This & That – West Conshy Style

This & That

West Conshy Style

By Jack Coll

     This and That is exactly what it says, it’s a little bit of this and a little bit of that.  As I continually research projects I run across these interesting little tid-bits, they don’t constitute a full blown article, but yet I find them very interesting.  I’ve packaged these tid-bits into this article and this week’s This & That is dedicated solely to West Conshohocken.  West Conshohocken happened to be one of the coolest little communities in Montgomery County until the highways cut the town up, and eliminated more than 25 percent of the residential structures and nearly 50 percent of the population over the past sixty years.  West Conshohocken is still a cool little town to lay down roots, a very tight knit community.  If you have something bad to say about the west borough, you better be prepared to fight.  (Remember the ads and articles are printed word for word from the old Conshohocken Recorder newspapers)

Here’s this week’s This & That

January 29, 1946

ANNOUNCEMENT

Restaurant Now Open

LUNCHEONS AND DINNERS SERVED

SEA FOOD A SPECIALTY

FRONT AND GEORGE STREETS

WEST CONSHOHOCKEN

‘SHORTY’                    JOHN

                                                                BEAVER                 CAMPBELL

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September 14, 1982

Mackenzie Park Rededication

     The rededication of the new, refurbished Keith MacKenzie Park, Church Rd. and Bullock Av., West Conshohocken will “be like a community picnic” according to West Conshohocken Borough Council President and Recreation Board Chairman Gerald Junod.  The festivities begin with rededication ceremonies 1-2 p.m. followed by children’s games from 2 to 4, free birch beer, hotdogs and sauerkraut from 4-6, and fireworks at night.

Improvements to the park performed over the course of several months, include: a new maintenance building, new rest rooms, and pavilion.  A volleyball court and improvements to the ball fields.

Shrubs, curbs, fencing and drainage improvements.  State Sen. Richard Tighman, borough council members, Mayor Joe Bry and others will be on hand.

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July 15, 1913

     While John McTammany, the well-known huckster, was delivering to one of his customers on upper Ford Street on Saturday morning, his horse started to walk away and in turning around the wagon was overturned.  At the time the wagon upset a small boy who was sitting on the seat, was thrown out but was uninjured.  The animal was caught before it had a chance to run.  The wagon was not damaged in the least but the contents were scattered in all directions.

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January 4, 1936

New Owner For West Side News Agency

     John J. McLaughlin, for the past several years proprietor of the West Conshohocken news agency, has sold the business to David N. Arndt of Auburn Pa.  The new owner will assume charge of the business on Monday, December 14.

Mr. Arndt has leased the store at 121 Ford Street and will remove the newsstand from its present location at Ford and Front Streets.  The route connected with the business includes West Conshohocken, Gulph Mills and Swedeland.

Mr. McLaughlin purchased the business in 1922 from Edward J. Browne, present tax collector for the West Borough.  Mr. McLaughlin has been in ill health for several months, and this has influenced him in disposing of the agency.

The sale of the news agency does not include the saloon which was opened by Mr. McLaughlin shortly after the repeal of prohibition.

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Classified Business Directory

Of

West Conshohocken

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1900-1902

                                        Baker                                                              Harness

Huegel Charles, Front St.                                               Reinhart Sam, Front St.

Barbers                                                             Hotels

                            Brodell Charles,  Ford Ave.                                           Marion Hotel,  Front St.

Ried Matthias,  Front St.                                         Matson Ford Hotel,  Ford Ave.

O’Brien Jos. F.  Front St.

Blacksmiths                                             Justices Of The Peace.

                                Beaumont J. F.  Front St                                               Saylor Ira D.,  Front St

Buckle & Blackburn  Ford Ave                                          Simons Wm.,  Ford Ave

Cigars                                                               Milk

Fitspatrick Matthew,  Ford Ave                                      Stiteler Malin  Ford Ave

McGuire Peter,  Front St                                                     Coal

                                                                                                  Davis Wm., & Co., Front & Ford

                                     Confectionery                                                    Notions

                                  Adams Edw., Ford Ave                                         Crimian Margaret T., Ford Ave

                                DeHaven Geo., Ford Ave                                                        Shoemaker

Hurley Daniel,  Ford Ave                                                     Hayes Wm., Ford Ave

Lawler Mrs. P.  Front St                                                         Stationer

                                     Drugs                                                      Eisenberg Sam’l W.,  Ford Ave

                                Barr J. Rufus  Ford Ave                                                               Tinware

Supple W. E.  Front Ave                                                      Dugan P. F.  Ford Ave

General Merchandise                                              Grocers

                         Davis Wm., Jr., & Co  Front & Ford                                          Buler Geo.  Ford Ave

Woolen Goods Mfrs.                                   Crawford Jos. C.,  Crawford Ave

Conshohocken Woolen Co.                                              Fearnsides John  Front Ave

Marion Worsted Mills,  Gulf Rd                                              Jacobus F. B.  Ford Ave

Merion Worsted Co.                                                         Leedom A. S.  Front St

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February 4, 1908

A woman residing in what is known as “Bed Bug Row”

On the Balligomingo Road above the Conshohocken

Woolen Mills, went insane on Friday.

On Saturday she became violent and smashed all the

 windows of the room in which she was kept.  Dr. J.Q.

Thomas was summoned but could give no definite reason

As to what caused the woman to become in such a state.

He will have a commission appointed to examine the

Woman and have her committed to the State Hospital

For the Insane at Norristown.

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November 13, 2003

First Woman elected as Mayor in West Conshy

Donna Frankenfield wins mayoral race in West Conshy; she is now the first woman ever elected mayor in that borough.

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April 8, 1975

McKenzie Park Open One Final Summer

     Swish! That is the sound of a basketball going through a hoop.  Youngsters in West Conshohocken will have at least one more summer to play on swings and dribble a basketball at the McKenzie Park playground.

James Priest, chairman of the West Conshohocken Recreation Committee, said he recently received a letter postmarked March 27, from the Pa. Dept. of Transportation granting permission to the borough for use of the playground for one last summer.

The playground is owned by Penn DOT and is slated to become part of the Mid-county Expressway.  (Blue Route)  Penn DOT is expected to start construction in September.  The playground is located on Elizabeth Street and summer programs are scheduled to run from the last week in June until September 1.

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August 23, 1962

Football to Be Revived On West Side for Boys

     Football will return to West Conshohocken with the organization of Midget and Pee Wee teams for boys eight to 13.  Jack McCann managing director said the teams will be known as the West Conshohocken Raiders.

     Before World War Two and a brief time after, West Conshohocken boasted several top teams of the sandlots and in semi-pro ranks.  They included the Wilsontown Pirates, Green Dragons, and Reliance teams.

     Other officers of the organization are Betty Markoski, Al Yamnicki, Albert Slater and Mayor George Barr, Vincent Kehoe, and James Carpenter Sr.

Coaches include former college and high school football stars, Mike Pettine, Villanova star, Jerry Masciantonio, Sonny Markoski, Frank Risell, Butch Brady, Tommy Kenna, Jake Murphy, Bobby Tomplins and Dom Conicella.

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October 13, 1908

Joseph Allen is removing from the River Road to one

of the houses in Bullock’s Row on Front Street.

January 8, 1911

Frederick Lukens is removing from Upper Ford Street

to the house in Noblit’s Row recently vacated by William Martin.

February 12, 1915

Peter Maguire, who has conducted a variety store at the corner

of Ford and Elizabeth Streets, for several years is having an

entirely new and much larger store building erected.

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January 10, 1922

To The Public:

We wish to announce that we have taken the agency for

Abbott’s Ice Cream

and are in a position to supply the

                                                             public with all flavors in any quanity  (<that’s how it was spelled)

either in brick or bulk.

John Dean

27 Front Street

West Conshohocken

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April 18, 1924

Mrs. Mabel Dunugan

BARBER

Wishes to announce that she has secured the

services of an assistant to help her in her business.

She herself is taking care of the women’s work.

BOBBING

CURLING THE BOB

FACIAL BLEACHING

SHAMPOOING

VIOLET-RAY TREATMENT

EYEBROW CORRECTING

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210 Ford Street

West Conshohocken

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January 6, 1948

West Borough Budget Is Set

The budget calls for an estimated expenditure of $18,755.76

Included in expenditure’s

Police Protection…..$3,100.

Fire Protection…..3,440.

Borough Building…..$600.00

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January 10, 1953

West Borough Adopts Budget Increasing Pay:

Salary Boosts Include $500 More For Police Officer

West Conshohocken Town Council at a special meeting adopted the budget

For 1953, calling for an expenditure of $25,205.61

The budget provides an increase of $500 for the police officer,

 Making his salary $3,500. (Per year)

Other increases were $300 for the street supervisor,

Raising his salary to $3,300

$50 for the secretary, to $575.

$25. For the Treasurer, to $325

The street workmen are granted an increase of 15 cents

To $1.30 per hour.  For the substitute police officer, $1.30 per hour.

(Let’s do some math, a cop would make $13.00

For a 10 hour day before taxes.  WC was paying

Their cops waaaay too much)

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On a more serious note

While we’re on the subject of WC Police Officers

As this lousy weather turns into spring, come April,

The borough will remember the passing of former

Chief of Police, Joseph Clayborne, five years ago.

On April 24, 2009, Chief was on his way to a “Boys-in-blue-night-out”

Joe’s passing brought this community to its knees

RIP my friend.

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Spring Time 1927

     Was it really more than 85 years ago that West Conshohocken High school fielded a great baseball team that included Alfred Rissell, Robert Reid, Howard Ferrier, Joseph Ingram, Paul Adams, Gilbert Savers, Lester Cox, Frank Panbidis, Howard Custer, Paul Harper, John Blair, and Norman Rush.

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May 24, 1952

West Conshohocken School May Queen and Court

June Ferst, was crowned May Queen at West Conshohocken Grade school.

Members of the Court included Carol Ann Rhoads, Billy Hottenstein, Kathleen Carpenter, Sandra Sibole, Lorraine Baker, Anna Holland, Christine Romano and Sally Holland.

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June 23, 1966

(You gotta love this one)

We’re Years Away From River Flood

(Screamed the Headline)

The United States Department of the Interior has records of floods going back more than a hundred years in Conshohocken and West Conshohocken and studied the patterns of the different floods.  Their scientist assured us that we were perhaps more than 200 years away from any major flooding, although minor floods could happen every 27 years, with heavier floods every 50 years, but as far as devastating floods, in 1966 they predicted perhaps maybe, two centuries! 

(I think they nailed it)

(Yes this was a Conshohocken Recorder Headline)

(I have eight words for the scientist and Department of Interior,

“Nine-teen sev-en-ty two, Aug-nes”

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May 6, 1924

     Mrs. William Garnett, who conducts the grocery store at the corner of Ford and Walnut Streets, underwent an operation at Montgomery Hospital Saturday afternoon.  The operation was successful and her condition is reported as being very favorable.

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January 29, 1946

Broad Breasted

TURKEYS

PLACE ORDER

BEFORE FRIDAY

FAIRHILL FARM

DeHaven Avenue

West Conshohocken

Phone: Consho 1814-W

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November 1, 1977

West Conshy Quarry Conversion Bids “Too Expensive”

The Montgomery County Commissioners have rejected four bids received two months ago to convert an abandoned quarry into the county’s second sanitary land fill in West Conshohocken.

The ten acre quarry off River Road in West Conshohocken is adjacent to the present 190 foot deep sanitary landfill the County has been using since October 1971.

(Or as a lot of us guys called it, “The West Conshohocken Swim Club)

Well it’s time for Conshystuff.com to get out of West Conshy, as we’ve seen the State of Pennsylvania, and Father Time has taken its toll on the West Borough.

Progress has taken many of its homes, residents, playgrounds, and at one time turned it into a dump.  The state’s highways has cut the town in half, and yet the residents stand tall and proud, and to all of West Conshohocken, I want you to know, that I still, consider West Conshohocken, to be the Second greatest community in America, if you’re interested in seeing the greatest community in America, walk to the foot of the Matsonford Bridge, where the beautiful Schuylkill Expressway dumps its traffic into both of our towns, and stare across that bridge, and you’ll see that the greatest town in America is right in front of you.

“Tales Of Conshohocken and Beyond”

A 450 page book, highlighting 490 photographs, has been written and published by Jack and Brian Coll.  The book covers a lot of West Conshohocken’s history and residents, and is available for purchase at Coll’s Custom Framing, 324 Fayette Street.

Jack and Brian Coll have written and photographed local history for more than 30 years and are currently working on a new book, “Conshohocken: in Photographs and Short Stories”

Should you have any photographs of interest, family photos in front of the house, or street shots, pictures in the parks, we’ll be happy to scan and return, and just maybe we’ll use them in our new book.

Jack Coll