Ewing Park Bridge
The Ewing Park Bridge originally opened as a toll bridge connecting the tube mill to the houses the mill built for it’s employees in what would become Ewing Park. “Old Big Blue” stood until 1998 when it was torn down and the current Ewing Park Bridge was built in the same location.
Growing up in Ellwood City, we always heard the story of Mr. Foley jumping off the bridge as a bet for a case of beer. For some reason though, the person telling the story always would leave out the part about the dam still being in use at the time and it was not quite the drop it is today.
We have heard a lot of different memories that involve the old Ewing Park Bridge. Wheter it be riding your bike across to baseball practice, how nervous you felt driving across it with the narrow lanes, or even dropping things on the old steel roof of the abandoned building below the bridge. We would like to hear your memories of the old blue bridge with the tunnel under the northeast end. Please email us at info@ellwoodcitymemories.com or leave your comment below.
With the modern focus on our environment I’m kind of ashamed to admit it, but it was a popular pastime to try to drop something over the edge of the bridge that would land in the small hole in the roof of the abandoned building under it. One day we went to give it another shot and could see a 7-Up can in there. I just thought, “man, someone really hit the jackpot with that one!”
I most remember the Jewish synagogue on the Ewing Park end of the bridge. It was unique, a structure unlike any other given my perspective as a kid in the 1950′s. Seems like I “should” remember more, as I do the surroundings of the old 5th St. bridge. The reason, I guess, is that as a kid you tended to stay and play in your “school neighborhood” where your bike or feet would take you.
Didn’t know anyone except those who attended North Side Elementary or Hartmann. I think that contributes to Ellwood’s image in my mind as the perfect place to grow up…I never considered it a “small town.” Lovely place.
Wow the old park bridge… This should sound really stupied but my 2 brothers and One of our friends crosed the bridge underneth and made it all the way that was many years ago..anyone remember my uncle’s pharmacy right by the bridge… The Park
pharmacy…
Yes, Danny, I remember Park Pharmacy and remember walking across Ewing Park Bridge to the swimming pool in the summer almost daily. My Dad taught me to drive on the road by the synagogue that ran under the bridge. My husband, 3 dogs and cat are retired in Kingman, AZ and love it here…fond memories of my hometown,though – a great place to grow up in the 50′s/60′s.
Your 1964 Classmate,
Jo Ann (Miller)Oxsen
jjoxsen@frontiernet.net
I remember visiting EC one time and found Mike Newman runing the Park Pharmacy. Mike was a couple years ahead of me at Lincoln, and I remember playing basketball with him. I don’t know if he was back as a pharmacist, or owner, or what. Does anyone have any information on this?
Mike Newman was working at the Park for my Uncle Mike Carrozza he started the pharmacy in the late 1950′s not sure of date but i worked there after school and an Sat. crossed the bridge on my bike every day I belive mike had started his own pharmacy in Elport
and JoAnn you are so right about Ellwood City no better place to grow up good to see you posting on hear
auctiondj@yahoo.com
I was a classmate of Dale, Dave. JoAnne and Danny. WE were in the Class of 1964. That would make us the very first of the Baby Boomers. WE were also the last teenagers of the 1950′s. We had one foot in one generation and the other in a new one. Most of our school life was with the previous generation and we got to experience the birth of Rock and Rll, Doo-wop, Folk and the music of the 60″s.
Danny John reminded me of one of my favorite clubs in high school. I believe Danny was our president in the senior year. The club was Dance Club. Both boys and Girls were members and our job was to put on a dance every Friday evening throughout the school year. We took care of security, setup, disc jockying, running the cosession stand and cleanup. This club could not have functioned without the guidence of our faculty sponsers: George Reese and Lou Oliastro. They were exceptional men who allowed us the latitude to have a great time while gently, usually, keeping us from getting into trouble. Lou passed too soon but George is still around with his quick wit and humor.
I take the liberty for all the club members and highschool students who attended the dances to thank them for all that they did. We have many fond memories of the old gym.
1964 + 50 = 2014
Will there be a 50 year reunion? I graduated from Shenango in 1964 but would ask one of my “big school” Lincoln HIgh graduates to get me in the side door. Would love to see Jim Hardie, Dale Brown, Kenny Brown, Eddie Kane and others who are now the oldest of the Baby Boomer generation. Bring your squirt guns.
Jim Hardy’s mention of the Friday night dances in the early 60′s reminded me of when Vinnie Jeoffre (sp.?) and I won a Twist Contest (prize: Peppermint Twist record album). I think Vinnie chose me as his partner because I was the shortest girl there that night.I still have in my scrapbook the Ledger photo clip of us dancing in the contest, along with other memorabilia including programs from our football games. As I recall, Jim was a super full back.
Sorry Jo Ann, I was just a tackle but WE had fun
WOW Jim thanks for the mentiion of the dance club good to think back to then. a lot of stories there
Gooooooood morning Jim, JoAnn, Danny & Dave
We are having a class reunion of sorts right here. We didn’t realize it at the time but we were living in some good times being kids of the 50′s & 60′s. Looking back they seemed like simplier times didn’t they?? “Class of 1964″
Dale Brown is right about the class reunion. I would love to see “the class of 1964″ face to face, but just think of the coordination and expense involved. This web-site does wonders for us Boomers to stay connected. Thanks, Ben.
To Dales point, “we lived in some good times,” on the news the other night was a story of a store in Vermont that carries brand name products “from the old days.” Simple stuff like fringed-edge dishclothes. Commentator said it was a popular idea due to current turbulent times and people’s desire for simplicity through nostolgia. We were “an item” in Ellwood City once. Was it before paper towels? We’re old news…for sure…but good sports. What I read here is always good news. Any of you get excited about hearing that the country’s going broke or watching the medicine commercials during the evening news? I’d rather read about picnics in Ewing Park and Derby races.
It might have been Bob Mallary who said awhile back that the time we spent growing up in Ellwood City had an impact on who we are, our values and what we care about today. I think Bob said that. I am with him 100%. I’m sitting here putting silk on airplane wings, a hobby I’ve practiced for 50+ years. If it’s old it’s gold. It’s a problem-solving hobby that wards off old age behavior.
All we need are some new topics. I’d like to hear about Limestone Rock, a natural spring that came out of the hill in the woods above the end of Smiley Avenue. Add to that a story about the guy on Smiley avenue who repaired trains. He fixed my Lionel. I’d like to hear about Jim Hardie, the tackle, and a story about the Wolverines in 1964. I lost touch with my Ellwood friends. So I am suggesting you all drop a note here for Ben Davis to see. Tell him what kind of topics you’re interested in seeing…to keep the reunion on-going!
One other thing. Send Ben Davis a picture. He’ll figure out where and how to post it. He did that on the veterans page with a picture of me and my dad.
Thanks, Dale!
Thanks for quoting me Dave, but I don’t remember saying all that. However I agree with whoever said it. You guys don’t have regular 5 year class reunions? My class of 1956 has had them every 5 years, but I didn’t go to any until my 50th. Best time I ever had getting reacquainted with people I had never seen for 50 years. Don’t know what we are doing this year which would be 55th.
This site is awsome so many people from one class at Lincoln
have comment on the park bridge, this is just like a mini reunion anybody else on hear? but back to the bridge it was the most traveled I belived by the kids because everything was in the park for us at the time.
auctiondj@yahoo.com
I remember once running out of gas in the middle of the bridge and Bob Ketter ( I hope I spelled his name right ) that had the taxi cabs pushing my car off the bridge and to the gas station at five points.
Wow, lots of memories with that old bridge… We used to ride our bike across it on the street and try to beat the cars across… That was a rush. And buying .25 pop from Loccasanos and drop it off the bridge to watch it explode off of the roof of the building. And I remember we were obsessed with the sunken car from Frank’s HD that floated downriver and sunk right beside the building. You can still see the roof of it on a day when the creek is low…
Hey everybody, I remember Ewing Park Bridge very well and doing all the things everyone has said except for one thing, I remember walking the handrail part of the way!
Is the Mr. Foley you referred to in the story Ray Foley from Lincoln? I had him 2 years and do recall him telling the story of the Ewing Park Bridge, but I always thought he talked about his father jumping off of the bridge, If I recall correctly. I don’t recall the “case of beer” story. I miss Lincoln, my classmates, and the greatest teacher ever to grace the hallowed halls of Lincoln High with his presence…Mr. Ray Foley! -Class of 1996 Alum