More Tales of the Town – 2/3/2014

More Tales of the Town

2-3-14

     The Conshohocken Recorder Newspaper established back in 1869 went on to become one of the oldest weekly publications in the country before ceasing operation in October 2008.  In 1901, at the ripe old age of 32, the Recorder ran a series of articles titled “Tales of the Town”, the sub-headline under the title was “Happenings of Long Ago, Told by Our Oldest Residents.”  A number of the articles indicate “From 50 Years Ago,” that would put the tales their telling in or around 1850.  So as the tales are told the reader must remember that Conshohocken as it was then, and as we see it now were two different worlds apart.  In 1850, the entire borough consisted of Washington Street for the most part, the hub of the borough’s activity along the river and canal.  From Third Avenue up, Conshohocken was just a wooded hill with very few structures.  The town was host to a wide cast of characters including hobo’s, steel workers, workers who would drift in and out of the town, and an assortment of drifters along with the 700 permanent residents.

So let’s get down to the tales, I’ve had trouble distinguishing an elder resident recalling the facts? Or just spinning a tall tale, you tell me.  Here’s a couple of short one’s for you.

From The Conshohocken Recorder January 18, 1901

     Not long ago, there were rumors that those dilapidated houses around Maple Street were haunted.  Even the skeptical who sneered at the thought of ghosts or spirits were forced to admit that sounds of an “uncanny” nature issued from the old structures.

     The houses were first occupied by black families, who had high old times in their own peculiar musical way and banjos twanged nightly in their respective domains, hence the name “Banjo Hollow,” and “Banjo Row.”

     The little homes were afterwards occupied by Italians where the musical features continued by the way of accordions, the row became known as “Little Italy.” Two children living in the row met a tragic death on the railroad one day and ever afterwards nearby residents declared that they heard people running up and down the stairs at night even when the houses were empty.  An old woman of the neighborhood declared that she could chase the spirits away.  One night she passed through the houses alone and ever afterwards the spirits remained silent.

     “Prior to the death of old Joe Dewees, the hermit, his hut at Lafayette used to be the scene of much merriment on Saturday and Sunday.  Many Conshohockenites used to listen to his songs and stories.  Having nothing particularly to do but eat and sleep, the eccentric man used to originate new stories from day to day.  He could talk on Sunday from dinner to darkness, his fund of sayings seemingly inexhaustible.  The old hermit was rather an accurate weather prophet and claimed that he could tell what was coming from the condition of the leaves on the trees.  Until the very last he was under the impression that a car of gold would be shipped to him at Lafayette.  The old hut is now tumbling slowly to pieces and will soon be thing of the past.

January 15, 1901

Tales of The Town

     There used to be some lively old times here when the rolling mill men played the Conshohocken sports baseball on Saturday afternoons.  Many of our prominent citizens used to assemble in Irishtown on Saturday afternoon and indulge in games that were strictly for blood.  The score was usually something like 84 to 69 or 76 to 53.  The game would begin generally about two o’clock in the afternoon and end in the region of 6:30.  Three fourths of the population of the borough used to assemble to watch the fun and there were usually three or four fights a game. To be an umpire on these occasions it required one to be a good fighter, for he was generally challenged for a couple of settos at each contest.  (setto means fight, I had to look it up)

     At the conclusion of the game the saloons did a big business and the merits of the teams would be discussed while anxious wives and mothers waited patiently to set the supper table. 

     Such were the times of our early championship games.

See ya in a week or so!