Storm Warning – The Mother Load
March 4, 2014
The Murder of Bobby Fuller, A Rock & Roll Mystery
March 9, 2014This & That 3/8/2014
Welcome To Another Week Of
This & That
By Jack Coll
3-8-14
This & That is a column made up of a little bit of this, and a little bit of that, mostly things I’ve run across while researching other projects. Typically my sources for this column come from old newspapers or old records and I try to date each piece and bring it to you word for word, mistakes and all. With all that being said I’ll start this weeks This & That with an un-dated piece found under “Talk of the Town.” While rummaging through my firehouse files I came across this piece pertaining to the performance of “Firefighters,” see if you agree!
UN-DATED
Wives of volunteer firemen seldom get to fires and hear comments of spectators, favorable and otherwise. To give their wives an idea of what some misguided people say of firemen, members of Fairmount Engine Co. No. 2 of Norristown, distributed reprints from the “Chicago Firefighter” to their wives and guests at their 106th anniversary banquet. It states:
When the fire trucks are delayed 40 seconds in traffic,
People say: “It took them 20 minutes to get here.”
When the truck races at 40 miles an hour, it’s
“look at those reckless fools.”
When four men struggle with an eight man ladder:
“They don’t even know how to raise a ladder.”
When fireman break open windows for ventilation to reduce heat in fighting a fire:
“Look at the wrecking crew.”
When they open the floor to get at the blaze:
“There goes the ax squad.”
If the chief stands back where he can see and direct his men, people say:
“He’s afraid to go where he sends his men.”
If they lose a building:
“It’s a lousy department.”
If they make a good “stop” folks say:
“The fire didn’t amount to much.”
If lots of water is necessary:
“They are doing more damage with water than the flames.”
If a fireman gets hurt:
“He was a careless guy.”
If a citizen gets hurt:
“It’s a crazy department.”
If a fireman inspects a citizen’s property:
He’s meddling in somebody’s business.”
If he wants a fire hazard corrected:
“I’ll see the boss.”
If he gets killed and leaves a family destitute:
“That’s the chance he took when he joined the fire department.”
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(Jack’s Public Service Announcement Of The Week)
So here’s the thing, if you ever muttered any of this, ever thought about any of this, or ever stated anything like this out loud, I can help you! The next time you are going past a fire scene, you need to pull over, locate the Chief, that would be the guy with the white hat, and explain your concerns and then tell him or her, how they should be handling the fire, I’m sure you’ll get full cooperation!
(No need to thank me, now onto more of This & That)
November 25, 1984
Unfurnished Apartment For Rent
Conshohocken
Beautiful (2) bedroom, kitchen, dining, living,
bath, laundry room. Private off-street parking,
wall-to-wall carpet, air conditioning, intercom system.
$490.00 per month, plus electric, no pets.
March 7, 1944
Chief Bender Speaks Here
St. Matthew’s Assn. sponsors visit of Indian athlete
Close to five hundred parishioners and guests attended an interesting program presented Sunday night at 8:45 in the auditorium of St. Matthew’s parochial grade school under the auspices of St. Matthew’s High School Athletic Association.
Charles Albery “Chief” Bender widely known American Indian athlete and former pitching ace of Connie Mack’s Philadelphia Athletics was guest speaker at the event, which also took on the nature of a rally for St. Matthew’s High School basketball team preparatory to its important game with the Eastern Catholic team.
March 5, 1936
Newt Lawler Top Scorer in Church Loop
St. Cosmas Center Sets Pace With 133 Points—
Bean and Friend Tied For Second Place—
Heller, Episcopal, Third.
Tommy “Newt” Lawler, former Conshohocken High School player, and star center on the St. Cosmas team, topped all players in scoring in the Conshohocken Basketball League during the season just closed. The premier pivot man in this section played in all ten games and rolled up the grand total of 133 points to lead by a wide margin. Alfred Bean of Episcopal, and Bill Friend, Methodist, are tied for second place with 78 points each.
September 29, 1966
Saints Top Kenrick 13-7
Archbishop Kennedy High’s eleven thrilled nearly 7,000 fans as it topped arch-rival Bishop Kenrick Friday night in Conshohocken, 13-7. Kennedy will open the Suburban Catholic League schedule Sunday against Bishop Shanahan.
Halfback George Pettine grabbed an aerial on the 21 in the first period, and tallied to put the Saints ahead 6-0. Quarterback Joe DePaul tossed to Steve Irvin for the P A T. Kenrick opened the second quarter with a 14 play series, climaxed by a three-yard touchdown sweep.
The third period proceeded cautiously as both defensive teams settled down. Then DePaul started a series of sweeps at the Kennedy 23, gaining 12, 12, and eight yards before the Kenrick squad tome on their own 45. Undoubtedly, the visitors were ready for another sweep, but DePaul handed off to Nick Salamone, who went 25 yards to the Kenrick 20.
Salamone took the ball two plays later on the 18 and snaked and slithered through the defense to hit paydirt and put the Saints on top. An attempted pass for the P SA T was blocked and Kennedy led 13-7. The Saints intercepted a pass with only five minutes remaining halting the final Kenrick threat.
August 9, 1929
West Side Notes
Charles Rupp is today removing from 616 Ford Street to Conshohocken.
Edward Leonard is having an addition built to his home on Josephine Avenue.
Elwood Ingram will remove next week from Ford Street above Cedar Grove Avenue to E.3rd AveConshohocken
Ralph D. of 251 Moorehead Avenue is having a concrete garage erected on the lot adjoininghis home
Mrs. Wilmer Bath and two children of Ford Street will leave tomorrow for a sojourn in Wildwood NJ
Mrs. Bath is recovering from an illness and it is hoped that the salt air will be beneficial to her.
Donald Keown, son of Rex Keown of Cedar Avenue underwent an operation for the removal of tonsils at the private hospital of Dr. T. DeLorme Fordyce Hector and Harry Streets this morning.
June 27, 1944
News of Local Men in Armed Forces
Cpl. William C Cooper has returned to Oklahoma after a furlough with his parents Mr. and Mrs. Edward Cooper, 10 Cedar Avenue, West Conshohocken
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Pfc. William Hoffman arrived Sunday at Fort Dix NJ where he was transferred from Camp Swift Texas. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Hoffman of Spring Mill Avenue.
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Mr. and Mrs. Charles Theis of 114 Fayette Street have received word of the safe arrival in Italy of their son Pvt. Edward R. Theis serving as ground crew mechanic in the Army Air Force.
*******************************************
Sylvester L. Szmigiel US Marine Corp Reserve, son of Stanley Szmigiel, 304 East Elm Street, has been promoted from Private First Class to Corporal at the Marine Corps Air Station here.
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Pvt. Stanley A. Malc, attached to an Air Force Ground Crew who has been spending a fifteen day furlough with his mother Mrs. Rose Lewandowski at 218 West Fifth Avenue after completing his basic training at Camp Bianding, Fla. Late Sunday morning.
******************************************
Today marks the fifth anniversary induction into naval service of Seaman 1 c Francis X Donnelly of 10 Cedar Avenue, West Conshohocken. Mrs. Donnelly, the former Miss Dorothy Cooper and their daughter Dorothy, 18 months, are residing at the latter address.
**************************************
Henry Hoffman, Seaman 1 c is on leave at the home of his parents Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hoffman East Ninth Avenue.
******************************
Pfc. Ronald Rockett, who is in the service for a year on July 3, spent a few hours leave with his mother Mrs. Daisey Rockett, 127 East Ninth Avenue.
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Editor’s Note
ConshyStuff.com will be adding a new feature to our site in the very near future honoring veterans of all wars who have lived in and around Conshohocken and West Conshohocken. The new site will be sponsored by The Veterans of Foreign Wars, (VFW) Post 1074. The VFW Post is located at Fifth Avenue and Wells Street where it meets Spring Mill Avenue. The site when completed will feature photographs of our War Veterans, Group photographs of different Services that have been held over the years, short stories, and a lot of shorts from over the years like the ones posted above, please stayed tuned and remember all of our Vets every day.
(The VFW Social Club is open year round and offers a positive atmosphere for relaxation and comradely, where all our residents and Veterans enjoy good company, check it out.)
July 3, 1954
Ray’s Electrical Appliances
Refrigerators—Fans—Air Conditioners
113 Fayette Street
CO 6-1879
KASOPSKY’S STORE
801 East Hector Street
The Wagon Wheel Inn
Harmonville, Pa
Max Greenbaum’s Store
Spring Mill Pa
The Clothes Line
4 East First Avenue
REDMOND’S Shoe Store
Shoes for the entire family
71 Fayette Street
FLOWERS
For any and all occasions
Frank V. Herron
1515 Fayette Street
KNOELLERS’S GARAGE
117 West Eighth Avenue
N. TALONE
Beverage Distributors
Schmidt’s—Budweiser—Miller High-Life—Schlitz
Valley Forge Beer
12-14 East Hector Street
John Kushla
Meats—Groceries—Frozen Foods—Produce
300 Roberts Avenue Cedar Heights
Jacobson’s Men’s Store
69 Fayette Street
CHARLES KRIEBEL
Contractor in
Interior Exterior
Little Avenue
W I B G
Music News Sports
DIAL 990
Hague Brothers
Retail Flower Shop and Greenhouse
Roberts Ave. and Hallowell St
Cedar Heights
November 1963
Conshy Little League Names 1964 Officers
At the September meeting of the Conshohocken Little League, officers elected were: President, Raymond Gravinese, Vice President, Anthony Baronowski, Treasurer, Joseph DeMarco, and Recording Secretary Michael Gambone.
Elected to the Board of Directors were: John Bosack, Paul Kurkowski, Frank Toby, Frank Palmero, Richard Kosek, and Angelo Damico. As Umpire In Chief, Paul Kurkowski.
The League’s Ladies Auxiliary elected President, Mrs. Ray Gravinese; Vice President, Mrs. Bernard Murray; Treasurer, Mrs. Joseph Montemayor, and Secretary, Mrs. Cosmos Pettine.
Okay, time to go for now, but before we do I’ll leave you with this beautiful poem, I don’t know if it had anything to do with Conshohocken, but I found it in the Recorder, so enjoy.
June 11, 1929
A Poem by Catherine Hickey
“HOME”
A bright, cheery place my home would be,
IF planning its dwellers were left to me.
I wouldn’t choose like my sisters do
Furniture and pictures and draperies too.
Instead I’d shop in a very odd way,
For don’t hearts and minds and passions hold sway.
Over lifeless objects which cannot speak,
Or walk, or talk, or hear, or think?
I wouldn’t choose a restful armchair, upholstered in velour,
But rather restful countenance beautiful in contour.
I wouldn’t choose a silken pillow for the bed,
But a head of texture just as fine as silk instead.
For wouldn’t you rather the plainest pillow with smiles caress,
Then mingle with the richest silk bitter tears of distress.
Wouldn’t you rather a home that was human,
Supported by man, and run smoothly by woman.
This Week’s This & That has been brought to you by
Siletta Plumbing, Heating & Cooling
And
Tone Zone Fitness Studio
Catch ya in a week or so
