This & That by Jack Coll

This & That

7-20-14

By Jack Coll

Welcome to another edition of This & That, if you’re not familiar with the column well it is what the title says, a little bit of this and a little bit of that.  As I constantly research information for a book I’m currently working on, “Conshohocken In Photographs, and Short stories” I continue to come across little tid-bits that I don’t need for the book but are pretty neat little nuggets worth sharing.  Along with that I might throw in a couple of ads out of the Conshohocken Recorder Newspaper from different years, some of the merchants you’ll remember, some you won’t.  Every once in a while something amusing pops into my head that I think is worth sharing.

When something is used from a publication I will usually date the piece with any headline that might have been posted above the item, and unless otherwise stated, it will be word for word.

Enjoy this weeks This & That!

I was just wondering if any of my casino brothers and sisters actually miss carrying around a bucket of quarters dispersed from a slot machine, or sitting at a machine after hitting for fifty or a hundred dollars and having to wait a half hour for the attendant to come by and fill the machine with quarters so you could collect you’re money?

While we’re on the subject of casinos has anyone else ever noticed that the guy sitting at a blackjack table with the highest stack of chips in front of him does the most talking?

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October 19, 1961

Freddy Cannon, Recording Star At Teen Hop

     Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon, top recording star, featuring some of his hits “Tallassee Lassie,” “Transistor Sister,” “Way Down Yonder in New Orleans,” “For Me and My Gal,” will be the hit of St. Matthew’s sponsored teen hop at 8:00 tomorrow night at the high school.

Due to the late arrival of the star, the dance will be prolonged until he arrives, a spokesman announces.  All teenagers of the area will be welcomed to the weekly Friday night hop.

Editor’s Note:

In case you’re wondering why his biggest hit wasn’t mentioned, “Palisades Park” it’s because it was 1961, and “Palisades Park” wasn’t a hit until the spring of 1962.  “Palisades Park” was written by Chuck Barris, host of TV’s “The Gong Show.”

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With the Phillies having a down season it makes me think about the good ol’ days of 1980, and 1983, a decade later when the Phillies made a surprise appearance in the 93’ World Series and of course the five year run in recent years from 2008-2012.  Then I got to thinking about local guys that knew something about championships like Whitey Mellor, Knute Lawler, Dan O’Donnell, Chot Wood, Yippy Fondots, and the Irwin Brothers just to name a few.

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January 31, 1919

Bicycle repairing and sundries at KEHOE’S.  217 Hector Street

Baby Coach Wheels retired at KEHOE’S.  217 Hector Street

(Editor’s Note)

Two things I didn’t know until I read this very small ad from the Conshohocken Recorder:

One: I didn’t know that there was actually a time when they re-tired baby coach wheels.

And I had no idea what “sundries meant!   According to my dictionary it means

 “Items or things too small or too numerous to be separately specified.”

Now you know!

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Donna and I were driving the back roads in Lancaster at dusk recently and couldn’t help but notice the millions of lightning bugs lighting up the cornfields of the farms we were driving by.  Reminded me of a time when our son had spent the night collecting lightning bugs in a bottle, (with holes in the lid of course so they could breathe) and when his hard night of labor came to an end he had accumulated quite a few bugs in the jar and decided to take them up to bed with him.  Twenty minutes later while sitting in the living room I started to notice a steady stream of lightning bugs flying down the steps and past the love seat I was stretched out on.  I went flying up the steps to see what the problem was and our son proudly told us he had let them out of the jar so he could see what it looked like when they flew around the bedroom, it was pretty cool.  After recalling that old memory I wondered, do Conshohocken children today still catch lightning bugs in a jar, with holes punched in the lid?  That’s all about being a kid, growing up on hot summer nights.

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July 15, 1965

6,500 See Fireworks Display at “A” Field

     6,500 persons turned out under threatening skies Saturday evening for the postponed Independence Day Ceremonies and fireworks at Conshohocken’s A. A. Garthwaite Field.

The weather cooperated, and Master of Ceremonies Walter Schank, began the program by introducing the modest stage show, set up on flatbed trailer that served as the stage for all the evening’s activities. Schank thanked the following organizations for their help in planning and working on the observance, and the soap box derby.  The Washington Fire Company, Conshohocken Fire Co. Mo 2, George Clay Fire Company, Lincoln Fire Company, Plymouth Fire Company, Conshohocken Police Depart, and the Conshohocken Special Fire Police.

Boy and Girl Scout Troops of the area assisted in collections.  Bell Telephone Co. helped set up communications on Derby Day.  Mrs. Jane V. Hissner, Jim Bowe Rambler, and Tornetta Motor Trucks were thanked for the use of trailer and trucks.

Sponsors of the Soap Box Derby were E. F. Moore, American Legion, Joseph Wagner Post 772, and Knights of Columbus, Conshohocken Council 1603, Charles Kelly, Grand Knight.

Awarding of Soap Box Derby Prizes and Trophies was made by the Post’s Bernard Slavin, Director and John Milekeve, Asst.

A “Champion of Champion” plaque was awarded to Paul (Stevie) Schwartz.

The Matthew J. Moore Memorial trophy for the best sportsmanship, presented by former champions of the Conshohocken Soap Box Derby was awarded to James Koniewicz, his fellow derby contestants, he is the brother of this year’s champion.

Daniel Donohue won the Best Brake Award, a $10.00 Gift Certificate.

Best Upholstered Car Award, a $10.00 Gift Certificate to Curtis Lawton.

Best Constructed Racer Award, $10.00 Gift Certificate to William Barber.

Second Place Prizes were awarded to William Barber.

First Place Prizes were awarded to Walter Koniewicz.

     They included the all-expense paid trip to Akron, Ohio, with parents to compete in the August 7 All-American Soap Box Derby for $30,000 in scholarship, a $500 Savings Bond, the Chevrolet Trophy, a Baseball Glove, Basketball and Tool Kit.

A moment of silence was asked during the program for William (Bill) Moore, the late former Chairman (1950-1964) of the community’s Fourth of July Celebration.

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June 19, 1964

Appearing

“The Jones Boys”

Sunday Evening—June 21

At The

King Of Prussia Fire House

Allendale Road, King of Prussia Pa.

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For Father’s Day

Take Dad Out and Enjoy

STEAK and Totally Delicious PIZZA

DeJohn Steak Shop

DeKalb & Fourth Sts. Bridgeport

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 Dancing

Friday Night To The Music Of

“The Four Nobles”

Famous For Our Banquets and Parties

Chick’s Baum Gardens

1316 Ridge Pike

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GERMAN NIGHT

Saturday Night—10-2

Featuring— From Reading— The Fabulous

Johnny Schmokers

In Their Authentic Bavarian Costumes

Who Got The Loudest Sport Shirt?  The Wackiest Dress?

Norristown Maenner-Chor

920 Haws Avenue   Norristown

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Attention Members

T. K. Club

Hector and Apple Sts.

Conshohocken

Saturday Nite

Ben Nosek’s

Pen-Del

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We Aim to Please Pop and Grand Pop This Sunday on

Father’s Day

Serving Prime Meats and Freshest Seafood Dinners

The All New

Campbell’s Oasis

Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting

At the Turnpike

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BLACK HORSE TAVERN

Ridge Pike and Fairfield Road

***Friday & Saturday Nites***

Dance To

The Buddy K. Trio

CHICKEN…all you can eat, $1.50

Elegant Dining In Old English Atmosphere

Featuring

..Steaks..Chops..& Prime Rib

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Little PUB Lounge

SATURDAY NITE ONLY!!!

Please Come Early For Seats

The most talked about singer since Frank Sinatra.

You saw him on Dick Clark’s TV Show

Art Linkletter’s TV Show & The Tonight Show

Now See Him in Person

The handsome Singing TV Star—

“JIMMY BYRON”

3 Floor Shows

Air-Conditioned for your Dancing Pleasure

Little PUB Lounge

53 East Germantown Pike, Norriton Square Shopping Center

(Editor’s Note) Jimmy Byron had a big hit with “Does My Heartache Show” back in April of 1960.

January 28, 1949

Beer–Wines–Liquors

And Tasty Sandwiches

WHERE GOOD FELLOWS GET TOGETHER

Our Famous “ZEPS” Each a meal in itself—-

Eat it here or take it home

Renew Old Friendships At

CHIPPY’S MAPLE GRILL

6^th Ave. & Maple Street

Conshohocken

Television For Your Pleasure

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IT’S HERE NOW

BOCK BEER

Order it Now By Case Or Keg.

Watch for opening at our new beverage distribution location

1. A.    Piermani & Son

619 Maple Street   Phone 2259

Free Delivery

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Gala Floor Show & Dancing

Featuring “Sonny Fero and his Orchestra

Every Sunday Night

AT

V. F. W. CONSHOHOCKEN

62 HARRY STREET

***MEMBERS ONLY***

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NATIONAL BRANDS OF QUALITY

BEERS AND SODAS

Prompt Delivery

In case or kegs

MESAROS’ BEVERAGES

701 E. Hector Street

Conshohocken  ph2749

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     Just sitting here wondering amongst all this nostalgia, wouldn’t it be nice to walk into the Conshohocken “A” Field just one more time and see the Conshohocken High School Band on one side of the field and the All Girls St. Matthew’s Band on the other side of the field waiting for the game between the two high schools to get underway.

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     While I’m just sitting here with my mind wandering off, I was wondering if anyone else misses getting off the New Jersey Parkway at exit 7, and driving the endless road called “Grassy Sound” while on their way to Wildwood.  It was really a neat ride on this two lane road with swamp land on both sides of the road with these little houses or huts, sitting on stilts along both sides.  Sometimes the hot summer smell would be a little over-whelming, but I still enjoyed that ride a whole lot more than I enjoy the super-duper four lane highway bridge that takes us over and around “Grassy Sound”  On some nights, depending on how tired we all were, it seemed as though that Grassy Sound road went on for hours.

I can still see it, and feel it, and smell it, windows down, (I don’t think I ever had an air conditioned car back then, and if I did the air conditioner never worked).  The band Chicago on the 8-Track, friends packed in the car, (most of those days were spent in a 55 Chevy for me, I had three of them) We would pull into Wildwood as though someone cared that we had arrived, and for one long night we would cut lose on the boardwalk, drive home at five in the morning, most of us had to get back for work, a quick bite at the Valley Forge Diner and off to work.  Seven or eight o’clock that evening, we would do it all over again.  Gasoline at 27 cents a gallon was a wonderful thing back then.  On hot summer nights, it seemed as though young people would live an entire week in a single night, ahhh, memories.

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June 17, 1965

St. Mary’s Volleyball Champs Honored

     Mary Ann Jankowski, coach of St. Mary’s Volleyball Team presented a trophy to the School. The trophy was presented when the team captured the Southern Division of the Catholic Youth Organization Championship.  Team members were presented with championship jackets including Karen Birch, Carole Piekarski, Anna Wosiak, Irene Wisniewski, Christine Olszewski, Sharon Speelhoffer, and Carol Wosczyna.

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1940’s

I don’t know if many people around today would remember any of these West Conshohocken businesses that were thriving throughout the 1940’s:

Adam Mackiewicz, Insurance and Real Estate located at the end of the bridge:

Edward Russell, Funeral Director, when he operated on Ford Street:

Frank Allen’s Service Station on Crawford Avenue:

Fairhill Turkey Farm located on DeHaven Avenue:

The Empress Hosiery Mill manufactures of full fashion silk hosiery:

William Davis Jr. & Co Lumber & Millwork, Front and Ford Streets:

Used Cars & Wrecks, John Burke, located at end of the bridge:

Milton White, Building Contractor, Josephine Avenue:

Williams Welding Shop, Bullock Avenue:

Jones Motor Co.

February 18, 1949

Conshohocken Golden Bears Junior Varsity Wins in Overtime

Conicelli Leads All Scorers

     The Conshohocken Junior Varsity five continued to hold onto the league leadership when they turned back the Spring City Junior Varsity 34-26 in an extra period preliminary engagement.  Spring City lead practically all through the game with 35 seconds remaining in the final period and the Pirates leading 26-24, Dominick Conicelli sank a fielder that knotted the count and set the stage for an extra period.  During the overtime the junior Bears played their best ball and scored eight points, while holding their opponents scoreless.  Jim Heffernen, Cressman, Pettine and Marine all played well for the winners.  Conicelli scored 13 points in the game, no other player hit double digits.

Hannum led the varsity boys with 11 points but the varsity Bears lost to Spring City 46-35 despite holding a lead with three minutes remaining in the game. Cassinelli, Weidner, Vandegrift, DeCarlo and Altieri were credited with playing a good game but it just wasn’t enough.

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