Lawrence Avenue and Fifth Street
Lawrence Ave from 5th St zoom
The downtown “market” district has had many different looks over the years and continues to evolve even today. With the many different types of businesses and the High School so close, almost everyone has a great memory tied to Lawrence Avenue. Like Bruce Brenneman who shared with us his memories of coming to Ellwood City from Portersville and how impressed he was with Blocher’s Jewelry Store and that black marble front. Also how he loved going to Isaly’s, Young’s Drug store, and Alberts Drug Store but he could not recall which made the great Lemon Blennd drinks.
Lawrence Ave from 5th St
In the pictures you can see Wehr’s Meat Market (Home Dress Meats) that was located at 523 Lawrence Ave and Hotel Conway in some others. Hotel Conway was located at 526 & 528 Lawrence Ave on the North Side of the street. It was the first building erected on Lawrence Ave between 5th & 6th Streets. Later the West side of the building was remodeled for banking purposes and was the original home of Peoples National Bank here in Ellwood City. Later it was again remodeled for store and office purposes.
Lawrence Ave looking West
On the North side of Lawrence Ave you can see Deemis confectionary. Deemis was a popular “hangout” for teenagers until it was sold and became IMB Fray’s, and today is Olivers Pub. Another popular spot a few doors down was the Majestic Movie Theater owned by the Biordi family. Folks remember seeing Star Wars Return of the Jedi in that theater just before in burnt down.
Lawrence Ave from 5th St zoomed
On the Southwest corner of Lawrence Avenue and Fifth Street is the Stiefel Building, named after R.C. Stiefel, the inventor of the seamless tube. During her term, Congresswoman Melissa Hart had her office on the first floor of the Stiefel Building.
Lawrence Avenue
The bank diagonal from the Stiefel Building has changed names so many times over the years it is hard to keep track of the various names but at one time had an adverting clock on the corner that is no longer there. Beside the bank is a sign for Kaufman’s Lunch.
Lawrence Ave
My dad’s drugstore was at the South East corner of Lawrence Ave. and Fifth St. It was his soda fountain that served Lemon Blennd. Thanks for the memory!
Bill Albert, Jr.
Bill,
I had many a lemon blend at that fountain and also vanilla sodas. They were the best. Lemon Blend then was known as Reymer’s Lemon Blend. I knew your dad well. He was the first general ham I knew.
I know at one time in the 1930′s my mother Marie Bartle Myers who just pased this last Dec. worked at that drug store and it was called alberts drugstore. I attened Lincoln High school in the 50′s and I think it was still called Albert’s at that time . I graduated with a William Albert, Jr who was related to the alberts of that drug store. Thx for the memories
Maybe it was Benjamins drugstore run by Mr Albert Memories are funny things:)
Can any of you help me…………Did Albert drugstore become Youngs drugstore. This is the drug store that was next to Islay’s and Gerson’s. The other drugstore across the street was Wykosky’s(?)or Alberts. I remember having vanilla cokes and cherry cokes at the drugstore that also had booths. I used to get Russell Stover candy at Young’s.
Even now I still buy RS when most people in LA buy See’s Candy (large candy company here). Please help I get confused. But LOVE THE MEMORIES.
Mr. Thad Young ran that store from at least the early 1930′s. with his wife, Dorothy. ( very possible late 1920″s ) Remember Albert’s being on the south side of Lawrence Ave. Thad’s father owned the building and was a successful tailor in E.C. for many years. Thad owned the building after his father. Mr. and Mrs. Young were good neighbors and close friends with my in-laws on Second Street.
Hi Linda
No. Alberts and Youngs were two distinct stores. Albert’s on the Southeast corner and Youngs on the Northwest corner. Albert’s had a soda fountain and two booths and some table and chairs. Young’s had no Soda Fountain. And the other drugstore on Lawrence Avenue by the city building was Wilkofsky’s Good to see you are still on here
Bob
In the 40′s and 50′s I remember a Mr. Gamble worked in that drug store. I had him for a Sunday School teacher for a while. He had also been my mother’s SS teacher. Between them, I heard the story that during WWI Mr. Gamble was in the Army with James Jordan, better known as Fibber McGee of “Fibber McGee and Molly”. Fibber named one of the characters on their radio show after Mr. Gamble.
Once I went in the store and Mr. Gamble gave me a box of Russell Stover candy for my mother. She kept letters from her brother, who had been killed in WWII, in that box. They are still in that box.
In 1905, when my grandfather Simon Drotleff came here from Germany, his brother Albert Drotleff had a butcher shop on Lawrence Ave. around where Demas’ store was.
Wow, what memories you men have. I’ve been wondering for a long time what the name of the drugstore near the municipal bldg was.
Love the story Bob W. about your mother keeping her brothers’s letter in a Russell Stover candy box.
Bob S., thanks for the clarification. I always got the two mixed up (Alberts/Wilkofsky’s) after I left town. I remember the stores very well. I can still see them.
Talking about things in boxes, I have some Chritmas ornaments in a “Belloff” mens store box or is it Oswalds? Guess I’ll find out at Christmastime. It’s black w/stripes.
Boy the memories keep flying back.
THANKS, Linda