Paglia’s Store
Frank Paglia (also known as Frank Straw) had the commercial building at 817 Second Street built in 1918 for his store. Frank’s first wife died in 1921 and he remarried Linda Giovanno of Naples, Italy. The two of them along with Frank’s children, operated a store in the two story brick building. After Frank’s death, the property was sold to Nick and Emma Rocco who owned the Rocco Store across Second Street at the time. Mrs. Paglia took her share and invested it in a small store with a house at 32 Line Avenue (corner of Line Avenue and Smiley Street). Many people have shared their memories about Paglia’s store across from Barry’s.
We have heard that Mrs. Paglia was the only store in Hazel Dell that would give you the refund on empty soda bottles and PEM Morris shared how his mom often sent him to Paglia’s for milk and DeRosa’s bread. He also recalled getting his first baseball cards of the season at Linda’s as she always seemed to get them before anyone else.
He also shared with us his memories of years later taking his own children to Paglia’s store when they were small to pick out penny candy. Linda, as always, waited patiently for them to make their choices. For the young children, it was one of the highlights of the family trips to Ellwood City and they still remember it today.
If you would like to share your memories of Paglia’s store, please leave a comment below or email us at info@ellwoodcitymemories.com
I was wondering if this little store then became a pizza shop? i can remember one in the area there.
I don’t know if Paglia’s store ever became a pizza shop, but there was a pizza shop a short distance away on Wampum Ave that was run by the Cambio family during the 1960s.
Anna’s Pizza Shop was across the street on Wampum Ave.
I was just five years old when my mother was expecting my brother. She had a very difficult pregnancy and had to walk a mile a day as part of her treatment. Part of her problem was a condition that caused her body to constantly produce saliva that had to be expelled. I remember her tearing up bed sheets to use as “handkerchiefs”. And she was deathly sick for her entire pregnancy, the last several months spent in the hospital. I remember our daily walks around the North Side ending at Paglia’s store for a popsicle for me. Linda saw my mother’s distress and was the only person who could relate to what my mother was going through, because Linda had experienced the same problems when she was expecting. I remember her holding my mother in her arms and saying “God bless, God bless”, as she gently patted my mother’s back and they both wept. I remember that little store on the corner of Smiley and Line with much fondness…..and I have a special place in my heart for the gracious lady who showed my mother such love day after day.
what a delightful memory of mrs. paglia.
and don’t forget, Vonnie-Kaye Galvin Brough, that it was ‘pop-a-sicle’, not popsicle
Vonnie-Kaye—You don’t know me and I don’t know you, but the story you have related to us about your Mom and the little store on the corner was very touching. Thank you for sharing it and allowing all of us a little look into the heart God and your Mom gave you.God Bless.
Vonnie-Kaye – I remember you as an older girl from the North Side who , if My memory is right, was a playground supervisor, there in the later 1950′s. Your brother was 2 years ahead of me and was one of the big kids. For some reason I knew your mother and always considered her a nice lady. One time I saw her at Red Hots when I came back to visit. I didn’t have to tell her who I was. She remembered. I enjoyed the story you shared. It is experiences like that which form the basis for us to appreciate the times in which we grew up.
Vonnie-Kaye: Your story was so right on about Linda. She was truly one of the best people who ever walked this earth. By the way, was Bob (Muzzy) Galvin your brother? If so, a great guy, who played on the 59 Steelworkers baseball team with me.