Ellwood City Memories

I have been contacted by a couple of people that have found milk bottles buried in their backyard however I was recently contacted by Jackie Eidenmiller who found much more. She mentioned that her husband and her stated using a metal detector in the area around their home between Ellwood Road and the Wurtemburg cutoff (part of the old Gardner farm).

Jackie shared that they are finding old railroad tracks and wheels from carts or small trains. They are also finding tools like sledge hammer heads, wedges and picks. There is a lot of cut limestone in the area, and there are remnants of a railroad bed there also.

It is believed that the defunct Elmwood Brick and Limestone Company formerly operated in the area in the late 1800′s. Some of the artifacts are dated from 1878. Interestingly they are also finding watch parts and harmonica parts everywhere. If you can shed any information it would be helpful. Please share below or email me at info@ellwoodcitymemories.com

I would really like to thank Jayne Bates for taking the time to send in these pictures of the Ellwood City Blue Angels. The first picture is of the 1970 Ellwood City Blue Angels and she even took the time to scan in the back of the picture where a young Walter Bates had written all the names of the players. I apologize if I misspelled any of the names.

20 Scott Markle                      60 Mark Belissimo

21 Lou Valvano                      30     Brant

21 Rick Kookanauto             5  Randy Conti

28 Mark Valvano                    70 Bob Galaher

62 Dana Stevenson     80     Richudy

15 Kevin Conti                       37 John Geneveva

17 John Santillo          23 Ted Cicozy

29 Jim Fotia                25 Pat Perrone

24 Tommy                   50 Larry

10 Dave Atavia                       44 Greg Sylvestry

34 Walter Bates                      88 Joe Delionardo

31 David Bates                       34 Jim Galagher

61 Rick Matuchi            Tom Santillo

72 Steve Veres                           Joe Funari

71 Sam Fotia                  Dave Houlic

26 Tony DeCarbo                   78 Vince Viccuri

51 Tim Mondell                         CJ Stein

13 Todd Palony                         Tony Funari

68 Allen Cumo

Managers: Nicky C., Rick Sc., Joe A., Jimmy Sp., & Rick Shc.

Coaches: Eriney, Ed, Bill, Pete, Mike, & Sam

  Another pictures of the Blue Angels from either 1969 or 1971. This picture includes Ed Fausnaught as coach tall guy back middle. Third from the left is Pete Petrocola with Sam Costa between Pete and Ed. Ang Ottoviano is beside Ed on the right and Ted Ciccozzi is in front of Ed Fausnaught. David Ottavani is the guy third row from back left with his eyes closed behind Robert Bates. Robert is the big guy with glasses, number forty something. David 43 And Walter Bates 62, Bill Moczan 82, and coach Coach Bob Timerman.

Prior to formation of the Little Wolverines, the Blue Angels were Ellwood’s little league football before becoming Packers which was eighth and ninth grade I have been told. We would really enjoy hearing your memories about the Blue Angels. Please share your memories below or email me at info@ellwoodcitymemories.com

I recently received an email from Tammy Mazzant that had a number of old print ads from a 1965 Ellwood city Ledger and a black and white photograph. I took my time and went through the ads and almost fell out of my chair when I got to the black and white picture below.

The building I only knew as Red Hot’s at the North end of the Veterans Bridge  and much more. Many of you remember this hot spot as Ida’s Luncheonette when it was owned by Ida Ionellie, or you may remember it as Ted’s Hamburgers, or as it was when it was photographed here as Mayflower Lunch.

You may also notice two there objects at the end of the bridge. The cement “dummy” which has been the topic of a number of conversations on this web site and the newsstand at the end of the bridge. There was some discussion as to whether or not the cement pillars at the end of the old Fifth Street bridge had lights on the top of them. As you can clearly see in this picture, there were lights on them.  And yes I said them, many people do not remember but there was one at each end of the bridge.

Also there was some question as to the name of the newsstand at the end of the bridge. In the 1951 phone book it is listed as the Mallary Newsstand.

I really cannot wait to hear some of your memories of Ida’s, the Mayflower, or Red Hot’s Lunch. Please share your memories below or email me at info@ellwoodcitymemories.com

    I have mentioned Nick’s in Ewing Park many times but many people have also shared their memories with us of the Dairy Queen in Ewing Park. We have heard about the great summer that the banana splits were on sale all summer long and Dave Weingartner shared with us his memories of hanging out in the parking lot of the Dairy Queen with all the other young kids of Ellwood City on their bicycles. Most of the boys were on little league teams and they could be identified by their little league hats.
The Dairy Queen is no longer there, having been gone for quite awhile now. In the mid 90′s a small Italian Ice shack set up business on the old foundation but was replaced by the current apartment building. Do you have any memories of the old Dairy Queen? We would love to hear from you, please leave a comment below or email me at info@ellwoodcitymemories.com

Originally Published April 17, 2009

    Last April, Darrell Smialek submitted a comment concerning “The Shootout” and explained that he had a photograph that his father had taken of the getaway car and would be happy to submit it when next he came across it. Recently he came across the photograph (actually several photographs) and he shared them with us.
    Looking at the photograph above of the black club coupe with the driver’s door open exhibits bullet holes in the seat, one bullet hole in the rocker panel and a good deal of blood on the seat and also running down the side.
    This third photograph shows the same car with the door closed and you can see bullet holes in the hood, front fender, four or five in the door (the one at the bottom lines up with the hole in the rocker panel as noted in the above photograph) and a couple below the rear side window. Notice however that the car has no other body damage and does not appear to have been involved in an accident. This is where the top photo comes into play and also Darrell’s forgotten memories.
The photo at the top is obviously of a car that had been involved in an accident. In fact, it appears to have been rolled over (held up better than today’s cars would in a roll-over!).  Now, the forgotten memories; his father told Darrell many years ago about these pictures that the bank robbers had abandoned the shot-up car somewhere at the end of the Fifth Street Bridge and then stole another vehicle. This is the vehicle in the top picture that rolled over on Belton Road.

Thank you Mr. Smialek for sharing these great pictures and for taking the time to explain the pictures.

Do you remember the big house beside the gas station on the corner of Spring Avenue and Fifth Street? The house located at 426 Spring Avenue was originally built in 1892 by Lenora Roessing who rented out rooms in her home making it one of the earliest boarding houses in Ellwood City. Since Mrs. Roessing sold the house in the early part of 1913, the various owners have added to the original eight room house and even lifted it approximately six feet.  The house increased in size so much that by 1966 four families lived there. That same year, Helen Young who married John Carpenter sold the house and neighboring gas station to Harry & Betty Gaydosz. The gas station was built 1929 and would become known as Harry’s Texaco. Both the house and gas station were torn down when Eckerd Drug Store purchased the land to build their large structure that has since become Rite-Aid.
Also in the picture, you can see the former Tomons Funeral Home and a delivery truck from Linarelli’s Furniture & Appliance Village Center formally of Koppel. Linarelli’s was originally opened by Ralph & Elsie Linarelli as a grocery store on 18 before moving closer to the railroad tracks and becoming a hardware store. Over time they started carrying more furniture and appliances and eventually phased out the hardware and Levi jeans.
If you would like to share a story you might have, please leave a comment below or email me at info@ellwoodcitymemories.com

Photograph courtesy of Zeke’s Auto Repair

Originally Published May 15, 2009

I had a friend email me this picture that looks like a Bud Dimeo photograph for the Ellwood City Ledger but I am not sure where it came from nor who it belongs to. It is not my intention to “steal” anything so please let me know and I will take it down right away – but it is a great photograph.
  What looks like a picture of a parking lot to some is something so much more to me. Of course you see the brick P & LE Freight Station that is still standing today and to the left of it across the railroad tracks is the Baltimore & Ohio Freight Station along Sixth Street that was demolished in 1982. In 1966, the P & LE freight station was converted into a warehouse and offices by Fotia Brothers Sales & Service owners, Sam & Joseph Fotia. Today it is being remodeled again for unknown purposes.
Between the two buildings you can see the tops of two churches in the background. On the left is the former Saint Agatha Roman Catholic Church that served Ellwood City until September of 2007 when it consolidated with its own mission church the Blessed Virgin Mary Church and was renamed Holy Redeemer Church. The second church is the Presbyterian Church which is older than our town itself, having originally organized in the “old brick school house” back on July 14, 1891. The Presbyterian Church continues to serve Ellwood City today despite a fire in 1950.
Speaking of fire, on the far right you can barely make out the old livery on Fourth Street. Architect Byron McCandless who designed portions of Lincoln High School, the Ellwood City Municipal Building, and many others used this building and the brick buildings behind it as his offices. His son Joseph continued to use these buildings for storage until an arson fire destroyed the buildings a number of years ago. His father’s original drawings were lost as was Joseph’s picture taken of the Marines on D-day only a few yards from the beach at Normandy. Byron’s father was Joseph McCandless who built the very first brick house in Ellwood City that just recently burned down.
There are many interesting things you can make out in the background of a picture of “a parking lot”. If you would like to share your memories of any of these, please share below or email me at info@ellwoodcitymemories.com

As a follow-up to the First Little League Champions post, the members of that team that live in Florida (some part time, others full time) got together through some investigative work from our friend Bob Mallary for a reunion game. This picture was taken at a Pirate – Rays game in Bradenton , FL on March 7, 2013. Bob was a little disappointed that he couldn’t get more teammates together, but five out of twelve after all these years is pretty good.

Those that were able to attend had an outstanding time reliving memories and telling tall stories about their playing days in Ellwood City.  The first Ellwood City Little League Championship team is planning to do this again next year, so if any teammates that see this and want to join them just need to email Bob at bobmallary@verizon.net  I also have his phone number but did not want to post it on the website but if you would rather call him, email me at info@ellwoodcitymemories.com

A special note from Bob to any twelve year old that might see this – don’t laugh, you could look like this in 63 years!!

      During the 1950′s the team to beat every year in the Men’s fast-pitch softball league were the perennial Champions, New Deal Bar. One of the bars championship team were, front row, from left to right, Honey Tammaro, Frank Ritorto, Mauro Vitullo, Sam Rubino, Bob Snare, and Dale Brown. Middle row left to right, Tony Scialdone, Sparky Sirimarco, Ralph Fotia, Bud Foley, Chinko Elias and Bob Tammaro. Back row included, from the left, Jack Snare (sponsor), Gene Tillia, Bud Campbell, and James Foley.

Originally Posted Dec 9, 2010

In 1973 the Bud Dimeo took a picture for Ellwood City Ledger of the city tearing up Sixth Street beside the Municipal Building to add a larger sewer system. The sewer system might not be too exciting to you but to the business’ that were located between Lawrence Avenue and Crescent Avenue on Sixth Street at the time.

    On the East side of the street is Reilly Auto Parts, Partridge Jewelers, Calve’s Shoe, and then it gets a little fuzzy. I see what looks like a sign for a Dentist (?) and a barber pole and then a giant sign my old eyes can’t read. Does anyone remember what the long narrow sign over the garage door says? 

On the right of the picture or the west side you can see a number of familiar businesses. Of course you can see Zeigler Furniture in the building I just a young kid remember only as Benjamin’s Pharmacy. Additional signs include the J. Wilbur Randolph Legion post 157, the McGlincy Camera Shop and almost hiding is the Texaco sign. I speak for a lot of people when I say we would all like to hear any memories you may have any (or all) of the business that helped make Ellwood City. Please share your memories below or email me at info@ellwoodcitymemories.com

     Paul Weingartner owns this original picture from 1951 taken from the location of Paul’s Auto Body showing the intersection of East Line Avenue and Joffre Street. It is faint, but if you look close you can see the Ewing Park baseball field in the background.

Originally Posted Dec 10, 2010

    Thank you to Mark Crepp and Ernie Young for sending me this picture that was published in the Ellwood City Ledger and republished in the same paper December 5th 2012 as a part of the “Ellwood City Looking Back” series. There were a number of homes and businesses along Ellwood-Zelienople Road and South Second Street that were torn to build the new four lane highway. One of the most commonly recalled is Easy’s Twin Kiss.
Do you remember Easy’s Twin Kiss, located a little north and on the opposite side of the road as the old North Star School? Easy’s Twin Kiss was a classic drive-up on Ellwood-Zelienople Road that served hamburgers, hot dogs, french fries, pulled pork barbeque sandwiches, steak sandwich, homemade soup, and more. People remember going there just for the delicious ice cream, milkshakes, and of course the famous Big Kiss Sundae.
    Yes, they had good food, yes they had good ice cream, but you can not mention Easy’s Twin Kiss without mentioning their famous home-made root-beer. Easy’s served their root-beer in large thick heavy frozen glass mugs. The mugs were so nice that they had a difficult time getting the mugs back after someone ordered a root-beer.
If you remember Easy’s Twin Kiss and would like to share your memories of the old drive-up, please leave a comment below or email me at info@ellwoodcitymemories.com

Originally Published April 18, 2010