Monthly Archives: June 2011

         Once upon a time, a good number of churches in Ellwood City had their own softball league. I was recently given an old stack of Ellwood City Ledgers by one of our followers to go through to see if anything stood out and buried in the sports section of one of the papers from the early 1990′s was a write up from all the previous days Church League Softball games. The following is a word for word reprint from the Tuesday, May 19th Ellwood City Ledger…
  The Wileys had a field night on the Lillyville Church of God field Monday night.
  Thad Wiley went 5-for-5 and Jay Wiley added a 5-for-6 game to a 25 hit attack as Assembly of God crushed Calvin UP-Bell Memorial 19-5, in Ellwood City Church Softball League action.
  In other games, Mt. Jackson stopped First Church of God, 10-3, while St. Agatha turned away First United Methodist, 16-9.
  While Thad and Jay Wiley were combining to go 10-for-11. Dave Lias doubled and singled twice, while Jeff Scott doubled and singled and Doug Peffer, Bob Tammaro and Dave Ialongo contributed two hits apiece.
  Jay Wiley cracked two doubles along the way and notched the victory on the hill with nine strong innings of work.
  For Calvin UP, Gary Jackson doubled and singled twice, while Dave Best homered and singled, Larry Turner singled three times and Dave Calve went 2-for-5. Turner lost the pitching decision to Wiley on the mound.
Score by innings:         R  H
Calvin   000 120 002 — 5  11
AOG     104 203 90x — 19 25
            ——
Mt. Jackson 10, Church of God 3
  Gerry McDowell had a perfect 3-for-3 night at the plate, while Bob Jones stroked four hits and Jeff McDowell collected three hits for the winners. Jim Book added a three bagger for Mt. Jackson, which maintained an early 4-0 edge and never looked back.
  McDowell picked up the win on the mound.
Score by innings:           R
Mt.Jack.  202 041 010 — 10
First COG 000 001 101 –  3
            ——
St. Agatha 16, First UM 9
  Chris Swick doubled and singled twice with a pair of RBI, while Don Buzard and Tom Keane cracked three hits. Mike Primerano doubled and singled twice with two RBI and Jim Buccelli smacked a pair of singles. Tom Aubel also chipped in a double for the victors.
  For First United Methodist, Steve Kingston tripled and doubled and singled twice to go 4-for-4 with three RBI, while Pat Hennon doubled and singled with three RBI, and Ed Kingston and Bill Luca each singled twice and knocked in a run.
  Joe Gillespie was the winning pitcher with three innings of relief of starter Tony Aniceti. Neil Foley mopped up for the final two innings. Mike Baker was the loser, in relief of Jack Sapp.
Score by innings:            R  H
St. Agat.  320 040 700 — 16 20
First UM   002 034 000 –  9 17

Please share your memories of the softball league below or email us at info@ellwoodcitymemories.com

      I have been asking for any team pictures from the area and was recently given a picture of the 1916 Ellwood City High School football team that included; front row left to right, James Marshall, Thomas Baird, Corey Asper, Rodney Dean, Max Ewing, Dewey Cunningham, George Fike, B. Asper and Virgil Cosby.
      Back row, left to right, Allan Thomas, McElwain, Jack Harper, Dewitt Goodrich, Baker, Edwin French, Clifford Camp, Adam Dambach, Charles French, and Norman McCreary, High School Principal and coach;
      Who knew that your great-great grandfather George Fike was a football stud back in the day?

      Once upon a time Ellwood City hosted a Sunday school baseball league here in town. The 1922 league champions was the pictured Immanuel Reformed Church team. Members included seated from the left third baseman Fred Sanders, second baseman Frank “Grundy” Volpe, and batboy John Sanders. Standing from the left is local baseball legend and team manager Connie Wardman. Left fielder Mike Cirelli, Pitchers Frank Falconie and Paul McConahy, First base Erwin “Nummy” Campbell, Centerfielder Edward Krupa, Right fielder Dave Mariani, and church pastor Rev. Schaffer. Ray Daellenbach is missing from the picture to go fishing.

      The 1964-65 Ellwood City Boys Basketball team not only sported the schools greatest uniforms, but also posted the best overall record in the history of Lincoln High School (18-4). The members of the record setting team included; front row, left to right, Darl Romanoski, Jim DeMark, Bill Donnelly, Chuck Hennon, and John Kolik; back row, the ledgendary hall of fame Coach L. Butler Hennon, Al DiFrischia, Bob Fusco, Tony DeLisio, Ernie Hemmerly, and Jim Yohe.

            Can you remember all the way back to Friday June 17th 2011. That is the day that the Riverside Panthers boys baseball team won the schools third State Title in the 2011 PIAA Class AA Baseball Playoffs. After trailing 2-1, the Panthers fought back and won the title 5-2 on shortstop Ryan Finnegan’s three run “in the park” homerun.
      Congratulations goes out to the Riverside players, coaches, and entire school for their third title in six years. The Panthers also won the PIAA Class AA titles in 2005 and 2006.

      The 1995 Lincoln Hich School Wolverine Baseball Team from Ellwood City were crowned Section 10-AAA CHAMPIONS and WPIAL Quarter Finalists.  
      Pictured above front row, from left: bat boys, Santino Riccio, Mike Sharek, Jason Hazen, Steve Kimmel, Darin Sharek, Dave Ottavio, Kyle Blazin, Joey Bartolomeo, Kevin Ricciuti and Ryan Sulia. Second row, from left: Brad Welsh, Mike Pelloni, Joe Nardone, Curt Dominelli, Rody Polojac, Eric Meyer, Justin Zona and Sam Pelloni. Third row, from left: Ronnie Morrow, John Frisk, Blake Schilling, Larry Pasquale, Tom Nulph, Mike Hall, Ron Harper, Ryan Sudano and B. J. Boyle. Fourth row, from left: Ed Casciato, Kevin Stiles, Nick DeSanzo, Craig Radvansky, Mark Gardner, B. J. Guy, Matt Barberio and Joe Battaglia. Fifth row, from left: B. J. Neghiu, Ryan Venezie, Matt Haydo, Jeff Hall, Ron Walker, Adam Wehman, Neil Blazin and Corey Best. Sixth row, from left: Head Coach Jeff Fotia, Assistant Coaches Joe Ricciuti and Bill Baker; Players Eric Slevin, Travis Loccisano and Pat Wehman; and Dave Blazin, Vic Sharek and Vince Riccio. Some people were missing when the photo was taken.

      I do not know if it is because of Louise Carroll’s articles in the Ledger or what it is but I have found out that the folks from Hazel Dell are apparently the most nostalgic people in town. Ellwood City Memories gets more stories from them than from any other section of town. I actually had people that were upset that I had yet to mention Taylors Dairy Store (formerly Tritt’s Dairy). Apparently it was THE place in the Northside where everyone went for homemade ice cream. Tritt’s Dairy Store sold milk, snacks, ice cream and candy. 
      The building itself has changed a little from it’s days as Tritt’s Dairy as the front door has been covered over, but if you look carefully at the picture you can still see two of the steps that led into the store. The original owners, the Tritts, lived in the back of the store and upstairs, as the white addition was added years later. The Taylor’s, who owned the stores later, lived in the white house attached to the store for sometime.
      The empty lot next door to Taylor’s Dairy used to be a grocery store (when facing the building, it would be to the left of Taylor’s.) The small store called Nagel’s Grocery is still remembered today by those nostalgic Hazel Dellions for its “wonderful produce and lunch meats”. We do not know yet if the “missing” building was later the home of the Suds and Duds and Ray’s Toy town that burned down, but I am sure we fill find out…
      Please share your memories below or email us at info@ellwoodcitymemories.com

      When you mention the old hardware store in town, most people still think of Yahn-Jones Hardware on Lawrence Avenue first and foremost. However, do you remember the Logan Hardware that Danny Johns recently shared his memories of including the train display Logan’s had in their window every year at Christmas and the colored chicks around Easter time.
      Does anyone remember Cartwright Hardware with the basement full of toys each year at Christmas? I am sure they sold Benjamin Moore paint and other “hardware” items, but the Christmas shopping is what I hear the most about.
      Do you have any memories of Logan Hardware or Cartwright Hardware? Please share those memories below, or email us at info@ellwoodcitymemories.com

      Many people have shared their memories of the special bread they used to get at the European Bakery located at 1100 Lawrence Avenue. We have tried to find the date that the Bakery opened but could not get an exact date. I found out that it was open as early as 1930 and was owned by a number of gentlemen including; P.Taseff, K.L. Popoff, T. Simoff, George Naumoff, N.E. Gosheff. It was listed in a phone book about that time that George Naumoff lived in the apartment located above the bakery.
      The same six men were listed as owners and operators through the 30′s and up until 1947 when there was a change in ownership. In 1947, George Naumoff remained with K.L. Popoff and they added P. Tasevetch’s name to the business. These three continued to operate the bakery and a whole sale division until 1966, when K.L. Popoff was listed as sole proprietary.

      This covers the owners; I leave the memories of the items sold to you. Please share your memories below or email us at info@ellwoodcitymemories.com

      The tragic death of Charles Johns and his son George on the evening of April 6th was shrouded in mystery and suspicion.
      On the morning of April 7, the bodies of Charles Johns and his son George, burned almost beyond recognition, were found in the ruins of their shanty-home which was destroyed by fire the night before. Their bodies were discovered by J. C. Wardman, Larry Yoho, and Carl Lattimer who lived nearby and were sifting through the ashes looking for anything that may be salvageable, not bodies.
      Neighbors watched the shack burn the night before but were led to believe that there was no one inside it. The bunkhouse was located on the John Newton farm in Wayne Township near Ellwood City. Both victims were miners and were employed in a mine on a nearby farm. Father and son evidently were burned to death while sleeping, the bodies having been found in a corner where a bed had stood. At the morgue it was said that the father looked to be aged about 50 and the son between 18 and 20.
      Reports are that a man who lived with the Johns was standing in the road while the shack burned. He is said to have had a large bundle under his arm and when asked if there was anyone in the place he replied in the negative. Sheriff Reynolds and deputies are investigating and are looking for two other men who are said to have lived at the same place.
      By noon, the day after the fire, Sheriff Reynolds said he had learned nothing as a result of his investigation so far. He said he was not looking for anyone in particular, but hopes to find someone who saw the victims the evening before. On April 9th an inquest into the death of the two Johns, father and son, was held in Ellwood City.
      A note of interest is that April 6th, the day of the fire, was pay day for the miners.

      The Lawrence Service Station was owned and operated by Merit Haberman when this picture was taken around 1927 or 1928. The station was located where PNC Bank has its drive through facility today.
      Advertisements hanging around the station include multiple signs for Quaker State Motor Oil and for United States Tires.
      Merit Haberman sold the Service Station and moved to Zelienople, where he had a Ford dealership in partnership with his father Lewie Haberman.