program in B Plant, ended up in the heavy shops. When I left I worked for Bill Barnes in #1 Shop. Did spend a short stint in the Light Shop. The name does ring a bell, but thats been 35 years ago or more. Hell, I've been in Charlotte going on 35 years now. Benn retired since 94..Some of the guys who came down with us were: Charlie Basley, Dick Bostedo, Don Pease, Len Farrington, Lou Murphy, Paul Armstong, Dick Armstong, Bill Walker, Wynn Dick, Don Newkranz, Harry Stewart & a lot of new hired engineers & foreman.. Regards, Mike...
Regards, Mike...
Harvey - beautifully put. Goodnight to you too, Sweetheart.
BUONA NOTTE, L'INNAMORATO Buona notte, l'innamorato, finché incontriamo domani. Buona notte, l'innamorato, il sonno bandirà il dolore. Le lacrime ed il parting ci possono fare il forlorn, Ma con l'alba, un giorno nuovo è nato. Dunque dirò buona notte, l'innamorato, nonostante non sono accanto a lei, buona notte, l'innamorato, tuttavia me amo lo guiderà, L'enfold di sogni lei in ogni un lo terrò. Buona notte, l'innamorato, buona notte
This is very funny watching each of you trying to get in the last word.It seem as though more than just your memories are reverting back to your childhoods.Do we need a big time out here? Just kidding.Just kidding.Commence firing.
Goodnight Sweethearts
Hey Mike
Do you know a Frank Richards? Don't know if he went to Winston Salem or Charlotte. He was a Manager. Forgot where he worked in the Lester Plant. Don't remember if it was the Light shop (Gas Turbine).
Easy, now. Pidipat has been having a lot of fun reminiscing, and those of us approximately her age have enjoyed reading the posts about those days. All those penny candies whose names she and several other people remembered! That was fun! (Can you imagine seeing candy cigarettes in a store today?) We read the posts by younger Chesterites, even though we left the area before some of you were born. Your memories give us clues to how things have changed.
The teachers in the various schools in those days long, long ago are as clear as day to many who learned (or suffered) in their classes. We still see them in our minds, as though time has not passed and they have not aged along with us. That goes for our school friends, too. We had dress codes then -- and anyone who violated them was sent home for the day. That included coming to school with hair in curlers under a bandana or pegged pants without a belt. It meant extra study hall time after normal classes to make up the work. Discipline in class was expected and enforced. If your parents were called in to see the principal, you were in very big trouble. Compare that to how things are today....
A lot of people enjoy remembering the good things about Chester. Many others thought then (and still do) that it was a crummy city, strangled by machine politics and patronage, and were glad to leave it for another place (or the suburbs) as soon as they could. The truth about Chester is somewhere in between.
So we read the posts when we have time, trying to remember street names and locations, stores long closed (Mr. Weinberg with his white moustache, greeting customers), skating rinks, markets, movie theaters, and so on. We grew up with these, but the years have dimmed the OldChesterPa we thought we knew.
Thanks for reminding us about the good times. And cut each other a little slack.
To: UW...The name sure doesn't ring a bell. Maybe Jim went to the Winston Salem plant that opened a little bit after Charlotte. If he was a Blade Shop guy, that's probably where he went. We were primarily Low Pressure Turbines until about 1975. To: Westy Vet... That suits me fine.. Best regards, Mike..
Harvey,
I worked with Andy. He is one of the nicest guy around. I remember when he became a Priest. I am sure he is a great one.
It's funny how things work out sometimes. When Westinghouse moved to Charlotte, N.C. Andy Latsko decided to become a priest. And he ended up with a parish in Swannanoa, N.C. I'll bet those parishoners are grateful.
Well, Thanks to you Mike & U.W. I will not be nameless anymore. I adopted what you named me. I worked there from 1952 to 1984. Got laid off before the move. What a shame! A great place to work and the people were the best. I still have contact with many of them. I, through the computer, have contact with some of the ex-Lester employees now working at Siemens in Orlando. They tell me that it's not like the good old days at Lester.
Also worked at Boeing after Westinghouse. Now that place was the pits as far as co-workers. The only good guys were the ones from Westinghouse.
Pidipat: Pat remember what I told you that people our age can do. Well keep up the good work.You have a much better vocabulary than I do.I have been trying to remember things, but it is coming slower and slower. I know that many of my childhood friends are gone. I will send you an e-mail.Did I tell you Pat, that my son-in-law is a very good guitarist. He has written a lot of tunes, he has played with a band.My second son always had a yearning to play, so he has had some lesson's. He also has written some beautiful tunes. I have my own cd makek and my own cassette, now if only they would publish and make some money.
Pidipat Now don't get so defensive. Apparently I haven't made myself clear. The post was directed to you because you were the only one who responded in lengthy detail. You were never accused by me of criticizing anothers spelling or anything else for that matter. I don't know who it was. Remember he/she was nameless.
If you feel offended in any way, it's only because you took everything I posted personally which was not what was intended.
As far as moving on, that's up to you. I am sure there are many who enjoy your postings and would like for you to continue.
Peace!
Discussion over.
Mike Mangan:
When Westinghouse moved to NC. I believe Jim Donnaghy moved down there too. Last I heard he and his wife weredoing well. Two of the nicest people you could ever know.
To No Name...Westinghouse Vet.. I agree, no big deal. Maybe we knew each other. Worked there from "58 to "94. Of course the last were in Charlotte.. To: Tina.. I am not sure. I went to work there on the apprentice program in 1958 & left in 1968 for Charlotte,NC where they built a new plant. That is where almost all of the product ended up when they closed Lester. It's a darn shame, and I'd never thought it would happen, but they sold all of the manufacturing plants to buy CBS. Then a few years later are taken over by Viracom or some outfit like that..Charlotte in now Sieman Westinghouse.
Pidipat, GET A LIFE!!!!!
Oh Lord, why can't I make myself understood?
I, personally, because your message was directed to me, do not have a problem with someone not using their name. As a matter of fact, I received a really beautiful card via email from someone on this board who does not identify himself and writes intelligently. So much for that!!!!!
As for criticizing spelling, I personally have never done that!!! I did suggest one time that periods at the end of sentences, and capital letters be used for the start of the next sentence so that the message was clearly understood. Good grief, we all had excellent schooling and that's not so hard to do, if you want your message understood. But no matter how clear I try to make myself, you still don't understand!!! This was, until a few days ago, a nice place to visit. I think I'll take my good memories elsewhere and leave this place to the "younger, and wiser" generation.
May the bluebird of happiness spread his wings and other blessings all over you.
Sorry - it's me again. I didn't address the use of the Latin phrase to someone who didn't see why and when it was originally posted. That phrase was used towards the individuals who vandalized my car that day. I'm certain no one on this board is responsible for that. After my English version, a few people posted the correct Latin version - which I really appreciated - and it somehow has taken hold. It's an old, old, well-known saying and no insult is intended.
And, incidently, prior postings by me on this board, made tribute to two of my uncles who worked for Westinghouse all their working years and they were two of the nicest men in the world.
KATE,BOBBY C IS STILL IN THE AREA DOESN'T HAVE A BAND ANY MORE BUT PLAYS KEYBOARDS AND USED TO DO KARAOKE FOR HOLLYWOOD ROCKY NOT SURE IF HE STILL DOES BUT IF YOU FOLLOW ROCKY YOU'RE BOUND TO RUN INTO HIM
To U.W.
Thanks U.W., the Smorgasbord is still there along with the furniture store, a grocery market and Cafeteria. It is a beautiful ride up there and the food is so good. We tried the cafeteria, very reasonable & good. Did some grocery shopping in the Shady Maple Market. Lots of good stuff there too. Especially the bakery dept.
kate, i do remember jimmy dawson buying that car. i think jolly and i had false impressions about that becoming his car. i do remember cleaning it up real good. my last name is kershinski. hung around with jolly for a long time. i'm the one who help him to start dating debbie , his first wife. she was in my class at pulaski. i remember taking love notes back and forth to each of them. tell jolly i was asking about him..
hey jim mckinney, i remember you and your right we did live right across from the heffners.haven't seen bill since olga passed.i have seen john and bob..also dave brown had told me a few years back that he had seen you and that you were in to trading cards, thats probaly why you have that card thing in your e-mail address...my sister lorraine gets on this sight once in a while i think.
To Pidipat
I have never claimed to be knowledgeable on this board or any other. In fact I rarely post. I mostly read.
You and everyone else, including No Names, have every right to enjoyment on the board. You have a right to post whatever you want, as long and as often as you want, but by the same token, others have the same right even to the point of not posting who they are. Someone posted "ENOUGH" on a subject that wasn't that lenghty to begin with. The fact that a word was mispelled resulted in bickering back and forth when it wasn't meant to hurt anyone's feelings. In fact, No Name, who corrected the spelling,in his/hers last post merely wanted to let Mike know what the correct spelling was. I am sure he/she didn't mean any harm.
Then before you know it, everyone is telling poor Mike to ignore the person because they didn't leave their name. I'm more concern with everyone pouncing on No Names. It is no big deal if one prefers not to be known.
I do exactly what I said I do. If I find a post that doesn't interest me, I simply skip it.
You took to heart the fact that I mentioned Goodnight Sweetheart. I wasn't criticizing your posts because I was wracking my brain to come up with the right singer. I am sure some people got tired of it but nothing was said.
There is enough going on in this world today without having to pounce on someone who misspelled a word or the person who corrected it, nameless or otherwise.
Have a nice day!
KATE - I missed your remark about a "clique". There are no special groups on his board. I read all postings to see if I know someone. If you have something of interest to those in your age group - post it, and wait to see all the interesting answers you get. That's what happened to me, along with re-connecting to old friends. It is also my understanding that the past history of Chester is really of interest here - and I'm more "past" than you, so I know a little more, not much, just a little. Get others involved in what interests you or questions, etc. and before long, you will have your own "clique". There is no need for John to go to the trouble and expense of creating different boards - old Chester is just one big happy family. WELCOME ABOARD.
KATE - your suggestion is well-founded and several of us already do that. I also really enjoy posting here and lots of posts require posted answers. Kate, when you spend more time here, you will also notice that Harvey does a lot of posting of sites that he makes accessible to us in his post. Harvey is a treasure here. Try checking out some of things he gives us - really enjoyable - and if you notice some of his "one-liners", they are very humorous. Also, I have lots of questions for old-Chester people and have a need to know.
Hey Pidipat, I think you could say that to sum things up on this board IS we all have e-mail addresses so why not write to your personal friends with e-mail....it does seem that a click is on here & everyone that know's each other leave the rest out....maybe JOHN could start another chat area for age groups or certain topics?....just a suggestion, all suggestions should be considered!!!!Kate
TO ? on 2/20 at 4:27: Some individuals are "regulars" on this board (dominate maybe?), but just as you are entitled to remain a "no name" others are entitled to engage in letters back and forth - and you never know for what reason. A lot of us are retired, and as far as any of us know, perhaps handicapped and this fulfills their day and brings true enjoyment. For the first time ever, seniors have something to do that far exceeds what any other seniors have the opportunity to do, and truly enjoy and are not a burden on their family. It also keeps their minds sharp and brains active. Use it or lose it. If you resent that "dominance" as you call it, practice what you preach and ignore it.
If I go into detail about some of my memories, it's because I think those details are important and people enjoy knowing what happened and how we (older generation) lived and thought. Maybe it's because I was told so little, that I want to share everything with you.
I am the one who asked just a simple question - if anyone knows who the artist was who sang "Goodnight Sweetheart". It brought more responses than I expected and many, many references to tunes of "our time" and new-found friendships, and tons of laughter.
As for "tolerance", when I was growing up in Chester, 1932-1950, there was no "intolerance" that I knew of - at least it wasn't practiced by me or my friends. Everyone was equal.
If you are so knowledgeable about the things posted here, you would be aware that the Latin quote was used by me originally when someone asked about why I was a little depressed. It's an authentic saying used before you were born - and I used it to Mike (who, incidently I know from childhood) because it was better than the American version and not offensive. Mike understood. And the fact that you think it has no place here, is merely your opinion - to which you are entitled.
I rarely get upset on this board, but I couldn't help trying to make you more "tolerant". If you want to help out here, say something positive to reverse the negativity you see written, because your criticism of our enjoyment is not in the spirit of why this board exists.
And I identify myself everytime, because I am open to criticism, want to be corrected when I'm wrong, and I'm not afraid to admit I was wrong - and we all are from time-to-time. Also, when I was growing up there, I had more friends than the norm, love them all to this day, and I hope I have not made an enemy of you, because "anonymous" or "dominance" - what difference can it make in the grand scheme of things?
Harvey - I need some Prozak for my nerves.
To Tina's Dads friend:
Passing through Lancaster and the New Holland area the other day on Rt. 23, I went past the Shady Maple Smorgasbord and I believe it has been turned into a furniture store. I should have driven in to see if it is half restaurant and half furn. store but did not. So if you plan to go again soon might I suggest to call first. Of course it is a nice ride and there are so many more things in the area.
As for being an Unknown Writer on this board, that is your right. Many of us for one reason or another prefer to be, yet enjoy writing about OldChesterPA and being able to wake up memories in others. There are those who know who we are. Like the earlier unknown poster I have many memories of Chester that I share. When I run out of them, then I will no longer write on the message board.
Laura: I did copy and send your messages to Olga Zubko through a mutual friend.
Glad to see FXP dropped into the board, your family is truly old ChesterPA as are the Ruffini's, Catania's, Quatra's, Ferrara's, Verano's, Zizza's. etc. AHH Sam Zizza..what a nice person, died much to young. J. Ruffini is still living and also a sharp dresser. . Many of the people from St. Anthony's who's parents spoke very little English and worked with their hands became prominent people in our area. Goes to show that America offers opportunity to each of us, it is our job to go after it and make it work for us. And the opportunity is still here. Just afew weeks ago Mr. B. from Williams Trade School posted a wonderful opportunity for young people. I wonder how many sent him an email?
FXP: I'll bet you have some great memories of growing up in Chester..
TO KATE Thank you!
To TINA I know your Dad & Mary. Worked with them at Westinghouse. Also went to their wedding. We all have been friends for years. Live a couple of minutes away from them. Visited them last week. Went with them to Atlantic City and to The Shady Maple in Lancaster a few months ago. I mentioned to your Dad that I had seen some of your posts.
I will e-mail you and if you have any messages for Dad, I will be glad to forward them.
I prefer at this time to be anonymous on this posting board.
to no name, you said it all...and very nicely...sincerely, kate
To all the hooplah about Lynn Hope & his Turban: It has been blown out of proportion. The simple fact that people don't want to sign their name has nothing to do with posting what they think. They have their reasons.
I originally inquired about the group's name. I was not the unnamed individual who corrected the spelling. It was someone else. It could have been one of the "regular" posters who dominates the board and thought better to be anonymous. Who knows and who cares? Be considerate! This nitpicking BS is what went on in schools with all the "CLICKS" and/or in neighborhoods. Constantly down nosing people who don't come up to their standards.
TO MIKE, I didn't care about the spelling. I merely wanted to know the name of the group.
Am also an ex 26 yr Westy worker & wouldn't down you for anything. That's one good thing they had and that was good people.
To all who prefer to remain anonymous, I too say "Don't let the Bastards Grind you down." You have a right to post with no name until the time comes when it is absolutely required. And I don't think that it will be necessary to do that. If it does, then it will reflect back on Old Chesterites who have little or no Tolerance for other people.
People may have their own reasons for not conforming.
To the person who said ENOUGH about Lynn Hope, maybe you should say ENOUGH to the individual who can't remember who sang "Goodnight Sweetheart" Read too many posts about that one but never saw anyone say ENOUGH to that. Also the many posts about McCaferty Village. If you don't want to read it skip over them like I do.
Just post what you want and if it annoys or bothers anyone, they have the option to skip over them too.
Spelling is not important & neither knowing who I am. I wasn't important in any of your lives or careers so it shouldn't matter who I am. After all this is about Chester & it's people who come in all sizes, shapes, colors, backgrounds, education, religion, nationality etc. etc.
BE NICE! Your Latin Quote doesn't belong on the boards. I used it to show that it can be applied to both sides of the coin.
To: Tom CHS76
Sorry to hear about Jimmy. I remember as a kid, seeing him walking down the street, and I used to think how "strong" he was, could always tell it was a struggle for him, but he kept on walking. As far as your Aunt Dot and Uncle Tony, I knew them ALL my life. Your Aunt Dot and my mom were friends before I was born (1955). So close to the family I always called them Aunt & Uncle myself. I did here they both passed away. I looked up to Tony. I hung around with Nancy mostly, she is the closest to my age.
Let's see when I lived on Pulaski, I was as 1326, which would have been closer to Highland Avenue. My backyard looked at the field and WM. Penn. It was one of the hills we all went sledding on, or over by the community building. I graduated in 1973, so we are close in age. I lived between the Seifert's and Elizabeth Ferrier. Sharon, Donna & Caroline on the corner. Across the street from Frankie Leo. If I remember correctly you lived across the street from Paul Scarpato?
We went to William Penn at the same time. I must admit, I don't remember you either. Went to Pulaski Jr. only in 7th grade then moved to Delaware.
What is your last name??
Sheree
To Pat and Florence: Thank you for the information on the funeral home.
To Jack: By George you are right. I had always said it was a "T"
Sheree
..Don't remember you either...I worked for his wife..so he could have been dead by 63-65, I was l6-18 when I was in Notre Dame...so what years are you talking about....
Hi Iris, I read your comments about this upcoming reunion being the last big hurrah. I can only imagine how much work you and the committee put into the get togethers. I hate the thought of them stopping. It makes me feel as tho we are getting too old to party! I can remember getting ready to do a talent show at Dewey Mann and you singing, "Hello My Baby". You were great. I never could have done that. Seems like a hundred years ago. Where did thet go? Betty
Dear Kate, I see where you said you worked at Queenies. So did I. When did you work there?????????? I started working for him at the Armory Bowling Alley where he had the concession stand in my early teens and then when he opened his store at 10th and Booth, I worked there and also at his place in Aston. Betty
To Mike M...
English Translation of Latin phrase:
"Illigetimus non carborundum"
"Don't let the Bastards grind you down"
Jimmy, hey, sure glad someone from the west-end is on here, I sure do remember you and all the guys on the corner....Don't know what happened to Frank, he was my first real love , after we broke up I heard he got married and had some kids.....I spent many a night watching race's on the conchester....Jolly is fine, he lives in Balto. suburbs, he is a great mechanic...working at Queenie's put me thru school...& hanging at Gino's...oh ya Frank taught me how to drive-stick shift, we were all a little wild back then but mostly harmless fun.....glad your on here too, where are you living now, I'm in Fl.
Kate Nolan Good to see you on here. Iremember your working at Queenies I know all us guys that hung on the corner of 10th & Booth musta drove you crazy.They were some good timesKate. I still talk to Mike every few weeks and ive stopped up to see your Mom & Janie too. They all seem to be doing well.Whatever happened to Frank Heacock your old boyfriend? I remember him liveing acrooss from Ginos and raceing his car down Cecil County Dragstrip. Jack Korshinski I remember you and your sister Loranne .I remember u liveing rt across from the Heffners Man i had some good times with Billy Heffner. he was one funny guy later
Hi Mike Mangan. You said you built turbines at Westinghouse - the plant in Lester? Did you know Bill Jackson, he also worked at Westinghouse (for 42 years, now retired) He's my dad. He is quite musically talented and played clarinet and trumpet in high school and still plays keyboard.
I remember walking a few blocks from home to meet him on the way home from Westinghouse. He gave Ted Brahoni (spelling?) a ride from the plant. I'd try and meet him everyday by 4:30 and ride home with him the last 5 blocks.
Hey, sign your name, and everyone has been done with Lynn & his turban, so who is dumb???
Mike: Nobody's thinking your dumb, Pal. Just wanted to correct the Lynn Hope group's title.
Hi, this is my first entry on this site. i was born and raised in chester. Iwent to St. Michael's from 72 to 80 and then onto St. j's i would like to here from anyone who may know me or mabe just grew up in Chester around that time. i lived on the eastside from 66(birth year)to '76. I moved to the west end in '77 and stayed there there 'til about '85 or so, then i moved back to the east side (crosby st.). I now live in Delaware. if you know me i'm sure we have some mutual friends. Anybody remember T&E's?
I remember going to the 7th st. newsstand before and after school and sometimes sneaking to john's doggie shop during lunch, we were'nt allowed outside of the schoolyard during lunch. this is a ggreat site and look forward to visiting it daily.
Dear Tom and Dan' Tom thanks for updating Dan, I do not get onto this site too often. I check it now and then, when time permits. Yes, Dan, the reunion date is confirmed and at our next meeting, in a few weeks, we should have confirmation on the site! Hope to have lots of surprises for our night of "Golden Memories" . If you run into any classmates "talk" up the re-union as this may be our last BIG hoorah! The committe is a great one--all interested and workers, and represent a cross section of our class. It is with regret that I think this may be our last "Hoo-De-Doo", it has been fun working with the committee. Dan, I will pass on your Happy Birthday to Wanda.
The teacher I had for business machines was Ms. Mary Clare Donnely, she looked and dressed very nicely and had a great personality. She married a Chester detective by the name of , I believe, Joe Ryan. My favorite teachers were Ms. Donnely and Ms. Jane Dilmore who left to get married in 1949. Harriet Weiss and Mary Ruffini were also very pretty and nice dressers.
KATE - Just noticed your posting, and I was not sure of when the respect deteriorated - that's why I said after 1950. I only learned of that when I was there in 1980 and the school had closed, not sure what year. So, I should have made myself clear - but I really didn't know when that all came about because I moved away in 1950. So, you have let us know that at least until 1965, the standards were still there. Didn't mean to offend you or anyone and I'm glad you had that respect instilled in you too.
MIKE - Don't worry about spelling things right - the thing that impressed me was your "musical knowledge" - Sy Zentner, for instance. One of the greats in jazz and "popular" music. You are 7 or 8 years younger than I am, and you appreciate the same music I do. I think you also mentioned Damita Jo - she never achieved the heights you should have because she was as good as Nancy Wilson, Dinah Washington, all the women in that category. I truly admire your taste and knowledge of good music. "Illigitimus non carborundum."
Pat, your comments are not correct about students after the 50's having a lack of respect for the nun's...they were tuff until I graduated in 1965, & my class was one of the largest at that time ...they demanded respect and got it & the discipline was always high....
Been reading about the Ranch, use to get in under age, also who went to BillieRichie's, it is no longer there but it was on the Chester Pike, also my age group hung at the t-bar, & a bar in Aston that Bobby C use to play, does anyone know him, The Bobby C Trio....
Dan CHS 54....The re-union activity may be a little quiet on the chester site, but believe me, it is going full steam ahead with someone doing something every day. Each committee member doing their thing to make sure their combined efforts lead to a re-union like no other!!!!See you there....Tom
Hey Jack, I remember selling my convertible to Jimmy Dawson who is no longer with us.....maybe I do know you, where did you live & what is your last name....
White's Funeral Parlor was on ninth and Madison Sts next to larkin school
pidipat, yes we did. What used to be the El Rancho is now I believe the Schwartz center , of athletics.My sisiter lives directly above it on 18th.I think the Margaret C. Stetsor elelmentary school was built to replace the old Martin school.The Pippon nursing home up on Chestnut and 24th.It was owned and run by Kemp Pippon who has recently passed away.
Hey Mike M....spelling ain't everything! Spell Checker takes care of most mistakes today.
Spent many an early sunday morning in the The Ranch. It amazes me that to the best of my memory there were not may DUI arrests around Chester in those days. I know a Guardian Angel looked after Joe Battle and me driving home during those crazy times. One ritual after leaving the after hours clubs was to have breakfast at the Rainbow Diner at about 3 or 4 am and then go home to bed.
Some of the clubs that I remember were, the Polish Eagles, The Ukrainian Club, and a black after hours club on Flower Street where we were welcome in those days...Battle being a politician even then.
TO: No Name....Please excuse my spelling, I'm an old guy who used to build turbines at Westinghouse & oh well. No big deal...I do post my name so all can see how really dumb I am..
TO: No name So I didn't spell it right, no big deal..
The only thing I remember about the El Rancho was the lead guy was called The Turban Kid and the place was so noisy the night air made your ears hurt,also people used to dance on the tables. Had some good times out there.In the fifties I think everyone in the west end went to Honeysuckle ice cream parlor.Everyone met there and you didnt have to worry about walking from chichester ave. to ninth st. Everyone have a good night.
J L Clancy funeral home was at 9th & upland at least during the period 1971-1977
But Florence, didn't we have Lilyan Wright for Physical Ed? I thought she was great. Lots of common sense when it came to dealing with us awkward teenagers. I still remember her vividly. She was another one who took a personal interest in her students. But the teacher with the most "class" and style was Harriet Weiss (English). Couldn't help it - her appearance alone made you respect her - really. That lady exhuded wealth and class - she inspired me quite a bit - plus I loved English and grammar - my favorites.
Don't want to bore people any longer with my memories of our teachers, but I'm sure they're happy we remember them, even Ms. Marshall - God Bless Her - she was dedicated to her profession and didn't give a rat's ..s what anyone thought of her appearance. I admire her for that - and her teaching skills.
kate,
you might even remember me. i remember when you gave jolly that convertable..his first car...we cleaned it every other day for the first week or two.
kate,
you might even remember me. i remember when you gave jolly that convertable..his first car...we cleaned it every other day for the first week or two.
sheree, as i remember it, it was McCaffery Village. my address for years was McCaffery Place.
bernard, i remember playing little leage with a walt bernard and he also had a younger brother and i can't remember his name.
kate from the west end... can you give me jolly's number. i'm sure he will remember me...thanks, jack
pidipat
What about Mr. Prosser, did you ever have him. He was sales.He was very nice, You know Mary Anne Graul's dad, played in a band also, I think he played trumpet. His name was Roy. I keep trying to remember things, but they are coming slow. Remember we had to walk to the field for gym. I hated physical education. I am not very athletic, but I watch and like a lot of sports, especially hockey. Mr.Slezak and Mr.Seletz.
TOM: Bingo - thank you - Marty was about my dad's age. Thank you for that. Once I find out how to do it, I will post the picture - 8-1/2x11 - of the orchestra in Chester my father was in - taken approx. 1931-32-33. No date and it was discovered after his death. He really felt a brotherly love for the Caruso family.
Forence - If I am right, I believe the woman who taught business machines (the comptometer - remember - I literally hated that nail-eating, knuckle-busting machine) was Ms. Lillian Marshall. She was a great teacher tough, she made sure you learned. I have always remembered what she taught on alphabetizing names, etc. She was an authority on that. "Mc's" always come before the rest of the "M"s in the alphabet. But that rule no longer applies in some areas of business. At the time, because she was so cold-natured, she was disliked by everyone and while I'm looking at her photo in our yearbook - she looks deranged. Reminds me of the woman who played the critically mentally ill mother in the movie "Syble". When I saw that movie, I knew the mother reminded me of someone - Mrs. Marshall - she even wore the same ugly shoes, and dresses and built just like her. Do you recall the rumor that went around school about her and another male teacher? I think it was just a rumor, because she was "up for grabs" when it came to making fun of a teacher and the other teacher too. What about Alda Adams? I had her for homeroom one year and because I always loved fashion, I could never wait to see what she would wear that day. I really liked her too. She donned everything female - perfume, great shoes, suits, tons of makeup - and I loved her for it. Oh me, what makes a kid tick anyway?
And good for Mr. Edwards. School is where a lot of kids learn the word "respect" - unfortunately, there seem to be few Mr. Edwards left these days. That girl was "bold as brass" to come to class and defy him - she probably has done the same thing all her life and how was she able to teach her children "respect? We kids in Rez and Notre Dame (I attended ND 9th & 10th grades) had to show respect or else. We were even instructed on how to conduct ourselves during summer vacation. As I understand it, in the later days at Notre Dame - after 1950 - the nuns got no respect whatsoever. What was not understood, I believe, is that you didn't necessarily have to respect the nun, the person, but you did respect what she stood for.
Yes, Marty Caruso did stay with Al Alberts for the TV show. However, he played clarinet. He was the musical director/conductor for the show
I think it's Stanley & The Turbines
You're right, No Name. It's Turban, not Turbine.
Pat, who was the teacher that taught business machines, thats what stuck with me. No matter where I worked, mostly banks, I ran some sort of business machine. I was in Mrs.White's homeroom, what a very nice lady, I also learned my math well. ELK- Mr Edwards was tough. He also worked in a meat marked on Morton Ave.I had him at Smedley also.
The name Lynn Hope & the Turbines very well could be because Lynn always wore a turbine. Not sure if that was the reason he called the group the "Turbines".
Iris--It looks like the 54 Reunion site is on permanent hold. Maybe it will pick up closer to 04.I'll 2nd a belated Happy Birthday to Wanda. I'll be in the county for a luncheon on Thurs. It's been a while so I'll be checking on some of the places mentioned on this site. I do know my neighborhood around 5th&Madison has been demolished, but I remember what was there.
Florence: Let me tell you a tale about Reed Edwards (CHS math teacher). I had him for homeroon one year and Algebra. A girl in the class chewed gum (a big no-no in his class). he motioned her up to the front of the class, placed the waste paper basket under her mouth, told her to spit it out. Don't ever chew gum again in this class! he exclaimed. Next class, same girl, a new stick of gum. Edward's face turned red when her saw her bovine action. He motioned her to the front of the class, gave her a slip of paper, motioned her out the door and to the OFFICE. I NEVER saw the girl again!!!!!! As I said in a previous pst, everything I learned about classical music (which I still appreciate and listen to) I learned from Lou Zelley
Didn't one of the Caruso's stay with Al Alberts and his TV show for years? I think that may have been Marty Caruso. Didn't he play the piano for him?
Also does anyone remember "Uncle Wips" Toyland at Gimbles.
Talking abour the Caruso boys. I took electric guitar lessons from their father" Anthony" when his Studio was located at 3rd & Market and later moved to Edgemont Ave. between 8th & 9th streets. Don't forget the youngest brother " Henry" and his drums he traveled the circuit with (I think) Peggy Lee..
The year I took guitar lessons was around 1973 and Marty had to be in his late 60's. But then again that was 29 years ago.
I am doing a research paper on the economic growth of Chester during World War 2. I am researching how industries changed during this time frame: industries such as Sun Oil, Sun Ship, Scott Paper, Baldt Anchor, Baldwin Locomotive and Westinghouse. If anyone worked in any industry in Chester during the war and has information, I sure would appreciate you contacting me. Other areas are population growth. Thanks!
TO JOE CHS 47 - Now don't pick on the wise...s for not identifying himself - he more than likely doesn't know how to do that.
To another person who wrote about Marty Caruso - can you tell me how old Marty was at the time (approx. age) and what year that was that you took those lessons? Guitar was my dad's main instrument and I always wondered how he got started on that. I never did ask him. It might have been his friendship with the Caruso family that had him pick up that instrument. Really interested - if you could respond to this.
To my friend, Florence - if it hadn't been for Ms. Rowland, I would never have had the skills I have to make a living. I am eternally grateful to her because she took a special interest in me and pushed me until I got it right. Great lady and a tribute to the teaching profession. I also had the opportunity at our 30th class reunion to personally thank Florence DuPuy for all her help and guidance to me. I just couldn't believe it, when I saw her there. I'm sure she's passed on by now. Another favorite of mine was Mr. Ross, the musical director. He constantly talked to me about joining the choir, but I assured him I could not sing with a choir - only solo. I was right because I always sang solo, except when I sang harmony with my dad and uncle.
Ya....West-end, I left in '68, but retured to see family for a few years....
Florence, Bob Barcly was in our class.I was in the band with him. After CHS he went in the Marine Corp. Band. I also had all the teachers you mentioned at Smedley.
P.S. Please note my new e-mail address hpvmdv@mchsi.com
Mike Do you think the name of the group "TURBINES" refers to his headpiece which was a Turban. You know, a wrap around the head like the Taliban wears? Not trying to be funny but only trying to describe the headpiece & the name of the group.
Lynn Hope & The Turbines. I saw them do a concert at Chester High. Later, several times, at "The Ranch" (El Rancho). Lynn played tenor sax. His one record hit was "Girl of my Dreams". It boosted his popularity in our area. Good memories..
west end anybody?
WWho remember's mr.Mr.Edwards,Miss Tomlinson,Mr.Zelly,Miss Northam,Mrs.Mc/gowan and also Mercy . Barclays music store, does anyone remember the Barclay's.
I took guitar lessons at Marty Caruso's in Brookhaven. He was also, I'm pretty sure in one of the bands that used to play at the West End Boat Club on the weekends.
I meant the El Rancho is where Lynn Hope performed. I don't remember what instument he played but the "TURBAN" stands out when I think of Lynn Hope.
Marty Caruso's store was located in a Brookhaven shopping center for many years. He sold instuments & also taught there. They were a musical family. There was Vince, Tony, Marty, Henry & there might have been more. I believe Tony played the trumpet, Hank was on drums. They were backups for many celebrities. In fact, years ago when they were located in Chester, Patti Page had visited the family.
Joe CHS 47 thanks for sticking up for my post. it shows that there are still some ignorant people in the world. I couldn't hear the sounds of Chester but I'm glad to have the sight to see how beautiful Chester was when growing up in the 50's and 60's. That was a good memory. Deaf and proud of it...
Happy Birthday Iris..2/24..
To the Anonymous Wise--s: I don't think this message board was created for "people" like you to insult posters as you did with your smart--s remark to The Deaf One. "Deaf and Dumb"!! Come on!!! At least have the guts to identify yourself!
In an earlier quote I mentioned a "Tony" Caruso who was a friend of my dad. I think the name should have been "Vince" Caruso. Anyone know him? He might have owned and operated a music store in the period after WWII, and maybe prior to that. So, what was the first name of the Caruso who had the orchestra that we talked about earlier?
Was it Lynn Hope who played a down & dirty Sax @ El Ranchero?
I remember the lumberyard between 4th and 5th and Highland Avenue. As elementary school age kids we would walk the tressels and jump down into the coal bins. How about Peter's Market and Mrs. "Dukies" candy store (next door to Peters)? As kids we would crawl under the platform of the railraod station and find coins. Speaking of coins, Sunday was also a great time to search for money, as Saturday night was a big night at St. Hedwigs club located next to the railroad tracks. All of the broken glass (from Sat. night) was thrown into one pile and Sunday we kids would sift through looking for money. Usually made a pretty good haul! Also, behind the homes on 4th and Highland (during WWII), military vehicles were parked in the old American Steel lot (actually it was a dump--our playground, with gresat treasures to be found. Also, Sherwood's Seafood was in the old Lumberyard building. I lived directly across the street from it. Love reading all of the fine memories. Hi, to Tom, Dan and Betty.
Never mind, just remembered the guy with the turban was Lynn Hope.
Didn't know Mr. Rankin had that many customers. He did remind you of the wicked landlord.
On the subject of the R&S Club, can anyone remember the name of the performer who wore a turban?
Also, I have read the postings where Nick Mancini's name had been mentioned. He was so handsome. His band played concerts in the summer at Deshong Park. Also playing there was a great group led by Bill Jacona. Nick's family lived on East Mowry Street, in the first ward. His father ran a tailor & dry cleaning shop in the 400 block of west third street.
Requote MR. Rankin a MEAN MAN
During deprison "IF YOU CAN'T GET YOUR RENT GET ME
To Sheree: Yes, I did live on Pulaski. I am trying to remember you give me some hints. Jimmy passed away in 73 when his disease finally took his heart. Dot and Tony were my aunt and uncle both have passed away. I read the article about McCaffery that John linked in his comment. I remember reading in the old community building about the McCaffery brothers. They also had big pictures of them on the wall where we used to go in to pay the rent....Mr Gebhart was right about the old neighborhood. My father loved his lawn and took very good care of it.....long live McCaffery glad we lived there when it was decent.
I attended Wm. Penn my first grade teacher was Mrs. Golf. I had my first teacher crush in 4th grade her name was Miss Thompson. I was crushed when it turned to Mrs.
Does anyone remember Shooster's, or when they had a circus in Chester Park, and the time they had 4 characters's from TV, something to do with banana;s. Help me out here, please.
All the talk about mcaffery village .Me and my 3 sisters are from ganster place..Moved out in 1976.
To Deaf & Dumb--The term is no longer PC but it does give an accurate description of your efforts to be clever.
To: Jacko CHS52 That was the El Rancho on Bullins Lane you were referring to & that was Steve Gibson & The Red Caps featuring Damita Joe. I worked there for a while in the early 60's, but frequented it a lot. A good after hour club with some of the early great artist performing there. I saw the 4 Seasons do a show there, Chubby Checker, Fats Domino, Sy Zetner, Red Prysock, etc, etc.. PMC bought it out & made Dorms or somerhing on the property..
Since I've been seeing the Grad years after their name of CHS thought I try something different. Chester Hospital is still not that far from my heart. Born there, been to the emergency room more times than I care to count as a child growing up....lol. at least I got to experience Chester in the 50's 60's and gradually dying in the 70's. So, as the saying goes "You can never go home again" but...... our hearts are still in CHESTER!!!!!!
Re: Origins of the "McCaffery" Village name:
For those who may have missed it, Ed Gebhart did a column on 10/26/2001 about the McCaffery family origins of the name "McCaffery Village". Incidentally, it is being replaced by "Wellington Ridge".
Here's the link to his story with a little history of the family and the McCaffery brothers, Hugh and Lt. Col. "Little Joe":
http://www.delcotimes.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=2553036&BRD=1675&PAG=461&dept_id=18171&rfi=8
Enjoy! John
Yes, Pedipat it is mcCaffery..
Yes, Pedipat it is mcCaffery..
TO DAVE: Hey Dave, thank you for remembering "Mr. Rankin" - so he was as mean as I remembered. Please repeat what you said his motto was because I think you left out a word. Never knew he had one, so I would love to know what it was. Thanx
The spelling is exactly "M c C a f f e r y" Village. Also, as I understand it from reading somewhere about the village, it was named for a son of the McCaffery family who was killed during one of the wars - not sure which one. But the McCaffery family were well off financially and had a home in the Resurrection parish area. I think I also read not too long ago about someone from that family or closely related to them felt really devastated when the entire village was uprooted. It is sad to see an entire "little city" destroyed. But many "ghosts" still live there and the memories of a lot of us will never die. Long, live McCaffery Village.
Furneal director E F WHITE 3RD, & NORRIS
Mr. Rankin -mean during depression his motto \ "IF YOU CAN 'T YOUR RENT GET ME"
DOES ANYBODY KNOW THE BERNARD'S FROM TRAINER- WESTEND OF CHESTER? MY GRANDFATHER RACED PIEGONS AND WORKED AT FORD MOTORS.
Look to the left on this page and click on funeral homes. It will help you a great deal.It is in alphabetical order, go right to the bottom of the list.
Look to the left on this page and click on funeral homes. It will help you a great deal.It is in alphabetical order, go right to the bottom of the list.
Sheree, I am sure that rhere was a Funeral home by the name of White at 9th and Upland sts in chester, I am sure I passed it every day going to Larkin schoolin the early 40's.
Poor Florance I lived at 850 Parker Street Had to walk ride a bike or spend 10 cents for a Southern Penn bus then get a transfer to parksise get off 3 blocks from Smedley. PS I guess you all know in 19Yoy got the lunch I got the shaft49 CHS had a Ninth grade but the dividing line was LIncoln St You might have got the lunch but I got the shaft
To: AA I believe the address on William Penn Elementary is Township Line Road and Highland Ave.
Also to Jack: It is McCafferty Village.
Where was Wm Penn School located?
shame on all of you the most famous of all the clubs was the El Ranchero Bullins lane between Macdade & Chester pike. How about Glenn Millers Band ( with Ray Mc Kinnley of course) Damita Joe and the Hep Caps etc on a Sunday where you could dance and have fun . the other after hours sic were the SOMS on macade. after the tee bar and Di mattios closed. Going back farther 49-50 something the Alpha Boat Club right above Manny Moe & Jack.
pidipat...is it McCaffrey or McCafferty Village? I see it both ways on the board.
Again to TOM CHS76: If you remember the field behind Wm Penn was constantly on fire, usually small ones, but I do remember a pretty large one. I had heard a boy on my street had been setting them all along. Poor Jimmy.
To TOM CHS76: I am from McCafferty Village (Pulaski Drive) and do believe you lived right down the street. I remember Jimmy well. I also believe one of my Mom's best friend is a relative of yours, or her husband, Dot and Tony Matranga.
I am doing geneology research and am trying to find out who would have been a Funeral Director named White (sorry no address or first name) in 1933. Any help would be appreciated.
Sheree
Anyone from McCaffrey Village on now, let's talk....
One of the things I remember about, was when we went to Smedley Jr. High School and at lunch time we'd go to the cafeteria and the most favorite thing I would get was a dip of mashed potatoes and gravy, a hot dog on a roll with mustard and a bottle of chocolate milk. And to this day I still love them. Any one who works in a school cafeteria deserves all the credit they can get, believe me it is very hard work.
Jolly is doing fine, he is not married at this time , e-mail me for his number or address...
I sure am, his oldest sister, he is in Balto., I am in Panama City Beach...
I sure am, his oldest sister, he is in Balto., I am in Panama City Beach...
Mary Kate: Are you Jolly's sister? If so where is he? HJow is he doing? And tell him TB said hi and drop me a line.
A friend sent me this site...it is great...but I would like to know if anyone remembers the 60's in the West-end...I grad. N.D.65....What about Queenie's at 10th&Booth...I worked thier 2 yrs. of High school, so O remember a lot of people from McCaffery.....Great site,thanks...
Hello, Mike M. and Jim M. Oscar Good's older brother's name was Elmer. I also know about Donny and his 57 Desoto. We went to Harrisburg to see Chester High play basketball at the Farm Show Arena. I remember that he had it at 100 mph and scared us half to death. Anyone remember the tag football games we had on Jeffrey st' between 3rd & 4th. We should try and get some of the gang together, and go over old times.
To John, Thanks for letting me know about your relationship to the Bullock family that I knew. It was many years ago. I still live in the area,that's why I inquired. Doris
I don't know what made this come to mind, but I remember someone lit the field on fire behind William Penn elementary school before Murphy Ford was built there. My brother Jimmy who had muscular dystophy and could just barely walk without falling down before it took it's final grip on his legs was in the field playing, we always had a fort, treehouse or something happening in that field of hay and trees. The police and firemen tried to say my brother lit the fire. Brought him home in a police car. He said he didn't do it and didn't know who did. They didn't want to believe him, my mother freak out on the police she wanted to know why someone who could hardly walk, let alone run would light a fire. We never did find out who lit the fire but I know it wasn't my brother, he would have told me. We kinda figured whoever lit it got in the underground creek and storm tunnel that went from behind Wm Penn school down to Buckman Village and you stayed underground down to Renshaw apartments it was dark and scary. It was one of those first time dare things you did. Betcha won't take the tunnel all way to Fancher's house. Once you were in it, there was only one way out the other end.
The RS is still there. My buddy works there and I shoot pool there once-in-a-while for a league. Haven't been down there after hours, though in a long time. Can't stay up that late anymore.LOL
Yes the RS club is still there. I used to frequent the Republican club in N.P., and it is long gone. I can remember one Palm Sunday, standing out front of our house at 9th and Walnut . There we were, a few girls, all dresses up in our new Easter clothes, we had just come back and we are all holding our piece of palm. It seem's that our Mother made everything special for us. I think I beleived in the Easter Bunny forever and of course Santa Claus. I remember that Christmas, we made our usual trip to Stotters to see Santa, and just like I had asked for a Shirley Temple doll, she was there. Everything seemed so wonderful then. I tried to do the same way as my Mother.
Maria, The after hour club you were refering to was called the R&S Club. The place may still be there, though not sure what it maybe called now.
It was so great finding this site.Brought back alot of memories.I started first grade at Larkin,onto Smedley and than to Chester hi where I graduated in 1973.We lived on Upland St.by 10th.I remember St.James dances,the T-Bar on MacDade Bl.and the two after hours clubs I went to after the clubs closed at 2AM.One was on MacDade Bl. and you had to go down steps to get to the club.Anyone know the name or if it still exists?? I was the first female gas station attendant,at the Getty Station by the bowling alley in Brookhaven in 1972.Does anyone who went to Larkin remember the stories we did on the radio on weekends that Mr.Sharp setup??Or know if Jay Kirven,my old music teacher is still around?I've got lots of memories & ?s, but I better stop here.Hope someone gets in touch...
If you remember, all prices were frozen during the war and for a few years after. I had a terrible time finding an apartment when my husband was coming back from Germany. Chester had no vacancies.I finally got one but the occupents had made a deal with the landlord that whoever got the apt. had to buy all the contents. So I got a fully furnished place for $800. Bedding, pots and pans, a set of sterling silver,bedroom, livingroom,and kitchen furniture. There was an ice box but I had already bought a refrigerator (second hand). I don't know if it was a good deal or not but it gave us a place to live. The apartment was in one of those old mansions that were divided into many small apartments. I can't remember the street.It was around tenth and Kerlin. Wasn't it wonderful how our Mothers could whip up such wonderful food. Mine always baked on Saturday morning. Three or four pies. a cake, and a batch of cookies. All on a coal stove! I better quit now, I'm getting hungry.
Today, that I'm older and almost the age of my great Aunt and grandmother, I really wonder how they made it. My Aunt always ran a boarding house for the workers - probably between 4-6 tenants and climbed those steps everyday up to her 80's to make beds and clean - with no other help. Her house was always spotless and the table always set for meals. Her sister, my grandmother, on the other hand, lived with either her son or daughter from time to time. My Aunt Ruie (real name "Zeruiah") only enjoyment was watching the Friday night fights on TV and drinking beer - along with her daytime soap operas. What a different type of woman in those days. Aunt Ruie was the matriarch of our family, outlived two husbands and one boyfriend at the age of 76 or so. Everyone in our family loved her because she showered love and complete non-judgemental love on all of us. She died at 86, even outlived her daughter that she loved so very much. How did those women do it? She made the best chicken and dumplings and lemon meringue pie I've ever had in my life. Cooked everything from scratch. She's also the one who nursed me back to health during my bout with scarlet fever. She was no executive business woman, but she certainly knew how to "multi-task" as is referred to in today's business world. She "multi-tasked" all her life. But trying putting that on today's resume.
Rent--I think the first apt, which was 2 rooms on the third floor. bathroom on 2nd. was 6.00 a week. Anoother one was 15.00 a week. My grandmother her hose was larger , they paid 40.00 a month.Wasn't everything on scale with wages, the more you make now, the more things cost.
RC- where are you, missed you.Now for gosh sakes the ---taxes cost more than the mortgage payment used to. No wonder so many people are losing their homes. What do they want.
Highland Gardens rent: 1944-48 approx. was $48.50 per month. May have varied according to location or number of rooms in the row houses.
At the mention of "rent" - it's interesting that you paid $20/month. I have always wondered what our rent was because my mother was always worried about being able to pay it. I have always remembered the landlord's name - Mr. Rankin - and I always felt his name suited him. He owned quite a bit of property, I guess, in Chester and BV. I think my mother always felt like Nellie Furbush on rent day. You know - "I've come to collect the rent - humm, humm". Anyway, anyone ever hear of that dastardly man or know what rents were in 1945-50?
"SWIFT CLEANERS" 3RD & WILSON -2600 W. 3RD. I Lived jon the 2nd floor moved to the 3rd. floor cheapirer rent $20/mo. My aunt Mary Boyle lived on 2nd.fl.front her daughter Marie Boyle Breziski lived on 2nd fl. back. The bldg. has since been torn down/
Dave S
Hello Cliff Redden....You are remembered!
In the paper today 100 yrs. ago-- Chester health officer Farnan, had to check into some complaints,where the house was quarantined with smallpox. Some of those people escaped from being kept in there.Three new cases of smallpox were reported in the city. 75yrs ago--Chester Mayor Samuel E.Turner was authorized by city council to purchase two horses for Chester's mounted men. 50 yrs ago-- A total of 14,436 visits were mde to 1123 patients in thwir homes by nurses by community nursing services of Chester and vincinity. The place they used to build wagons was called Ochletree and the building is still next to that big John's Bargain store. Anyone remember that place.
To Jacko: By the picture that I have of Club 31, I see why it would be called the longest bar. The picture was taken on March 7, 1955 at the 22nd annual banquet for the Central Rest Recreation Club and in the bottom left hand corner it says "world's largest bar." It looks like it was really a neat place!!
Just a note to thank every one that set up this web site. I checked out Felton Fire Co. which I'm still a member & printed out some old familar faces that I knew years ago. Thanks again.
Bill
great website.
the 31 bar was not known as the largest bar but Longest it was a finger bar whih means it wasn t in a straight line . Kozy Morley used to play there quite often.. In later years Jack Mc Closky was the owner
T. Nicolaides (CHS 54): An excellent suggestion to include school and year of graduation. We can remain anonymous or not in our postings, yet at least place ourselves somewhere in the Chester timeframe for others. Many of us left the Chester city limits after graduating from high school. Many, like me, left Pennsylvania within a few years of graduation and have not returned. For those of us near and far away, we are pleased that John Bullock III created and maintains this website with all its subsections to browse. It is interesting to read his postings and the messages here, especially when they are lighthearted in their reminiscences. The city we left long ago no longer exists except in our memories of it, pleasant or not. Like the Scott Paper water tower with its old trademark paint job making it look like a gigantic roll of toilet paper and the power company with its lighted city motto, coal-fired and smoky, we also have disappeared from Chester. So "hello" to all the classmates, teachers, and neighbors of long ago, for you are the best of our experiences then. Though she's gone now, Long Live Dr. Leah Jordan!
next to the welsh restraunt was the Young Mens Republican Club The tavern on the corner was the Imperial Hotel
yes Jack,
Sam ruebens was down the street from the welsh restaurant and across the street from the Noreen Shop, what was the name of the tap room next to the Welsh Restaurant...
anyone remember Greco's Bakery, I think it was in sun Village...i forget.....
I can remember as soon as I graduated from high school, I had to go to work. My Aunt Elizabeth worked in Phila.Nat'l Bank. She got me a job right in there,I started in filing, that's usually the beginning and then to bookkeeping and learning a little about everything. Then they sent three of us to banking school in Phila...That was Harry Shank,William Dill and me.It was not too bad, and then one day the head of all the bank's settlement came to me and said do you know how to run a proof machine, I had kind of idea how, so what hapened that the two girls who worked that department, had an argument between theirselves and quit. They were related, sister and sister in law, and thats why they don't like to hire relatives in the same place.With the help of the officer we made it.
Just a thought....How about putting school and year after your name when posting comments? Could make things more interesting. TN
1947-1950 class Where we lived around 15th,prov.,walnut. It was quite a wa;lk to the high school. When it was raining, my grandfather would try to bring as many of us that fit in his car. It was a 9passenger old car, but he was a mechanic, it ran like a charm.We could usually count on him. I can;t remember all the names but their was, myself,Doris Murray,Nick Chiomento,Maryln Kessler,Jim Gamble,Ron McGee, I can't remember who else.
Went to an auction today and purchased some old black and white group photos, they were all taken by an Irwin Photo Service whose phone number in the late 1940's was Chester2-6416 which changed in the 1950's to Tremont2-6416. They were mostly photos of the Central Rest Recreational Club Inc. They are banquet photos were held at Owls Hall, Club Belaire and one was at Club "31", "the world's largest bar." In the last picture you can see the band's drumset which has the name Pat Dennis on them. These photos are mostly of African American people and everyone is dressed in their finest attire. Just thought maybe someone would remember some of these events or places. There are also a few pictures from the John A. Watts Lodge of Elks No. 224, Elks Home, Chester, PA. One of the photos is for The Rose of Sharon Social Club and The Rose Bud Social Club's First Joint Banquet held on December 10, 1948 at Elk's Home.
I see a couple of other "Patties" have joined us here, so in order for them not to be accused of my mistakes, I will refer to myself as "Pidipat" (a lot of people call me that anyway).
I just noticed a posting by Tom DeLurio. I knew a Carl and a Tom DeLurio from BV. Can that be you, Tom? Tom DeLurio was one of the nicest boys in BV, a bit of a "rascal", and I always liked him. He was smart too!!
Speaking of "smart" a very good friend emailed me today and said that the correct Latin saying was "illigitimus non carborundum". That's one of the reasons I like this board - learn something new everyday.
For John Bullock, You may have been asked this question before I was wondering if you are related to the late Don Bullock who lived on Bethel Road,next to Franklin school in Chester Twp. Just curious.
hi florence, finally got around to checking out the people, to see if I know anyone. Can't say I do, except you.It's a great read though.
no comment
Patti...was Sam Reubens on Welsh St. on the opposite side of the Street and down from the Welsh Restaurnat. Kind of a long narrow place, with more 'sophisticated' patrons.
slalom
Darn - I made another mistake. In an earlier post, I should have said those rides in the wooden milk crates could have been the forerunner of the "luge" (spelled right?), not the "slolum". And nobody else did that? It's obvious I'm no authority on sports or butter, among other things.
Old Time Weekly Radio
http://www.old-time.com/weekly/index.html
Well Quilter, you did it right, but think of all the fun you missed trying to catch those flying butter pellets with a piece of Freihofer's bread!
Look,Patti, You could sing us a song... http://24.25.20.4/talent.asp
Kilroy was here... http://www.skylighters.org/encyclopedia/kilroy.html
Oops. I forgot to mention that we moved, so I attended Lincoln School for fifth and sixth grades.
My husband's family knew the Hormel family, makers of (among other things)Spam. The stuff the soldiers ate in WWII was a potted meat product, but was definitely NOT Spam. The Hormels did not have the contract. Interesting, huh? Hawaii consumes more Spam than any other state. You can buy a hot and spicy Spam there as well as the regular kind. Also turkey Spam. By the way, Patti, after we finished kneading the oleo, we would form it into a rectangular box shape and refrigerate it, still in the cellophane. After it set up, you could unwrap it and cut it like butter. And, yes, I remember Air Raid curtains, rationing, scrap drives, even saving bacon drippings and other fats (when you had any) for the War effort. I attended first grade in the Highland Gardens Community Center, with 50 kids in my class with Mrs. Jump and 50 kids in the adjacent class with Mrs. Keilbaugh (spelling?) -- and our "classrooms" were separated only by a huge canvas curtain that divided the building. For second grade, we went to Clayton School, which held half-day sessions in order to accomodate all the students during wartime. Miss Smuckler for second grade, Mrs. Krause for third (when we finally went full-day sessions), Mrs. Greenhalgh fourth, Miss Weber fifth, and Mrs. McCleary (I think) for sixth. Do the rest of you remember your grammar school teachers? Mrs. Jump was the best teacher any first grader could have. These women shaped our lives, which you only realize long afterward.
Happy Birthday Wanda Eddy..2/17 former CHS '54 flagtwirler
Harv: Mike is still alive. His brothers Joe and Pete died year ago. Have not heard from Mike in years but have friends and relatives that keep in contact with him. Hopefully I can get a email address.
tom, i think that store was called goodsys. i remember calling her mrs, goodsy
To RC I think the Desoto was 1959 ANd Corvair 1969. I am not positive. Pat if you want to hear those stories, mine is going to entail a lot of bars,boat club, and gosh knows what else.
U. W. Terstappen's is the Bakery. Mike Bostick was our paperboy when I was growing up. My Nanny loved him.
Hi Pat George says the pith helmuts were the ones they used in hot climates, Gi's wore them in the South Pacific.They were to help keep the heat off your head. The glass globe is called a chimney.
Does anyone remember the last year the DeSota was made? Also the Corvair. I owned both at one time. It seemed to be my misfortune to buy "bastards". Excuse the language but I was told that's what they called cars manufactured in the last year of their existence.
Just for fun, you should check out the latest music site Harvey has given us. Listen to "Leave the Dishes in the Sink" by Spike Jones - it's really funny. Also saw "I'll Walk Alone" which is still one of my favorites, and it was done by Dinah Shore. She was never one of my favorite female vocalists; I would be shocked if she's the one who did GNS.
I think one of the reasons scrapple gained so much popularity is because during the "big" war, it was cheap and really good - can't get it out here and I still miss it. If there was nothing else in the "ice box" ("refrigerators" came later), there was always scrapple. WWII produced "Spam" for us - still popular today. If I'm right, it was made originally for the soldiers. It could be preserved by canning. The soldiers liked it and it became a popular staple - better than SOS, I guess. But, I still like SOS too - cheap and really good. Can any of you "older" fellas tell us about the use of the "pith" helmet - never was quite sure.
One thing I always remembered about the "adults" was always dunking their donuts in their coffee, and the coffee always had little crumbs floating around in it. Suppose that's how "Dunkin' Donuts" got their name? Today, that's considered poor etiquette, but I always do it when I'm alone - tastes good.
One thing I would really enjoying reading here is how you met your mate - 40's, 50's, 60's whenever - if you met in Chester? It's nice to know that the younger generation is interested in the "old times" in Chester. It would be nice to answer questions for you, and strangely enough, a lot of parents won't answer questions. My dad always did, but not my mother - she always asked me why I wanted to know - so that happens. One time she mentioned how she "hated" having to clean those "damn" glass covers for the kerosine lamps (not really sure what they were called), but apparently electricity was not widely used when she was real young or Edison hadn't perfected it yet. At the time, I wasn't too interested in a further explanation, but now I am. So, when you're older, you have more questions than you ever thought you would. So take advantage when you can. Most of the generation right before mine is no longer with us and there's tons of questions I would have for them, if they were still here. So ask away while there's still people willing and ready to answer - but don't get too personal, now.
hi, just got home from visiting Spike Mahoney in florida, had a great time......
playtown park was on Balto pike, many years ago. i used to take my son mike there..................
Hi Joanne and Mike Fasano......HAPPY ANNIVERSARY... WE LOVE YOU.....
Hi Larry, , regarding T-Bar, just arrived fronm Florida on Tuesday, enjoyed your commet regarding T-Bar... on Feb urary 14th about 42 years ago. our friend joanne and mike Fasano were married and I was in the wedding party, we went to the T- bar after the wedding to see MOm.... we also went to Sam Ruebens on Welsh St in Chester before the re ception in Linwood , later it snowed like crazy... what a day.... they were the days......
hi Larry, enjoyed our visit at max's this afternoon, jimmy and I really like max's good food and cold beer... talk to you late......
Jim M.
RE: Oscar Good...looked to see if he was in the SS death index. There were 8 Oscar's there. None of which were of the age group we are in give or take 5 years. Which would mean he like us are still very much alive.
Harvey:
After a 5 hour drive I jumped off the Turnpike and Blue Rt. to go thru Media. Just off Providence road there was a great little bakery years ago, and to my surprise they are still there. Went in to see if they still had that mouth watering German Butter Cake they made so many years ago (about 15 for me) and they did. The topping not quite as gooey as I remember, but none the less as delicious. And the Hot Cross Buns and Lemon M. pies. I know it is Lent, we are suppose to be fasting for 40 days, but why or why are there so many goodies on sale during these days. Tippen---- Also do you remember the Summergills and Bosicks from Media..Mr. Summergill was a Rt. 76 Bus driver for years.
The St Michael's Class of '42 is trying to locate some classmates who went to Chester High or to Smedley Jr. High.
They are:
Bill Hamilton Betty Hamilton John Mc Nulty Jean Johnson Alma Mahoney Alice Goslin Dorothy Devlin Paul Charles Ann O'Conner
If you can help us please reply
Thank you inadvance,
Fred Lenczynski
HEY BILL VANHORN ARE YOU STILL MARRIED TO THAT PRETTY YOUNG GIRL THAT YOU ROBBED THE CRADLE FOR.
Linda:
I remember your brother having a Super Bee. It was Yellow and Black. He used to take me for rides in it all the time. It was fast. I also still have a picture of him and my sister at my graduation party, when he had his motorcycle. I was at his house about three years ago for I think it was Thankgiving and we were actually out back playing volley ball in our T-shirts.
Linda:
I remember riding in your brother's Super Bee all the time. That was a really cool and fast car. I still have a picture of him and my sister on his motorcycle.
I was just reading the board and Patti brought back a memory. Although I am quite a few years younger at least 25 or 30. I was trying to think of the name of a little candy store that was actually a converted car garage in the ally that devided McCafferty Village and Buckman. We used to call it Goodies but I thought that was because that's actually why we were going there, to get goodies, didn't know that was actually the family's name. Spent many-a-penny there. The lady that ran it was fairly old when we use to go there as kids and passed away. When she did the garage door never opened again. I remember going up to the house one day about 2 weeks after, of the store being closed and asking if the candy store was going to open soon and that's when they told me that Mrs. Goodie had passed away. I was sad and offered my condolences. The end of another era.
Hi Shirl338- Yes, Joyce remembers you very well and asked me to hi to you. She recently got a computer but is not on-line yet. She had many memories of you and remembers Ginger, your sister, a little. This is a really neat site-lots of good memories-things and places I haven't thought of in years. Take care.
My dad was one of the Minshall Bros. Undertakers. Address 1922 W. 3rd St. Allthough I'm living in N.Myrtle Beach, SC Iam still a member of Felton Fire Co. I can remember when Chester was a great place to live. I worked for Chester Machine for 23 years. I'm looking forward seeing some of the old pictures of chester. I'm sorry to say I moved around so much that I lost all the photo's I use to have. I hope some of my old friends see this and will write me. Bill Minshall
Good grief, Quilter, you are right, but I distinctly remember pellets being mixed with the oleomargarine. Now, after all these years, I know why that butter substitute kept shooting yellow gobs all over the kitchen everytime we took it out of the icebox. We had to hold up a piece of bread like a baseball mitt in order to catch a "shot of butter". It also answers the question of why that damnable kitchen floor had to be scrubbed every Saturday morning. Oh, me, finally some answers to old mysteries. Bang, bang, all the time.
NOTHING AGAINST GROWING UP IN THE 40'S 0R 50'S. I'M GLAD THAT EVERYONE REAL ENJOYS THE REMINISING ( IF I SPELLED THAT RIGHT) BUT DOES ANYONE REMEMBER THE 60'S AND THE 70'S GROWING UP IN CHESTER.... THANKS!
DATE : 2/14/2002 TIME : 6;30 PM
Thanks Mike for reminding me on the color of ^57^ Desota. Thanks Harvey on that great site of old songs. Yes,UW, I remember the gym teachers trying to teach their old-fashion dance steps. Thy were something else.
Happy Valentine's Day to all the sweet ladies in Chester. I haven't been there in many years, but the pages here are great. Check out the Holy Ghost School page. Funny classic stuff.
Cheers!
I think this site is just great. It has brought back a lot of fun memories. Thanks
WWII Songs http://24.25.20.4/ww2.asp?SortBy=Song&Page=4
How Soon?.... Eddy Howard.
RC
I remember this one---How soon will I be seeing you How soon I wish I really knew And when will you be saying words I long to hear. and so on. Gasoline coupons.
Jim M. That 57 DeSota that Donnie Giles drove was candy apple red with the louvered hood & a flame paint job. I knew him well and spent a lot of time "cruisin" in that DeSota. The name Oscar Goode sure rings a bell with me. I lived at 12th & Highland & then in BV. Your right about Donnie being a rather heavy set guy, he was huge.
That wasn't lard. It was oleomargarine, a butter substitute. To keep people from thinking that olea was butter, the butter people got a law enacted that oleo had to be sold uncolored so that it would not be confused with real butter. The little button with the orange-red coloring was squeezed to pop it open, then the bag kneaded to spread the coloring evenly. As kids back then, we used to fight over who got to color the oleo.
Florence: The Andrews Sisters--Don't sit Under The Apple Tree. Chattanooga Choo Choo, Millie Marlaine or was it Lillie? I'm terrible with names. Slow boat to China. The girls did a lot of singing and harmonizing in those days. It kept the spirits up. Especially on the 12 to 8 shift.
Seems like I can never log onto this board without posting something. During WWII, there was a feeling of comraderie among all of us. We all did what little we could to win the war. We didn't sacrifice much because we really didn't have much anyway. The day my Aunt Kate sent me to the store to buy her nylons (with those crooked seams), I was amazed that there some to buy.
It was my job to make the oleo. What fun it was - squeeze those little orange pellets into the lard, mix it and see what pretty color it became. To this day, yellow is my most favorite color. If you remember the poster with the pretty WAVE (don't think it was a WAC) encouraging women to join the WAVES, my cousin Doris McFadden's face is what was used for that poster. She is now 78 years old and lives in Florida, and still a very pretty lady.
Remember the drills in school, when we all had to squeeze under our desks to practice for an air raid. I always found myself wondering what good that little desk on top of me was going to do.
But, the worst part was worrying about my Dad who was in the Army. I worried everyday about him. I still have a V-Mail (remember V-Mails) he sent me from Europe, along with two postcard pictures of Mussolini and his cohorts hanging upside down in the city square. Terrible pictures, but at the time, "revenge was sweet". So, the best thing about the end of the war was our loved ones coming home, and the saddest was for the ones who didn't.
I went around singing, "Leave the dishes in the sink, ma, Leave the dishes in the sink, each dirty plate will have to wait, tonight we're gonna celebrate, leave the dishes in sink. It had a catchy melody. I believe I made a mistake on the year the war began - think it was 1941, not 1942.
Much love and happiness to all of you on this special day set aside each year for LOVE.
RC
I remember all of that. I remember that song also .How about The White Cliff's Of Dover. ,Againe. We have tapes of the secret broadcast put on by Glen Miller. Remember the old radio show called The Bickersons, so funny. Harvey, maybe Tom Hanks won 2,. I sure can't remember, Funny little fellow, but I don't know his name. He jumped all over the seats to get to the stage.
I remember all those inconveniences during WW11----stamps, over crowded buses,etc.but there were good things too. Women had the opportunity to work and make real money. And there was sence of pulling together to get the job done. My sister and I planted a victory garden--remember tham? We dug up a space in the back yard (it was like concrete) threw in some seeds and waited. It was the sickest looking mess but we did harvest a few beans, radishes and tomatoes. The best thing about the end of course, was the boys coming home but next was the lights coming on (remember the song "When The Lights Come On All Over The World"? It was like everything was shiny new. Old age is just mind over matter. If you don't mind it doesn't matter---Jack Benny
Whowhere lists 5 Oscars in the US.
HAPPY VALENTINE DAY to everyone on board.
Patti How true. Do you remember , I do remember how my mother saved stamps, just so she could get a roast beef for a Sunday meal.How about squeezing those little dots in the oleo so it break and make it go yellow. That was a ;ot of squeezin. It was a vwey scary time.This event on 911 has really done something to me. I am afraid everytime a plane flies over, even though I know we are guarding the skies. I know that in WWll, we didn.t have all that fly over protection and believe me the enemy came very close to our shores. I hope we mever have another WWll, because it will probably be fought very close to us. WWll was fought to keep them from our shores, and it worked for quite a few years. We have to go on. Enough said
Jim:
Happy Valentines Day...and to everyone reading this message the same. February is Heart Month. take good care of yours so that we all can continue writing great thoughts and memories for the next chapter..
I can see Oscars grin. He always had a happy face. Don't know why I thought he lived up the hill. Maybe because he walked toward 4th St.
do you remember about 3 months before the prom the gym teachers had the guys and dolls leaning dance steps. They must have thought we didn't know how...we didn't know the way they did it, we knew only our style dance..
To UW, Oscar Good lived on Engle street just north of 4th. street. He had a brother(older) which I can't think of his name. Oscar used to come over to my house on 4TH.& Yarnall and we would meet with a girl named Maryann Mcdonald and her sister Helen. We would dance and have a great time. Yes, I remember Oscar well. Oscar and me also hung around a older guy named Donny Giles. He lived on 4TH. street between Jeffery&Engle. He had a customized 57 Desota. I can't remember what color it was, but, he put a floor-shift in it and it had mello-rumbling mufflers. He was a real heavey-set guy. The car would go down the street leaning towards the driver's side. I wonder if Oscar is still alive.
Personal Note to MIKE - Funny you should bring up "sitting on your porch". I never told you this, but that's exactly how I remember you - "sitting on your porch" - three or four little steps - there you were with a toy of some type (probably a toy car) with your head down. Never could see your face. Of course, I was more interested in your older brother, so didn't pay much attention to you. Gosh, wish I had, but you were just a little boy - and I was a "sophisticated" teenager (in my dreams). I am really amazed at the things you remember, even me, "an older woman". You've got a good mind, Mike, take good care of it and your memories are cherished. Hell, I might even be so bold as to say that you knew what was going on, when everyone else was in limbo. You probably had a good time laughing at all the silly things the "adults" did. You are amazing.
Patti, Your right about the incident of Helen's dad. That was right across the alley from us. I was rather young, but remember it vividly while setting on my front porch. Mike..
Patti, Yes, that was Catherine Smith. Red haired girl. She had an older sister who was married to Sparky Laughton from BV. I think they lived in Delaware. Hughie Smith was also a Brit..
Sorry - me again - I just read what I posted and I must correct something that seems insensitive on my part.
The fact that we "saw" what happened on Sept. 11, was more horrifying than we, in 1942, did not "see" - only visualized. So, I apologize.
Margie,The bakery in chester beside McCRORYS was called Prospect Park bakery.My dad used to be a baker at the original store in prospect park on lincoln ave.it was before your time but maybe your sisters might remember,he would bring home all kinds of baked goods.I would take them out for all my friends,needless to say i was one of the most popular kids in town.We never got sick from all the sweets,they had the BEST cheesecake ever even as an adult i would stop and buy half a pan of cheesecake,they closed around 1982.I miss that cheesecake there will never be any like it again.
I forgot to respond to Florence about the tinfoil - I think you are absolutely correct. That's why we did it. Oh, we did so much for the war effort - and gladly. I am around and speak to a lot of "baby boomers". To them, September 11 is the most horrifying thing that's ever happened. They are right - to them it is. But a lot of us still "Remember Pearl Harbor" and that, to me, was really horrifying; more so, because we didn't have a TV to actually see it. One gal said to me, it couldn't have been as bad as Sept. 11 - I said, "Oh, yes - it was worse". She had just seen the new movie version of "Pearl Harbor" and said, it was a really good movie. People act as though this is the first time a movie has been made about that. I remember the old version with Angie Dickerson and Bert Lancaster(?), and it was, I think, really authentic (haven't seen the new version and don't want too). Her mouth dropped and she stopped everything she was doing when I related to her what it was like and what we went through. Our country, as much as we all love it, has spoiled it's people into thinking "nothing can go wrong". Well, damnit, something can go wrong and we must face it. Nobody yet, right now, has had to deal with stamps to get food, gasoline, anything. Even toilet paper was rationed (my mother showed me how to fold it, so as to conserve - still do that today (he-he). The present generation doesn't know what sacrificing for your country is - they wouldn't know how to deal with not having the things they take for granted.
I would like to see some postings here about our feelings and what we did the day WWII ended. BV had dancing in the streets until the wee hours - and we felt SAFE once again - didn't we - that was the big thing - we felt SAFE. We never know, before that day, when a bomb might hit our house. It was terrifying!!
Sorry to go on, but had to get rid of that. This is not a board for political speeches, opinions or otherwise, and I apologize, but a lot of people who post here, went through what I am writing about, and it too is part of our memories, and thank God, we're still here to remember.
It all started with "Tinfoil" - sounds like the name for a good book about WWII - if I ever get the courage to write one.
Mike - Did the Smiths have a daughter Catherine? If so, that's the Catherine who always let me knock on her door after school so I could hear Peggy Lee's record, "Is That All There Is?" I could never forget the name of anyone who was so tolerant of me. I was pretty sure her name was "Catherine Smith" and she did live just a few doors from "Goods". Possibly it was named "Goods", but I think we used a fond nickname for them, thus the name "Goodsies" - I do seem to remember that name.
There was another Catherine Smith who lived in the area (not BV) who had two sisters, Maureen and Alice. Alice was a long-time classmate of mine. All three sisters were very beautiful. You might not remember them because all three are at least 10 yrs older than you. If I'm right, just a few doors from the Smiths lived the "Entwisles". And, the day Mr. Entwisle died (not going to say how because this is a public board and I don't want to embarrass any living family members). I felt so sorry for their daugher - I think her first name was Helen - correct me if I'm wrong. Never knew what happened to Helen after that. So sad. Not many tragedies in BV, that's why those that took place, stand out in my memory. I can't seem to remember an "Oscar" Good, but that doesn't mean he wasn't part of that fine family - I just didn't know him.
Mike, your mother was everybody's friend - your dad too - you had great and likeable parents. I know my mother always liked them and I did too. I'll bet Harry, the chiropractor, with that constant smile, made all his customers smile before the treatment.
Patti, Your talking about the Goode's store in the alley. That was Harry Sr. & Edy. They were Brit's. Edy was one of my mom's best friends along with Kate & Hughie Smith just a few doors away. Young Harry went on to be a Chiropractor. Regards, Mike..
Hi Pat, did we roll up the silver paper for the aluminum drive during the war. Does anyone remember the little carton's of milk for our snacks in the morning.Remember Miss Fielly,Mrs Standring or mrs Power.That miss fielly was handy with a ruler. I have never been anywhere and I can't remember.
Jim M. Thanks to Patti another name from the class of '54 Dewey. Oscar Good. Oscar lived up in the BV area if I recall. I think he hung with BillY Meyer and Zoll Collins. Don't
Memories, oh my gosh, memories - clean and pure memories. I will bet no one remembers using the wooden milk cartons left by the side of the railroad tracks (I think it was on the side of railroad tracks, anyway) and two, three or maybe four of us little kids getting in one of those and using them as sleds to slid down the hillside on the side of the tracks. I think this was the forerunner of "slolum" (did I spell that right?) for the olympics. One time, I remember yelling out, "Somebody's draggin' their feet." So, I guess we held our feet up so as not to slow down the "sled". However, the foot-dragger turned out to be bossy me. So, I always remembered that and the fact that I should never blame someone else for something that could possibly be my fault. Really, true story.
What about the silver paper that came in gum wrappers and I think candy wrappers too. We would always roll them into little balls until the balls were the size of a tennis ball and sell them somewhere - but I forget where - for a dime or so. Anyone remember?
I am unable to contribute the names of businesses or stores (just last night remembered the name of the little garage store in BV owned by the really nice "Good" family - it was called "Goodsies". It just popped in my head right before I read the post by someone who called it by it's right name. That was an especially friendly, warm and down right nice family that ran that. Harry Good (who was my age then) always had a smile on that cute face and liked by all. At the moment, I forget his sister's name (maybe "Ann"), but she was also liked by everyone. The entire family was respected - and just imagine what they had to put up with - all us kids there all the time - and everyone was poor. They probably let a lot of bills go unpaid. God Bless Them.
I started to say, and went off track, that because I moved away in 1950, it's difficult to remember the names of business, etc., so I am unable to contribute to a lot of the places you mention. But when I hear a certain name, it all comes back. Mine gad, I never thought I'd still be alive in the year 2002. That was like thinking about another dimension - 2002 - Wow!!!
Florence---FYI The Elmer VanPatton mentioned in the Times 50yrs ago was Tink Van Patton. I played basketball with Tink at Smedley and at CHS. He graduated in 53 and went on to play for some great teams at Temple. Tink was a great guy and a good friend and he died all too young.
Bud:
You should go on and on . Your memories wake up so many in others. One in particular hit me. I remember "lucky strikes" and "camels' being smokes by my Dad and Uncle. We would play a game with one of them. you would pick up the silver paper strip in the center top when unwrapping and there was a red or green little block under it. If we guessed the right color we won. No prize most of the time but just fun.
Also remember my Mom having some type of home demonstration in the 1940's and she had these colored cigarettes set in glass holders for the women that were coming. They were pastels.
Michele, Do you remember Fisher Tank? I believe its still there. Chief's Auto Glass? May's water ice?
Kathy
Hello, very nice site, lived in chester for 36 years, west end secion. There were a lot of nice Ukrainian, Polish, Italian and Irish people in our neighborhood. People took pride in their houses, washed windows, and even steps and swept the sidewalks! I drove by the other day and it looked so sad. I played at Comisiak Park, went to Holy Ghost and Notre Dame, was in girl scouts at the church. Played jump rope in the alley behind our house, box hockey,I even got hit with the hockey stick and ended up with a crush on the guy who hit me and he didn't even notice me. We all went to church bake sales, and may fairs at the school hall, Saturday Ukrainian school and mass on Sunday! It was a fun place to grow up and live. We all hope it comes back the way it was or better!
Hey there!
Any connections to the Tyson or Williamson families of old Chester? Emma Tyson married Lewish Williamson about 1869 and raised a family of 7 in Chester before moving to Philadelphia. Both Lewis (in 1912) and Emma (in 1904) were later buried at Chester Rural Cemetery.
here I am again--My husband was telling me about a place called Buckley's slaughtered house at 2nd and edgmont ave. Closed in the 40's?Some steer's escaped from the boxcar in chester in the 1930's
To Patty Boyle: Thanks for the update. Yes, I am related to Chip Haynes, he is my nephew. I have not seen him or any of the rest of the family since 1989. I hope to get back to the east coast this spring to see all of what is left of the family. My wife and I have lived in Yuma, AZ for the past 10 years. After leaving the Chester area we lived in New Castle, DE, Hollywood Beach, MD, Independence, MO, Glenrock, WY and here. The rest of the family are in Pa, DE and WY. Getting back to the old days...I remember when they built the Polish American Club. Roy Craig and I were in there celebrating on Christmas Eve and were down to our last dime, we started to leave and I saw a dime slot machine, put my last dime in and hit $8.00, so we started celebrating again. The old Polish Club was at 10th and Chestnut. The Melrose was at 12th and Johnson St and was previously Hutchinson's Drug Store, I was a soda jerk there for a while at their fountain. It later moved across Morton Ave and was owned by Vernon Tribboltti(?). In those days the hardware store was owned by the Neiberg(?) family and later was Bloom's Hardware. When you walked up to Mallas Bros store the window on the left side had the largest display of cigarettes that I have ever seen in my life, I think they sold every brand that was ever made. Do you remember "Flat 50's"? They were a flat tin container that held 50 cigarettes; they were put out by the companies that made the most popular brands. I still remember Sweet Caporals, Domino's, Marvels and many others. Also Muriel Flats, they were flat cigars. Inside they always had an open large barrel of the biggest pickles you have ever seen for a nickel, BUT a nickel was a lot of money then. I remember going to Ryan's or Dugan's and getting twenty-five cents worth of chip steak for dinner. And of course, Schmidt's Bakery, best pastry made anywhere. The Sunset was owned by Charlie Palas(?) from Eddystone and maybe his relative Nick, Charlie had a Buick Roadmaster that was at least a mile long !!! In 1951 the place where the Sears Pool place was, was the Packard Chester CO, owned by Earl Dunham. I worked for him for a while and he sold the place to his bookkeeper John Titherington who renamed it Chester Packard Co and moved it to 7th and Parker St. I worked there also. On April 19, 1952 John let me borrow a Packard to drive to Elkton, MD to marry Maxine Nichols (from McDowell Ave). In a couple months that will have been 50 years ago, the wedding band she put on my finger has NEVER been off to this day. We bought our wedding bands from John Fowlkes at his store on Morton Ave. I could go on and on but I am sure that I am putting everyone to sleep by now. Chester was a great place in those days.I can't recall being there since the early 70's.
Bud Haynes - Yuma, AZ
In the Dela.Co. Daily Times today: 100 years ago:Jacob T. Fulmer.well known horse dealer from chester, left for the west to buy horse's to bring back to chester where he will sell them. 75 years ago the dance craze was the black bottom.50 years ago: Dolores Rogers was picked as snow queen of the junior prom,winter wonderland of chester high.Her escort was Pete Miller. Delores was crowned by Elmer Van Patton. vice president of the class.
My father is from Chester and served in the US Navy. During his transfer to new duty stations we usually took the opportunity to visit family in Chester. My fondest memories are pumpkin seeds in the little red boxes, the piles of salt that could be seen if you stood in the middle of Edwards Street, and of course, the ferry ride from my other grandmothers home is Salem, NJ. I can smell the hoagies and hear the accents of my family just by calling up the name Chester. Hi, to anyone who might have changed my diaper or beat me up as a kid. Love to all. PS My dad is well and doing GREAT.
UW - If you can get into the chat area, somewhere there, there is a menu, if I remember correctly, that will point you to the photo area. Do you think I should just email the photos to John and have him post them? But then, how do others know how to get in there to view them? I'm sorry - I am confused.
But, you are right about always being the only one there, so this board is used instead. Really, it's easier, because everyone has a chance to get his message typed and read without seeing 2 or 3 questions thrown at him at the same time. John is to be truly respected and congratulated for giving us this media.
There is a spot right here where some photos are posted called "Pictures" - on the left of the screen - perhaps that's where John posts the ones sent to him. Hope we hear from him regarding this - 'cause that area is very simple to access.
Hi Kathy, I remember all those places brought back many memories. I grew up on third street too but right over the chester/trainer line.
Harvey Martin if you can remember Eyre park there was a monument in the center of the park and a circle to turn around in. from what I was told by my parents that was where the lake was.
I must thank you. What an wonderful job you have done in preserving and allowing others to enjoy what Chester meant to many... I look forward to spending much time here. Thank you Janie Boyle
I don't honestly remember U.W. but my guess is that was Marra's. I loved the veal picante at both Strolli locations and there was a place called the Triangle the Flyers hung out. The show there was hilarious and the mussels were great.
Speaking of Six Button Benny--I recall the faculty vs. varsity (JV) games at CHS and Mike Pechuk (sp?) who taught at CHS and played in the Suburban League (I believe) was a standout and he was the original Chester Six Button Benny
I JUST WANT TO SAY A SPECIAL HELLO TO SALLY ROUNDS SMITH, YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WILL ALWAYS BE IN MY MEMORIES. . HELLO TO MR HAYES TOO! YOU ARE CORRECT MY GRANDPARENTS LIVED AT 1207 MORTON AVE, ACROSS FROM THE SEARS POOL STORE AND AUTOMOTIVE. HE LOVED ALL KINDS OF SPORTS AND IS IN THE DELAWARE COUNTY BOXING HALL OF FAME. HE WAS ONCE WRITEN UP FOR HIS "SPORTS ROOM" WHICH HAD ALL KINDS OF MEMROBELIA, AND SOME OF IT WE STILL HAVE. . MY AUNT JOAN, WAS MARRIED TO TOMMY DALIESSIO AND YOU HAVE THE CORRECT FAMILY. A FEW OF THE BROTHERS ARE STILL LEFT. WE LOST UNCLE TOM AND HIS SISTER ALMOST 2 YEARS AGO. THANKS FOR REMEMBERING THEM. . AS I GO DOWN ANOTHER MEMORY LANE, I MUST REMEMBER SALLY ROUNDS SMITH'S GRANDFATHER, EDDIE DODD, WHO OWNED AND OPERATED ''RYAN'S STORE" . EDDIE WAS THE SWEETEST MAN YOU'D EVER MEET. EVERYONE LOVED HIM, AND HE LOVED EVERYONE. I STILL REMEMBER THE BIG MEMORIAL DINNER THEY HAD FOR EDDIE AT THE POLISH AMERICAN CLUB ON 9TH STREET, (NEAR SUN VILLAGE) HE WAS SO SURPRIZED. AND SO MANY PEOPLE CAME OUT TO SEE HIM. WE STILL HAVE THE BOOK FROM HIS DINNER. HE WAS ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SUN VILLAGE BOYS CLUB, ALONG WITH MY DAD, JOE FIELDS, WOODY WOODROW, AND A FEW OTHER MEN, RAN THE CLUB TO GET THE KIDS OFF THE STREET AND SO THEY WOULD HAVE A PLACE TO GO. IT WAS LATER OPENED UP TO THE GIRLS ONE NIGHT A WEEK, WHICH I TOOK CARE OF. THERE WAS ALSO THE SUN VILLAGE SPORTS CLUB & AA, THAT WAS FOR THE ADULT MEN, AND THEY OFTEN WOULD HELP OUT WITH THE BOYS CLUB TOO. MORTON AVENUE HAD ALOT OF SPECIAL PLACES ON IT. THERE WAS THE 5 & 10, RUN BY EDNA AND HANNA. YOU COULD FIND ANYTHING YOU WANTED THERE, AND ALWAYS GO UP IN THE BACK TO LOOK AT THE BIG TOYS AND DREAM OF CHRISTMAS.....THEN DOWN THE END OF THE BLOCK WAS MALLAS'S MARKET, AND NEXT DOOR JOE'S HARDWARE, AND THE EURIKA VACCUUM STORE. FOR YEARS THERE WAS A RESTAURANT CALLED THE MELROSE, IT WAS LOCATED AT MORTON & MELROSE. WE ALSO HAD A PHARMACY THAT WAS RUN BY VERNON (SORRY I CAN NOT REMEMBER HIS LAST NAME) HE WAS THE DRUGGIST AND OWNER. THE SUN SET CAFE, A LOCAL BAR THAT CLOSED SOMETIME IN THE SEVENTIES. WE STILL HAVE PART OF THE BAR THAT THE OWNER GAVE MY DAD. OVER THE YEARS THE SCENE CHANGED, I DROVE BY NOT TOO LONG AGO, AND IT LOOKS WAY DIFFERENT, BUT I STILL SEE IT AS I DID WHEN I WAS A KID. I SEE EDDIE GIVING ME A PIECE OF GUM AND SENDING ME ON MY WAY, BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU JUST WENT INTO SEE HIM. I CAN STILL SEE JOE'S HARDWARE THAT HAD THE LITTLE POST OFFICE IN THE FRONT, AND JOE WOULD GO IN AND PUT HIS POSTMAN'S HAT ON AS HE DID THE JOB. I SEE JEFFERIES SCHOOL NOW, AND IT'S A LIVING DEVELOPMENT. AND CAN HER MISS GREEN THE KINDERGARTEN TEACHER TELLING US ALL TO GET IN LINE. SO, IT'S IS TRUE WHAT CHESTER MADE, MADE CHESTER. SALLY YOU SURE DID WAKE ME UP TODAY. I'LL SEE YOU IN EMAIL GIRLFRIEND!!! THANKS AGAIN TO YOU TOO MR HAYES. YOU DON'T HAPPEN TO BE RELATED TO A CHIP HAYES DO YOU??? JUST WONDERING, IT'S A SMALL WORLD, AND HE IS AN OLD FRIEND OF MINE FROM THE WEST END, I AM FRIENDS WITH HIS AUNT DIANE AND HER DAUGHTER NANCY. TAKE CARE ALL, LETS HERE FROM MORE SUN VILLAGERS.....
I loved Ralphs Manacotti on 9th Street in the Italian Market section. We rearly had Italian food so when I was introducted to manacotti there for the first time in the late 40's it was something special. I had eaten Tomatoe pies at Marras on Passyunk Ave and pasta with gravey Mom made. Then there was another place called Pats Steak house. They had these bottles of sauce for the steaks outside. Ughh. Became a favorite too.
Harvey do you remember if Marra (in town) or Fiori had booths with hugh brass rails. Which ever, the one with the brass rails made the best tomatoe pie. (Not a pizza, a pie made with real tomatoes)
Patti: I can enter the chat area, see the messages, but cannot find anyone there no matter when I get in. Just states one person there - me
After scrolling through several old posts, I found George Malick's instructions on how to get to Chester Chat. After using my screen name and password, I still am unable to get in. I have emailed George, so I'm waiting instructions from him.
There are so many places I had never been. they all sound like fun. I didn't even know there was a Booth's corner or a place called Korvettes till I remarried . Pretty bleak.
Harvey--Fiori's really rang my bell. Started going there after shift work Summers at the Sincair Barrell House. Also, a stop after night classes at Temple. It was safer to park in So Philly and take the subway to N Broad. That was 1959-64. Their lasagna was the best I've eaten, before or after.
Patty Boyle, Thanks for the great memories.
Thanks, MJB...Wunder's Dog House...that was a popular place with the Media crowd. Speaking of Marra's we used to go to a place near Marra's on Passyunk called Fiori's...they had the best pizza and the worst men's room in the USA.
Isn't that little Charlotte Church just wonderful.She reminds me of Sara Brightman who I also love to hear sing many songs, but mostly Phantom of the Opera. I am thinking when we were little and my grandfather and grandmother took us to a place called Woodland Beach every weekend and at night you could see all the ships and subsall in line moving down to get to the Atlantic Ocean. I was always afraid the bad guys would come to the beach and get us. 75 years ago the 14th annual ball of the felton fire co. was held at the armory at 8th and sproul sts. Chester. 2000 attended.George Blythe was chairman of the affair. I just read this in the paper today, but I remember the out houses at Woodland Beach where those picture's Hung for as long as I can remember. I am sure they are probably long gone. My parents sold the property the year my youngest brother had a boating accident and was killed.We were sorry to see it go. Rappa the real estate agent purchased it a long time ago.Some other people live there now and my grandfather would rollover if he could see his nice white cottage painted boeing blue.
to: DAN '54 - Easy for you to say!! Thanks - I just couldn't remember the Latin version (quite honestly, never really knew it) - just heard it a couple of times. Harvey emailed me and said, "Sounds like a good title for a song." Oh, that Harvey.
HELP - People - I am unable to get into Chester Chat - can't find it. I have my screen name to gain entrance, but no luck, but even though I had it plugged in as a "favorite" the screen tells me it has moved or not available. I want to post some pictures before I start getting busy again and won't be able to get to the Board. I promise to pay closer attention to instructions this time.
Just a note to all of you good people that loved the old radio shows. They are available on cassettes or CD,s at www.radiospirits.com they have a great selection and im sure you will love hearing them again. A blast from the past! Jim
To Patty Boyle: I remember "Snakes" Boyle from when I was a kid in Sun Village. I think he lived in the 1200 block on Morton Ave. He was a great guy and everyone liked him. That was in the days when the cop walked the beat and knew everything that was going on. On Morton Ave next to the intersection of 12th next to Mallas Bros. store there was an A&P store and an American Store side by side. In front of one of them there was a large wooden box with a lock on it. The Bread man would make a delivery there before the store opened and leave the bread in the big box. A couple of us kids would sit on the box and kick it with our heels and holler at the cars going by or stopping at the traffic light. Pretty soon, here comes the cop on the beat, he would stop and say "Hello boy's" and then look us over and say "Don't be here when I get back" !!!. And you can bet your sweet bippy we were long gone when he came around the next time. It was bad enought to get a boot in the rear, but if he told our parents we were in deep trouble. He knew all of our parents quite well. That was in the late 1930's so Squires was not there then. The Daliessio's that you mentioned, where they from Leiperville? If so then I knew Mike, Duck and Tommy quite well. They had a sister "Angie" that was an exotic dancer, I think she used the name "Princess Anita", and if I recall properly she also owned a large Carnival concession. I also knew a lot of guys in the Milmont Park area, Jack Marsh, Harry and Eddie Breitenbach, Gus and Eddie Ball. I don't remember your Dad but I am sure he was a fine gentleman. Thanks for the memories !!!
Joe Massi - Re: Preston Lake Ice Co.
"... Mrs. Henry Copple whose truck farm was located north of Ninth Street running to the creek and east of Penn Street with the farm house at Tenth and Penn Streets. On this same plot of ground was located Preston Lake which was flooded in winter to make ice which was stored in two large ice houses and sold during the summer by Joshua P. Eyre (Preston Ice Company)." Mr. Edward Nothnagle, "Faces & Places of my Boyhood days in Chester, PA May 1936"
In other words - Eyre Park
Hope this helps! John
Patti I think my favorite singer is Andre Boccelli. He has such range. I love a lot of Andrew Lloyd Webber's tunes. I think that the Prospect Bakery was right where you said it was. I remember passing by it many times because I worked in town. Remember Don Winslow of the Navy,Tom Mix,. I remember the Shadow Knows and The Gangbusters. All we had then was a radio and a record player and heavy records, My mother and father were crazy over Carman Cavalero the pianist and his orchestra. The first one in the neiborhood to get a small t.v. was the Goodwill Firehouse, and they also let you come in and watch it.
Preston Lake Ice Co. 604 Broad (9th) -- 1122 Madison St. Thomas Bradley & family - 1899 - Moved December 1899
Margie, No I haven't got an answer yet. dying of curiousity myself, I used to remember my mother when she worked at Speare's she would stop by and get the sticky buns for out wekkend treat for breakfast.
Kathy: the seafood house next to the American Store was called Sherwoods. Had the best crabcakes and oyster stew.
Several months ago the DELCO Times printed the following information in the Other Times section of the paper. There's a fine crop of ice being harvested from Preston Lake in Chester. Thomas Bradley is harvesting this frozen luxury. He said the ice is nearly seven inches thick and is exceptionally clear. Can anyone tell me where Preston Lake was located in Chester? I have asked several oldtimers but no one seems to no where it was located.
Patti--"Non illigitimus carborundum"
I was just going through postings on this board from this time last year, and someone posted a similar situation to the one I described about Sister Irenita at Rez. This person went to Immaculate Heart and talked about a principle who would come in with a strap with many tails and make those children bend over in front of the class and beat them with that "whip". She didn't know what it was called and I would like to tell her, it was called "Cat o' Nine Tails". I think she or he said it was Sister Mary Joseph. Well, Sister Irenita used a ruler - guess we were lucky. I am so glad these things no longer take place. What in the world made those nuns so vicious - don't tell me, I know.
Oh my gosh, UW, I'm jealous as can be. I want what you're having -PACZKI - eh. I'll send my favorite fudge receipe if you'll send me some. Oh my gosh - sounds better than Krispy Kremes!!! No wonder my PA Dutch relatives were such good cooks too from what you say they made.
Unfortunately, my small family had no holiday traditions, but I've been meaning to thank Florence for reminding me of "Let's Pretend" on Saturday morning. That was a tradition for me that every Saturday morning, I had to scrub our huge kitchen floor when I was a teenager. I can still hear my mother saying, "Use some elbow grease" - never knew what "elbow grease" was and couldn't find any in the pantry - so never could figure out what she was telling me to use - told her we didn't have any. That show took me away from what I was doing at the time and I always would pretend I was flying away on those geese they would talk about sometime - and I would just get right into the story and really pretend I was somewhere else besides scrubbing that damnable floor. That was a true gift to us kids. I think that's why many times I would look out my bedroom window in BV and pretend I was up there in the sky and flying on a cloud all over the world to all distant places. "Let's Pretend" started that for me - imaginary flights to distant places.
My other favorite show was "Gangbusters" on late Sunday afternoon - after coming home from a movie at the Lyric. I'd lay on the couch and hide my face so there was complete darkness and for some odd reason always found myself rooting for the bad guys. That's how good that show was. Geez almighty already. What memories. And, of course, "The Shadow Knows" with Lamont Cranston!!! Great Show. And, the shadow do know.
Deaf One,
did anyone answer your question about the bakery? Prospect Bakery sounds right but I cannot remember myself and I have been curious about the name myself! Believe it or not, my wedding cake came from there, you would think I would remember the name!!!
In afew short hours it will be: PACZKI DAY. pronounced (punch-key) The day before Ash Wednesday ushers in 40 days of fasting and penance in prepartion for Easter. Paczki Day means eating paczki, special jelly-filled buns. These are delicious buns also made with a prune filling. Then deep fried and rolled in white sugar. Larger than the Christmas donut usually made in the Polish or Ukrainian Kitchens. Cannot wait to get a good brew of coffee with a delicious homemade Paczki tomorrow morning for breakfast. They are smelling so good right now.
Also know As FAT TUESDAY, MARDI GRAS Pennsylvania Dutch: FASNACHT DAY OR SHROVE TUESDAY. Rusyn "Mardi Gras" or Fašengy
How do you pig out on Tuesday? Pancakes, candy, hugh meals.
Many customs are going by the way. What was yours?
Hello, I am very pleased with this site. I was born and raised on third street in the city's west end. Does anyone remember Bomberger's? The lady's shop across the street? Martha's? The seafood restaurant? Lucky's or Lutsek's market? Peters market? The Ukrainian Club on 2nd and Thurlow? The may Fair's at Holy Ghost? The pyrogy's and Concerts? Okonski's? Darlak's store?
Harvey, It was called Wunder's Dog House in Springfield
Harvey, It was called Wunder's Dog House in Springfield
Have to make a correction: Bill Bonnano is the son of Joe (not Sam) Bonnano. I read Joe Bonnano's book (he lives in Tucson, AZ and has for years) and I believe he is from Sicily - same as my first husband. However, they can use any beautiful name in Italy they choose for the name of a business, and quite a few will use a name with "Venice" or "venetian" because Venice is supposed to be quite beautiful as is Toscany - but "Toscany" is not as pretty a word as "Venice". Would you go a restaurant called "Toscaninies"? Possibly, but I prefer Vesuvio's - a pretty word - flows nicely. Of course, I love the Italian language and music - best singers in the world are Italian - in my "humble" opinion. Chow (spelled wrong - don't know how to spell it)
Patti, You might watch the "Soprano's" on Sunday nights. The resturant in North Jersey where all this series is about is called "Vesuvio's". I knew the owner of the one on Keystone Rd., in BV. He worked with me at Westinghouse in Lester. He quit his job as business got better. Very nice guy. Tony was his name. I think the name comes from Mount Vesuvios in Italy..
FLORENCE - thanks for your concern. I am fine, but my car was vandalized and that always costs a lot of money and time and wears on the nerves. However, a lot of people are concerned about this and some good will come of it, I'm sure. As my father once told me, "Don't let the bastards get you down." It's an old Latin saying and originally appeared in that dead language, as it is referred to.
Good evening to all. Hi Pattie how are you doing i hope you are feeling ok today. you had said you had a bad experience the other day.
Seems to me there was a place called Wunder's on Baltimore Pike in Springfield.
We were discussing at one time the name of that hoagie shop at 9th and Keystone Road - Vesuvios (hope I'm spelling that right). I knew it sounded familiar but for another reason. You might find this interesting.
In the late 60's I believe it was, Phoenix had the most elegant Italian restaurant, with Roman statues and indoor gardens - such splendor you've never seen. It was owned and operated by Bill Bonnano, son of Sam Bonnano, and it was called "Vesuvios" or someone might say it was the "Venetian Gardens - or Terrace" now that I think about it, but Vesuvios sounds right too. It is featured in the movie about the Bonnano family (Bill being the main character) but, of course, they didn't give the name or the right name of that restaurant. Bill Bonnano, himself was the epitome of a gentleman and much better looking than the actor who portrayed him and everyone was treated royally.
Just a bit of trivia I thought might interest you.
The last of the "red hot gun molls" herself, Patti. Gee, those were the good old days!!!
Wasn't there a bakery on Edgemont Ave called "The Prospect Bakery"? Trying to picture it, think it was across the street from Rodgers or that big 5 and 10 store Woolworth's?
Eberles bakery downtown, for wonderful fresh-baked rye bread with the thick crust.
Found an OLD add book dated November 26, 1944. I'll throw some names and address out here and maybe some will ring a bell and then again maybe not, but anyhow, here goes. MAJESTIC RESTAURANT 623 WELSH....CHESTER BREWERY....HOWARD THYNGE PHOTOGRAPHER 524 MARKET STREET....CHESTER BOTTLING WORKS 225 HIGHLAND AVE....WILLIAM PENN RESTAURANT 11TH MORTON AVE....SUN VILLAGE CAFE 1124 MORTON AVENUE....RAINBOW DINER 4TH MORTON AVE.... HOLLYWOOD DRESS SHOP 705 EDGMONT AVE....SAM ALEXANDER BEER DISTRIBUTOR 509 PUSEY STREET....WOLF PAPER CO....RIALTO RESTAURANT 9TH MORTON AVE....ROXY RESTAURANT 824 EDGMONT AVE....PARADISE RESTAURANT 5 EAST 4TH STREET....PARKWAY RESTAURANT 720 WELSH ST....QUALITY MARKET 722 WELSH STREET....STACEY SHOE REPAIR 7TH WELSH....ADAMS CLOTHES....J.D. JEWELERS 508 MARKET STREET....MYERS' SIGNS....JACKS CENTRAL MKT 9TH CENTRAL AVE....CHESTER PRATHER PAINTING AND PAPPERHANGING 339 KERLIN ST....H.A. ROUBERT JEWELER 620 EDGMONT AVE....STASKIN FURNITURE 14 EAST 7TH.... W.Z. FORESMAN POULTRY 227/29 EDGMONT AVE....TASTY DO-NUTS 611 WELSH ST....DEHNER BEAUTY SALON 605 WELSH ST....COLLINS CLOTHES 7TH EDGMONT AVE....C. FRED HAVERCAMP PHOTOGRAPHER 522/23 EDGMONT AVE....PRENDERGAST MARKET 504 EDGMONT AVE....STANDARD WALL PAPER 5TH EDGMONT AVE....JOANS SLENDERIZING SALON 525 MARKET ST....MILLER FLOUNDERS DAIRY 12TH KERLIN ST....DELAWARE COUNTY TOBACCO CO 310 EDGMONT AVE....NOLAN BROTHERS CONTRACTORS AND BUILDERS 524 MARKET ST....PETERS (DANOS) 23 EAST 7TH ST....SAMUEL C. WARWICK REALTOR 37 EAST 8TH ST....DELAWARE COUNTY NEWS 114 EAST 6TH ST....HERMAN WHITE ICE SERVICE REANEY ST....FRANK M. POWELL PRODUCE 222/26 EDGMONT AVE....JOSEPH SCIGLITANO BEER DISTRIBUTOR 226 LAMOKIN ST....SYLVANIA HOTEL 3RD MORTON AVE....LECO VENDING 128 EAST 5TH ST....LIBERTY RESTAURANT AND GRILLE 1810 WEST 3RD ST....YUENGLINGS BREWERY 2625/29 SERGEANT(?)SR....SAVOPOULOS RESTAURANT 601 WELSH ST....PRESTO RESTAURANT 4TH MORTON AVE....JOHN J. KELLY BEER DISTRIBUTOR 6TH AND BARCLAY ST.... Maybe a few cobwebs shook loose. Take care....TN
Yes, there was a bowling ally, was it called Bollero or something like that. St. Rose of Lima is still there and across the street was a frozen custard stand. Last year that was a Water ice franchise. Baldwins is now a shopping mall with its major store being Walmarts.
You traveled that far down, do you remember "Hok the Spooks" on McDade Blvd. And the "T" Bar. Who didn't go to the "T". Remember Mr. Tony would greet everyone. Then they had the Sunday afternoon jam sessions...no drinking just real good music.
Yes there was a bowling alley next to the drive-in. The building is actually still there. It is an auto part store for 18 wheelers.
U.W. Wasn't there a bowling alley next to the drive-in? and I think next to it was/is St. Rose of Lima church? and across the way was Baldwins?
U.W. Wasn't there a bowling alley next to the drive-in? and I think next to it was/is St. Rose of Lima church? and across the way was Baldwins?
How could I forget Charlie's.
Where exactly was "PLaytown Park"? Im 40 years old and that place sounds very familiar.
thanks!
Javk Mills: Ray Erikson moved to Delaware--Wilmington/Claymont area. he may live there still
Jack Mills--Haven't seen Ray since our 25th reunion.
Ed--Playtown Park, Marra's Restaurant, and Springfield Pool were there on Baltimore specifically for us Chester teens of the 50's who( like most in those days) didn't have cars. The 69th St bus was our mode of trans. I know kids today would rather stay home than take a date on a bus. Guess we were happy in our ignorance.
Linda, I lioved nest door to your house (711} Potter St. You lived in the second floor apartment next door. I spent a lot of time at your place eating your mom`s biscuits and making a nuisance of myself. Joyce would probably remember me, but its been a long time. We moved to Garden City in 1949 and I never knew what happened to your family. I have twin brothers and a older sister named Ginger, maybe that will help. Tell Joyce I said hello.
PATTY BOYLE ASK YOURE BOYFRIEND IF HIS FATHERS NAME IS GUS OR GUSSIEAND IF HE HAS A SISTER NAMED GEORGIA HE WAS MY NEIGHBOR IN AIR PARK. HIS SISTER GEORGIA AND I WENT ALL THROUGH SCHOOL TOGETHER.
TO: JACK MILLS - If you look to the left of this screen, there is a menu of quite a few sites you can visit. One is "Schools". Just click on that and the history of just about school is there.
TO: LINDA HAMPTON - Not that there is a connection - never know though, Samuel Hampton's son (my uncle Ray) was also Raymond Hampton. Names do run in families and I always wondered why he was named "Raymond". It's possible that Samuel was written off by his relatives because he deserted my grandmother and her three young children (my mother was the youngest and just a baby) and my uncle Ray, after many years, found that old coward in Buffalo, NY and made him confront his past. So, because of this, I'd like to know more about Samuel, but it probably isn't worth my time.
Edgu..no we are not related. But I must say, I saw your recently and you do not look your age. You look like a man that has taken good care of his physical self. (i know i spelled EDGU wrong) I applaud Linda, she is keeping you looking younger than most.
Playtown Park was a great early date place. Remember how many of us would go there to play miniature golf. They even sponsored miniature golf tournaments. It had easy access even for those that did not have a car and was always packed. Many of us out grew the amusements but not the putt putt greens. Then we'd go to Charlie's Hamburger stand down the hill on the corner.
And folks what about the Chester Pike drive-in. Family nights on Tuesdays for $1.00 a car load...and steamed windows on the week ends in the last 2 rows..and it was summer.
MY MEMORIES OF OLD CHESTER, ARE WONDERFUL. MY GRANDFATHER, SGT. JOHN "SNAKES" BOYLE WAS A POLICEMAN, AS WELL AS A FIREMAN, AND SPORTS ENTHUSIEST. I REMEMBER AS A LITTLE GIRL MY GRANDFATHER WOULD TAKE ME TO THE VAULCLAIN FIRE COMPANY SO I COULD SIT IN ONE OF THE TRUCKS. I GREW UP IN SUN VILLAGE AND LIVED THERE UNTIL I WAS 30, AND REMEMBER SO MANY GREAT TIMES, THE NEIGHBORS WE HAD WERE THE BEST, EVERYONE KNEW EVERYONE. IN GOOD TIMES AND BAD EVERYONE HELPED OUT. MY FATHER PATROLMAN ROBERT "BOBBY" J. BOYLE, WAS THE BEST TOO. HE LOVED THE CITY OF CHESTER WERE HE GREW UP AND LIVED HIS ENTIRE LIFE. HE USE TO RUN THE SUN VILLAGE BOYS CLUB, AND I KNOW MANY KIDS REMEMBER THE MOVIES, AND BINGOS, THE BASKETBALL NIGHTS UP AT WIEDNER, AND SWIMING. MAYBE SOME OF THE GUYS REMEMBER THEIR TRIP TO PALATINE LAKE, NJ? THAT WAS ALWAYS A FUN TIME MY FATHER WOULD TALK ABOUT. HE TOO WAS AT THE WADE FIRE, AND IS NO LONGER WITH US, BUT NO MATTER WHERE I GO, SOMEONE REMEMBERS HIS KINDNESSES. I REMEMBER MY GRANDMOTHER BETTY BOYLE, WOULD TAKE ME "DOWNTOWN" TO GO CHRISTMAS SHOPPING AT WEINBERGS, SPEARS, SEARS, AND THEN GO TO THE WELSH RESTAURANT FOR A SPECIAL LUNCH. CHESTER HAS MANY, MANY GREAT MEMORIES FOR ME, AND I'M SURE OTHERS. MY MOM, MARIA BOYLE, ALWAYS TALKED HOW SHE AND HER SISTER JOAN JOHNSON DALIESSIO WOULD WALK DOWN 9TH STREET AT MIDNIGHT AND GO TO THE RAINBOW DINNER FOR MILKSHAKE, AND AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, MY BOYFRIEND, BILL DANOS, HIS GRANDFATHER WORKED AT THE RAINBOW DINNER FOR YEARS AND LIVED IN EYRE PARK UP UNTIL THE FLOOD. MY DAD WOULD ALWAYS REMEMBER THOSE CRAZY DANCES OVER AT ST. MICHAELS, WHERE HE MET MY MOM MARIA. THERE'S JUST SO MUCH HISTORY HERE. I HOPE OTHERS WILL WRITE IN AND SHARE. I MISS SUN VILLAGE, AND LIVE HAS GONE ON, THE FAMILY, FRIENDS AND GATHERING PLACES ARE ALWAYS WITH ME. AND IF I COULD VOTE FOR THE BEST HOAGIE BACK THEN, I'D HAVE TO SA Y AND REMEMBER "SQUIRE'S HOAGIE SHOP" ON MORTON AVE. JOE SQUIRED OWNED THAT, AND I EVEN REMEMBER HIM. HE WAS ALWAYS A JOLLY HAPPY PERSON, AND HOW ABOUT THE MALLAS'S? OH I HOPE SOMEONE ELSE WRITES IN. HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED THESE MEMORIES WITH ME. SINCERELY, PATTY BOYLE OF MILMONT PARK, PA.
FRANK - I just read your post - thanks for clearing that up. I do remember now that it was Nick Mancini - and Caruso, was that Tony Caruso? Ask Irene if her father ever knew Tom McFadden, my dad. He played guitar and banjo - and I even have an old picture of an orchestra he was with back then - approx. '32 to '36. I will find that and post it somewhere. My dad, and his brother, Billy, worked the shore all the time and then finally had their own group called "The Five Octaves" featuring Tommy and Billy McFadden, and Catherine, Dorothy and Brophy Howley." All from Chester and at times on he vaudeville circuit - at one time with Milton Berle. If my dad were still alive, I would ask him about your father-in-law, but he passed away in '86. He never forgot the Carusos, nor they him. On one of his visits to his brother Joe, shortly before he passed away, he told me how excited he was that he once again saw his old friend - Caruso (think Tony was the first name) - and Tony couldn't believe it either that Tommy was there. Dad said he was blind and kept saying, "That you Tommy?" My dad was a sentimental guy and he loved seeing his old friend again. My father wasn't only a good musician, God bestowed on him the extraordinary ability to make anyone, anytime howl with laughter. That's one of the things that made him so successful till the day he died. An extremely witty man. If anyone ever visited Phoenix in the late 60's until late 70's and went to "Crazy Eds", you would have seen my father performing there.
Oh well, sorry to go on so about my dad, but I was so proud of him and he always had the fondest memories of Chester - always. He was one of 10 children whose father passed away when he was just a baby and my grandmother, Mary Ann, raised them all. I could tell you about him and Billy at the tender ages of 6 and 7 waiting for the workers to cross the ferry after work, and they would sing and dance for them. The workers threw them pennies and that's how they helped their mother and family.
It's very possible that Nick and Henry were related. I'll bet they were.
PATTI HOW DID YOU FIND LARKIN SCHOOL TEACHERS. I CAN REMEMBER MINE BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A LIST. THANK YOU
To the person asking about Barbara Hampton; my husband had a sister named Barbara-she passed away 4 or so years ago at approx age 55, not sure. Did you know the Hamton's from Highland Gardens? Also, to the person requesting info on the Hampton's; to best of my knowledge the Hampton's were from Chester, but no one remembers a Samuel Hampton. There was a George, Herbert, Frank, and a few others, but unfortunately, I don't know there names. Sorry I can't be of anymore help.
To Shirley; Yes, my parents were Grace and Ray, we lived on Potter street until maybe 1949 or so. I was born there but moved to McCafferty Village as a baby. My uncle's name was Hack. How do you know my family?
To U W, You seem to know all about the west end of chester and and my family. Send me an e-mail telling me who you are, we might be related.cypresgreen@home.com
Sorry Flossie - neither instruction worked for me. Surely someone must know if Henry Mancini was the same Mancini whose orchestra played for our highschool proms. Those bands were terrific.
While searching for Mancini, I came upon a list of teachers at Larkin School. I seem to remember Mrs. Rowland (whom everyone loved) and she isn't mentioned. She taught 1st or 2nd grade in 1938-39. Mrs. Callahan too (oh, she was so pretty - looked like Joan Bennett - so coincidently did my mother)I remember in the same time period. I really liked them both. My mother worked at Whelan's and both teachers would go there for lunch and report to my mother on my progress or lack thereof. That's probably what made me work hard to get good marks. I remember getting lots of praise on knowing the difference between a "red" traffic signal and a "green" one. Gee, I was proud!!! Today, I have a hard time knowing the difference - he-he!!!
Harvey - "I need some Sea Breeze for my acne" sounds like a good title for a tune. It could even be sung to the music for "Mickey, pretty Mickey". "I need some Sea Breeze for my acne, for my face is turning red." I'll help with the lyrics. And, this Board needs little "hints" like that from time-to-time. Now, if someone can come up with a lotion to repeal the law of gravity, I'd be most grateful.
Playtown Park was an amusement park on the Baltimore Pike in springfield. If you remember Old Dick Barronnes chevy dealership, it was across the street and to the left on the hill. I worked there part time to make extra money fot the family in the fifties.
Patti, The band leaders name was Nick Mancini, he also worked at Baldwin's in later years. My father-in-law also played with Nick and the Caruso bands, his name is Romeo Ramos. His brother Don Ramos had a music studio in Chester for years, than moved to Woodlyn. Irene's father Romeo retired from the Latin Casino NJ band, it closed when things got big in Atlantic City.
How did it work. Lee Bennington- Did you know my father and mother from walnut st.? Maybe you are the son of the people I am thinking of. I can remember so much, but not enough. would you believe all the banks that I worked for is now First Union.And Tollin's sold records, that must have been something. I thought they only sold furniture.
Not at the top of your home page. but just a little bit down and tell it to search. I bet you might be able to www,henrymancini.com
I need some Sea Breeze for my acne.
Florence - type it in where?
Pat
Just type in Henry Mancini's name. Their is quite an article on him
There is something I have been meaning to ask the readers for a long time now and just remembered.
At our high school proms, we always had a great orchestra lead by a "Mancini" or a "Caruso". My father played with one of the Carusos years back, so I know they were from Chester. What about Mancini? All these years I have wondered if it was Henry Mancini who achieved overwhelming success in the music business. I read one time (I believe it was in his obituary) that he was from Pennsylvania, but it was a city distant from ours. Anyone know?
Hi everyone. thanks for setting me straight.
Harvey, I just saw your post about TastyKakes. What a coincidence. Last night I had to register a screen name with Chester Chat to post pictures. Every name I chose had been taken, so I gave them three off-the-wall choices and they combined two of them and assigned me "CHStastykake". Not bad, really. We now have Tastykakes here in Phoenix and have had for about 3-4 years now. They are still the very best!
suntan lotion for the best tan...baby oil and iodine bast both sides until done...
"Evening in Paris" - of course, that was it. Carl Doubet Jeweler - if that was next door to Whelans, before I went in to work, I would stop there first and look at the beautiful diamond they had displayed on red velvet on a small revolving platform with a sign that said, "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire, I Just Want to Start a flame in your heart" with the accompanying music. There was also a little repair shop on 7th Street east of Edgemont that displayed a sign that read: "We repair everything but broken hearts". I think that repair store is also the store that occasionally would have a living robot man in the window who moved mechanically and drew a crowd. It was a real man, but he sure didn't look it. The only way I knew he was real was one day I passed by and he leaned over and watched me walk down the street - everyone laughed - I was really embarrassed, but I couldn't help laughing.
"Lily of the Valley", of course, and Florence, I still like "Heaven Sent", too.
Less Work for Mothers http://members.fortunecity.com/broadcastpioneers/wcau/childrens.html
Tastykakes were a success right from the start. The idea of small cakes, pre-wrapped fresh at the bakery and conveniently available at the local grocer, was uniquely appealing to American women in 1914. "The cake that made Mother stop baking" did so because Mother could now buy a cake she could trust to be as fresh and delicious as those she made herself. For precisely the same reasons, Tastykakes are more popular than ever with today's busy families and are enjoyed by millions of consumers who want a wholesome, great-tasting snack.
Horn and Hardart Children's Hour, The Theme: Less Work For Mother William Livingston ; J. Russell Robinson
Hello from Virginia - the state not a person!
John suggested that I post a query here to see if anyone could help me. Like many others, I'm tracing my family history. My gggrandmother lived in Delaware county. Her obituary said she died at "Grasslands." I have been trying for many years to determine where that was. Does any one know? I would be very grateful for any information.
Thanks, and warm regards, faith smith
Sorry "Less work for Mothers Dear"
Flo: On the cake box (remember the Mothers Day Cake) it had "Less work for Mothers Day" the cake was white with a pink carnation on to made of plastic.
http://www.theautomat.com/inside/history/history.html
Had great rice pudding and pork and beans.
I think it was Let's work for Mother Dear Whose gentle hand, leads us so kindly , thru little folk land, etc. I am not sure. Maybe Harvey knows.
It was "Less work for Mother dear" and it was a tag for Horn & Hardart, the automat?
Hi Pat
I have to write this before it leaves me. My favorite was Heaven Sent. Still is. I remember Lillies In the Valley. I just thought of another song. You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby Way back when their was a show called Let's Pretend on the radio. And who can forget Stanley Broza's show full of talent and his motto. Let's work for Mother Dear. I was looking in the Smedley albun and saw some advertisements of business's were sponsors.Sanitary Cleaners & Dyers Phone no's. were 4 didgits. My spelling leaves a lot to be desired. Roser's restaurant,Klotz's Candy,Tollins Records,Wolson's furniture,Jack's Snack Bar,james Konoplisky shoe rebuilding,Cooley Lilley,Carl A.Doubet jeweler,Crowley's Ice Cream,Blue Room Luncheonette,Bartram Venetian Blind Manu. Co.,Uneeda Furniture,M.J.Freed,Bryce's Pioneer Market,Town Shop Dresses,Tunstall Paint and Body Shop,Dr. Philip Gerber,Sunhill Mk.Luke Motor's,marinella Beauty Shop,Southern Penna. Bus Co.,Harry G. Innis, mens wear,The Downham Press,Roser's Restaurant,Klose Bros.,Brout Jewelers,Walnut Garage, Mallas Bros.,North Carolina Mk.,Ben's Market,Chester Time's,Diamond Ice & Fuel co., and many more.
Summertime,Summertime... Began on Memorial Day at Village Green Pool on the sand or the grass with a hamburger up the steps in the Snack Bar. In a rowboat on the small lake (pond).
Or at the Sun Oil Company Picnic and the pool there. Hiked out Highland Ave and then thru the fields and under the railroad to the pool.
On the rope swing at Bridgewater.
Down the Shore to Wildwood by the Ferry to Bridgeport and two lane roads to Mullica Hill and on to Rio Grande and then across the bridge to the Wildwoods and the best beach and boardwalk in the world.
Summertime ends at Village Green on Labor Day and then back to school.
Florshine shoes --Remember when they opened in Chester and had dress half boots. They were the boot for years. When certain styles went out, you would have them reheeled or resouled because of the confort of the boot.
And the skinny ties, knits came in to vogue in the 50's.
There was also "My Sin" Channel #5 and the old stand by of many or our Moms Vanilla. There was also a splash called "Lily of the Valley". Lipsticks were used for both the lips and the cheeks. does that still stand good today?
Back in the mid to late sixties I remember seeing a Yellow VW with purple dots painted on it. Does anyone know who used to drive it?
Patti
It was called Evening In Paris.
Oh sorry UW - after I posted that I realized you were talking about "after" shave - not shaving cream. See, there are some terms that are strictly male or female and we don't have to think about its use.
Gosh UW - how would I know the name of the favorite after shave - thank God, I never had to shave my face - glad to this day that you fellows did though. But how about the one in the red and white striped can resembling the pole outside the barbershop - Burma Shave? The 5&10 made a fortune selling us girls - help me out girls - "Midnight in Paris" was that it - came in a pretty little dark blue or purple bottle and we all wore it. We would "brag" that we were wearing that.
"Dips" during our slow dancing? No - that came a little later and probably because it gave the partners a chance to see each other's faces because we always held each other so close, all we could see was the top of earlobes (and if we were lucky, the back of their necks). The "romantic" era.
I never knew you fellows went to such lengths to buy those great looking pants, belts, etc. You even remember brand names, stores and silver edging. You kept all that to yourselves, knowing all the time how it impressed the girls. You rascals you.
Florence - that was a great story about your parents - I loved it. Like to hear more stories like that.
Tom N...TM stood for Tailor made.
Paul...the shadow pants cost a little more. I had pin strip they were 13.75 and later my black shadows cost more but I thought about 2 bucks more.
Patti: how about the dips during slow dancing. And what was the favorite after shave? Old Spice? Remember the bottle it came in. Then came Aqua Velva.
Had a nice email today with a column from the Daily Times. "OTHER TIMES" It has tidbits of happenings in the area going back 100, 75, 50, 25 and 10 yrs. I usually get them about a week late. On one of my postings I wrote about Holy Ghost Fairs. Well today in the 50 yr. section it reads
"Holy Ghost PTA had a cake bake at the Holy Ghost Ukrainian Church, Third and Thurlow streets, Chester. The committee in charge included Mrs. Bessie Kowal, Mrs. Helen Manchin, Mrs. Vera Bondrowski, Mrs. Rose Lazek, Mrs. Anna Setchon, and Mrs Mary Komonsky.
When I wrote I was remembering Martha Manchin working at the fair. I don't remember a Anna Setchon but wonder if isn't Anna Fetchin. but it was great reading old names, neighborhood kids moms names in the article.
Heres another: 75 yrs. ago..Pennsylvania Railroad has cars leaving from Chester to Niagara Falls regularly. Round trip cost is $7.50.
I wonder if any trains go to Niagara Falls from Chester these days. gotta look that one up.
Thanks Len Casterline for your column. I can't seem to find your column online. It happens to be very interesting and has some really old newspaper snips available.
To T. Nicolades
TMs were Tailor Mades...off the rack pants were NOT the fashion. M&M tailor shop made a lot of money with TMs in those days. Some TMs were so tight at the ankle that you almost had to grease you feet with Wildroot to get them on.
Hey....while we are talking fashion, remember going to South Street in Philly and being hawked by the street vendors trying to sell you a 6 button benny?? Going back and forth from vendor to vendor for the best price. Saved my money, bought my 6 button benny only to have it stolen from a dance coat room 2 days later. 48 years later and I still get mad thinking about it. OH well... TN
Patti, you are right about the guys from our time.I had a big crush on this boy at Smedley, and on Friday nights I would just die for him to ask, but to no avail. I always had to wait for the girls time to ask. My husband remembers when he had to wear knickers. I guess my father would have remembered also. My mother was born the year 1911, My father 1903. They both lived in the area of 16th and Walnut. Now she was only 16 and he 24, much wiser than her and I don't think her parants were very happy about it. She used to use all kinds of excuses to go around the corner and visit his mother, her name was Lydia, I thought that was a beautiful name and no one else has used it. But anyway he wanted to marry her. The Easter of 1930 she went to Gloucester,NewJersey for that weekend. What no one knew was that they had made arrangements to meet at the bus stop over there. From there they met some friends and they drove them to Maryland, where they got married. My Grandfather was furius, he spent a week looking all around for her, he finally found them. He was ready to punch him out, but instead he shook hands.She was married in her Easter dress, which was one of those flapper dresses. She was so small, I couldnt get one of my arms in it.
Pegged Pants - "The minute you walked through the door, I could tell you were a real big spender, . . . good lookin', so refined, wouldn't you like to try to take me out of my mind".
All of you "old-timers" who were once young and very handsome boys during the mid-40's, were, I think the best lookin' guys since Adam. Those pegged pants with the high-rise waist and the way you carried yourselves when you "walked" turned many a young girl's head. The other sexy thing about you was your hair cut - was it called "duck tail" - is that what DA is? Since that style hair cut, I've always thought that the nape of a man's neck was one of his sexiest features. I once took the picture of the back of one of my boyfriend's heads - still have it. He used to say "I turned his head."
When the boys started wearing their hair long, I thought: "The girl's are being deprived of a very enticing feature." But, we all know the young men of today, especially the hippie generation, do not compare with our handsome guys. I often think, how do these "bums" attract women. Although life must go on, the men of our generation had class, were well-groomed and very, very handsome. I can't imagine any boy I knew turning on anyone with purple or green spikes for hair, huge baggy pants and dirty tee shirts. Utterly disgusting.
Our guys were also the smoothest and best dancers ever - and with that hair and sexy outfit, their appeal on the dance floor was even greater. We hens really cackled!!! Slow dances were so much fun to watch - 3 steps forward - turn - three steps backward - turn. Jitterbugs were smooth too - no one threw anyone over their shoulder. Wilcy Moore was the best in all grades at CHS. I saw him dance again when I was there in 1980, and still the same sexy slow dancer - it was the way he moved his arms and body during those slow dances - he really had it all. Dave Kormanicki was the best jitterbugger, along with George Marrons - class of '49. Think Dave graduated in '49 too, but don't know the school - possibly St. James. Just before I moved away in '50, I talked to Dave and he said he was going to be a priest, but I don't think he did - I've seen his name in articles on the Delco Times web site. Anyway, I always looked forward to the time one of these guys would ask me to dance. To this day, I can't dance with anyone who doesn't dance "our style". The way we danced reminds me of the way Peggy Lee sang - gentle movements of the body in rhythm to the music - my goodness, how much more enticing can that be? Ignorance took the place of fundamental basics.
To the HAMPTONS who post here - my mother's maiden name was Hampton and I have been researching her father - Samuel Cleveland Hampton who was born and raised in Chester. He had a brother Herman. Sound familiar to anyone? Would love any information you have.
To Tom & Jack... I remember my first pair of T.M.!s from M&M Tailors. They were "Brown Shadows" High rise,[non pistol pockets] I think a 14" cuff& pleats. They cost$14.50. I wondered why my Dad went pale at the time. [He only made about $65.00 a week] That would be like one of my Sons today asking for a pair costing $200.00! Fat chance of that happening!
Jack R.....I have to plead ignorance. What was a TM?? T.N.
Ed-There was no "first team". It's my delayed memory. I forget absolutely nothing, I just can't always recall the things when I should. Sorry to omit the 4th. Still working on the restaurant.
Hello again,,my husband works for a local construction company in Chester.One day while at Widener College,,,he found a dog tag used by the miltary...the inscription on it reads as follows: William K. Meeks 33074515 T42 43 S Edith F. Meeks 802 Pusey Street Chester,Pa. We would love to return it to the owner or to the family.
DAN I SEE YOU MENTIONED RAY ERICSON, HE WAS A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF MINE FROM EYRE PARK AND I HAVE BEEN WONDERING WHERE HE IS FOR A LONG TIME. HOPE YOU KNOW SOMETHING.
Dan54: I was never on the "first team" but I was also an officer (Treas.) and was the 4th person. We went to dinner at a restaurant (Bookbinders maybe?) (my first time) and then to the Forrest Theater for Oklahoma. Great time!
Dan54: I was never on the "first team" but I was also an officer (Treas.) and was the 4th person. We went to dinner at a restaurant (Bookbinders maybe?) (my first time) and then to the Forrest Theater for Oklahaoma. Great time!
The style of the 50s Six Button Bennies and TMs with a DA
Six button benny and TM's were the style and a DA
FRANK VAUL - Either you just remained the same nicest guy or Irene (sorry I never knew her) made you even nicer.
Folks, Frank emailed a photo of Mickey Fromal from his Smedley yearbook - and not having seen her since we were approx. 6 years old, she was even prettier at 12 or 13 than she was at 6 - and believe me, she and Shirley Montgomery were two of the most beautiful little girls (including Lola Goldsborough) - at the tender age of 6,I recognized beauty and they all had it. Chester produced some really good-looking people. My goodness, Frank, no wonder you had a crush on her. She was beautiful. What high school could she have gone to? It appears her brother, Charles, graduated with us in 1950 - where was Mickey? From the obit, she perhaps never married nor had children - Geez, does someone out there know? Harvey Miller once again proved how ingenious he is by emailing me, a tune that blended in with what we are posting here. He sent me two tunes: 1) Mickey, Pretty Mickey, and 2) Mickey's tune. Both in memory of course of Madelyn Fromel. So, we have two Irish tunes in remembrance of an authentically German Girl and I know she would be happy with that. It's a well-known fact that any German would love being Irish - right? Say yes, please say yes (I'm 1/3 German - but gosh darnit - got that Irish hair) - because the Irish love everybody and we sure did love Madelyn (Mickey). Whatever her life was, this Board has made a fine tribute to a very likeable and memorable human being - and to think, she never knew how we felt.
Incidently, Frank, I knew half of the people in the yearbook page you sent me. Don't have the page in front of me now, but they were our classmates at CHS. I was in Rez while the others were at Smedley - but we still blended well at good old CHS. What a wonderful school that was - really was. If I have more time next week, I will use the information sent to me by one of the contributors to this board (will acknowledge him when I get back to that email) and I will post a photo of Mickey so the readers can see for themselves how lovely she was and also a few of me and the friends I have spoken about - and anybody else I can - once I master how to do this. That would be fun for a lot of us to do. And Florence, I still have the yearbook - I'll paste (or post) your cute picture too. Is that OK? And the post you made about the four girls, I knew all of them except Dolly - Shirley Montgomery was a very close wee-girlhood friend, and I think Peggy Dick may have passed away, not sure. Frank would know, I''ll bet. Shouldn't say if not sure, but I do think so.
Pegged pants - that's for another time here - tomorrow - can't wait to write about them. Sexy, oh my lord, sexy.
This Board is beginning to take on more life than ever - let's keep it up and all learn how to "post those pictures". Especially, Skyjumper - I wanna see his puss.
Ed--I didn't remember that you were in HR 24 1949-51. I must have been a HR officer one of those yrs because Mr Claypool took Ray Ericson, Jean Scott & me to see the musical Oklahoma in Phila.
Tom--M&M's were ok but Albie Ingerman( also on 3rd St)pegs were better. Plus, he had played basketball for Temple and had great stories.
To ELK: Mr.Claypool retired to Cape May N.J. after a problem in 1960. I think Miss Eachus really missed him.
T.N.
Not only did guys get pegs with the high rise with the thin belt slots, but the mid 50's began a swing to tailored mens styles for girls. A whole group of us (guys and dolls) went there to have them made. I had navy blue pin striped. The guys wore squared toed loafers with them I do remember "Blue Suade Shoes" was a popular song during that time and many guys were going into South street and buying them. Had the skinny patten leather belts with maybe a silver line edge on each side. Cool
some of the fads were girls wearing ankle bracelets, dog collars around their necks and legs, these crazy little chameleons on a chain that had a pin attached to wear on the shirt. My sister wore and had all of these. She wore what was called a phall on her head. It was a fake piece of hair. Wigs were high in fashion to. All types of hair pieces. Even hats made to look like hair.
MR.CLAYPOOL, TEACHER FROM SMEDLEY.I BELEIVE WAS ASKED TO LEAVE AROUND 1960.I DON'T WANT TO SAY WHY BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THE FACTS.MAYBE DAN MAGINNIS MIGHT KNOW THE TRUTH.I DON'T WANT TO SPREAD FALSE RUMORS.
I was in the same homeroom class as Mindy Sawyer, she was cute, but her sister Pam was a knockout. Mindy used to look at us like we were lecherous, uh, I mean lepers. But then again, at that age, we were.
Any guys out there remember going to M&M's on 3rd Street for a pair of tailored made peg pants with a 4" rise from the belt?? T. Nicolaides
John (Jack) Claypool, Smedley Jr. H.S. Homeroom 24 (1950s) Whatever happened to Jack?
Mindy Sawyer used to hang out at Linda Maljan's house at 11th &Booth. All the Sawyer sisters,Cindy,Pam and Mindy were beautiful and if there anything like their mother,they still are.
Pattie \I am reading the Smedley Jr. High yearbook and I came accross this add that says Compliments of The Hungry Four Dolly Dudjinski,Peggy Dick,Shirley Montgomery, and Mickey Fromal Remember Daly's furniture and Montgomery Ward downtown
John, Playtown Park was located in Springfield, where the Kohls Store stands now. :o)
Playtown Park was on Baltimore Pike and Bishop Ave. Springfield, Pa. The teachers I remember from jr.high and senior high. Miss. Tomlinson,Mr.Edwards.Miss.Northam,Miss Cox,Mercy MAGowan, and Mrs Magowan who taught geography.Mr,Saltzman,Miss Stetser,Mr.Joseph,MissEachus,Miss.Ruffini,Miss Clugston.In SmedleyYou started with sewing where you made an apron then into cooking and then into home economics.ThankGod I had all those classes.Remembger Painter's store at 9th and Edgmont accross from firestone. How about TowmShop Dresses,
where was playtown park
Pat: Im the one refering to Minnie Gals.Yes I went to Franklin School from 1942 til 1949.I remember Mr Graber as the principal.I do remember the Sharps,Dunn and Mr Basset.The store was on the Concord rd side of the school and Zangaries was on the Franklin St side.We were well supplied with penny candy stores back then.:-) Do you also remember Clydes grocery store just up the street on Franklin and Gallagers just across fom clydes on 5th?
Does anyone remember Mindy Sawyer from the West End? She was better looking than Marilyn Monroe and didn't even know it. Drop dead gorgeous at 17, wonder what she looks like now at 45.
Even though i did get to experience that wonderful era that you all are talkin about ,,,i find myself enjoying it,,thanks to all of you great people,,,,keep up with the intersting comments
Tammy
To the person who inquired about Minnie Gals. Yes, I remember Minnie Gal's it was located a couple of steps from Franklin School. I forget the name of the street. There was also Zangari's (sp)Water Ice and Seamans on Third Street. What I remember most about Minnie Gal's was there penny candy which we use to buy at lunch time and sneak into school. I can remember the Mom who was a little short lady. Did you attend Franklin School, if so what year. Mr. Atkins (sp) was the principal. Some of the teachers were the Sharps; Miss Corbin, Miss Edwards, Miss Brown, Miss Dunn and Basset. I imagine they are all gone by now. Also, there was Mr. Reeves the Math teacher. Lot of good memories from Franklin. Take Care.
patti
I have tried it all, now I just don't bother. I spend my time making things for the smaller children and they love me. I know you could write. Did you ever/ Harvey is right, when he says you have true grit.
Yes I remember playtown park. May a trip we made there with the children.My daughter always wanted to ride the teacups. And riverview, I wish we still haD IT. mANY A GOOD TIME WAS HAD THERE.
Does anyone remember Playtown Park?
Joan Cullis, are you any relation to Lois Cullis? She graduated from Smedley in l952.
For a great trip back in time...checkout this site www.amusementparknostalgia.com
On the left window, Scroll down to New Jersey and click on Riverview Beach. Pictures of the park are worth the trip.
One rainy september day. I awoke to the sound of thunder. it was still raining this made Me sad as it had been raining for days and I wanted to go outside and play. I ate and asked My Mother if I could go to the Y. She said I could as long as I wore my rain coat and boots. as quick as she said that I was dressed and ready to go. At the Y My friend Mark Elingswerth and I played some bumper pool and ping pong. We talked about a new bike that He seen and wanted at the firestone next to Larkin school where We went last year. So We ate some icecream sandwitchs and headed out in the rain to see the bike. When We got to the foot bridge it was scary the water was just below the wood. Then with a (mark get set GO) We ran like hell over the bridge and did'nt slow down till We pasted The Rainbow Diner. In front of PepBoys a car went by really fast and splashed Us really bad. It was so funny because Mark did'nt have a rain coat and He was soaked. We crossed the street by The times building and on to Firestone to see the bike. when we finally got there and seen the bike I fell in love it was a red 3 speed with buckhorn handle bars a banana seat and a highboy sissy bar. WOW it was the prettiest thing I ever seen and I wanted one too. So We started back talking all the way as to how We would get $80 bucks so We both could get bikes like that. Soon We were at the foot bridge but could not cross as the water was over the wood now and boy was it moveing fast. So we walked on. there was a bar on the right just before the other bridge and we had to run past it because there was a wino named Sleepy who liked beating up kids. After crossing the bridge I seen that the smokestacke's at the old chester hospital were gone. I really wanted to see then get knocked down. I walked Mark back to the Y. then I had to get home as it was geting late. Once home My Mom sent Me up to get a hot bath. I just layed there looking out the skylight thinking about that cool bike. Soon My Sister came up and told Me it was time to eat. Now I really dont know why but I put on my swimsuit and went down to eat and hoped it was spaghetti. No such luck meatloaf YUCK. So I sat there waiting for My Mother to leave the room so I could feed it to the dog. Then red lights came in the living room window and We all rushed to the door. It was a police car coming down the street and He was talking on the PA. He said PREPARE TO EVACUATE!! POSSIBLE FLOODING!! PLEASE STAY IN YOUR HOMES!! PREPARE TO EVACUATE!! Mom said we're not waiting lets go. So upstairs I ran to pack My clothes and get My mouse (Whitey) My Mom ran in and said NO TIME FOR PACKING LETS GO NOW. So we (My Brother Sister Mother and I) started out the front door but the water was coming up the first set of steps. We ran back into the house down to the basment and out the back door as it was still not deep out there. I was the last one out the door and I seen a wave coming down the alley as it reached us it felt as if we would be washed away. somehow We all made it out alive.
Patti: Make the lemon suckers Patti. Most candy stores sell the flavored candy straws. Just roll the lemon or a hard surface to soften it, then either cut or use a fruit circle to make one whole in the lemon nearly to the bottom (but not all the way) and just roll the lemon in your hand or squeeze it with a bit of love and enjoy the sweet and sour taste coming up thru the straw candy. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOGooooooooooooooooood. They were a popular seller at CHS functions.
Does anyone remember the MayPole dance. Both guys and gals did it during my time. Do they still have the Maypoles at school?
Linda, Are you the Webb`s that lived at 709 Potter St ? The mothers name was Grace, the fathers was Ray ,I think. From Kentucky? I think the uncles` name was Zack. Thank you, Shirley
FLORENCE - Some people just grow older, while others grow wiser. It's not our age to use when we speak to the younger generations, it's our wisdom that they listen to - not just the fact we're older. Everyone is aware these days that the older generation (unlike the Alaskans and the Mexicans) does not get the "natural" respect we deserve - thus so many of our youngsters are growing up without learning to respect their elders. So, it's almost like we have to "amaze" them with just the simple things we have learned - and throw in something to make them laugh while we're "advising" them. We don't preach, we tell an interesting story that reaches them. "Once Upon a Time, there was a dumb kid who lived in a poor town called "Chester", etc ......" It's a tragedy that they must grow up without respect for and advice from their elders. Those young whipersnappers, anyway. But, the family unit has fallen apart - and will someday, I am sure, come back together again. There are too many lonely people out there.
Lemons with candy straws - forgot all about them - I would die for one today. How good they were.
And to UW - thank you for your kind words to me. I lost two best friends the past few days, even though one has been gone almost 5 yrs now - I grieve for his loss. His actions were what made my memory of him so delicious. That's why I say, do what we can in the short time we have left to have our friends remember us with love and the goodness and kindness we showed them - along with making them laugh - that's my big thing - make 'em laugh, make 'em laugh, make 'em laugh - the whole wide world loves a clown. Laughter is the salvation of the soul, in my "humble" opinion and the more laugh "wrinkles" you have, you prouder you should be. And Madelyn, although I haven't seen her in a "coon's age" (how long does a coon live anyway) she helped make my wee child's memories delightful and I thank her for that. I'm sure she turned out to be a beautiful person, inside and out.
I had something extremely traumatic happen to me today, but it doesn't dampen my spirit on life in general, and a lot of people on this Board have made me realize that. Thanks to all of you - (even "Skyjumper" and Bobby Darling) and let's help each other as much as we can - like Harvey Miller always seems to do - and the people of "oldchesterpa" did without hesitation. I look forward to tons of more wonderful memories.
I remember in the 50's, I don't exactly remember what night. My Grandmother, my two sons and myself were sound asleep when the Goodwill fire co. was on fire. It is amazing the firefighters were right out front of our house and we didn't even know it. How def could we be. My grandmother's favorite place. She was over a 50 year member.Does anyone remember the night when Silver's five and ten was on fire.
This is a trip down "memory lane" for an "old Chesterite". Thanks
There was also a carnival at REZ and also at the Sacred Heart hospital. I used to always get there as soon as they were setting up so that I could get a job at the food stand. Loved that free Chocolate milk and lemons with the candy stick in it.
Gino's was great and yes they did have carnivals on 9th Street. I also remember them somewhere in Trainer and for some reason seem to remember a carnival between Highland and Dewey either on 3rd or 4th street in the 40's. I think St. Hedwigs had rides at the fair they had on the school ground..remember it behind Maylene Scotts apartment. Can remember her brother coming to visit from VA when he got out of the Navy and they were having the carnival at that time. Holy Ghost would have their fairs at 2nd and Thurlow. Mrs. Guzek made deep dish pizzas for it but it seems to me that they used regular cheese on them. She also made dolls for prizes at one of the booths. Neighbors would collect ribbon (some donated from the funeral homes in the area..remember Mr. K.)and she would sew the ribbon bands together and make satin gowns with ruffled edges. I tried to win one for my little sister once. Mrs. Fegchin, Mrs. Manchin and so many of the woman from Holy Ghost and their neighbors from other churchs would work at the fair. I remember they even had small animals as prizes. ducks, peeps, and the peeps were colored. They had money wheels of fun too.
How about the Minstrels at Saint Hedwigs. There were so many talented people in the west end and many came from neighboring parishes to be involved.
An the Annual suppers at Holy Ghost and St. Hedwigs.
They were the good "young" days.
Ahh, Gino's, I remember sitting on the tile seat they had along the sides in the dead of winter drinkink HOT chocolate and eating the original Big Mac (Gino Giant). Didn't stay hot very long. We would play in the snow until we were soaked then we would go to the laundry mat next to McCloskey's (Nacrelli's) Bar to dry our gloves. I remember betting Billy Hess a quarter that he wouldn't jump in the dryer and go for a ride. He tried for about a minute we were laughing so hard we didn't realize he was struggling till he started turning blue. We open the door and he threw up hot chocolate all over the place. At the same time the attendant was coming in the door. We tore out of there left our gloves and didn't go back for a long while.
Thanks Jack! Learn something every day. Should have done it at C.H.S!
PAUL D. CROWTHER EYRE PARK WAS SEPARATE GROUPS OF HOMES. MY MOTHER AND FATHER MOVED THERE IN THE 20'S ON SYCAMORE ST. THAT ST. AND PENN, AND HALF OF TENTH ST. WERE BUILT IN THE TEENS. THE REST OF EYRE PARK WAS BUILT IN THE 40'S BECAUSE I USED TO PLAY IN THE BUILDINGS. I GUESS THEY WERE BUILT FOR WORKERS THAT CAME TO CHESTER DURING THE WAR. MY MOM AND DAD MOVED OUT ONE MONTH BEFORE THE BIG FLOOD.
TO LINDA HAMPTON.... Any relation to Barbara Hampton?
To Eleanor McClure The commencement of the Chester High School class of 1958 was held on June 3 1958 at the Chester School District Athletic Field and Robert Grubb was the class president.
In response to UW, Shirl, Jack, and Dan. Shirl, my sister Joyce is 60 and did go to Dewey Mann. Uw, Jack, and Dan, the carnivals I am speaking of were on 9th street behind the diner, next to the junk yard, and Vesuvios was across the street. If I remember correctly they usually were there for one week in August. We were not allowed to go and often went without permission. Does anyone remember the first Gino's on the corner of 9th street?
Patti I wish I known that was on. I would have taped it. I did know Mickey, but I always called her Madeline, she was in the same grade as I. She was friendly with some of these girls at Smedley. See if you know any of them..Pat Logan,Dolores Enriques. Pat Leonard.. I can see more faces, but can't get the names out. I have to get my Smedley album out. Some of these have passed away. Remember May Days, Queen's of the May. It was the best time. Perhaps we are the best generation, as it has been said. I feel like We lived in the friendliest and clean and quieter times, than has come along.Because most people that live in the suburbs or whatever are not as friendly with their neighbors, and if you are older and maybe know a little more about some things than they do. They won't listen to you because they think you are old and stupid. Personally I think they are very dumb.. I swear, everytime a plane flies over i get weird. The children today do not show respect for your property or you, I am sure that's not all of them. Back then, my father just had to look at us and my mother only gave me a smack once. We just knew what was expected of us. My children were very good and they also knew what was expected of them, and they are hard working and they care for us. I think I have been very fortunate and I wish that I could live it all again.
Forgve me for taking up so much "room" on this Board, but as I type this, "Cabin in the Sky" is on TV and Ethel Waters just finished singing "Happiness Is Just a thing Called Joe" - the song has never been sung better since. People have forgotten what a beautiful singer she was. In my opinion, better than Billie Holiday. Ethel sang the song instead of "playing" with it - and a great actress too. Hope you were able to catch that movie tonight.
And, (always an "and") I forgot one of the most important people in that group of girls, the one I laughed the very most with and probably loved the best - Catherine Bradley - now Mrs. Franny Galvin - and last I time I saw her, they were living in Brookhaven. However, she wasn't from BV, she lived closer to Rez on 7th, 8th - don't recall. Sorry Kay - when it boils right down to it, you were my very favorite. But that's why she was included in our "special" little group - she was special and still is. She and I both had "weak kidneys" - if you know what I mean - and because we laughed so hard all the time and at the same things, our school uniforms had to be cleaned more than most. Love you, Kay.
Another thing - sorry for saying, "Don't grow old" - I'm a little down right now - grow as old as you possibly can so you can still have time to leave good memories for those you leave behind. So, try to make your future a memorable one - no matter how "bad" you think you are or have been - there's always time to make the future good for somebody else. And, as UW says, it does seem only like yesterday when we were young - but it's been years.
Thank you Frank Vaul.
To: Patti, I remember Mickey as a very cute light brown haired girl, who dressed in plaid skirts and sweaters. She always had a great smile. I'm sure God will treat her well.
RE: Joyce Webb...would she be about 61 these days..went to Dewey and graduated '54. If so, Jim M. theres another classmate..Soon we will have the whole class.
Patti: So happy that you have such good thoughts about your friend that died. Isn't it strange how it seems life goes by in seconds when in truth it is years. I keep catching myself saying "it seems like only yesterday" But it wasn't.
Linda, I knew a Joyce Webb who lived on 7th and Potter in the 40`s. She was one of five children. Are you related?
In my last post, I meant to type getting "old", not getting "out" - but, besides getting "old, getting out wasn't the best thing I did either.
And, forgot to tell you, that all the girls I mentioned, plus Jo DeLia from McCaffrey Village, had what we called "The Bobbysox Club". We met every Friday night at a different girl's house, played games and the mothers always had good food set out for us. I can still hear MaryRose and Kathleen singing "Two Little Orphans" for us. We made them sing every time and cried everytime we heard it. (I'm letting out our secrets now.) We also had our own "secret" way of communicating - called "Pig Latin" - remember Pig Latin? And, we always had to wear special "bobby sox" - that was our "uniform" I guess you would call it. AND, all these young girls, now all grandmothers, still get together I think now every 3 months and spend weekends at some resort, somewhere. In their younger adult days, they had dinner together once a month. When I was back in '70 and '80, I too joined in, and our feelings of true friendship never faded. I miss all those girls today. That was "true" friendship and still is.
Folks - try not to get old. The worst part of getting out is losing people who were once an important part of your life and memories. Even though it's inevitable, it still hurts - more than the aches and pains you experience. I remember Madelyn and I having a little girl's argument outside her house and one of us called her mother. Mrs. Fromal stuck her head out of the window and said, "Listen you two, I'm not patching up any more fights, because the next thing you do right afterwards is be best friends again" or very similar words - but I do remember the last part of that statement and distinctly remember that we both giggled and I don't think we ever had another disagreement. Her mother was very wise. I was probably trying to pull off her beautiful hair so I could take it home and show my mother what I wanted. I have good memories of you, Madelyn and sorry we couldn't have stayed closer in touch. Florence, if you remember her from Smedley, was she in the same grade as you?
I remember a carnival that was so much fun that took place, I believe, in Trainer - a short distance west of BV. Does anyone remember that carnival? As teenagers, we loved it when they came to town and it seems to me, we just had a short distance to walk there from BV.
And for the person who wanted names of the kids from BV who went to Rez - here's my list of those graduating Rez in 1946: MaryRose Devaney, Kathleen Healy, Carl DeLurio, Jack Ryan, Jack Maillie, Jack Waldron, Mary McGonigle, William "Butch" McGinn, Constance Lebischak and Patricia McFadden. 5 boys and 5 girls - never realized that before - and all were my friends, and very good friends. To my knowledge, all still survive except Jack Ryan, Jack Waldron and Butch McGinn. Seems like only yesterday when we were all together.
Sharyn, I really can't remember If their was a death. I lived on 15th st. at the time with my grandmother and my two little boys. Now they are 49 and 50, so it was a while ago. At that time I worked for Delaware County National Bank in the bookkeeping dept. Later they moved that department over to the third floor of what used to be The First National Bank, right across was , where I draw a blank. To the left was Chester Cambridge which eventually was Philadelphia Nat'l Bank, directly accross in front of them was Silver's Five&Ten on Market Street.Eventuall Dela.Co. National .moved their computer area to 24th and Edgemont,where all their work was sorted and put in accounts, I worked in there for few years
Florence, I read your message about the plane crash on the field of PMC. I was visiting my grandmother who lived on Walnut Street at the time, & we all had heard a terrible crash. My parents & I went down & saw a piper cub nose down on the field. I was quite young at the time, but remember it as if it was only yesterday. I maybe mistakened, but I think one of the passengers were killed. A friend of mine has the crash on film.
Linda Might you be remembering the Fairs held on the Chester Hospital grounds ( which in those days was adjacent to Eyre Park)in May?
Thanks to Florence and UW for informing us of Mickey Fromal's death. I also saw that in the obits listed on the Delcotime internet. Still think of her as a pretty little girl with beautiful thick blonde hair.
Hi Pattie I read in this morning's times about Madeline{Mickey} Fromal passed away on Feb.3,02. I remember her from Smedley. Now she was a petite girl and friendly. It seems that way back they put up circus's on a place called the old fairgrounds, maybe arounf 9th and Engle. Lee Bennington, Do I know you from 15th and Walnut sts? Does anyone remember when the small plane crashed at the bottom of P.M.C. field. I don't think that anyone was killed, just hurt. It was carrying a show girl. Her name was Voilet Blue.
TO JACK MILLS... What year was Eyre Park built? The homes there seemed newer to me! Was the a development there prior to the last one?
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LINDA HAMPTON I LIVED IN EYRE PARK FROM 1937 TO 1961 AND I NEVER SAW ANY CARNIVALS THERE. ARE YOU TALKING BEFORE OR AFTER THAT TIME.
Hi Everyone, Just great to see Chester has a Bulletin Board. I was doing a research project for graduate school, on the City of Chester and was happy to see many people going to the website. The website is excellent.
Pat, Frank; On 1/21 you mentioned a "Mickey" Fromal. I am sorry to say that in todays Delco on line there is an announcement of her death. If you go to the Newspapers list and into the Delco times you can read further. Thought you would like to know.
I remember Hummer and Green's lumberyard on 5th st.between Franklin and Parker.I also recall when the Penn project was first built back around 1940.That developement was loaded with newcomers to Chester.My dad was a coal miner and he moved us to Chester to work in the shipyard.Both parents worked there for a while.The Penn Project was a good place to live back then.They provided good for the kids.They had a large playground with plenty of equipment.They also had a section with a built in sprinkler for the kids in the summer.On certain nights they played music from the maintainance building and all the neighbors would come out and dance in the playground.Family fun.Countless softball games were played there also with the whole neighborhood joining in.Of cours e due to the layout of the area,many windows got shattered by a long fly ball.:-)When this happened everyone tossed in a few cents and sent someone to the home of the shattered window and gave the resident the money for the window.I think the record holder for most broken windows was GIGI Carletti.He was alwasy digging deep in his pocket.
Anyone wanting more information about Ethel Waters can read her biography "His Eye is on The Sparrow. Forgot the name of the publisher. Ethel was alleged to be a distant cousin of mine. She was married to a Purnsley, who was a close relative (maybe brother) to Detective Purnsley killed during the killings in Bethel court 1948 . Also I remember an American Store on Third and Flower. Same side as Dr. Padget's (sic) office . Jim
Anyone in here remember Minnie gals candy store on Concord ave next to Franklin School? I spent many a penny in there.Ha! Ha!HArd earned pennies too.They had pinball machines and plenty of candy.The owners name was DeSanctise(sp)Nice people.I remember there were three dughters and I think two sons.The middle daughter was named Jeanette.I forget the other two names.The younger son was nicknamed Bitty.All good people.
To Betty Ratliff Marth:
Yes, it was Rez in 1951. I remember Dyker Maillie, he was ahead of me at Archmere. I use to ride to school in Claymont in his car. As I recall, he married in his senior year at Archmere.
I lived at 1121 Clover Lane. Donny Barrett lived just a few doors down. The Callahans lived across the street. The Waldrons at the coner of Pine and 12th St. Would be nice to have a list of kid's names from the early 50s who lived in Buckman Village and went to Rez.
To T. Nicolaedes: There were no girls in the immediate family of the McGinns I am referring to. They more than likely were cousins though. And J. Ralston, I am surprised that I don't know you because I lived at 1209 Clover Lane, but graduated from Rez in '46. I hope that graduation photo is posted - I would really like to see it. Sister Irenita was 8th grade teacher and principal of Rez then. Our class never had a formal graduation because she said we were the worst class she ever had (meaning behavior). I'm sure I contributed to that. However, she was just plain mean and she failed to recognize the fact that one of her students, John Waldron, was a genius and had the highest entry score of any student entering Notre Dame University - as I understand it, to this day, no one has topped his scores. So, so much for her insight into her pupils. She personally preferred another male student over him and John was not given the credit he deserved - neither was the rest of our class because there were some great kids in it - including Butch McGinn. Jack Waldron passed away last year. Sister Irenita seemed to take personal pleasure in taking the boys out into the hallway and beating them all over with a ruler. I thought she was dreadful. Did you have her too in the 8th Grade? (Just as Florence said, when you're our age, you can say anything you want - and I do, without hesitation. Hate me if you want but respect my right to say it, and if at my age, I still feel so strongly about her, I must be right.) She never hit me and I got excellent grades, but I detested what she did to my classmates. Father Brady, on the other hand, was wonderful.
And speaking of Butch once again, it's ironic that I found out about his death on Super Bowl Sunday, because he was a true and dedicated football fan - his biggest love. I think he preferred that day over Christmas.
And, L. Bennington, your name sounds so familiar, but I just can't place you - wish we could post our pictures here along with the messages. But, I'm sure "Skyjumper" wouldn't want us to see the lopsided head he has from landing on it during half of those 2000 parachute jumps. Straighen up, Skyjumper, and fly right. Is your real name "Bobbie Darling"?
pps sorry to include he opened it with his teeth no twist offs back then
sky jumper you stand to be corrected don `t know what year you and jeepy went to lukes , in 51 oe 52 a class mate of mine was walking up welsh st and i said chuck lets have a beer his reply was i can t get served in there well we went in and we both were served. he then proceeded to say now its my turn to buy you one down we went to lukes the bartender said to chuck i will serve you but him chuck said ok then give me aquart to go and crack it he got the quart but the bartender wouldn t open it chuck proceeded to open the quart , grab 2 glasses off the bar pour us a drink and we both exited in somewhat of a hurry. ps chuck and 3 otherr drowned at the front of highland ave a few years later also i have a aughaphed pictur of joni james when she sang at columbus center
Shop welders.
What the writer was talking about was not the "country club" atmosphere of a major company, they were speaking of the pre WWII conditions that ironworkers, welders, steamfitters and most physical labor type worker had. Your union at Westinghouse was a good one. Knew guys that would work there on third shift and run their own business during the day.
Working inside a factory is climate controlled. Try working on a 24 hour shutdown at a refinery on a night with temps. below 30. Or on a 100 degree August day. Not all welders, etc. work in factories. Not all welders, etc. work all year. It can be seasonal.
Read what the writer said again, it was the 30's, 40's that was being talked about. Before the Unions became as powerful as they were during your time; before working conditions became a bylaw that included hefty pension plans, health benefits, retirement funds, etc.
Seeing all the McGinns, I remember a Kay McGinn in my home room at CHS (54). Same family?? T. Nicolaides
Lee Bennington: You lived across the street from my husband, Ed Carney. Which Pat Coyne are you refering to? Jr. or Sr.? I knew them both. Mr.Coyne worked at Sinclair and in his spare time, worked for my brother-in-law,Harry Marin, at the "Gateway". You didn't mention Dr. Murry or two sons. I think it was Florence who mentioned the nicknames. I don't think I ever heard Ed call any one by their given name ---even me. I was McGee. Do you remember the Diggens up Highland Ave --Bill, Helen, Reds, and Georgey.My sister, Elsie (later Harry Marin's wife) and I roomed with them for a while. I knew all of the fellows you mentioned. So many memories
jfralston...As I read more messages posted here, I realized you said you graduated Rez in '51...not St. James. Bob was a lot older than you. Do you remember Anne or Joan Marth? They were more your age. I forget not everyone is an old lady like me. The old nicknames make me laugh, too. I remember Tick Stanton, Sugie, Tootsie Toth, Midge Grayston, Dyker Mailie. Have a great day.
jfralston...You probably remember my brother in law, Bob Marth. He graduated from Saint James in 1951 and hung around Butch McGinn all his life. Good Beer Buddies. Bob went to work on the Pennsylvania Railroad and worked there till his death. I married Jack. They were raised at 939 Clover Lane in Buckman Village.
on the webb's from mccaffery willage... there was also the webb's that lived on booth st. bob, and jim who had died at a young age i believe. i also remember the other webb's that lived on mccaffery place.
Dear Moonbeam,I rememer from long ago you should never argue with a lady,you should dicker.
It should have read Luke's musical bar.
I remember borowing my fathers Loyd AC membership card.One sunday about eight of us decieded to go there and have a few,I flashed the card to the door man walked in made a left instead of a right and all walked into the broom closet. The black migration was mostly from the Aikan SC area ,some of my life long friends have roots in places with names like Mt Carmel,Pottsville,Minersville,including my own.most of the large southern migration came from around johnson city Tenn.They put their roots down in the Oxford,kennet square,locale.That is what gave us sunset park,new river ranch,ola bell reed,cambells corner and such.Up untill a two car passenger train went from Perryvill Md to Phila.It joined up in Chester at Lomokin street.when we swam at Sandy or bareass beach we would see it come by.it took thousands of sailors to Bainbridge naval base during WW11.We refered to it as the Dinky RR.It is the same track that N>C> Wyith lost his life along with his grand son.For years there was a turntable and tower at WAWA It was this migration,closeness to Phila,and being a deep water port,the depresion and WW11 that gave Chester its unique flavor.That is why people from wilmington came to Chester for fun.They had the same smalltown charm and neighborhood memories,Little Italy thrives today. The old sunship blade shop along sixth street is still one of the major foundrys for brass cast to this day.artist come from all over the world to cast their life size pieces.I remember as a child walking past there looking in and seeing the giant ship propellers. I believe Barabra was either Buss or Shots daughter,she would be in her 60,s now. Except for a bully now and then chester was a happy place to grow up.
Lee Bennington I think it is possible that you use to give me a ride home once in a while ! Right
I've been following the McGinn saga on this board....in the late 1930's I lived next door to the McGinn's on Highland Ave. I still remember "Shot" McGinn well but he was much older. My clearest memories are from the times that someone at Rez with a closed body truck used to take kids to Village Green Pool once a week (and brought us home, of course. The truck was large but packed with kids. Scary to think of now but it was a geat day out for all of us. Swim in the pool for hours and then lay in the hot sand. I have some pictures from those days (I think) and "Shot" is in a couple of them. Names I remember from those days; Jim Carney, who was my other next door neighbor, George, "Bud" Wakeling, whose parents had a florist busness at Sixth and Highland, Pete DeNight from the corner of Seventh and Highland, Pat Coyne, Morton Armstrong, Rick Kozicki from 12th and Highland, "Snitchy" Schnieder, and the Ward's and O'Malleys from Tenth St. I later worked with Jim O'Malley at American Viscose. It was a great neighborhood. When the war broke out and convoys would move through Chester they came south on Ninth St and turned down Highland Ave. The men from the neighborhood would stand at the intersection where the trucks would slow down to make the turn and they would toss quarts of beer to the soldiers as well as cigarettes and money.
Linda, is your husband related to Jerry Hampton who owned a furniture store on Chester Pike? Does anyone remember the Masonic temple at, I think,9th and Sproul. It was the unemployment compensation office in 1938. That was when the first unemployment checks were paid.
To Patti - regarding 9th&Keystone hoagie shop location. I worked as a soda jerk in Doc Johnson's Drug Store in 1950/51. The store was two levels, the basement(the storage area) fronted 9th street later became Vesuvio's after the drug store was sold. The drug store entrance was on Keystone Rd.
I lived in Buckman Village on Clover Lane and went to REZ, Class of 51. Just e-mailed to John the class picture. Maybe he will put it up on this great site.
I have many fond memories of Buckman Village. Remember the playground on Meadow Lane with the movies under the stars. Going to the movies at the Lyric on Saturday afternoon.
I have sad news. For those who knew the McGinns from BV, I spoke with Butch's son tonight and Butch did indeed pass away on August 17, 1997, while living in Florida. Billy told me that his mother, Vickie, also passed away this past October. Butch had many health problems, including diabetes, and he died from a stroke. However,on a positive note, Skinny still survives, the only surviving brother now. This is one of the sad, very sad things about leaving your hometown. Special people in your life pass away and you never have a chance to say goodbye. Another positive note, Billy told me that his sister, Pat, had 9 children - Butch must have been overwhelmed with all those grandchildren, but Billy said he loved them all. So farewell, my good friend - you were one of my most favorite people in my entire life.
And Mike - the name "Shot" McGinn really rings a bell. I wonder who thought up all those silly names for those boys - even cousins had the same silly names. Must have been Mr. McGinn and his brother who started that.
To Westy: Good old UE Local 107. I worked in Lester from 1958 & retired in Charlotte in 1995. I have some very good memories in that plant. A lot of time in "B" Plant and later in the #1 shop. I served my apprenticeship there. Your right, I never saw any welders really breaking there humps. They gave a good days work for a fair pay.. Regards.. Mike..
Patty, I just remembered the McGinn with the candy store down the alley from Bus McGinn's beer distributorship. It was Shot McGinn. Mike..
I noticed someone asking about Will Webb and Joyce Webb. My borhter and sister. Be glad to answer any questions. I am really enjoying browsing this site. So many things and places I had forgotten about. Does anyone remember the carnivals behind the Rainbow diner on 9th Street?
TOM - If you know Bus and where he is, he could definitely confirm whether Butch is still with us. I have a phone number to call tonight which might hopefully answer this question for us. In the meantime, maybe you could help us too. Would be very much appreciated. Sorry, but I don't know Bus' real first name.
Great site...Many fond Memories of Chester, Buckman Village and the West End. I graduated from Resurrection in 1951, and Archmere in 1955. Left Chester in 1960 for NYC, then Los Angeles, Boston, and Cleveland. Sorry to see the delapidated condition of the City. I-95 appears to have been a major contributor to the decay.
Raised Hell in the 50s with my best friend, Joe Battle (the late Judge Battle).
Would like to hear from any old friends or 50s contemporaries. My e-mail address is ralstonjac@aol.com
How can anyone say that the welders at Westinghouse worked in the pits of hell.We had a strong union there and it looked out for the workers, Having worked there for 30 years I can attest to that,.It was the best place to work, and that was due to the union we had..Just setting the record straight..
To Linda Webb Hampton:
I remember the Webbs from McCaffery, but your name does not ring a bell. There was Joyce, Kenny, Will, and Rich who my sister married. I do remember a Webb that I played softball with along with the Brown brothers, but can't remember his first name maybe he was your brother?
Hi there Mike - thanks for filling me in on the names of the other brothers - I do remember Josh now, but guess I never met Fruit. Interesting how all the boys had nicknames. Because James was the oldest, I just assumed their Dad's name was James. Nice to know you were friendly with Mrs. McGinn too - she had a great sense of humor. I am still trying to confirm Butch's death. His name does not appear in the Soc. Sec. Death Index. If he died in Florida, then I guess the Daily Times didn't carry it because I know my friend Kathleen would have let me know right away. As soon as I learn anything, I will post it. Skyjumper has the right person, I'm sure, because Butch did work for the railroad and his physical description was accurate - that's why everyone liked him - that permanent smile - and he was a man's man - had the respect of the guys and gals. A super good person.
It's nice to hear from you again, Mike, and I hope all is well with you Tom and Don. Give them my regards.
Tom - according to Mike, Bus McGinn was a cousin of the family we're talking about, and I do now recall Butch mentioning a beer distributor family member and that's why "Bus" did sound familiar to me.
In reference to the McGinn's: If you are referring to the (Bus) Mcginns that had the beer distributorship in the alley. Is his real name Jimmy? If so I know him well. He is living in Pots Nets, down by Rehobeth, Del. He's in his 70's.
Patty, Your are right, Mrs. McGinn was a sweat person. Her name was Nellie.. Just thought I'd pass that on. Mike..
Patty, The McGinn boys from Keystone Rd. in BV were Butch, Skinny, Josh & Fruit as I remember. I think all are gone now if Butch if Butch has passed away. I only lived 4 doors away from them before leaving for North Carolina & remember when Charlie their dad died. They rented the Polish Club on highland Ave. for the get together after the funeral. Bus Mcginn, the beer distributor, was a cousin. Then there was the little candy store down the alley from the distributor & that was run by another McGinn, a cousin of Bus's. I remember going in there & playing the penny slot machine for cigarettes. If you matched 3 brands, you won a pack. Regards, Mike...
TO: My best new friend, Skyjumper. No, I never mooned a person in my life - and if I did that now at my age, they wouldn't like what they were looking at. He-he. No, my friend, I was merely using a term similar to yours - Sky - Moon - get it? It was fun and you can continue to call me Moonrider if you like, but no need to be fresh with me, young man. I am capable of ripping you to pieces with words if I chose, but I choose not to - because you're my friend now, aren't you. Say yes. And this board is meant for pleasantries, not sarcasm. So just behave yourself.
One thing in your message shocked me - that my beloved Butch McGinn has passed away - are you absolutely sure? He was always chasing after me, took me to my first prom (we were only freshman, but he somehow managed to take me to the St. James Senior Prom and my mother gave him dancing lessons - he was so cute thinking everyone was looking at him with his two left feet). His older brother, Skinny, financed the whole thing for him. We went all through Rez together, lived just a few blocks away and whenever I was babysitting in the neighborhood, he always found me and knocked on the door to keep me company - no fooling around, honest. I think we would have married if my feelings had been the same and I had not wanted to pursue a career outside of Chester. I am so sad at the moment. I'm on the verge of tears. Someone told me just this past October that Butch and his wife were living in Florida. I can't imagine no one back home not informing me of his death. I was never in love with him, but I truly loved him. I still have the picture of us taken at that prom. I don't know if Bus was one of his brothers or not, but I don't remember a "Babs". Butch had two children named Patricia and I think the son was William, after him. I do appreciate your letting me know, and I must email some people.
It's commendable that you made over 2000 parachute jumps. Was that during the war, or just a hobby? You must be quite a bit younger than I (I just had my 70th birthday), because you mention a lot of places and things surrounding BV that I never knew about. Sounds like you had fun, and I'm happy that you shared those happy memories with us.
My memorys of Buckman village are the playground.Box hocky and out door movies,summer breezes would make the screen all wrinkley.I worked with Butch Mcginn on the RR he passed away a few years ago.Bus had a beer distribution business.Also they had a small candy store with nickel one arm bandits in the rear.There was also a daughter Babs who I went to school with.Butch had a big round red Irish face and a pernament smile.I recall walking up seventh streetover the Chester creek and lookind down on all the boat houses and cottages,I think a flood around '46,47 washed them all away. Due to strict blue laws there were nummerous after hour clubs,such as the Owls,Moose,eagles,and Elks.One visiting Irish priest commented that the citizens musreally be into "wildlife"If he only knew?There was the Alpha and west end boat clubs,the Abruzzi,Dinky polish American,and even a Russian club whose building still stands on Morton avenue,so forlorn looking.What cat in Chester can forget the March of dimes show at Columbus center which featured Frankie Lane,Terreesa Brewer and of course Markus Belgrade and the Dejohn singers Dux and Julie regular and kingsize singeretts.Then you could slip down to Andys musical bar and catch the outrageous JoeyTone show.Tnen it was down to what was left of Bethel place to Luckes bar or the Moonglow mabe you would an early Ray Charles or Billy Wasrd and the Dominoes featuring Clyd Mcphatter or a youg Jackie Wilson.Best of all uthe black bartenders could not tell how old you were.Didnt hurt to take Jeep Jacona with you to sit on in the Drumms. The blue laws were so strict then you could not buy a candy bar on the sabbath.One exception was Yanks poultry farm where you could buy a fresh killed chicken after church,that was the secret live they would dress it right in front of you. I am skyjumper because i made over 2000 parachute jumps,I guess you call yourself Moonbeam because you Mooned alot of people???just a thought.
Denise, I wont be much help but I do remember the Crozer Home for the incurables. It faced the hospital. Neither building was very large. My sister used to visit a girl there. I think she was blind and had no family. The only thing of note I know about the seminary is that Martin Luther King studied there for a while. I never had the pleasure of meeting him but I knew a couple of people who did (my closest claim to fame.) I'm sure some one will come up with more information
RC, you bet. Remember Ziggerman's drugstore on the corner of 15th and Providence Ave., you could get a fountain coke in there and next to it was a little store but I can't remember the name and a diner in that area, then next I believe was the Goodwill Fire Co. They used to have dances upstairs at the fire house once in a while. They were called square dances.
looking for info/ maps of home for the incurables, crozier theological semianry, crozier hospotal...any info/maps welcome denise
I hope you stick around a long time, Royal Crown, cause you know Chester AND Media!
Sorry about the misunderstanding. I think we are talking about different families. Florence, I'm four years older than your husband. I was a war baby--1st world war. No wonder I get confused!!
RC - I think you misunderstood me. I said Butch, the youngest, was born in 1932. He had several older brothers, and one or two of them served in WWII and one was killed in action and I think that one was James. His name is on the memorial plaque in Buckman Village. Young men at the age of 18 were inducted into the service then and I think still are.
I think it was Kaffes' Majestic restaurant, then Henry's and then Rueben's on Welsh St between the alley in back of Speare's and 6th St.
Hi Pat, you are right. I graduated with you in 1950. I think that we were one of the largest senior classes to graduate from Chester High, thats why we used the Stanley Theatre. Also I would add that my husband was born in 1922 and he served our country in the ccc's, which was Civil Conservation Corps. There were so many young men that didn't have jobs that Franklin D.Roosevelt said have these young men build dams,roads, take down trees,etc. They were paid 30.00 amonth which 22.00 was sent home to the parents and family. He got to keep 8.00 a mo. He went to montana along with others from this area because Montana didn't have as many residents as Pa. After that he served in the 8th airforce as a ball-turret gunner.Their wasn.t many things around where he was. They got a coupon book at the store right there to buy a candy bar or ice cream. They paid 5.00 for that. That left 3.00, which I am sure went in card games. They were fed and clothed very well. It was a good thing, because it got all of those kids off the streets.
We are talking about a different time span. Anyone born in 1932 could not have died in the war--1941 to 1945.
To: Sweet Chester - hope you don't mind me calling you that - I like it. At any rate, it really hurts to know that after I left in 1950, that dear city was destroyed (hope it wasn't something I said or did) - physically and morally. And, an apology to "Skyjumper" from "Moonrider" (me) because he was absolutely right. I really feel bad that he had to go through that - and not knowing his real name, he could even be a relative of mine.
So, I consider myself fortunate for my childhood there from 1932 (born in a house on Potter Street) to 1950. My father and two of his older brothers helped lay the foundation for Resurrection Church and school so the McFaddens go back quite a way in Chester's history. It's sad to know that what my family tried to create was morally and physically destroyed. I witnessed my father crying when we visited there in 1974 - big tears in his eyes.
So, our ancestors weep for us. Now, it should not be left vacant - it's not impossible for new development to take place there. I live in Phoenix and the name stands for the Phoenix bird who rose once again from the ashes - the same could be possible for Chester. We could call it "Phester" (sorry, folks, a little pun there - couldn't help it!) or Chesnix (would remind us of Old Ranger cereal). You can see I'm great at naming cities.
Concerning the McGinns, Butch was the youngest - born 1932. I believe it was James who was killed in WWII. His other brothers were (now watch, someone will say I'm wrong - I've been told this before) Skinny and ......... forgot. But remember Skinny (someone will say it was "Stretch") well, help me out folks. But Bus sounds right. Don't know what era you're referring to, but again, I graduated in 1950 - so did Florence, didn't you Florence?
And (old wordy me) I also wanted to add to my reply to Chester Sweat, that I would bet my life on the fact that the rotten politicians do not have the warm memories a lot of us have. Several politicians have taken their own lives - so, so much for warm memories.
Thankyou again. I love it. You must work on the computer quite a bit.
RC
I do remember their way of sending the money from one area to the next. It is like the method the tellers use in car driveins to send back and forth from customer to teller.
Florence, I do remember Reubens.All of the taproom owners used to go to Lubens after they closed to have a late lunch and my sister and brother-in-law met Sammy there several times. He was just home from the war.Did you ask about Stotters? Remember their unique method of making change. I think those containers were pushed by compressed air. I used to like to go there just to watch them fly around! Patti, I knew Bus McGinn and his brother John but the time period isn't right. CHESTER SWEAT That was a wonderful history of the dark side of Chester and every bit of it true. But the American people seem to be able to see something funny in every situation no matter bad. The depression was terrible--no jobs and no hope of one. My husband was in a CCC camp in up state Pa. and can you believe that the director of the camp stole food from those boys. Sent them out to cut fire breaks with one lettuce sandwitch for lunch! Harvey--enjoyed Brent Staples.
Pattie Yes. Harvey, It is amazing how you do that. It's funny,we lived at 9th and walnut till I was old enough to go to Smedley Jr. High and it was a clean, and friendly people and we knew all the families . I also felt secure there. Then we moved into my father's parents house after they passed away. He got the chance to buy it from family. What a letdown from our other home.But we got to know everyone, in fact we already knew many of the neighbors because my Mother's parents lived there. It was only a two block to get to Smedley. My homeroom was in the Powell building which sat out front of the main school. Many a nickle or 6 cent ticket for the mac theatre, probably saw mostly the musicals. You could imagine you were one of them in the picture. One Saturday matinee, I even won a door prize. It's funny how life has its twists and turns where you meet different people all the time. I have some old picture's I am going to bring to be photographed. I remember when I was small , I went to chester park with my Grandfather to Chester Park for spring water. Chester water was pretty bad till we started getting it from the Octaro dam.
Thanx Patti, Your knowledge of the city is impressive. I was only trying to point out how a few people (Mclure, Nacrelli etc.) could have such a profound influence and the aftermath that they created. These people destroyed a once proud and strong city. History not learned is bound to repeat itself.
Linda: A joyce webb seems to ring a bell. Dewey class of 1953 or 53.
HARVEY - YOU ARE INCREDIBLE!!!! It took you less than 3 minutes to send me Sweet Little Alice Blue Gown. I left the room for a minute and when I came back I couldn't believe my ears - the tune was playing on my computer. You are truly amazing. I hope you sent that to Florence too. My favorite line in that song is, "Till it wilted, I wore it" - cause that's what I've done with some of my favorite dresses. You are truly amazing. Thank you so much.
Also, I listened to the DeJohn Sister's "No More" and what fun to hear that again. I was in many minstrels with them (I sang too) and Dux was a good friend of mine in high school also, and we both talk endlessly about how we wanted to be famous singers. I am truly happy for both sisters that they were successful. I understand that Julie has passed away - is that true?
FLORENCE: Do you mean the song "Sweet Little Alice Blue Gown"? If so, strange you should bring that up, because as very old as that song is, I have always loved it. Too bad, it died away because I think the melody is absolutely beautiful. Maybe Harvey can find that for us somewhere on the internet.
While I'm here and before my computer crashes, I really have a need to say something about Buckman Village. Of all the places I've lived and visited, that village remains in my memory as the cutest, most unique neighborhood in the country (don't know about Europe). All the homes were painted white and even though connected, the designs were different - and they exuded warmth - especially the ones that sat on corner lots. And when it snowed, what a beautiful picture it made. Tree-lined streets that curved, and a lot of the homes looked like cottages. I wish someone could or would make a painting of Buckman Village. Quite a contrast to the rest of the city. I visited there again in 1980 and although the streets were lined with cars (not when I lived there) and some of the homes were boarded up, it still had not lost all of its appeal. And the people were the best - everyone knew everyone else. So, my happiest memories are in BV, not downtown Chester - some unhappy memories there. BV was a safer place to live. I'm glad I lived there. I'd like to hear what other readers have to say about BV.
How exciting to find this page with all the memories of Chester, good and bad. Grew up in McCafferty Village-1948-1965, anyone else out there remember the Webb's? Write me and let me know. Linda Webb Hampton
Patti
What about My Sweet Little Alice Blue Gown. T.N. My husband said he probably got it wrong. When your 80 you get a little mixed up. Does anyone remember Reubens bar or Henry's wallpaper store
Pattie
You are such a good writer, so good with words
Juke Box #5 The DeJohn Sisters 'My Baby Don't Love Me No More' http://www.bracingpep.com/realaudio/request.html
Staples, Brent. "Black Men and Public Space." Harper's 12/86.* http://facstaff.uww.edu/carlberj/Journal3.htm
Forget to mention - I have a photo of me standing in front of the Memorial in Buckman Village - just the back of me. It listed names of older brothers of people in the Village that I knew, i.e., McGinn, and I used to look at in wonder. Mrs. McGinn had several sons and lost at least one in WWII. Butch McGinn was one of my very, very good friends. I love him to this day. He was the youngest of the boys. They don't make mothers like Mrs. McGinn anymore.
to: OLD BUCKMAN GUY: I went to the site you mentioned and yes, I see the building at 9th and Keystone. It does look like one building. What a surprise. And the road that runs to the left of that building is Keystone Road. It was a pecular junction. I guess it met where Keystone, Meadow Lane and Pine Lane ended. The developer must have had something in mind when he did that. He probably thought - "They'll have one hellova time trying to figure this out when they old". Thanks for that - but I still have a problem with it being one building. Well, I was a young girl with other things on my mind besides architecture. He-He
I was just looking over the drs. and I don't think I saw Dr.Gifford Crothers or Dr.Kenneth Crothers on the list s
I do remember that when were old enough to vote, we had to register as soon as we reached that age, in order for my grandfather to keep his job. In 1938 the city's first black detective, Ellery Purnsley. was one of the first to respond to the Market Street Massacre,was killed as he approached the building where the shooter was holed up.His name wasMelvin collins. This story was written up in a old Detective Story Magazine...Most of this information, I just got out of the times. But I was going to put it in, but I kept forgetting.This man was a friend of my Grandfather's who also worked for the city. We didn't have anything, we even had a toilet in the shed that flushed when you stood up. We had to go to my grandmother's to get a bath. Her house had a bathroom in it.My father risked his life down town in a big fire to save a little child that really wasnt there. He was a volunteer. He severed his right arm so bad that he couldn't work for months, he was a very good paperhanger. His family had nothing,We were lucky that a wonderful family named Perski let them book groceries all that time,my mother was pregnant, I went to work as a salesclerk and bought my mother clothes to wear and a baby coach for our new baby brother.We strugled for a long time.Their was no kind of ins. or anything else to help us.
TO: CHESTER SWEAT - or Sweet Chester - I love your name. Just my luck that I would be the first one on the Board to respond to you - at the moment. But all I can think of at the moment, is WOW! For those of us born and raised in that "corrupt" city, in order to respond intelligently, it takes a while to digest what we just read - especially for one who left Chester right after graduation from highschool and leaving my fondest memories behind.
However, in my humble opinion, no one has any doubt that a "dangerous virus" did destroy what was once not just a city of McClure, concrete, toilet paper, shipyards and steel, but made up of the common ordinary man with human emotions, needs and expectations of a better future for him and his family. WWII generated familes to Chester from not just all over Pennsylvania but especially the South. I totally agree with the fact that this migration from the South, many of whom were poorly educated, produced a city of "politically unaware" and "really didn't care people" - as long as their family was fed and housed. The migration from the mining towns of northwestern Pennsylvania was just as great such as Pittsburgh (we used to call them the "upstaters"). McCaffrey Village had, I would guess, 75% residency from "upstate" and the south - many of whom became my friends and contributed much to my "good" memories of home. And, if they found their little corner of happiness and prosperity in "Chester" - then it was a "little bit of heaven" to them.
So, Because of it's proximity to the Delaware river, a small but contained industrial city is born. Then WWII comes along, and because industrial Chester is able to contribute greatly to the nation as a whole for war time efforts, and because of the promise of making a living, people with no special skills, or even a lack of intelligence or good common sense, just strong backs or fortitude, migrated to Chester. My mother got a better job at Baldwin (think it made pianos originally) during the war.
Then, after the war and the nation gets back to normal, what happens to Chester and the fact that the industrial age is coming to an end - the smart guy takes advantage of a small, productive and really insignificant city. He knew the money that was made there, and he took advantage of the poor and ignorant, as happens throughout history (I knew Nacrelli's older brother - so Jack came along at a time to really take advantage of what he knew) - and complacency of the people still remained. But the veterans were able to buy homes, etc., and other contributing factors enabled people from the 40's and 50's to move to the suburbs - thus an unfortunate desertion of the city - but this happened in most cities.
So, there is no doubt we let it happen (I left in 1950 - but I include myself and those I still love who are still there - or the suburbs now).
However, because we are now aware of the political machine that ruined Chester, we are striving to still remember and post homage to our loving families, friends and acquaintances that made our individual lives in Chester a warm, and extremely nostalgic remembrance of our early lives there. Corrupt government cannot take that away from us - ever. And those who gained monetarily from our "ignorance" of what they were doing, will suffer - some have already - for taking advantage of the honest, hard-working people once there. I believe in God, not politicians. If money is all they want, that's all they get.
Patti: If you go the neighborhoods section of this website and click on Buckman Village, you will find a photo that has a picture of the building at 9th and Keystone. As you look at the picture, you will see a street running across the middle of the picture. That is 9th St. Locate the two white billboard signs that are on the far left of the picture. They are actually right on the Chester/Trainer line. Moving to the right, there are a few trees and then a building. That is 9th and Keystone. The big dirt area is where the Penn Fruit Market and shopping center with the old Sun Ray drug store were eventually built. I know it is small but maybe it will look familiar.
Brent Staples Born in Chester, Pennsylvania, Brent Staples graduated from Widener University in 1973 and earned a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Chicago in 1982. He worked for the Chicago Sun-Times as a reporter before moving to the New York Times in 1985. He is currently a member of the Time's editorial board, writing on politics and culture. In 1994 he published a memoir, Parallel Time: Growing Up in Black and White, which tells the story of his childhood in Chester, a mixed-race, economically declining town. The book focuses on his younger brother, a drug dealer who died of gunshot wounds at age twenty-two.
"Black Men and Public Space" was originally published in the "Can Men Have It All?" section of Ms. magazine under the title "Just Walk on By: A Black Man Ponders His Power to Alter Public Space." In revised and edited form, it was reprinted in Harper's with the new title "Black Men and Public Space."
In Parallel Time, Staples describes how, in his early twenties, he began to explore his voice as a writer: "I was carrying a journal with me everywhere ... I wrote on buses and on the Jackson Park el — though only at the stops to keep the writing legible. I traveled to distant neighborhoods, sat on their curbs, and sketched what I saw in words. Thursday meant free admission at the Art Institute. All day I attributed motives to people in paintings, especially people in Rembrandts. At closing time I went to a nightclub in The Loop and spied on the patrons, copied their conversations and speculated about their lives. The journal was more than 'a record of my inner transactions.' It was a collection of stolen souls from which I would one day construct a book."
http://www.pbs.org/blackpress/modern_journalist/staplesrm.html
The Nacrelli legacy....comments?
Today, Chester is a city of about 42,000 people. It occupies only 4.8 square miles, and is located just 15 miles south of Philadelphia. In the past, Chester's location along the Delaware river made it ideal for small-scale manufacturing. It was the sight of William Penn's first landing in Pennsylvania,in 1682, and by the early 1700 it was a successful mill town by. In fact, Chester's economy continued to grow all the way up until 1940. The 1880 census shows that Chester made ships, steel, iron, brass, cloth, carriages, barrels, shoes, and pottery. It also had an oil refinery and a chemical manufacturing plant. Throughout the first part of this century, Chester was widely known as a center for economic growth. Industries like Sun Ship, Scott Paper and Ford Motor Company employed so many people that they were small cities onto themselves. Many people moved to Chester to find work, including a large number of blacks from the south and many immigrants from Poland and the Ukraine. Chester was well know for its jazz scene and it's good educational system.
Brent Staples wrote his autobiography Parallel Time about growing up in Chester. He describes what Chester was like during this time period :
My parents departed Roanoke by train on their wedding day, headed for Chester, Pennsylvania, a thriving factory town on the Delaware River, twenty miles south of Philadelphia. My father, his father, and three of my uncles had already settled there, drawn by the promise of work in an economy stoked by World War II. My father had found work in a factory that made parachute silk. WHAT CHESTER MAKES MAKES CHESTER. The sign lights greeted the train as it rolled into town. Chester made paper, steel, aluminum, cars and locomotives.
Beyond all these, Chester made ships. The Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company was a city of its own, spawling along the river. The yard was bristling with cranes, alive with fiery geysers that spang from furnaces and arc welder's tools. What Chester made made Chester. The sign would seem a mockery when the yard was dead and the city was crumbling around it. But that was yet to come when my parents arrived. Chester was a bulging muscle on the Delaware, a place of promise and money and steel.
Like many cities in the Northeast, Chester was hit hard in the postwar era by a restructuring of the U.S. economy. Manufacturing was hit hard by increasing competition from abroad. New technologies gave industies more mobility, and they began to consolidate and move out of the cities. Chester was hit especially hard because it had been so dependent on manufacturing.
From 1950 to 1980, 32 percent of the jobs in Chester disappeared. The economy collapsed. Much of the more upwardly mobile population moved away. Those that were left were predominanly minorities, transforming the racial makeup of the city. From 1950 to 1990 the population declined from 66,000 to 42,000. During the same time period the proportion of the population that was African-American increased from 20% to 65%.
Chester's political history is closely linked to its economic history. Since the turn of the century, with one exception, Chester has been ruled by a corrupt and extremely powerful political machine. The machine began in 1910 with a Swarthmore dropout named John McClure. McClure consolidated power over Chester through a campaign founded in racketeering and bootlegging. He expanded his control to Delaware county, where he established a board of supervisors, commonly called the War Board. The board made all decisions and political appointments in the back rooms, and it was understood that ereryone answered to McClure. In 1933, McClure and 95 of his colleagues were indighted for conspiracy to violate prohibition. None served any time, however, and McClure continued his reign until he died in 1965.
McClure and the Republican party kept tight control over the city's votes by controling public funds in such a way that every government function was delivered as a personal favor. They "granted" you public assistance, and road maintenance. It was "just the friendly help of a neighbor," when they brought food to the sick. They were largely responsible for controlling who got jobs. In fact, to get any kind of job with the city, you had to be a registered Republican. A paper in 1967 noted that, when asked why they voted for machine candidates, most African-Americans responded that it was so they would be able to get a job. Whether or not this was true, the rumor, the fear of losing a job, was all that was necessary. The machine held the people in the palm of its hand. By delivering favors on an individual basis it kept the poor from organizing and bargaining collectively. Effectively, it removed any power people had in the political process.
After McClure died in 1965, Jack Nacrelli, a local mobster, took control of the party. He served as mayor until 1979 when he was convicted on tax evasion, bribery and racketeering. His control was still felt from jail however, and in 1985, his secretary Willie Mae Leake became the first black mayor of Chester.
In 1992, in one of the most impressive political campaigns of the city's history, the Democratic party finally overthrew the machine. A number of community groups came togeter to register over 3,400 new voters. Barbara Bohannan-Sheppard, the director of a local daycare center, was elected mayor. The new administration was marked by infighting however, and in 1996 the Republicans regained control. Last month, Nacrelli's portrait was redisplayed in city hall.
People in Chester have faced extreme barriers to political participation for almost a century. We have seen that they faced an extremely corrupt government with the possibility of severe consequences for speaking out against the system, but it is also important to remember that many of the people are dealing every day with the hardships of poverty. When people are worrying about how to feed their children, it is too much to ask them to worry about environmental racism too. All of these factors made the city ripe for exploitation by the waste processing plants that have moved in over the last 30 years. . .
FYI
TERROR & NEGLECT Resources for unreasonable people who see that the 30 year heart-mind-spirit starvation of their Chester, PA children is simply unacceptable. [ Up ] [ TERROR & NEGLECT ] [ NO ZONE ] [ 10&20 ZONE ] [ HUMAN RIGHTS ] [ HELP NOW ] [ CURRENT PROVIDERS ] [ NEWS ] [ MODELS ] [ RESOURCES & LINKS ] 'There [is] something wrong in a society that [allows such poor care of the children] to happen.' 'True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar. It comes to see that an edifice that produces beggars needs restructuring.' Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
MAP: Chester, PA
The republicans call a cease-fire on cities New York Times, Aug. 5, 2000 It boomed in the 1940's, when the war-stoked economy spawned steel mills, shipyards, textile mills and a range of heavy industries that made Chester a magnet for the great migration of black people moving into the industrial North from the rural South. Chester's Sun Shipyard employed 40,000 people from around the region, in a city whose population totaled a mere 66,000. But the yard lost roughly 10,000 jobs per decade and then closed in the 1980's, with catastrophic effect on Chester and its surrounding municipalities. Skilled laborers fled as quickly as they could, leaving behind the poor, who turned in great numbers to the drug trade... The decay was worsened by a corrupt and long-lived Republican machine that brought graft and administrative ineptitude to new lows. The machine's founder was the legendary Republican boss John J. McClure, a natty dresser in a vest and high buttoned shoes whose power in Chester and surrounding Delaware County rivaled Boss Richard Daley's in Chicago. McClure was a Republican kingmaker who helped to choose Pennsylvania governors and to whom even Richard Nixon paid homage as an aspiring president. McClure ruled, through patronage and punishment, from 1930 to his death in 1965...
His successor was Jack Nacrelli, a tough machine politician who led Chester as mayor from 1968 to 1979, when he was convicted of racketeering. He returned from jail to dominate the city into the 1980's. According to a 1991 report from the Pennsylvania State Crime Commission, which investigated organized crime throughout the state, Mr. Nacrelli exercised his most intensive patronage efforts through the school board, which quickly deteriorated.
Barry's 'New Era of Ethics' Washington Post, Mar. 5, 1998 "The 10 Most Corrupt Cities in America," lumping the District [of Columbia] in with the likes of Chester, Pa., Las Vegas, Lake Providence, La., Miami and Youngstown, Ohio. Environmental Racism in Chester Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living (CRCQL), Mar. 13, 2000 A BRIEF HISTORY OF CHESTER Articles written about Chester Waste Facilites in Chester Health Effects and Demographics What is Environmental Racism ??? Toxic Pollution in Delaware County
Life in the Toxic Zone New York Times, Sep. 15, 1996 Metaphors of death are plentiful in Chester, Pa., a declining factory town on the Delaware River just south of Philadelphia. Once a muscular city of 66,000, Chester lost a third of its population -- and more than 40,000 jobs -- between the end of World War II and the coming of Ronald Reagan. Elected Mayor, the town's leading mortician suggested turning out street lights -- actually letting the city go dark -- to save money. Many streets are desolate. Young prostitutes prowl the doorways of burned-out buildings. In addition to these misfortunes, Chester has become the waste-processing capital of Pennsylvania -- and a national battleground on the issue of environmental justice... The city was already polluted from a long history of steel and heavy manufacturing. The desperate need for new jobs made the situation much worse. Chester began to accept waste-treatment facilities that rich neighbors like Swarthmore and Bryn Mawr wanted no part of. Its zoning laws were recently tightened. But during the last decade, Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection issued permits for five waste plants in Chester, with the capacity to handle more than two million tons of waste per year. Elsewhere in Delaware County, only two permits were issued for small plants that could process less than 1 percent as much waste. According to the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, Chester treats all of the county's solid waste and 85 percent of its sewage. The city accounts for 75 percent of the county's air pollution complaints...
Chester is mainly black. The rest of the county is overwhelmingly white. In 1995, a draft report from the E.P.A. found that Chester had the state's highest infant mortality rate and the highest death rate due to certain malignant tumors. Risks of kidney, liver and respiratory disease from pollution were perilously high. In addition, 60 percent of blood samples from Chester children exceeded lead levels recommended by the Centers for Disease Control...
Pennsylvania city hopes it's bouncing back from the bottom New York Times, Jan. 5, 1992 This small city of 42,000 people, surrounded by the thriving middle-class suburbs west of Philadelphia, has one of the highest concentrations of urban problems in America... Its schools and public housing rank among the worst, as do the city's rates for crime, joblessness, truancy, teen-age pregnancy and infant mortality. Homelessness, drug abuse and AIDS are major problems...
Attacking corruption, the county district attorney recently won convictions of a member of the City Council and three members of the city's redevelopment authority on charges that included ethics violations and accepting bribes from contractors...
...all the movie theaters, the bowling alleys and a skating rink have closed...
Chester's Republican Party machine, one of the nation's oldest, has also been called one of the most corrupt in recent decades by state officials. The Pennsylvania Crime Commission, an investigative agency of the State Legislature, said in a report last year that Chester's government had been dominated by "a triad of criminals, corrupt politicians and rogue law-enforcement officers" since the 1960's...
During Chester's long prosperity as an industrial center, unskilled workers found high-paying jobs in steel mills, shipyards,aircraft engine factories, slaughterhouses and a Ford Motor Company plant. But at an increasing pace over the last 40 years, because of high labor costs and increased competition, all but two major companies closed or moved to the South; at the same time, more Southern blacks moved into Chester and many white residents moved to the suburbs...
As the population fell, from 63,000 as recently as 1970 to 42,000 last year, it became two-thirds black and increasingly poor and elderly. About one of every six residents lives in public housing, one family in three receives public assistance and about one adult in three is unemployed, the city estimates...
But the Republicans stayed in power, with the help of patronage jobs and favors. Last year's crime commission report concluded: "Government in Chester is Jack Nacrelli," referring to John H. Nacrelli, the 61-year-old Republican Party boss, who holds no official position...
Mr. Nacrelli was Mayor from 1968 until 1979, when he was convicted of racketeering and income tax evasion for taking $22,000 in bribes from an illegal gambling operation with ties to organized crime. The report says Mr. Nacrelli continued to run a "shadow government" during and after his two-year imprisonment and made most political appointments in city agencies and the school system...
Mr. Nacrelli, who has apparently moved, could not be located for comment on the report...
"Chester is the kind of place where you walk down the street and men still tip their hats to you, and the churches are filled on Sundays," said Ann G. Torregrossa, executive director of the Delaware County Legal Assistance Association in Chester and the lead lawyer on several successful lawsuits on behalf of citizens' housing and school groups...
"If there is a place where we should be able to turn things around, it's Chester," she said...
FLORENCE....I remember Anns' Donuts right off 6th and Welsh, but I don't remember Kays. TN
Good Afternoon
My husband wanted to know if anyone remember's Kay's doughnut shop next to Brigg's sporting goods store.It was on Welsh St. between 6th and 7th. I don't remember it. I rember Lincoln's Store and I remember L&H sporting store next , maybe next to State Diner. I am kind of mixed up.
PATTI....I remember Vesuvios very well. I use to go with a girl who lived on Keystone road right next door to the first resturant. In 1957 The Pizza shop was on the bottom part on 9th Street and a small resturant was above with a separate entrance. Their use to be a waitress by the name of Connie (?) DiNicola. A very nice lady. Sometime in the 60's, the building was made into one Italian food resturant, with eating upstairs or down. The food was the best. I don't know when, but the business was sold and as of a few years ago has since closed and moved to (N.J. I think). The property I heard, is to be turned into some form of a medical facility. I knew the original owner of Vesuvios, Mr. Iacona. I forget his wifes name, but she was a very pleasant person and I believe ther sons name was Anthony. They did add some motel rooms next to the Pizza shop on 9th Street. You are right about the "Slope". If you looked out the kitchen window of the house I mentioned on Keystone Rd above Vesuvios, you would look down on 9th street.Hope this helps. You really stirred up the memory cobwebs. Take care....T. Nicolaides
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