This & That
A Little Bit of This, And A Little Bit Of That
By Jack Coll
12-21-14
Welcome to another edition of This & That, if you’re not familiar with this column below it’s made up of short items of interest, or not, depending on the reader, sometimes the brief topic is from the early 1900’s, sometimes it just might be something currently on my mind. I would like to run a quick disclaimer, if you’re reading something in This & That and think I might have used this material before, well it’s possible I did, and here’s why.
In my third floor library I have hundreds if not thousands of files. I have a file on everything and anything pertaining to Conshohocken, West Conshohocken, Bridgeport and Norristown, I have files on Plymouth, Whitemarsh, and Upper Merion, files on Montgomery County, some files on the state of Pennsylvania and a lot of files on music and more than one million photographs that I try to keep in some sort of files, and all of that is just for starters, not enough room to list all the files I keep. One file I don’t have is a file on “This & That,” nor’ am I gonna keep a file on material I’ve used in This and That.
I write this column for your entertainment and mine and should I repeat something just enjoy it the second time around. With that being said let’s get right into it!
I was just sitting here wondering about the year 1949 when the Philadelphia Eagles won the Pro Football Championship, and the Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the World Joe Louis announced his retirement after reigning for nearly 12 years and defending the title 30 times? In 1949, Harry Truman was President of the United States of America and you could purchase a new house in Conshohocken for $7,000. Was it really back in 1949 you could buy a new car for $1400, for some reason it annoys people today when I tell them that gas was a whole 17 cents per gallon in 1949, not 17.9 cents per gallon, just 17 cents a gallon, I wonder when that “.9” thing started?
Is anybody still around who went to the movies at the Forrest Theatre, I talk to people all the time who went to the Riant Theatre and saw a number of movies back in 1949 like “All The Kings Men,” “Adam’s Rib,” She Wore a Yellow Ribbon,” On The Town,” and Twelve O’Clock High.” Depending on when you went to the movie determined how much you paid, if you were a kid at a weekday matinee it would cost you a dime, a kid on Saturday was forced to cough up a quarter, Adults paid 50, or 60 cents depending when you went.
Today when I stroll into the multiplex, (sorry folks it’s no longer a movie theatre, we get to feel so much more important walking into a MULTIPLEX) When I take my bride into the multiplex to see one of the latest movies I hand the guy a twenty dollar bill and wait for my change with my hand extended out, the guy says WHAT!, I remind him about my change to which he replies you only gave me a twenty, no change. So then I use my ace in the hole, I pull the senior citizen card, how about my discount buddy, he pulls out a quarter and hands it to me and I’m smiling all the way to my seat, a seat in which I’m forced to climb 20 or 30 steps to get to, not like the old Riant days.
Maybe that’s why I prefer listening to music, if you have a radio, the sounds are still free, for now anyway. No heavy rock music in 1949, just guys like Perry Como singing “You’re Adorable,” “Careless Hands” by Mel Torme and the classic “Cruising Down the River” by Blue Baron. Can anyone else recall Russ Morgan, The Andrew Sisters, Evelyn Knight, Frankie Laine and Vaughn Monroe, I can tell l you this, better than rock & roll!
A 1964 Ditty
If you think our police officers are overpaid in the year 2014, wait til you hear what we were paying them fifty years ago, back in 1964. In Conshohocken a Patrolman was raking in $5,000 dollars a year, a Sergeant on the force back then was making $5,500 per year and our chief was making $6,500 a year, a little excessive I think, and by the way that was for a 44 hour work week. As usual Whitemarsh was paying a lot of dough, their patrolman got $5,650 per year with the Chief getting $8,000 a year, here’s the kicker, Whitemarsh officers worked a 42 hour week.
(Just a little something to ponder)
July, 1964
The joint school boards of Plymouth and Whitemarsh Townships voted 11-1 to NOT allow Conshohocken School District to be a part of Plymouth Whitemarsh School District. In a separate meeting the same week the Conshohocken School Board voted 3-1 against merging with the school districts of Plymouth and Whitemarsh.
(It seems to me those meeting were time well used)
I was just wondering if anybody remembers Stemple’s Craft & Gift Shop selling custom made Lamp Shades and all types of wrought iron out on Butler Pike in the mid to late 1960’s. Not to be confused with Beverly Stemple’s Stationary Store on Upper Fayette Street, (Butler Pike) back in the late 1980’s.
(We seem to be stuck in the Sixties so let’s go a few more)
1964
St. Gertrude’s Team Regional CYO Basketball Champions
St Gertrude’s School of West Conshohocken won four basketball titles during the past season. These included the Norristown Area Catholic Youth Organization championship, Southern Division, St. Matthew’s CYO Invitational Tournament, Conshohocken Borough Parochial School Tournament, and LaSalle Invitational Tournament in which 63 schools in Southeastern Pennsylvania participated. The team was coached by Don Stemple and the players included Peter Vivian, Peter Bianco, Daniel Gallagher, John Cooper, James Shaffer, Michael Leonard, John Clayborne, John Lewkowicz, John Rogalski, Bill Bovell, Michael Harper, Larry Brady, Pat Campbell, and Joe Harrington.
1964
Conshohocken Punt, Pass, and Kick Contest Winners
The Conshohocken Punt, Pass and Kick Contest was sponsored by Autocrest Inc. and the Conshohocken Fellowship House. Jackets were presented to the first place winners, while helmets were presented to the second place winners and footballs to the third place winners. Among the winners were Robin Woznick, Edward Enoch, Mike Bono, Walter Wienzcek, James Brown, John Garforth, Bob Priest, Peter Galie, Bill Galette, Donald Garforth, John Priest, and Bruce Cassinelli.
Just a few things while thumbing through a Recorder Newspaper from October 26, 1950.
Harmonville Girl scout Troop No. 47 invested four new members: Joan Foley, Kathleen Pierce, Paula Mangene and Barbara Dean at its meeting Monday night. Mrs. Ashton was a guest. The Girl Scouts will hold a Halloween party on Monday night with their mothers as guest. The decorating committee will be Barbara Dean, and Julia Di Sabastiano, refreshment committee, Eleanor Coonan, Deanne Foulk, and Rosalie Freeland. On the entertainment committee are Kathleen Pierce, Joan Foley, Paula Mangene and Naomie Freeland. Mrs. Norma Tarbutton is leader.
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Picture Framing
Over 50 Different Frames In Stock
Phillips Gifts
117 Fayette Street
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Dress Suites For Hire
Phone: 2251
Town Valet Service
Dry Cleaning
420 Hallowell Street
Conshohocken
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Electric Clocks Repaired
Blocks
11-25 West Main Street
Norristown
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Wilkinson’s
Meats—-Groceries
Specials for Today, Friday and Saturday
72 Fayette Street, Conshohocken
Smoked Picnic Hams-New England Trim No Fat 3-5 lb Avg. 58 cents lb.
Rump Steak……………89 cents
Chuck Roast of Beef……………..59 cents
Fresh Ground Hamburg…………..55 cents
Fresh Beef Cubes………………….85 cents
Rolled Veal………………………….79 Cents
Morrells All Rite Sliced Bacon………..49 cents
Butter…………..73 cents
Eggs………………49 cents
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We Are Singularly Proud To Announce
Our Appointment As The
Z E N I T H
T E L E V I S O N
D E A L E R
In The Conshohocken Area
Featuring The Zenith……..
“Lazy Bones”
**Convenient Budget Terms Arranged**
PHONE: Consho. 2539
GORDON’S
701 E. Hector Street
Conshohocken
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William Minnis, of 104 Ford Street, underwent an abdominal operation yesterday at Bryn Mawr Hospital. His condition is reported good as of this morning.
A meeting of the MacKenzie Park Girl’s Club will be held this evening at 7:30 at the home of Mrs. Howard Priest, 21 Elizabeth Street. Girls between the ages of 12 and 18 are invited to attend the meeting.
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I was just wondering if anybody remembers Marberger’s Prime Meat Market in Norristown, Harry Rosenberger ran the market throughout the 1950’s and 1960’s at Airy and DeKalb Streets in Norristown. Back in 1964 sliced American cheese was 50 cents a pound, Boneless Rump Roast was 99 cents a pound, Maxwell House Coffee was 95 cents for a six ounce jar and Beltsville Turkeys were 39 cents a pound.
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It was 50 years ago that Joseph Tinney passed away, Joseph owned and operated Tinney Motor Company at Twelfth Avenue and Fayette Street throughout the 1920’s, and 1930’s. Tinney’s Motor Company was an agency for the Ford Motor Company, in the early years many of the cars coming out of the Henry Ford Motor Car Company were equipped with Lee Tires from Conshohocken.
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May 13, 1980
Conshohocken Police Report
Burglaries sometimes cause property damage worth more than the value of whatever the burglars steal, according to Conshohocken Police.
On May 2, between 3 and 8 a.m., Pat’s Bar, 2 Maple Street, was hit by thieves. Entry was gained through a window that was destroyed. That is also how the thief or thieves got out, too, police said.
Total value of the cash taken from the bar’s tip box was $5 or $6. The window cost more to replace, police said.
Mrs. Tomczak, the proprietress of Pat’s called in the complaint. Officer Archie Graham investigated.
At 12:30 p.m. on May 5, the police received a call that the Laundromat at 7th Ave. and Harry Street had been entered and that the coin collector on top of one of the machines had been ripped off, police said.
They report that between $20 and $25 was taken in the burglary. It will cost more to repair the damage, police said. Investigating was Officer Frank Charlesworth.
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May 13, 1980
Casmar Café’
101 E. 7th Avenue Conshohocken
Homemade soups Daily
Hot and Cold Sandwiches
Salads & Antipastos
Island
Drinks
Backgammon Boards &
Electronic Cocktail Games
Thursday Nite—Live Music
Linda & The Days End Band
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La Veranda
A Little Italian Restaurant in the Suburbs
In Beautiful Downtown Conshohocken
Serving the finest in Italian American and Seafood Dinners at Very Reasonable Prices!
(And finally, Conshohocken getting tough on crime)
August 11, 1908
SUNDAY BALL PLAYING
No More Sunday Base Ball In the Borough Limits.
I hereby notify all organized base ball clubs that we will not allow any of them to play ball on Sunday within the limits of the borough. I have been given to understand that teams from Norristown and vicinity have been coming here on Sunday to play their games, and if that gang of half-grown rowdy’s who were here on Sunday afternoon last are a sample of the teams invited here, the sooner we enforce the law on the offenders the better it will be for the morality of our town. I personally have no more objection to games of baseball played purely for recreation in a quiet manner by those who need it, than I have for a game of golf played in the same manner on Sunday; but I do believe that it is my official duty to protect our people from being insulted personally and morally, from people who seem to have no respect for themselves or the right of other.
Therefore I give due notice that I will issue warrants, cause the arrests and impose fines on each and every offender arrested.
Fred J. Bloomhall,
Burgess.
Enjoy your Merry Little Christmas
This Week’s This & That have been brought to you by
Bowe’s Exxon, a great place for all your auto needs
And
The Great American Pub, A great place to celebrate your holiday season.
