This & That 21 By Jack Coll

This & That 21

By Jack Coll

Welcome to another edition of This & That, this column is made up of tid-bits of information I’ve come across while researching other projects, and anything else on my mind.  We’ve been publishing this popular column for more than a year now and it is written for your entertainment.  Also you can look forward to our new book called “Conshohocken in Photographs and Short stories,” due out in 2015.

     Is it just me or did anyone else find this piece rather amusing, in a recent Philadelphia Daily News Gossip Column I couldn’t help but notice, “A pine tree planted in Los Angeles to honor the late Beatle George Harrison has been killed by an infestation of beetles.  The tree will be replanted in the fall.”  You couldn’t make this stuff up!

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July 20, 1959

Zajac, Dugan Accept Posts at Bishop Kenrick

Aaron Zajac and William Dugan teachers and athletic coaches at St. Matthew’s High School have accepted positions at Bishop Kenrick High School, Norristown.  Zajac, head basketball coach at St. Matthew’s the last two years will teach algebra and mathematics.  He will coach the freshman basketball team.  Dugan, who was head coach of all athletic teams at St. Matthew’s for several years before World War II and who served in coaching capacities there after the war, will teach science at Kenrick.

     Ray Norton, Temple football and basketball star, has been named to fill the coaching duties at St. Matthew’s.  Norton, who also was on Temple’s wrestling team will teach as well as coach.

     He replaces Bill Brannau who accepted a coaching job at Villanova, his alma mater.

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April 12, 1895

TOWN NOTES

Mr. Richard H. Bate has a small alligator at his boiler shop—a memento of his Florida trip.

While Dr. Stiles was driving at Hector and Fayette Streets on Monday the axle of his carriage broke.

Mr. E. T. Wilson has a profusion of flowers and plants at his greenhouse 114 West Tenth Avenue.

Mr. Joseph B. Stephens has resigned his position with Mrs. M. Bulger.  He intends opening a tea, coffee, and grocery store.

Many children of the town are sick with the measles.

All schools are closed today—Good Friday.  (editor’s note: even the public schools, try that today!)

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January 22, 1959

Conshy Girls Beat Springfield

     Conshohocken High girls basketball team won another one, downing Springfield 43-34 last Thursday on the local court.

     Anna Marie DeCamillo and Joyce Miller paced the winners with eight field goals and a foul for 17 points each.  Roseler of Springfield had 24.

     Conshy jayvees won 28-20 with Nancy Scott leading the winners with 20 points.

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July 20, 1959

Liquor Store May Move To Harmonville

     The State Liquor Control Board seeks a Conshohocken location for a store containing 3,000 square feet of floor space and will pay $1.50 per square foot annual rental.  That is the report from a reliable source, which also indicated the state agency has abandoned its second attempt to locate the liquor store on Fayette Street at Eighth Avenue.  Conshohocken Ministerial Association protested the proposed location last week sending the liquor board its formal objection.  The site is adjacent to the Mary Anna Shop.  In addition to the specified number of square feet, the liquor board wants an air conditioned building with a loading platform, easy access for trucks, and parking.  At the $1.50 rental, it is not such a tangy bargain, just not “Top shelf” stuff.

     Another report is the liquor board is eyeing the projected Plymouth Square Shopping Center, Ridge and Butler Pike, Harmonville, as a future location for the store.  This move would make Conshohocken “dry” so far as hard liquor is concerned.

     Groundbreaking for the development of the Harmonville retail area with parking for 950 cars is anticipated in the near future.

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June 24, 1954

Promotion Certificates Awarded

     Members of the sixth grade at West Conshohocken Elementary School, who received promotion certificates at exercises last Tuesday night at the school are Rebecca Jane Sibole, Carol Yurcaba, Naomi Schrack, Lois Risell, Marianne Carpenter, Mary Ann Zadroga, Betty Ann Sprouse, Frank Risell, Patricia Ann Frey, Alice Leflar, Cathrine Lukosevicz, Maryann Piergrossi, Janice Campbell, Frances Saylor, Joyce Kriebel, Robert Yurcaba, Jacob Smith, Richard Markowski, Donald Reynolds, Norman Aman, Stanley Rakowski, William Daywalt, David Leflar, Gregory Wildman, and Peter Palazzo.

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November 4, 1954

PHILLIPS WILL OPEN TOY DEPARTMENT

     Kenneth A. Heist, proprietor of Phillips Furniture and Appliance store, Hector and Harry Streets, will open a toy department tomorrow at 48 Fayette Street, site of the former Fogarty Grocery Store.  The headquarters for all kind of toys will be maintained for two months with Mrs. Catherine Phillips in charge.  It will provide a convenience for Christmas Shoppers interested chiefly in choosing toys from a wide assortment.  They will be accorded the added accommodation of using the Phillips lay-a-way plan, also in effect at the furniture and appliance store.

     The former grocery store will be illuminated brightly and decorated in the Yule theme.  Heist, a member of the board of directors of Conshohocken Chamber of Commerce is proprietor of a business founded here 46 years ago in 1908.

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May 28, 1954

POLICEMAN WANTED

FOR

PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP

Salary Starts at $4200.00

With new adjustments

Application Blanks must be obtained at

522 Swede Street Norristown Pa

Applications must be returned on or before June 5, 1959

All Applicants must be residents of Plymouth Township

For at least one year preceding the application.

Applicant must be between the ages of 21 and 35 years of age.

WRITTEN AND ORAL EXAMINATIONS

FOR

POLICE APPLICANTS

At the Plymouth Township Building 601 West Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting,

Montgomery County Pa

Thursday June 18, 1959.

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September 28, 1894

(We don’t go out of Conshohocken too often, but I found this rather amusing, remember, it was 1894)

Bridgeport

     William Carr placed his horse in a Bridgeport hotel stable last Thursday and then refused to pay the feed bill.  An altercation followed and Carr was locked up, during the night he was taken sick and a physician was summoned.  Friday morning Burgess Schneipp imposed the fine and costs, physician’s bill and horse feed.  Carr did not pay, so the team was attached.  Joseph Noblett, of Gulf Mills, appeared before the Burgess during the day and claimed he was the owner of the animal, and that Carr was employed by him.  Noblett was willing to pay Carr’s fine and the feed bill, but not that of the physician.  That was not satisfactory to the burgess, and then Noblett became disorderly and was promptly locked up.  In the meantime a friend of Carr’s appeared and settled the doctor’s bill and Noblett was released on payment of cost.

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January 4, 1895

(I thought while we were out of town I would sneak this one in.

Back at the turn of the last century, 1900’s, it wasn’t uncommon

for people to walk on the ice and cross the Schuylkill River. 

The riverbanks along the river were covered with ice houses and ice cut

 from the Schuylkill and stored in the ice houses was big business back then.)

ICE CUTTER RESCUED

     While cutting ice on the Schuylkill yesterday, at Shawmont, George B. Carpenter aged 20 years, of River Road and Shawmont Avenue, was pulled into the water while trying to land a large cake of ice, the ice he was standing on giving way.  Carpenter clung to the edge of the unbroken ice until Wilkins Elliottt and Policeman Brooks, of Manayunk, pulled him out of the water with ice hooks.

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August 25, 1966

Police Gain Appointment

     Conshohocken Chief of Police Raymond S. Alexander said appointments have been made under a new set-up designed to enable policemen to accomplish law enforcement work more efficiently and effectively and to complete “paper work” more quickly.

     The new appointments, which went into effect Monday, are announced by Chief Alexander as: Sgt. Jesse Zadroga, administration; Officer Robert Watson, vice; Officer George Bland, public relation; Officers Adam Pagliaro and Frank Charlesworth, photography.

     Previous appointments in specific fields are those of Sgt. Harrison Langley, investigations and Officer John Boccella, juvenile officer.

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April 9, 1929

(Just a few ads)

EXPERT MOTOR REPAIRS

Get the most out of your machine by having your

 motor operating at peak efficiency.

Harmanville Garage

1. J. Watkins C. Carosell

Proprietors

Phone 515-W

General Auto Repairing

Chrysler-Nash and Buick Service

Conshohocken Pa.

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CAR WASHING

A Specialty

1. E. CODER & SON

Gas, Oil & Accessories

North Lane & Conshohocken Pike

(Currently Bowes Exxon Station, still doing great repair work)

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When You Decide to Build, See

1. STANTON TREGO

Contractor and Builder

Conshohocken Pike,

HARMANVILLE, PA.

Plans and Specifications Furnished Upon Request

Telephone Plymouth Meeting 279-W

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SATISFYING THE DISCRIMINATING

From Our Young Department Store

Groceries, Light Lunch, Candy, Ice Cream, & Cigarettes.

Parties Solicited—Free Delivery

COLD POINT SERVICE STATION

BUTLER PIKE

1. H. Herron, Mgr.

Gas & Oil

Telephone: Plymouth Meeting  173-M

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February 3, 1966

Mirrors Win, Retain Second

     St. Matthew’s High held onto second place in the Suburban Catholic League Friday night when it defeated Holy Name, 67-44, at West Reading.  A makeup game, scheduled with St. Pius X, was again postponed on Sunday.

     Four of St. Matthew’s five starters, led by Billy Baer (16) scored in double figures.  Gene Rydel, the fifth local starter scored nine points.  Chet Grablewski (14), John Treacy (12), and Mike O’Rourke (10), joined Baer in double figures.

     St. Matthew made it a clean sweep on the evening, posting a 63-35 Jayvee win, led by George Doughtery and Vic DePallo who tallied 17 points each.

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March 15, 1962

Firemen Name Hall For F. B. Thomas Jr.

     Conshohocken Fire Co. No. 2 voted unanimously to name the company auditorium in honor of their late chief engineer, Franklin B. Thomas Jr., who died March 5.  The hall will be known as the Franklin B. Thomas Jr. Memorial Hall.  Built in 1957, it is adjacent to the fire house at Ninth Avenue and Harry Street.

     The company will hold a memorial service for Mr. Thomas and other deceased members at the 58^th annual banquet at 6:30 P. M. Saturday in the memorial hall.  Daniel Garvey, president, will be in charge.

October 2014

    During the past fall the Philadelphia Eagles had a bye week so Donna and I were able to take the day off from coaching the game and typically we like to fill the van with gas and go as far as a tank full of gas will take us.  So we crossed the bridge to the Jersey side and found ourselves at Sunset Beach in Cape May.  From there we hopped on the Ocean Drive, which is something we frequently do, and made a pit stop at the Wildwood Boardwalk for lunch.  We were somewhat disappointed that “The Hot Spot” on the boards was closed for the season, I think we have been eating there since 1970, so we grabbed a couple of slices on the boards maybe two hundred yards towards North Wildwood and we were on our way.

     The whole point of me bringing this up is we were on our way out of Wildwood, (For the old timers we were sitting at a light where the “Grassy Sound ended, or started depending on which way you were headed, in or out of Wildwood).  So we’re sitting at the light and I look out the side window thinking, wow, I wonder how many people remember “Zaber’s Restaurant.”

     I remember pulling into Wildwood on those hot summer Friday nights all those years ago and seeing the long lines of sharply dressed patrons waiting to enter the restaurant.  I remembered taking the kids there once, maybe for Donna’s birthday or something like that years ago.  Some years after our visit a raging fire burned the place to the ground, it was on every news station from here to New York.

     The light turned green and we were on the move, no more Zaber’s, no more Grassy Sound, and as I drove away on the super highway headed for the Ocean Drive I remembered seeing a sign on the wall as you left the restaurant, “You Been Zaberized,” how cool, it was a good light to catch, it was a good memory.

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     I’m sitting in my third floor executive suite typing in these little ditties, and I threw in a DVD of a rare Linda Ronstadt concert filmed in 1980.  Donna and I had seen Linda at the Spectrum in 1980, and it’s the exact same concert, song for song that we had seen.  “It’s So Easy,” “Blue Bayou,” “ Hurt So Bad,” “You’re No Good,” “Desperado,” “Back In the USA,” “Heat Wave,” “Poor Poor Pitiful Me,” and among others a song I had forgotten all about, was a song called “Willin.”  Damn, that girl still gives me Goosebumps!

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     A little tid-bit from KYW 1060 news, on this day, November 16, 1961, Humphrey Bogart passed away at a young age.  On that same day Patsy Cline recorded the song “I Go To Pieces.” Just thought that was interesting.

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Not long ago I walked into our living room where Donna had this old movie on television called “Pillow Talk,” and it occurred to me that Doris Day might very well be the most adorable talented actress to ever appear in a Hollywood film.   

     Please feel free to visit and revisit our past columns on “This & That” at Conshystuff.com website.  Also enjoy past History columns and Talkin Music with Jack, among other featured articles.

     Be sure to check out our Conshohocken Veterans site at Conshystuffvets.com