Readers' reminders lead another journey to news of Yesteryear
You can always count on readers of this weekly journey down Memory Lane to come up with nostalgic reminders of our past.
That's the case today, and we remain grateful to those who take the time to send newspaper clippings and other reminiscences about people, places and events of Yesteryear. To wit:
Tuesday, July 6, 1948
The Charleroi Mail reported that the legendary Homestead Grays blanked manager Harold “Pie” Traynor's Charleroi All-Stars 9-0 in an exhibition baseball game Saturday before an estimated 2,500 sweltering fans at The Stadium in Charleroi. The contest culminated sports features presented during Veterans Memorial Week.
Lonnie Blair, the 18-year-old ace right-hander from Pittsburgh's Allegheny Vocational School, went the distance for the Grays and limited the All-Stars to four hits, one a terrific double by veteran catcher Johnny Shell (Shelapinsky). Blair was never in serious trouble as he struck out 10 and walked only two.
The Grays exploded for 13 hits off Charleroi pitchers Joe Puskarich, Johnny Fedarko, Steve Kovich and John “Scissors” McIlvain. The game marked the seventh time in his 50 years of baseball that McIlvain, 65, pitched against the Grays. He also served as a coach with Traynor, the Hall of Fame third baseman and former manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Puskarich, Vic Heisler and Stan Hunsucker had the other hits for the All-Stars. Hunsucker, 18, a former West Bethlehem High star, also delighted the crowd with his speed in stealing two bases. Meanwhile, Leland “Pegetti” Haywood drew high praise for his solid defensive work at shortstop and third base, committing only one error in eight chances.
Others selected to play for the All-Stars, who represented teams from throughout the Mon Valley, were Freddy Uhlman, Charley Sedor, Alf Caruso, John “Dibby” DiBiaso, Ben Rixey, Nick Mahalko, Ralph Nicksich, Joe Barksite, Alex Medvick. Ray Lindquist, Jim Gumbert, George Gumbert, Carl Russell and Pete Pugh.
Joining Blair with the 1948 edition of the Homestead Grays, champions of the Negro National League from 1935 through 1947, were Jimmy “Lucky” Bell, Charley Gary, Wilber Fields, Sammy Bankhead, Clarence Bruce, Walter “Buck” Leonard, Lucius (Luke) Easter, Luis Marquez, Bobby Thurman, Bob Gaston, Luther Clifford and Euthumn Napler. Veteran Vic Harris was their manager. Marquez had three hits in the win over the All-Stars.
Tuesday, Aug. 29, 1967
The Daily Republican in Monongahela proclaimed that “an entirely new auto for the Monongahela Valley” will be introduced tomorrow at Peno's Motor Sales at the intersection of Park Avenue and Park Way in Monongahela.
“Peno Bucchianeri, the proprietor, and his 21-year-old son Richard will operate the new venture: a Fiat dealership,” the newspaper said. “Peno is well known in Monongahela, having been successful in operating the Esso Service Center at the same location for the past 15 years.”
The story said the elder Bucchianeri had erected a “beautiful display room” facing Park Ave. and directly behind the service center.
“An experienced mechanic, Paul Repasky, will supervise the garage work,” it said.
The newspaper also emphasized that Peno would be the first Fiat dealership in the Monongahela Valley and the only one within a 20-mile radius.
“The Fiat chain of dealerships has been one of the fastest growing in the United States since operations were taken over in this country by Franklin Delano Roosevelt Jr., son of the late president,” it said. “The company is the fifth largest automotive manufacturer in the world, employing over 130,000 people.”
Peno and his son extended an invitation to the public to the new dealership's grand opening.
In other news that day, The Daily Republican reported that a traffic bottleneck developed at the east end of Pigeon Creek Bridge in Monongahela as a result of the continued construction work there on the lower section of the new three-lane road (relocation of Route 88-Cemetery Hill). This section ties in with the new span, which was completed several years old, it said, adding, “… the old road which winds up the hill past Monongahela Cemetery, is still in use.”
Friday, July 30, 1937
Lever Brothers, the makers of several household products, touted “A Cool Wave of Values – High Tide Quality, Low Tide Prices” in full-page ads in area newspapers.
Among those bargains were the Lifebuoy Health Soap “Tub and Shower Special” of four bars for 25 cents; Lux detergent, regular size, two boxes for 19 cents, and large size, 22 cents; Lux toilet soap, “the beauty care of the lovely screen stars,” four bars for 19 cents, and Rinso granulated whitener, 2 regular size boxes for 17 cents and two large boxes for 41 cents.
The ads said the products were available at all Clover Farm, All American and A&P stores, and The Charleroi Mail listed the following sites where shoppers could take advantage of the bargains: Lock Four – A.O. Beaumarriage, Bergstein Cash Market, John Dudra, Mrs. Eva Grabania, Victor Hladik, J.E. Hank, J.W. Morris, M. Ray. Charleroi – Applebaum's Market, Mike Aquillina, Bertsche's Market, Frank's Grocery, Barney's Grocery, Mr. A.E. Borne, M. Dubnansky, Hill Top Market, Haeflein's Grocery, R.J. Hobbs, Liener's Market, J. Leroy, Frank Monchecourt, M. Madzy, Harry McGuire, Mudrak Grocery, National Grocery, O'Hara's Market, Pete Pennline, Phillips' Grocery, Pulaski Grocery, Frank Bras, Hersche's Grocery, Kopnicky's, C.C. Stephens, John M. Toth, Troiano Grocery, A. Wagner.
A humorous side note to Lifebuoy soap appears on the excellent www.wikipedia.org website.
It recounts the woes of the Philadelphia Phillies of the 1920s, who struggled in and out of last place in the National League and played their home games at the Baker Bowl in the City of Brotherly Love.
“An outfield wall advertisement for Lifebuoy stated ‘The Phillies use Lifebuoy,'” Wikipedia recalls. “One night a vandal snuck in and added to the ad, ‘And they still stink!'” December 13, 1935
A story on Page One of The Monessen Daily Independent called attention to the formation of the Monessen Master Cleaners Association at a meeting of the “leading cleaners and dyers of this city held Wednesday evening.”
The following officers were elected: President, W. S. Merritt; Vice President, Frank Scalize; Secretary, Harry Chodes, and Treasurer, Paris Cavris.
The purpose of the organization, the newspaper said, is “to protect the public and the members pledge themselves to the guarding of their customers' interests in regards to dry cleaning. Every member to be admitted to the organization must be a bonafide cleaner who will guarantee to give satisfaction to his customer. Their plants must represent the latest word in modernization and of efficiency and the interests of the trade must be uppermost in all dealings.”
Charter members of the MMCA are The Famous Cleaning Company, American Cleaners, Shack Duncan Tailor and Cleaner, William Duncan, Union Shoe Shine and Cleaning, Frank Scalize Cleaning Shop, Adam Visca Cleaning Shop, Rogowitz Tailor Shoppe, Fashion Shop, and Monessen Laundry and Cleaning.
Ron Paglia is a freelance writer for Trib Total Media.
(If you have memories to share or story ideas, contact Ron Paglia at ronpaglia@verizon.net or c/o The Valley Independent, Eastgate 19, Monessen, PA 15062).
