West Conshy, we Love You!

West Conshy, we Love You!

1/29/2022

by Brian Coll

We were delivering Girl Scout cookies in the snow yesterday after school, my daughter loves being a Girl Scout and selling cookies. This year her and her troop are allowed to have cookie booths again, but they are also able to deliver with the system that they used last year during an uncertain time with Covid. So, after school, she got together all of her orders and we looked at the addresses and tried to come up with a plan. West Conshohocken was up first! I will tell you, the first person who we visited was outside shoveling her steps, and if you know West Conshohocken… there are hills and the hills lead to some houses having lots of steps. So, my daughter walks up to this young lady to deliver her cookies. This young lady had the coolest hair and struck up a conversation with my daughter. Back in the truck, she thought it was so cool that this lady had like purple and pink hair, kind of like one of the My Little Ponies! Next stop was a West Conshohocken legend, Jacqui Carracappa. Miss Jacqui and my daughter spoke about being a Girl Scout, how her daughter was a Girl Scout and of course we had a side conversation about Stevie Nicks. And that leads me to the Gypsy Saloon. We love the Gypsy! Can’t wait to see the new layout and renovations there in the near future. I’ve enjoyed every meal I’ve had there with wonderful company. The service has always been excellent, and the owners and staff have done a wonderful job there.

Gypsy wasn’t always the Gypsy, back when I was a younger guy, it was Maguire’s and it was a different crowd and atmosphere. Many of my fond memories of West Conshohocken come from when I was younger. Walking over the bridge to the West side…. meeting up with friends, playing basketball or working out in the tiny gym at Saint Gert’s. Playing football at MacKenzie park, walking the hills…. always walking the hills. Swimming at the DeStefano household pool (I think it was the unofficial West Conshohocken pool) unless you count the creek by Balligomingo as a pool, then that would probably win if there was a contest. Grabbing McDonald’s with friends, seeing what the name of the restaurant behind McDonald’s was this week…. didn’t it change names like 14 times?

I briefly touched on the hills… a few of the places….. and I have to tell you about the people… please don’t be mad or offended if I leave you out. West Conshy has good people. For years I would play Thanksgiving day football with what seemed like a couple generations of players, us older guys in our 40’s down to some young blood in their teens. Guys with last names like DeStefano, DeLucca, Cooper, Quinn, Blair, Leflar, Claybourne… these guys would often talk of West Conshy legends like Sheedy, Streeper and others who I have forgotten over the years. We’d talk about old times when West Conshy had its own sport teams. We’d play football for hours and then talk a little about the good ole days. If I’m talking about people in West Conshohocken, I’d be doing a disservice if I didn’t point out Pat Zapien.. If there was a West Conshohocken living Saint, I’d have to think Pat Zapien would get a fair amount of votes. At events I’ll often see her with Nucky DeStefano and the two of them have done so many things for the people of West Conshy. The folks at George Clay Fire Company, The Frankenfields, and so many more….you all deserve your own book! One of my favorite police officers is Andrew Carlin. There is currently a public works legend in West Conshohocken Rob Dronitsky who seems to help the residents on an almost daily basis with one thing or the other there. On my side of the bridge I’ve been able to keep up with West Conshohocken and the Blue Stone Church with new Pastor Dwight Young through an old friend to both boroughs Tina Reese. My sister took dance classes with Walt Leszczynski and one of the first people she met there was the wonderful Robyn Kelly and have I mentioned her amazing mom Pat Kelly yet? Well I should have, West Conshy wouldn’t be the same without them! Real quick…. to the small business owners in West Conshy, thank you. Gypsy, Jasper’s Westside, Victorino’s, Baggataway, the drycleaners there. Before I end this, I’ve known a number of the Mayor’s in West Conshohocken over the years and I think they have all done a wonderful job. Mayor Pignoli, when the September 11th tragedy occurred, you jumped right into action and helped raises tens of thousands of dollars for the victims in New York, and the rescue operations and thank you for all of the Mayor’s since then continuing with the moment of Silence and the vigil held every year including current Mayor Danielle Fournier (who is doing a great job in her own right). Thank you.

Thanks for reading, I’d love to hear some of your stories, of people, places or things including but not limited to the hills, restaurants or bars that were behind McDonald’s.. Big Fish, Bergey’s, Club Nuveau…)

If the Girl Scout cookies are still on your mind, reach out to me, we have a hookup.

If you are looking for something to do on February 26th, the is an awesome 80’s Prom happening at the Great American Pub. Tickets and more info here: Conshohocken Adult Prom – Back to the 80’s Tickets, Sat, Feb 26, 2022 at 7:00 PM | Eventbrite