The Streets of Duquesne and McKeesport at Christmas Time

Posted on December 5, 2011 by Jim

“Take a look in the Five and Ten

Glistening once again

With candy canes and silver lanes aglow”

As a kid, there was no other store that made me more excited about Christmas than the 5 & 10 Cent stores! We were so lucky to have three stores to choose from in our area. We not only had the G.C.Murphy on South First Street in Duquesne, but we also had two gems in McKeesport. G.C. Murphy and H.L. Greens were both located on 5th Avenue and were epicenters for Christmas spirit in the city. Although I remember bits and pieces of the Murphy’s on South First in Duquesne, my strongest recollections are with the two Five and Dimes in McKeesport.

We would spend hours at the 5 & 10 at Christmas time. It always felt so warm inside. The store windows had bright and festive displays which were difficult to see sometimes since they always seemed to quickly fog-up when it was sold outside. That was actually part of the charm of the store.

I don’t remember any front checkout lines as you see today. Each counter had its own cash register and its own attentive sales staff. I remember being under the scrutiny of many a salesgirl (as they were called) to be sure I didn’t mess-up the counter. They were fastidious about keeping their counters neat and orderly. I recall the year I was buying my mom some nice hankies. I must have been about 9 or 10 years old and was checking out the prices and the assortment at the counter in H.L.Green’s. The lady behind the counter immediately made her way over to me when she saw me reaching for the neat pile of folded hankies. I was greeted with a rather stern sounding “May I help you young man?” In retrospect, she obviously thought of herself as the “Hankie Gestapo of H.L.Green’s.” Needless to say, my arms immediately retreated to my sides, and I told her I wanted to buy some pretty handkerchiefs for my mom. She asked me a series of questions about my mom’s favorite colors, flowers, etc. and determined the perfect choice for me. She was right on, I knew Mom would love the hankies with the blue Morning Glories embroidered on them. For a mere 50¢ each, I was able to purchase 3 hankies for my mom, have them loving wrapped in tissue paper and place in a box. The salesgirl told me the total was $1.50 which she punched into the cash register; I paid and was quickly on my way.

Buying for my dad was a simpler process and one that was free of the pressure of having to deal with a salesgirl. It meant a quick trip to any number of places that sold tobacco products. I remember going up to the counter in Elise’s (aka Avenue News) or perhaps Hilltop Dairy and buying my dad some Mail Pouch Tobacco and some rolling papers. He obviously used to roll his own cigarettes. In those days, there were no laws that restricted the sale of tobacco products to kids. The messages regarding the health risks as well as using rolling papers for anything other than creating cheaper cigarettes was unheard of.

It appears I’ve gotten a bit off of subject with buying my dad’s gift, so let’s get back to the 5 & 10. There’s a part of my Christmas visits to Murphy’s or Green’s that I don’t have a strong recall of. Based on what my Aunt Mary told me, she and my mom would take us to McKeesport to have our pictures taken with Santa at one of the 5 & 10s. It must not have been too traumatic of an event for me since I really don’t remember every doing it. It may have been that my big brother was always in the pictures with me, so I must have felt safe. Or, Santa may have promise to share a cookie or something with me if I took the picture. Whatever the reason was, I still enjoy looking at those old pictures with Santa and I cherish the memories they evoke.

I decided that I need to conduct another poll among yunz! (Yes, I said it…. YUNZ!) I am curious about your favorite Christmas carol/song. I’m asking that you pick two, the first being your favorite religious/traditional selection and the second being your favorite non-religious/popular choice. My favorite religious carol would be “O Holy Night.” My favorite non-religious song and my reason for discussing it in the middle of this post is because the song is “Silver Bells,” and it has a LOT to do with the subject of this post.

 

Silver Bells

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks

Dressed in holiday style

In the air there’s a feeling of Christmas

Children laughing

People passing

Meeting smile after smile

And on ev’ry street corner you’ll hear

Silver bells, silver bells

It’s Christmas time in the city

Ring a ling hear them sing

Soon it will be Christmas day

Strings of street lights

Even stop lights

Blink a bright red and green

As the shoppers rush home with their treasures

Hear the snow crunch

See the kids bunch

This is Santa’s big scene

And above all this bustle you’ll hear

Silver bells, silver bells

It’s Christmas time in the city

Ring-a-ling, hear them sing

Soon it will be Christmas day.

Every time I hear this song, it reminds of those times when I was in downtown McKeesport, shopping with my mom and flitting between the 5 & 10’s. When we were shopping in downtown McKeesport, there was so much positive energy and holiday spirit. The bags that people carried were emblazoned with the store’s name on them. They weren’t generic white plastic bags, but rather proudly displayed the store logo like Jaison’s, Katzman’s, Cox’s, Immel’s, Kadar’s, National Record Mart and more.

I recall one time that instead of my mom, my dad took me to McKeesport one evening. I experienced McKeesport from a whole different perspective during that trip. As busy and exciting as the stores and the city were during the daytime hours, everything turned magical in my eyes that evening. Lights sparkled everywhere, store windows seemed so much brighter and the hustle and bustle was so much more pronounced than during the day. I remember that it was VERY cold the evening my dad and I shopped. In fact, there were  whisps of snow flurries in the air. We literally were immursed in the lyrics of the song “Silver Bells.” From that evening forward, my dad and I made an annual evening shopping trip to McKeesport every year until it no longer was possible due to the economics of the downtown McKeesport area.

I remember how some store, like Cox’s, NRM and Jaison’s played Christmas carols that could be heard from the street, as if they were luring you into their stores. Once inside, you were enveloped in Christmas spirit and customer service. In those days, very few departments were self-serve. People actually worked in specific departments. They did just spend their time stocking shelves and racks, they actually helped you find what you were looking for. You didn’t have to carry around your selection and hunt for a place to pay for it, nor did you put your selection into a grocery cart and have to push it to a checkout line where they would ultimately wad it up and stuff it into a plastic bag directly underneath the loaf of bread you were buying. Instead, price tags were removed from items that were then lovingly folded, placed in a box if you desired and then carefully placed into a bag.

Downtown Duquesne and McKeesport are vastly different from when I was a child. The stores are gone, even the buildings have disappeared. However, the single thing that can never be taken away are the warm memories that are forever etched in your mind.

Now, take a few minutes and tell us your favorite carols. It’ll only take you a few minutes. By the way, I didn’t include “The 12 Days of Christmas” as one of the choices since I have never met anyone who ever liked the song…. or fruitcake for that matter!!

Posted in Christmas Memories, McKeesport, Stores and Businesses | 18 Comments

Christmas Music To My Ears

Posted on November 29, 2011 by Jim

“Christmas isn’t a season. It’s a feeling”

Up until roughly 1960, we had an old Crosley floor radio and phonograph that sat in our dining room. The turntable only had the capacity to play 78 rpm records, and our selections were limited to say the least. I remember Mom would occasionally play some of the Big Band records that she had purchased years earlier. The records were full of crackles and pops, but we were still able to hear the sounds of Glenn Miller or Les Brown fill the air.

In 1960, Dad decided to purchase Mom a modern piece of equipment that excited her beyond belief. The occasion was their wedding anniversary which was in October. I distinctly remember the day when he decided to give her the present. He wasn’t much into wrapping presents, and so he simply carried a huge cardboard box into the dining room. When Mom opened the box, she was speechless. There before her was a sparkling new Hi-Fi Stereo portable record player! The speakers folded together on the front and were black with a glittery finish. When the speaker were opened, they revealed a silver glittery fabric. The rest of the casing was pink and as “mid-century modern” as you could get. I don’t remember the brand for certain, but it may have been Phillips, Motorola or Zenith. I have not yet been able to locate a photograph of the machine, but I found one that resembled it closely, shown on the left.

Mom loved her new stereo. Imagine, being able to still play her old 78 rpms PLUS being able to buy and play new 45’s and LP albums! Dad had purchased the stereo from his friend Dom Torretti at Dom’s TV, so he knew he got the best. As an added bonus, Dad had received a box of 50 albums when he purchased the stereo. Granted, they were not the most sought after artists, but my parents enjoyed them. There were albums with the Ink Spots, Connie Boswell, Hawaiian music, Big Band Music, Tangos, Beer Drinking Songs (as if Duquesne men needed that type of encouragement!) and dozens of other genres.

Surprisingly, among all of the albums, there were only two Christmas Albums. The first was an album featuring Jack Benny and Dennis Day. It featured a photograph of Jack Benny dressed as Santa Claus and standing in front of what appeared to be Dennis Day’s family who were dressed in their pajamas. Jack was playing his violin and the family appeared to be singing along. It was as hokey of a photo as you could come by, and the album was just as corny. There were songs performed by Dennis Day, some by Jack Benny and even some tracks containing dialog of Jack Benny and Rochester. Believe it or not, I still have the album and I still play it every Christmas since it immediately brings back the memories.

Another of the freebies that Mom received was an album by Fred (?) that featured a pipe organ and bells. It was about as traditional of a Christmas album as you could find. Somewhere along the way, that album was either lost, borrowed or thrown away and I no longer have it. However, thanks to the amazing reach of technology and the internet, I was able to locate a copy of the records on eBay and now have it back in my collection. It too is dragged out every year and played, especially when I’m trimming the tree.

Beyond all other Christmas music, the one album that immediately “brings it home” for me isn’t one that you would expect. In the early 60’s, as a student attending Holy Name Grade School, we were charged with the job of selling a Christmas album that was recorded by the Sisters of St. Joseph in Baden, Pa. The album was titled “In A Manger Lowly” and contained primarily just the voices of the sisters at the Motherhouse in Baden and occasionally some pipe organ accompaniment.

On the back of the album, aside from the lyrics to the songs that were included, there was narrative about the origin of the title song, “In a Manger Lowly.” It reads –

The feature carol of this record, “In a Manger Lowly,” was written in 1916 by Sister M. Victoria, S.S.J., who at present is completely blind, and a patient in the Sister’s Infirmary at Baden, Pennsylvania. Although handicapped, Sister still assists in the work of the community through her apostolate of prayer and suffering. It is the wish of Sister Victoria that all who hear this carol may have a special share in her daily prayers for the needs of all Christians.

I spoke to Sister Sally, the archivist for the Sisters of St. Joseph in Baden, and she gave me some interesting information regarding Sister Victoria.  The Sister was born on 8-6-1869 and died on 10-27-1963, a short time after the album was released. Sister Sally indicated that Sister Victoria was born the very year that the Sisters of St. Joseph expanded into Western PA. – Thanks for the information Sister Sally! 

On a whim, I visited the Sisters of St. Joseph – Baden website and discovered that their album was available on CD through their Gift Shop! I immediately ordered a couple and they are a direct recording from the album master still as magical as when my mom would play her album repeatedly through Christmas. If you would like to get a copy for yourself, here’s how:

Click HERE for CD order form.

Click HERE to visit The Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse Website

Or you can call the main number, (724) 869-2151, and order by phone. Just ask to be connected to The Book Nook Gift Shop and they will take care of you. You can pay by credit card and have it mailed out immediately. As a final alternative, you can print out the order form and mail it to the Motherhouse at the following address:

The Sisters of St. Joseph

The Book Nook Gift Shop

1020 State Street

Baden, PA 15005-1338

And so my friends, I hopefully sign off leaving music in your heart. I am heading up to Duquesne this weekend and will be staying for 5 days. I can’t wait to get home and I’m hoping I encounter some snow along the way as I did at this time last year. I will hopefully return with lots of stories and pictures to share with you.

If there is anything you’d like me to check out, please leave a comment and let me know!

Posted in Christmas Memories, Church and School - Holy Name, Stores and Businesses | 8 Comments

The Christmas Countdown Begins

Posted on November 25, 2011 by Jim

I just finalized plans for a trip to Duquesne in December. I am planning on visiting my hometown from December 3rd through the 7th. I hope that I have an opportunity to visit with my family as well as old friends that I have reconnected with as a result of my blog. I’m not sure where my adventures will take me, but I’m hoping I am able to discover more photographic treasures to add to my archives and share with you. I’m hoping to see our friend Jim Hartman from the Mifflin Township Historical Society during my visit. I also plan on visiting the Daily News building in McKeesport, but I understand that it is difficult to make any headway there. If anyone knows someone there or has advice, please, let me know.

Hopefully, Mrs. Denne at City Hall might be able to point me in the right direction and provide some advice on whom I might be able to speak in Duquesne to research more about our hometown. Hopefully, the nativity at 2nd and Grant will be in place, and I’ll be able to get some photos. Right now, the nativity is leading as the Christmas recollection that is the most memorable for the people of Duquesne followed closely by the Duquesne Christmas street lights. If you haven’t voted yet, just click HERE to tell us what you think!!

Now that we are past Thanksgiving and all the madness the day after brings, I wanted to focus once again on the joys the holiday season brought to Duquesne residents. Contrary to today’s trend, preparing for and celebrating the Christmas season didn’t start until Thanksgiving had been celebrated to its fullest. After that time, people’s mindsets began shifting to preparing for Christmas ever so slowly. However, once we returned to Holy Name School after our Thanksgiving holiday, we were ready to rock and roll. The good sisters would immediately turn our attention to preparing for Advent. Usually starting shortly after our return, each year we had to “refocus” on the true meaning of Christmas and the need to prepare for the celebration on a non-secular basis.

In spite of the reverence we needed to exhibit toward the set-up of our classroom’s Advent Wreath, we couldn’t help but get excited about beginning the “countdown” to Christmas. That countdown combined with being able to have burning candles in our classroom was just cause for becoming really excited!! (I often wondered if part of the excitement was due to some innate pyromaniac tendencies I may have possessed!) Dutifully, each day during Advent we would take turns lighting the appropriate pink or purple candles. We’d all gather around the wreath, recite our prayers as the candles were lit, and then return to our seats to begin the day.

The Advent Wreath in retrospect was our teacher’s way of dangling a fish hook in front of us to assure our good behavior in addition to its religious implications. I thought it would be a good idea to research the symbolism of the Advent Wreath as a refresher for all of us.

The symbolism of the Advent wreath is beautiful. The wreath is made of various evergreens, signifying continuous life. Even these evergreens have a traditional meaning which can be adapted to our faith: The laurel signifies victory over persecution and suffering; pine, holly, and yew, immortality; and cedar, strength and healing. Holly also has a special Christian symbolism: The prickly leaves remind us of the crown of thorns, and one English legend tells of how the cross was made of holly. The circle of the wreath, which has no beginning or end, symbolizes the eternity of God, the immortality of the soul, and the everlasting life found in Christ. Any pine cones, nuts, or seedpods used to decorate the wreath also symbolize life and resurrection. All together, the wreath of evergreens depicts the immortality of our soul and the new, everlasting life promised to us through Christ, the eternal Word of the Father, who entered our world becoming true man and who was victorious over sin and death through His own passion, death, and resurrection.

The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent. A tradition is that each week represents one thousand years, to sum to the 4,000 years from Adam and Eve until the Birth of the Savior. Three candles are purple and one is rose. The purple candles in particular symbolize the prayer, penance, and preparatory sacrifices and goods works undertaken at this time. The rose candle is lit on the third Sunday, Gaudete Sunday, when the priest also wears rose vestments at Mass; Gaudete Sunday is the Sunday of rejoicing, because the faithful have arrived at the midpoint of Advent, when their preparation is now half over and they are close to Christmas. The progressive lighting of the candles symbolizes the expectation and hope surrounding our Lord’s first coming into the world and the anticipation of His second coming to judge the living and the dead.

So as we move forward as the dutiful Duquesne Hunkys that we are, I will continue to post “Letters to Santa” from various time periods in Duquesne’s history. I think would be amazing to come across a letter that you had written, or perhaps one that was written by a parent or grandparent. In this post, I have letters written and published in the Duquesne Times 90 years ago in 1921. Also, I have included letters that were written in 1948 as well. Please let us know if you discover a letter that in connected to you in some way. Enjoy, and Merry Christmas my friends…….

Posted in Christmas Memories, Church and School - Holy Name | 3 Comments

News From A Duquesne Neighbor

Posted on November 23, 2011 by Jim

Periodically, I receive emails from some of our former Duquesne friends and neighbors. I received the following email from George Simcina and wanted to pass it along to you. When I saw that it was from someone by the name Simcina, I recognized the name immediately. I began to think of the many names that seem so familiar when reading your comments or in past issues of The Duquesne Times. Names such as Kopriver, Pucci, Valco, Benovitz, Isadore, Toretti, Achtzehn, Shaughnessy, Linn, Terza, Simcina, Meighan, Staisey, Falvo, Gigliotti and so many more. I am sure there are so many more, but my memory bank is running a bit low on funds, so you’ll have to fill in whatever blanks I’ve left.

George’s greetings to all of us –

My name is George Simcina, a graduate of DHS in 1945 at age 17. Therefore my memories of Duquesne are from the war years.  I went onto the service in 1946 -1949. I graduated for Indiana, Pa college in 1953. It is now IUP.

My brother John owned the Hill Top Dairy at the corner of Kennedy Ave and Peter St. with his wife Alice. They had a son John who was known as Jack. My sister Helen worked there. In the war years there were a lot of small grocery stores in that area.  Now they are called Mom and Pop stores. This was a time of the depression and this was a way of survival.

We did a lot of walking in those days. Also, many of us Hunky kids worked at Kennywood Park. I worked at the Dipsy Doodle. There were times we would walk to Kennywood to save the nickel. I lived on Barbara St. then.  We could get the bus to Kennywood at the corner of Kennedy and Peter St. At that time there were to buses to ride, one coming down Kennedy or one going up, both with the final destination of Kennywood.

There were two theaters (shows as we knew them,) The Plaza, which showed the regular feature, and The Grant (I think) that showed the B movies.

Many of us in that class were first generation Americans. We were called “Hunkies.” When someone called us that we would call them “Bo Hunks.”  I am not sure why or what it meant.

A former mayor of Duquesne was one of my classmates,  Melvin Achtzehn.

These are old memories old Duquesne.

I now live in Romeo, Michigan about 75 years younger than Duquesne but keeping

it a nice place to live. My home was built in 1872 as the others on this street.  Some others in this village are 40 years older

I enjoyed your page and the remarks from other Hunkies.  It would be nice to hear from home.

George Simcina

I also received an email from Anita Jakubovics  – Oct 19

Jim,

I wanted to thank you for your wonderful blog! I have been following it for the past couple of months and I find it such a joy to read.  My name is Anita Jakubovics-Smith, and although I’m too “young” to remember most of the things that you’ve mentioned, (I was born in 1980), I’ve always had a soft spot for history.  My hunky grandparents came to work in the Duquesne Mill in the early 1900s. My parents are from the West Mifflin / Duquesne Area.  My mom grew up on Worton Blvd, down from Jim’s Hot Dogs, and my dad down on Belmont Ave.  I currently teach at New Emerson Elementary, the sight of the old Edision Jr. High in West Mifflin.  Plus, my parents were the last owners of Joe’s Luncheonette,  and an uncle owned the Union Bar and Grill, so even though I’ve never lived there, my Duquesne roots run very deep!

My reason for finally contacting you is regarding your latest post, Hunky Halloween. In the picture I notice that my dad, Richard Jakubovics, one of his sisters, and several cousins are listed. Unfortunately, I can’t place him because of the quality of the photograph.  My dad suddenly passed away 11 years ago, and I love looking at photographs of him in his younger days.  Plus, I’m pregnant with his first grandchild, and would love to add it to a memory book for her of her “pappy Jake” in heaven.  I was wondering if you could send me a scanned copy of the article, or even let me know where you were able to locate the Duquesne Times so I can take a better look at it.  Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated!! Keep writing your wonderful posts because I look forward to reading them:)

Thanks again,

Anita

As an added treat, Lou Andriko has sent along a few “get you in the mood” Croatian Christmas Songs that you’ll enjoy. As I told Lou, who describes himself as a Hunky Porky Chedwick, I remember hearing Hunky carols, but never knew what they meant, that is until now. Listen and enjoy!

Posted in Christmas Memories, Feedback From Our Friends | 1 Comment

It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like A Duquesne Christmas

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Jim

As we head towards the Christmas season, I thought it would be fun to get your point of view on what reminds you most about Christmas in Duquesne. There are probably many more that I haven’t included, so feel free to add your thoughts if they are not on the list.

Posted in Christmas Memories, Surveys and Opinions | 7 Comments

A Warm and Fuzzy Happy Hunky Holiday

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Jim

OK, I will be the first to admit that I am the world’s biggest softie when it comes to Thanksgiving and Christmas. I find solace and comfort in some of the most incidental things at this time of year. A site, a smell, a sound, a song.

A whiff of cinnamon and cloves immediately transports me to another time, a time when those warm fragrances surrounded me as my aunts busily prepared a thanksgiving feast for the entire family at my Grandpa’s house. Seeing a line-up of pumpkin pies in the bakery section of the supermarket reminds me of see freshly baked pumpkin and pecan pies lined up of the kitchen table on Thanksgiving morning. The clang of pots and dishes emanating from the kitchen of a busy restaurant brings me back to the organized chaos that occurred in Grandpa’s kitchen on Thanksgiving morning.

For as long as I can remember, we always had a TV in our living room as I was growing up. The first one I remember was a Crosley. Every Thanksgiving morning started the same way for my brother and me. It meant a hearty breakfast of both bacon and “dunking” eggs or my dad’s specialty of pancakes and sausage. While he busily prepared breakfast, Mom, Steve and I would park ourselves in front of the TV and watch the preparations for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. They always televised the huge balloons being inflated, bands practicing and hundreds of people lining the streets, smiling and waving. It always seemed to be either snowing or very cold. (It wasn’t until I tried to locate some photos take in the 1950’s of the parade that I realized that it almost never snowed during the parade and what I was probably remembering was the snow resulting from  the antenna!) I recall the announcers being bundled up in fur coats, back when it wasn’t considered politically incorrect to do so. Usually, the chill was so bad, that you would see every spoken word escape their lips in the form of a puff of smoke.

As if he timed it around the parade, Dad always seemed to be calling us to the breakfast table with enough time to enjoy the breakfast and be able to return to the TV in time to watch the parade from the beginning. The telecast of the parade itself was very different from the way it is presented now. I remember that the parade was just that… a parade. They didn’t have special performances or groups stopping in front of Macy’s to lip-sync to a recording they made earlier. The parade was bands, floats (sometimes with a star riding on it), huge balloons and LOTS of people marching in step to the music. Pretty straight forward.

Almost immediately after the parade, we were hustled upstairs to get dressed to go to Grandpa’s. My standard outfit in those days was corduroys and a flannel shirt. I would be dressed and ready to go in a matter of minutes, looking like a little lumberjack. We’d all pile in our blue 1951 Kaiser and head over to Duquesne Avenue in West Mifflin ready for our BIG day! Steve and I would be in the backseat, unbuckled, usually torturing each other and irritating Mom and Dad. If it had snowed that day, the ride was even more fun since there were lots of hills between our house and Grandpa’s. It was only a 3 mile trip, but with a heavy snow, it sometimes took quite a while to negotiate the ups and downs on the trip.

Once we arrived at Grandpa’s house, we’d pile out of the car and head into his for the day. It wasn’t a big house, but it was able to accommodate the entire Volk Clan. All of my cousins would eventually arrive and the kids would all end up either in the basement or the upstairs bedrooms to play. The noise level in the house was a cacophony of kids laughing, pots clanging in the kitchen, our moms yelling at our dads, and our dads laughing while they kicked back with the guys to have a shot or two along with their Iron City. I have to laugh when I think about how mad the ladies got at their husbands. It irritated the heck out of them that my dad and my uncles basically did nothing other than entertain one another the entire day with the exception of setting up the HUGE banquet table that spanned two rooms…. oh yes, AND watch any football game that happened to be on TV.

While all of the chaos was going on in and around the kitchen, my cousins and I continued playing, unconcerned about all of the noise. We were making enough of our own, and even managed to prompt and occasional “quiet down” from one of the adults. Around 2 or 3 in the afternoon, our little noses seemed to perk up in unison as the wonderful smells of roasted turkey, pumpkin pies and freshly baked dinner rolls began to permeate the air. As if by instinct, we knew that our play time was about to end and we would all be enjoying a Thanksgiving feast by the customary time of 4 o’clock.

As the preparation of the feast drew dangerously close to completion, the “men” of the family would go about their duty of setting up the make-shift banquet table. Smaller tables would be shifted to accommodate plywood extensions to make a larger eating surface. Chairs would be gathered from every corner of the house and basement, tablecloths would be draped and before you knew it, the adults table was prepared and set. The array of mismatched dinner plates was huge but still looked welcoming and festive. The second part of the men’s duty was to pull together the “children’s table” in the kitchen. The best part was to see them manage their task while trying to keep out of the way of all of my aunt who were trying to finalize the meal.

So, let’s talk about the children’s table. I think it was part of every baby boomer’s childhood. Due to the number of adult members of our “Clan,” each holiday dinner would feature a children’s table. It was always the saddest little table, surrounded by sad little chairs. It was always in the kitchen since it was inevitable that one of us would manager to spill something across the table and onto the floor. Since we all hadn’t matured in the refinement of our eating habits at that age, it also gave us the venue to cram too any mashed potatoes into our mouth, to shoot an occasional pea across the table and to have as many dinner rolls loaded with REAL butter as we wanted without getting yelled at. Although the segregation was a bit disheartening, we always managed to work it to our advantage.

Once the entire family had overstuffed themselves on the dinner and dessert, like a plague of locusts gleaning a wheat field, the ladies of the house would quick clear the table and begin doing the dishes while the men would disassemble the banquet site. Before you knew it, everything was back to the way it was at the start of the day. The one big difference was that most of the guys, especially my Grandpa, had dozed off to sleep on sofas, beds and chairs throughout the house. Whether it was the tryptophan in the turkey or those pre-dinner shots and beers that did it, the need to nap was almost narcoleptic in nature.

Once everyone rose from their after-dinner nap, the family began participating in some of their favorite activities. My mother and my aunts would gather in my Aunt Peg’s upstairs kitchen and spend hours just “gabbing” and drinking pot after pot of coffee. The kids would retreat to their previous play areas, and the men would usually gather around the first floor kitchen table to play cards, usually euchre, and usually with shots and beers. A calm descended upon the home and would only occasionally be interrupted by my dad and uncles arguing about their card game.

By 7 that evening, everyone’s stomach started rumbling and before you could say “I’m hungry Mom,” leftovers were being pulled out of the fridge, the bird was being sliced, and fresh turkey sandwiches were being created for everyone. Leftover stuffing was added to the creations by some, and a glass of milk, a can of beer or a fresh cup of coffee would top off the evening treat. Since there were always pie left over, a piece of pumpkin pie would complete the event.

Before everyone would begin feeling that second hit of tryptophan, moms and dads began bundling up their brood and doling out their departing Thanksgiving blessings and goodbye kisses. Soon, my brother and I would be crawling into the backseat of our car, stuffed, played out and ready for bed. And so ended another wonderful holiday celebration and now the best was yet to come…….Christtmas!

I often think of how different Duquesne and the entire world are today versus during my childhood. Social problems abound and neglect and abuse run rampant.  I constantly read about the “cycle of abuse” that perpetuates the violence that exists in too many families. It makes me feel good as a father, and now as a grandfather, that because of the stong moral fiber that I developed because of my upbringing, to include all the Duquesne community, my children and I continue a cycle of love. Traditions continue to run deep throughout my family and this Thanksgiving, as those before, we’ll be starting the day as usual with that special breakfast as we tune into that wonderful parade in New York City. Remember to keep the cycle of love going!

In conclusion……

This year, as in years past, I am most thankful for my loving family. I am especially thankful for my first grandchild, born on July 18th, and as healthy and handsome as ever. Happy Thanksgiving Jackson! Pap Pap loves you!

In closing, enjoy the cartoon below that was published on Page 1 of the Duquesne Times in November, 1958

Posted in Christmas Memories, Life in General, My Hunky Family | 4 Comments

Thanksgiving 1950 – It Snowed and Snowed and Snowed

Posted on November 14, 2011 by Jim

The following article appeared in The Duquesne Times on November 30, 1950. There was no Times published on November 23, 1950 due to the snowfall. Unfortunately, there were no photos in the Times published on November 30th, so a photojournalistic account of the snowfall does not exist.

I wasn’t witness to what eventually became known as “The Great Appalachian Storm of 1950” in the history books. I was born in 1951, and began to hear all of the local legends about the snowstorm at a very early age. The storm was an issue far beyond the boundaries of Duquesne and there are several recollections from people from the surrounding areas.

I have assembled some of those stories, some photos that I posted last year, plus a few new ones from other nearby communities. I hope you enjoy the recaps and that they conjure up some of your own memories. If they do, be sure to tell us about them in the comment section. If you are like me and were born after the event, tell us about stories your parents or relatives may have told you about the storm!

DUQUESNE DIGS OUT

The Duquesne Times – November 30, 1950.

Duquesne is gradually digging its way out of the greatest snowfall in local history.

Through the cooperation of the city, Carnegie-Illinois and the Rogan Trucking Co, all of the city’s main arteries were open for limited emergency travel within 24 hours.

By today, a large section of West Grant Avenue and the business district of First Street were free of snow.

With the exception of a few minor accidents Duquesne weathered the storm without a serious mishap.

Councilman Walter V. Babic who supervised “Operation Cleanup” is to be congratulated for coordinating the snow clearance program as are Mayor Frank Kopriver, Jr., his fellow councilmen and the other employees who worked around the clock to prevent any serious tragedy from occurring here.

Duquesne’s fire department spent a relatively quiet weekend, answering 5 calls none of which resulted in very much damage.

Duquesne’s schools closed since Friday will reopen for all classes on Monday.

We believe Mr. Babic used exceptionally good judgment in opening all arteries as a fire precautionary measure before attempting to remove the snow from any street. Had the occasion demanded, firemen would have been able to reach any point in the city on Monday.

City facilities were accorded persons stranded in Duquesne by the snow. Three college students spent Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the fire station leaving Monday morning to return to their classes at Penn State.

Two families, one from Norfolk and the other from Wilkinsburg were also given shelter at the Municipal building.

The greatest hazard today is that of overburdened roofs. Mayor Kopriver called on owners of flat roofed buildings to take every precaution by removing the snow at the earliest possible opportunity. The roof of a garage at the rear of 74 N First Street owned by Escovitz Furniture caved in causing extensive damage to a truck and several automobiles.

Duquesne Motor Coach Lines resumed operations on a limited schedule Wednesday afternoon after being idle for several days.

Postmaster Phillip McDermott reported that mail was being delivered as usual with exception of the department’s new mobile unit.

Streetcar traffic, disrupted Friday night bud not resumed operations at press time today.

Garbage collections on streets already cleared were resumed today. Officer William Raible requested that an effort be made to have all garbage in containers. Regular collection schedules will be resumed as soon as possible.

Taxi cabs are back in service offering transportation to any point where travel can be made.

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They Still Talk About the Ferocious Snowstorm of 1950

By Debra Erdley, TRIBUNE-REVIEW

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Headline writers called it “The Storm of the Century.”

On Nov. 23, 1950, Thanksgiving Day, the temperature dropped to a record five above. Then the snow began blowing.

By Friday morning, traffic was paralyzed by a coating of ice and 5 to 7 inches of snow.

The storm continued all day.

By Saturday morning, a dozen heart attack deaths were attributed to the storm.

By early Sunday morning, the city was buried under 2 feet of snow, with another 5 to 10 inches expected.

Thousands of workers were furloughed as mills and factories scaled back operations. Several buildings and countless porches collapsed under the weight of the snow.

By Monday, the local death toll had reached 27, and the Allegheny County Coroner cautioned “oldsters” — those 45 and older — against shoveling snow.

Some 25 miles east of the city, Irwin residents opened their homes to travelers. Motorists were stranded there when they exited the Pennsylvania Turnpike at what was then its western terminus and found Route 30 impassable.

Mayor David Lawrence called upon 200 National Guardsmen to enforce a city-ordered blockade of Pittsburgh’s Golden Triangle.

By the time it was over, the death toll from the storm would reach 278 in the Ohio Valley. Even icicles were deadly. A North Braddock man died after one at U.S. Steel’s Edgar Thomson Works broke loose and struck him.

But it wasn’t all death and disaster. There were 225 births in 15 Pittsburgh area hospitals during the storm.

“Many of them arrived ‘special delivery,’ their Mama got to the hospital via police car,” the Pittsburgh Sun Telegraph reported.

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Storytelling: 1950 Snowstorm Paralyzed the City But Not This Dad

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

By Ed Borrebach

Skiers make their way along a Squirrel Hill street following the great Thanksgiving weekend snowfall of 1950.

The day after Thanksgiving 1950, on Nov. 24, I was at work as an electrical engineer in Building L of the East Pittsburgh plant of Westinghouse Electric Corp.

Five months before I had accepted a job there after graduating from Tufts College in Massachusetts and had migrated in our new Plymouth, with our even newer, 6-week-old baby boy.

There had been some snow on the ground that morning, but who’s afraid of a little snow? So like one of the seven dwarfs (not naming which one), off to work I went, only thinking that it was the thing to do.

Really, though, not one of us knew that a major storm was on the way. We had only radio. No TV, no cell phones, no BlackBerrys. So there we were at work while the snow kept a-falling.

Finally, around noon, we were told by management that we could leave. I took the trolley car up Ardmore Boulevard, close to Rebecca Avenue in Wilkinsburg, where I’d parked my car. The snow was building up, with lots of big flat white snowflakes that had no thought of melting.

I cleaned off the car and drove off to Squirrel Hill, where we had a small basement apartment (the only type of residence we could afford on $315 a month salary) on Woodmont Street. I was not alone on the road; there were other drivers trying to get home before the storm worsened. It was a long, slow trip, but there wasn’t a Squirrel Hill Tunnel at the time, so it could have been worse!

I made it home, finally, and parked out front at the curb. The snowfall was intense. We soon found ourselves in a beautiful white world. The snow built up to more than 30 inches deep.

My car was just one of many cars completely hidden under snow. Each was just a lump in a world of white lumps. I put on overshoes, but the snow was too deep for them, so I shoveled my way to the street and scraped off the car top — I feared of a cave-in. Driving anywhere was out of the question.

Back in the basement we talked about our son and his diet of whole milk. Where could we buy some? It was necessary for me to venture out in search of some milk. I walked up to the corner of Murray and Forbes avenues looking for signs of life. I found no open stores.

You can see from the picture I took that the old Route 22-30 through Pittsburgh at the time was still completely impassable.

Finally, well down a road running parallel to Forbes, I found a milk truck (one that delivered pre-ordered quart bottles of milk daily to residences) and there I was able to plead for and buy a bottle. I still think of and give thanks to that dear man for daring to be out in such weather — even with chains on the wheels and the weight of the truck, it was no picnic — and for selling me a bottle of this life-giving nectar for my son.

I had just come from the Boston area, where people at that time seemed less friendly, to use a kind euphemism. I learned then and many times afterward that people in Pittsburgh are a friendly bunch. I loved it then and love it now

___________________________________________________________________

1950 Storm: Snowed-In and Happy

December 4, 2009

By BOB WHITED

On Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23, 1950, I was nine years old in my little hometown village of Bridgeburg, Pa. Again, Thanksgiving was a great day for me and my family, which included my mother, father and brother. It was a pleasant day with a fine feast and many reasons to give thanks. We had no television at the time, but I listened to “Dragnet” on the radio that evening. During the late evening or early morning snow started to fall.

It was Friday morning, and we didn’t have school, thank goodness, due to the holiday. My father worked night shift at the local brickyard, and on Fridays we all went to Kittanning for groceries. My brother and I were hoping to take in a matinee at the movies. Before we piled into our 1946 maroon Plymouth, I had an early snowball fight with one of the neighbor kids. I just loved to see the snow come down, and by then, snow started to accumulate. We rushed to Kittanning quickly, which was a five-mile trip, and my parents purchased their weekly supply of groceries and hurried back home due to the weather and no tire chains on our car. There was no time for a movie matinee.

The snow kept pelting down with no end in sight. We arrived home safely, and my dad walked to work, since the brickyard was close by. What weather news we received was from the radio in between “The Lone Ranger” and other favorite radio programs. It was not great, and the snow continued to tumble down. On awakening Saturday, Nov. 25, 1950, we couldn’t believe our eyes. It was still snowing, and snow blanketed everywhere we looked. My dad returned home from work and measured 23 inches of snow at that time. He was called out later to shovel the roofs over the brick ware due to fear of weight and collapse of those roofs. By Sunday, the snow stopped completely, but school was canceled on Monday and all the rest of the week. This was truly the best part of the snowstorm. Everything was shut down.

Since then it has been called the Great Appalachian Storm of 1950 and the 1950 Great Thanksgiving Snowstorm. Nearly 30 inches of snow covered Pittsburgh, and 2 feet or more blanketed Cleveland. West Virginia, western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio saw snowfall totals greater than 30 inches. Power was out to more than 1 million customers during this storm. It actually affected 22 states, killing 353 people and creating $66.7 million in damage. This, of course, was in 1950 dollars. U.S. insurance companies paid more money out to their policyholders for damage from this storm than for any other previous storm.

Steubenville’s snowfall exceeded 44 inches with snowdrifts up to 25 feet. The classic Ohio State-Michigan football game was scheduled on Saturday, Nov. 25, and was luckily played in Columbus where it was not quite as bad, but still is described as “The Blizzard Bowl.” The Big Ten Championship was on the line and a trip to the Rose Bowl. Michigan won 9-3 on 27 total yards gained without achieving one first down! Youngstown achieved 29 inches of snow. Many buildings collapsed under the weight of 2 to 3 feet of snow. The Ohio National Guard used Jeeps to transport people to hospitals and to deliver food to those in the rural areas. Ohio Gov. Frank Lausche declared a state of emergency in Cleveland, and the Youngstown-Warren area as drifts grew to 30 feet. Roads were closed; trains and buses canceled. People could not leave their homes for days. Milk and bread and other delivery trucks could not get through. School buses were halted, and it was a joyous occasions for all students. Snow clearing was much different in those days also, and, of course, they used no salt way back then.

So, here I sit on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009, writing this piece some 59 years later with no snow but memories of the Great Thanksgiving Snowstorm of 1950.

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Post Thanksgiving Snowfall Left Mid-Mon Valley Paralyzed In 1950

By Ron Paglia, FOR THE TRIBUNE-REVIEW

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Read more: Post Thanksgiving snowfall left mid-Mon Valley paralyzed in 1950 – Pittsburgh Tribune-

Unless you owned a pack of Iditarod sled dogs, chances were you weren’t going too far in the mid-Monongahela Valley when one of the heaviest snowfalls on record brought the area to a virtual standstill two days after Thanksgiving on Nov. 23, 1950.

The subject brought a flurry of inquiries in the wake of the recent rash of bitter winter weather, which paled in comparison to Mother Nature’s knockout punch a little more than 59 years ago.

The Charleroi Mail and The Monessen Daily Independent reported on Nov. 25, 1950, that the district was “paralyzed” by the storm. The Mail said there was an official reading of 18 inches at 7 a.m. that day. The storm had a serious impact on businesses, mills and factories as transportation was, for the most part stopped.

“With no streetcar and only limited bus service, some employees made it to their businesses the hard way — by walking,” The Mail reported. “Some trudged into Charleroi through the deep snow from outlying districts in Belle Vernon, Dunlevy, Long Branch, Twilight, Fallowfield Township, Fisher Heights, North Charleroi, Mapleview and even Elco.”

Similar accounts of the aftermath appeared in The Daily Independent, which said the people in the Monongahela Valley area were “trying to dig out from under nearly two feet of snow … which began yesterday morning and was still falling at noon today.”

The newspaper noted that Blue Ridge Bus Lines, the Valley’s only public transportion link to the “outside world,” had stopped service as most district highways were almost entirely blocked. Other bus lines “threw their schedules away,” but Westside Motor Transit, which connected many Valley towns, and Hilltop Line, which served Monessen locally, “were sending occasional runs through,” The Independent reported.

The storm disrupted operations at the Allenport and Monessen plants of Pittsburgh Steel Company, but Page Steel and Wire Division, Monessen’s other large industry, continued to operate without a hitch, officials told the newspaper.

“Our biggest job right now is trying to keep coal moving for the steam plant,” Nick Polkabla, superintendent of industrial relations at Pittsburgh Steel in Monessen, said. “The coke works is only working 40 percent of capacity and shutting down this plant requires considerable work.”

At Allenport, General Works Manager Joseph Simonin said operations were near-normal, although some employees were unable to make it to the plant.

“We plan to adhere to the regular work week schedule,” Simonin told The Charleroi Mail. “If a department is unable to operate at full capacity, there will be other work for the men who are able to come to the plant. We do not plan to alter the work week schedule in any way.”

Polkabla said hundreds of men were unable to leave the mill Friday night and continued to work in their departments on overtime. Those who reported to work Saturday morning and whose departments were not working were put to work clearing ice and snow.

Municipal street crews throughout the Mon Valley were working extended schedules in an effort to clear the snow for vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

Pictures on the front page of The Daily Independent showed snow cleared from Donner Avenue and sidewalks piled nearly to the top of the parking meters. The large parking lot at Pittsburgh Steel was closed and many vehicles there were completely covered, and virtually hidden, by snow.

Telephone service was operating on an emergency basis as a result of many Bell Telephone Company employees being snowbound in their homes. J.L. Buchanan, manager of Bell operations in Charleroi, said some night employees were held over Saturday morning and operators were straggling in a few at a time. Bell officials in Monessen offered similar comments.

Other notes of interest, as reported in the newspapers, included:

• Richard Lawson, Donora funeral director who operates an ambulance service, spent Friday night and early Saturday morning driving his ambulance between Donora and Charleroi-Monessen Hospital. He made three trips during the night, carrying three mothers-to-be to the hospital. But on his third trip, Mr. Lawson had to ask for treatment for himself. His exertions in driving over the snow-covered roads had exhausted him and he had to be admitted for treatment at the hospital.

• The Pitt-Penn State football game scheduled for Saturday at Pitt Stadium was delayed until Monday.

• A banquet honoring the Monongahela American Legion Junior baseball team which won the 25th District and state championships earlier in the year went on as scheduled. Pennsylvania American Legion commander Joseph McCracken was the featured speaker.

• Radio Station WESA in Charleroi was praised by civic, government, industrial and religious leaders throughout the area for performing “an unprecedented public service” during the emergency. Granted permission by the FCC to continue operations around the clock, WESA operated on a 24-hour schedule throughout the crisis. The station broadcast bulletins and appeals from stricken residents at regular intervals, keeping listeners updated on developments.

• Milk trucks were making deliveries as rapidly as possible to all points — commercial and residential — where access was possible.

• Attendants at the Jones and McDonough Funeral Home in Bentleyville endured 13 hours of treacherous conditions on six miles of blocked highway in responding to a death at a home in Ginger Hill. The men left the funeral home at 11 a.m. Sunday and were preceded by a large bulldozer to fight mountainous snow drifts. The hearse finally got back to Bentleyville with the body at 2 a.m. Monday.

• An engine and caboose were placed in emergency use by Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad to convey a patient from Newell to Charleroi-Monessen Hospital. Arrangements were made for a Jeep to meet the rail cars at Belle Vernon station. Albert Manfield, who had been operating the Jeep to take doctors and nurses to and from the hospital, was called into service. A nurse also was waiting at Belle Vernon to assist the patient.

The storm, which dumped anywhere from two to three feet of snow in the area, had subsided by Nov. 27 and area residents were returning to “normal lives,” newspapers in the Mon Valley reported.

Public transportation remained curtailed in some areas and schools were to be closed Monday and Tuesday. Food supplies were “adequate” at district stores, milk and bread being the exceptions.

By Dec. 1, the Mon Valley was “almost dug out” of the record snowfall. Stores were operating on regular business hours, highways and streets were open, and public transportation was available. Schools were scheduled to open the following Monday.

The weather forecast called for some cloudiness and colder temperatures that night, followed by cloudy skies and rather cold conditions on Saturday, “probably followed by snow.”

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Two additional articles from the Duquesne Times – 11-30-1950 –

Posted in Christmas Memories, Historic Events, Holidays - Non-Christmas and New Years, Wintertime | 44 Comments

THANK YOU Duquesne!

Posted on November 9, 2011 by Jim

Sometimes, inspiration comes from the most unlikely sources. My two daughters have been posting daily comments on Facebook about things they are grateful for. I began to think about how much I have written about Duquesne and my childhood over the past year. In addition, I have read countless comments from all of you regarding the shared gratitude for our hometown.

For those reasons, I thought it would be appropriate for this post to take on a spirit of thankfulness for “All Things Duquesne.”

I am thankful for:

•       The value system that the people of Duquesne had and taught to their youth. There never was any confusion on which “side” we should take in the battle of “right vs. wrong.”

•       The sensory experiences that meant so much; the persimmon colored skies at night, the sounds of industry that emanated throughout the day and night at the hands of our fathers, families and neighbors, the smells and sounds of fallen leaves on brick roads and the distant sound of laughter, screams of excitement and the clanking of the coasters from Kennywood Park.

•       The good sisters and teachers at Holy Name Elementary School who provided such a strong educational foundation and religious fervor to all of their students. Somehow, their tugs at our ears, occasional knuckle slaps with their ruler and timeouts in the cloak rooms, paid off with a well-disciplined, respectful and pious student.

•       Bud and Jerry’s Doughnuts – need I say more??

•       Jim Hartman who has provided me with such a wealth of information and collateral to enrich my blog and provide you all with tons of memories! Thanks Jim!

Now PLEASE, add your two cents in the comments section following this post, and let us all know what was special about Duquesne to you. Help me to pay tribute to OUR hometown.

Before you do that, take a few minutes and remenisce a bit with the images and poem below. It certainly will put you in the right frame of mind!

Thanksgiving                                                                                                                                      By Edgar Albert Guest – published in 1917

Gettin’ together to smile an’ rejoice,
An’ eatin’ an’ laughin’ with folks of your choice;
An’ kissin’ the girls an’ declarin’ that they
Are growin’ more beautiful day after day;
Chattin’ an’ braggin’ a bit with the men,
Buildin’ the old family circle again;
Livin’ the wholesome an’ old-fashioned cheer,
Just for awhile at the end of the year.
Greetings fly fast as we crowd through the door
And under the old roof we gather once more
Just as we did when the youngsters were small;
Mother’s a little bit grayer, that’s all.
Father’s a little bit older, but still
Ready to romp an’ to laugh with a will.
Here we are back at the table again
Tellin’ our stories as women an’ men.

Bowed are our heads for a moment in prayer;
Oh, but we’re grateful an’ glad to be there.
Home from the east land an’ home from the west,
Home with the folks that are dearest an’ best.
Out of the sham of the cities afar
We’ve come for a time to be just what we are.
Here we can talk of ourselves an’ be frank,
Forgettin’ position an’ station an’ rank.

Give me the end of the year an’ its fun
When most of the plannin’ an’ toilin’ is done;
Bring all the wanderers home to the nest,
Let me sit down with the ones I love best,
Hear the old voices still ringin’ with song,
See the old faces unblemished by wrong,
See the old table with all of its chairs
An’ I’ll put soul in my Thanksgivin’ prayers.

Since I have spent my entire career as a retail manager, I have always been part of the madness that ensues on the day after Thanksgiving, a.k.a. Black Friday. I thought it would be interesting to see how the biggest shopping day of the year was advertised in The Duquesne Times and if there were any articles about the size of the crowds in downtown Duquesne. Surprisingly, I couldn’t find any reference to Black Friday, nor could I find any ads that reflected the HUGE Door Buster Specials that virtually EVERY store advertises to get the shoppers in their doors in the wee morning hours after Thanksgiving.

After some reasearch, I discovered that the shopping frenzy that retailers have created and fed off of on Black Friday is a relatively new phenomenon. It wasn’t until 1966 that the phrase Black Friday was even used to describe the day after Thanksgiving. I pulled the headlines and an ad from the Duquesne Times that was published on Thanksgiving Day in 1958. As you’ll see in the images below, merchants really didn’t begin the shopping push until the week AFTER Thanksgiving!

The more I thought about this, I now remember traveling on the 61C with my mother, brother, Aunt Mary and her two daughters to downtown Pittsburgh on the day after Thanksgiving. There wasn’t madness in the air, but more of an air of excitement as we would head to Pittsburgh to view the Christmas display windows of the BIG department stores; Gimbels, Kaufmanns and Hornes. The day wasn’t spent shopping, but rather enjoying all of the fantastic decorations and window animations. We would be treated to a wonderful lunch at the restaurant located in Kaufmann’s Book Department and spent the day “drinking in” the Christmas season! By the time we ready to return home, it was dark and downtown Pittsburgh was ablaze with Christmas lights signaling the arrival of the holdays everywhere you looked. We’d all settle into our seats on the bus and eventually nod off to sleep on before we had even left the city. I’d love to be transported back in time to that special day just once to drink in all of the joys that it provided.

Posted in Christmas Memories, Life in General, McKeesport, Stores and Businesses | 22 Comments

“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!”

Posted on November 5, 2011 by Jim

I have always been a Christmas nut! Perhaps it’s because I’ve enjoyed a 35+ year career in the retail industry. Perhaps it’s because I have always been a cold weather person, enjoying snowfalls to the weeks of sweltering hot days during the summer. Whatever the reason, Christmas has always started early in my mind, in my house and in my life. I have never been one of those old curmudgeons that complain about stores putting out their Christmas items too early or getting upset when they hear ANY reference to the holidays before Thanksgiving Day. I love that time of year and I have always fully embraced it rather than pushing it away.

I have been waiting all year to be able to share with you, some heartwarming items and stories from our youth. For this particular post the year is 1956, but there are plenty more years to come in upcoming posts. For those of you who fit into the “old curmudgeon catagory” regarding the holidays, hang on, it’s going to be a snowy ride!

Virtually everything that was published in The Duquesne Times during November and December had to deal with either some election or the holidays. Just skipping through the articles, photos and ads would give you a solid picture of life in those days. Holiday greetings, recognitions and Christmas wishes filled the pages. Via the images that follow, you may just be transported as I was, into a completely different frame of mind about the holidays. So, grab a hot cup of coffee or cocoa, slip on your favorite pair of fuzzy slippers and flannel pj’s, and enjoy going back to a time that you didn’t even remember forgetting!

Perhaps my favorite part of the newspaper during the holidays were the “Letters to Santa” that were published each year. Be sure to read through them, they are beyond adorable. I checked back and it looks like the letters were published as far back as 1900! Who knows, you might see one that you had written and had forgotten about, or even one that was written by one of your relatives as a child. Enjoy the following letters that were written in 1956…..

One of my favorite articles was the following that boasted the most recent Honor Roll for Duquesne High School. The date was December 13, 1956. Perfect timing for these students!! What great leverage for asking for additional gifts on their list!!!

Merchants each took out a small ad to wish their customers and the City of Duquesne their Christmas Greetings and thanks. There’s even one for my dad’s garage. This is just an example of the many ads….

I hope that you’ve enjoyed the recollections and the memories that they may have brought back. Please let me know!!

Posted in Christmas Memories, Stores and Businesses | 5 Comments

Disjointed Parts

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Jim

Periodically, I come to a point when my recollections fail to come together to be able to write a cohesive story about my life in Duquesne, or as a child growing up as part of a large hunky clan. As a result, this post will be one that’s just a bunch of random disconnected thoughts. In an earlier post, I compared it to rinsing out the ketchup bottle to get every bit of goodness out. I’m hoping to do the same with my recollections.

A Towel, A Pin and A Little Blue Bottle

When I was a child, there were times when all of the outdoor play at this time of year took its toll. Every once in a while, my brother or I would come down with a cold, cough or some minor ailment. Whenever that would occur, the first line of defense was quickly implemented by my mom.

• Step 1 – We immediately changed out of whatever we were wearing and donned our warmest flannel pajamas.

• Step 2 – Once we were properly dressed for bed, it was off to our room and our bed regardless of the time of day. Our little bodies were tucked-in under layers of blankets so tightly that we resembled a burrito at Taco Bell.

• Step 3 – After we were settled into our bed, Mom would always begin by determining our temperature. Of course, there would be the proverbial hand on the forehead to establish that we were running a temperature. Once Mom realized that we were in fact a bit warm, she’d whip out the thermometer, wipe it off on her apron, shake the mercury down to within an inch of its life, and then quickly insert it under our tongue. Thank goodness that the “alternate temperature taking site” was abandoned years earlier. However, if we fussed about having our temperature taken, Mom’s threat of reverting to “the other” place would quickly settle us down.

• Step 4 – In those days, the next step would be unheard of in today’s medical society. After Mom read our temperature, she’d have to decide if we were sick enough to call Dr. Fletcher and ask him to make a house call. I still remember how the doctor would arrive, just like you see in the old black and white movies. A knock at the front door, a stately gentleman in a black wool overcoat, replete with a proper dress hat and carrying the stereotypical little black bag would enter. He would quickly be directed to our bedroom and before you knew it, the exam took place.

• Step 5 – As in most cases, we rarely were sick enough to call in the good doctor. Mom would normally treat our “set back” on her own. That mean using one of the most trusted and time proven treatments known to Hunky-mankind:

First came the little blue bottle of Vick’s Vap-o-Rub. Mom would liberally smear the gooey and smelly mess over our chest. She’d quickly button-up our pjs and move onto the next phase.

As if the thick layer of Vap-o-Rub on our chest wasn’t enough, Mom would take an additional glob and begin to massage it on our neck.

  • The next piece of the treatment puzzle was the wrapping of a hand towel around our neck to cover the gunk that was ready to do its job. Mom would then secure the rag/towel around our neck with a HUGE diaper pin that she had instinctively saved from the time we were infants, just for this occasion.

Before we knew it, we were rubbed down, swathed in terry cloth, and tucked back into bed, armed and ready to do battle with any germ that had the nerve to come around!

• Step 6 – Remember those little blue and pink bottles of baby aspirin? One of Mom’s sure cures for what ailed us was by dosing us with two tables every 4 or 6 hours. However, being the picky kid that I was, Mom would always dissolve the tables in a teaspoon with some water for me to swallow. I had convinced myself that I could never swallow them whole and chewing them was out of the question. Thanks for understanding Mom!

Who would have thought that those little 81mg tables would become a recommended part of our daily life years later as a healthy heart regimen? I’ve even grown-up enough to swallow them whole! Mom would be proud.

• Step 7 – Perhaps my favorite step in Mom’s treatment regimen was the TLC that was lavished on us. Mother Teresa’s care and compassion would pale in comparison to that of a hunky mother taking care of her child. Aside from the willingness to sit beside us for what seemed like hours and read us stories or just gently petting our foreheads in order to soothe us, there was always the special food we would enjoy.

Being sick always meant that we became recipients of Mom’s special sick bed menu. First was two pieces of toast. Perfectly buttered and cover with her homemade jelly, the toast would be cut in 4 little triangles for our consumption. Any ordinary day, we’d get toast cut in half. Somehow, cutting the toast in quarters carried some mysterious healing powers in our mind.

The next special food was Lipton Chicken Noodle Soup. This special treat was reserved ONLY for when we were sick. The significance of getting a bowl meant you REALLY were sick. I remember sitting up in my bed, pillows gently tucked behind me by Mom and a metal tray placed across my lap. I would luxuriate forever, enjoying the soup, the toast and crackers and Mom’s company.

• Step 8 – This step was my least favorite. Mothers had the notion that a cold or flu virus could be cured by “sweating them out!” This was never pleasant. It usually meant that the heat would be pumped up in the house and we would be made to stay in bed, tucked in like a sardine under those heavy covers. The concept was that by warming us up and making us sweat would expel any toxins that might be in our system. Whether it was the natural progression of our sickness or whether “sweating it out” actually had merit, shortly after that, we’d begin to feel better.

• Step 9 – Once our fever had broken and Mom was convinced that we were on the road to recovery, we would be permitted to come downstairs after a hot bath and snuggle on the sofa with our head on Mom’s lap, and watch TV. We were treated to our dinner in the living room while watching TV too! That was incentive enough to get better.

Once we had reached the watching TV stage, we were cured in Mom’s eyes. After a good night’s sleep, we’d be back at school or allowed to play inside for the day, outside of our bedroom, but NEVER outdoors. The “one for good measure” rule applied to the days of recovery, so it was indoor play only.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could, just for one more day, have our mother’s gentle hands and loving care with us when we’re not feeling quite up to snuff?

What Happens in Duquesne Stays in Duquesne

I was browsing through an online news source recently and read about yet another BIG lottery winner. I thought about my dad and how he loved to play the Pennsylvania Lottery. Ever since the first ticket was sold on March 7, 1972, my dad was hooked. He was a consistent player, but only an occasional winner. He never hit the BIG money, but to win a few hundred dollars every now and then seemed to be his pattern.

Long before the inception of the Pennsylvania Lottery, Dad would always find a means of betting and winning money or prizes. He was a very lucky guy when it came to raffles, punch boards and such. His litany of prizes included radios, tv’s, turkeys, hams, a car and all sorts and sundry items. I think for my entire childhood, he never had to buy a turkey at Thanksgiving, but would win one from the GBU. Of course, he was always so proud of winning the bird, but would never confess how much he had to spend and/or drink before winning.

In addition to his consistent winning streaks, dad also was hooked on playing “the numbers.” The act of playing “the numbers” was apparently quite illegal since it was always spoken about in quiet whispers. All I remember about the bets that occurred were that they were placed in some rather unlikely places; a bar, a dairy, a candy store, etc. Often my dad would come home with three or four hundred dollars in winnings and his only explanation was that he had “played the numbers.” I would say “Wow” and then just walk away as confused as I was in the beginning.

As I got older, I would ask Dad about what he did when he played the numbers. He tried to explain, but it never made a lot of sense. I just remember that it had something to do with the stock market but wasn’t connected to the buying and selling of stocks. I think I remember him telling me that it had to do with the last digits in certain stock quotes, or something just as obscure. Rather than confuse the facts, I’ll defer to someone reading this to comment and explain the system to me.

I checked back in past issues of The Duquesne Times and discovered countless references to “the dark side” of Duquesne. Racketeering and Moonshining were words that were frequently used during Duquesne’s Roaring 20’s. As the decades passed, the press gave way to stories and reports about various “number joints” being raided or shut down. They often referred to arrests, not only of the owners but of the patrons as well. Luckily, Dad was never in the wrong place at the wrong time. Like I said….he was one very lucky guy!

And In This Corner………

I have no idea what started me think about this feature, but for some strange reason I couldn’t get it out of my head.

One of my favorite parts of the McKeesport Daily News, aside from the comics page was a daily feature called “Uncle Ray’s Corner.” Each day, Uncle Ray would relate some strange or exotic story from history, science, world culture or other fascinating subject.

I remember collecting the articles each day and compiling them in a scrapbook in case I needed them for reference at some later date. Of course, that never happened, so at some point in time I threw them all away. However, in my heyday of collecting the articles, I remember reading some really captivating stories about faraway places such as India and Australia; about the invention of the radios and submarines; and of mysterious people like Queen Victoria and Mata Hari. Whatever the subject, Uncle Ray always gave the story a spin that held my interest.

As with all of the adventures conjured up in a young boy’s mind, those that started with one of Uncle Ray’s stories eventually faded away as the realities of growing up set in. Just think of the stories we could tell if the adventures we planned in our minds came true. Thanks for the memories Uncle Ray!

Over and Out

As I said, this was going to be a disjointed little ride into what used to be. Thanks for allowing me to empty the ketchup bottle. Until next time…… “zbohom moji priatelia!”

Posted in Life in General, My Hunky Family, Parents | 14 Comments