WELCOME TO THE
OLD WEST ANNVILLE
WEB SITE
www.OldWestAnnville.com
scroll down or click here for the picture albums
Dedicated to the memory of Old West Annville and the people who lived there around the first half of the 20th century. They were mostly Italian immigrants. They came from Italy and worked in the limestone quarries west of Annville and raised their families. This web site is a tribute to the ethnic groups that settled in and around Annville: the Germans or Pennsylvania Dutch who farmed the land, the Italians who later worked the quarries, and to all those who lived in old West Annville and perhaps grew up there in the early 1900's.
Be sure to visit Friends Of Old Annville at: www.FOOA.org
Your host for this web site is yours truely, Ammon "Poogie" Balaster, now known affectionately or otherwise as Dr. Pooge. I'll try to keep this going and up to date but we need your input. We need your pictures and your memories, your stories.
So browse through the web site and read the emails. Look at the old pictures. It will surely bring back many memories. Send us those memories in an email. And look through your old albums or shoe boxes full of pictures and send or upload any old pictures you might have of the Old West Annville gang. Scan your pictures and email them to me at ammonbalaster@yahoo.com or send me copies and I'll scan them. You can send me original photos but I'm concerned that they could get lost in the mail or damaged.
I have also set up the Old West Annville group on yahoo. You can join the group right now at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OldWestAnnville/ . You can actually upload your pictures right into your own album for every body to view. I'm not sure how many we can post before we run out of space so I'll keep the www.OldWestAnnville.com site up as our official web site. You can also email everybody in the group any time you want simply by sending your email to OldWestAnnville@yahoogroups.com . Your email will also be automatically posted at the Old West Annville group site. So please join the Old West Annville group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OldWestAnnville/ and join in on the email chatter. It's great fun and great memories.
Viewing: For best viewing your display should be set to 1024 X 768 high color (16 bit) or true color (24bit). To set your display click on Start (lower left corner of your screen), Settings, Control Panel. Then double click on Display, choose the Settings tab. Set you screen area to 1024 X 768 and Colors to High or True Color. Then click Apply and OK.
I've organized the pictures into albums so that it will open faster and so you can navigate through them easier. I may change things from time to time but for now I will post general email dialogue here with links to the picture albums. I will try to include emails and commentary that relate to the pictures in with the pictures. I have identified each album by the person who sent in the pictures. If you scroll down to the picture albums you see an old picture of a young Charlie Mariani playing the accordion. When you click on that picture it will take you to all the pictures that Charlie contributed along with comments and stories about the pictures. You can return to this home page by clicking the return text at the top or bottom of the picture album. That will bring you back here and you can then click on another album and enjoy.
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www.OldWestAnnville.com
scroll down or click here for the picture albums
JOHN
OLD WEST ANNVILLE
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IN A WAY, I MUST ADMIT THAT THIS ATTEMPT AT PRESERVING A MEMORY IS
REALLY ABOUT C H A N G E. AS HUMANS WE SEE SOME CHANGES AS BEING G O O D
~~~ OTHERS : NOT SO GOOD. CAN WE PREVENT EITHER?
A VERY VERY LONG TIME AGO, THE BRAIN OF SOMEONE PROMPTED HIM TO CHISEL
OR CARVE OUT SOMETHING ROUND AND DISCOVERED THAT HEAVIER OBJECTS THAT
COULDN'T BE MOVED BY LIFTING THEM AND CARRYING THEM COULD NOW BE MOVED
EASILY
BY THIS 'WHEEL"
AS TIME MARCHED ON THE CURIOSITY OF SOME HUMAN MIND ASKED, "WHAT ARE
THOSE SPECKS OF LIGHT IN THE SKY?" VOILA! OUR LITTLE 3 YEAR OLDS CAN
ANSWER THAT QUESTION TODAY.
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS VENTURED THAT THE WORLD WAS ROUND, NOT FLAT,
AND CHANGE IN POPULATION PLACEMENT BEGAN.
FOLLOWING IS THE INTRODUCTION TO A PLACE MANY OF US HOLD NEAR AND DEAR
:
THE OLD WEST ANNVILLE THAT
YOU AND I KNEW IS GONE. OUR BELOVED QUEEN, CHERRY, MILL STREETS AS WELL
AS OLD LEBANON ALLEY ARE NOT AS THEY WERE WHEN WE WERE CHILDREN.
HOLIDAYS WERE MEMORABLE CELEBRATIONS IN THOSE "GOOD OLE DAYS" THE ABOVE
MENTIONED STREETS WERE ALIVE WITH PEOPLE ENJOYING ONE ANOTHER --- NOT
TOO MANY AUTOMOBILES TO KEEP US ON THE SIDEWALKS, MANY OF WHICH WERE
STILL DIRT PATHS.
RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS USUALLY BEGAN WITH GOING TO CHURCH, COMING HOME,
CHANGING CLOTHES, HAVING A LITTLE BREAKFAST (not too much, for we knew
more goodies were to be had throughout the day) -- AND THEN OUT TO THE
JOYS OF THIS SPECIAL DAY.
MEMORIAL DAY STARTED THE "OUTSIDE" CELEBRATED HOLIDAYS,
"IF" A PICNIC WAS PLANNED, SEVERAL FAMILIES WOULD GROUP TOGETHER AND
ENJOY TOGETHERNESS, FOOD, GAMES ( bocce, town ball, caddy, hiddy go, etc).
THE END OF THE DAY WAS LEFT FOR RESTING WITH A LITTLE SINGING WITH THE
NEIGHBORHOOD'S MUSICIANS PLAYING ACCORDION, GUITAR, BANJO, AND I
REMEMBER A MANDOLIN --- SELDOM DID ALL OF THESE PLAY TOGETHER AS A
BAND;
USUALLY SEPARATE. --- MY HERO WAS TONY MARIANI WITH HIS ACCORDION --- I
WOULD STAY TO LISTEN TO HIM PLAY FOR US RATHER THAN GO TO THE MOVIES . I
REMEMBER MISSING ONE OF THE SERIAL CHAPTERS OF THE LONE RANGER AND THEN
ASKING "EDDIE" HOW OUR HERO ESCAPED LAST WEEK'S DANGER!
THE FOURTH OF JULY WAS ANOTHER HOLIDAY THAT PARENTS OF TODAY WOULD
PROBABLY HAVE A HEART ATTACK IF LAWS HADN'T BEEN MADE REGARDING
FIREWORKS. I WAS TOO SMALL TO GET SPARKS IN MY EYES FROM HUGE
"PINWHEELS" HUNG ON STREET LIGHT POLLS, LIGHTED, AND THEN VERY RAPIDLY
MOVE OUT OF THE WAY! --- THEY SPUN CRAZILY FOR 3 MINUTES SHOOTING SPARKS
FOR UP TO SIX FEET AWAY --- WHAT TEEN TEENAGERS DID WITH FIRE CRACKERS
AND LIBERTY BELLS WERE AN INVITATION TO AN INJURY FOR LIFE.
HALLOWEEN WAS AN EVENING OF JOY FOR THE YOUNGER CROWD, BUT A HELL-NITE
FOR RESIDENTS WITH OUTHOUSES BEING TOPPLED AND PORCH CHAIRS AND SWINGS
BEING FOUND ATOP LIGHT POLES. I BELIEVE OUR STREETS WERE THE DOERS NOT
THE RECEIVERS.
CHRISTMAS WAS THE BEST OF ALL.
I'LL LEAVE THAT FOR ANOTHER TO WRITE ABOUT AS HIS HOUSE WAS THE
"BALLROOM" OF ANNVILLE WITH DRINKS 3 FOR FREE!
THESE WERE THE CUSTOMS OF THOSE GREAT PEOPLE WHO IMMIGRATED FROM
ITALY, GREECE,
AND OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. THEY BROUGHT WITH THEM THEIR SKILLS, AND
THEIR WAY OF LIFE, WHICH! IN THE "LAND OF THE FREE"
WAS TESTED REPEATEDLY. THE EVERY DAY" EARNING A LIVING DAY"
TOO, WAS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE. NOT SO MUCH IN THE 1920'S BUT AFTER THE
BANKS FAILED, JOBS WERE NON EXISTENT. YOU'LL FIND MORE ABOUT THIS IN
PAGES TO FOLLOW.
THE JOY OF THAT ERA FILLED THIS SECOND GENERATION WITH JOY THAT WILL
LIVE UNTIL WE DIE --- WE AND THOSE BORN INTO THE 3rd GENERATION OF
ITALIAN AMERICANS, HAVE POOLED TOGETHER OUR THOUGHTS AND PICTURES TO
HAVE OUR MEMORIES LIVE BEYOND DEATH.
WE THINK YOU'LL WANT TO PLACE THIS BOOK IN AN APPROPRIATE "PLACE OF
HONOR" IN YOUR HOME. MAYBE YOU'LL WANT MORE THAN ONE COPY TO SHARE WITH
FRIENDS -- IT SURELY WILL DECLARE:
"I AM A PART OF
OLD WEST ANNVILLE"
%20&%20Dolores%20Balaster.jpg)
Charlie
Mariani's Pictures
Dolores
Balaster's pictures
John Bernardo's Pictures
Jim Balaster's Pictures
Larry Frattaroli's Pictures
Tina Balaster's Pictures
Jackie DiAngelis' Pictures
Carol Mariani's Pictures
Ammon (Dr. Pooge's) Pictures
Frankie Viozzi's
Pictures
OldWest Annville
Joe Lupinetti's Album
Reunion 12-06
Donald & Mrs. Grimm
Remembering
Ammon & Anna Balaster
Great pictures from the 2006
Old West Annville Reunion
Click photo to enlarge
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Great pictures from the 2008
Italian Festa
Click photo to enlarge
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More to come!
I
mentioned to John, the Spaghetti Suppers we used to have at the old St. Paul's church. This was his reply:FROM JOHN:
About 2/19/06
I SURE DO REMEMBER THE SPAGHETTI SUPPERS...... AT THE OLD CHURCH ON MAIN STREET,, THEN,,, JOHN MICOZZI WAS THE "HEAD CHEF" AND MADE MOST OF THE SAUCE.... TODAY, THEY MIX EVERYONE'S SAUCE TOGETHER AND IT RESULTS IN A GREAT TREAT.. THE SPAGHETTI SUPPERS ARE STILL HELD ANNUALLY ON ELECTION DAY VOLUNTEERS FROM THE CHURCH ROLL MEATBALLS THE NIGHT BEFORE,, AND IT PRODUCES LOTS OF REVENUE FOR THE PARISH.. ALL OF ANNVILLE LOOKED FORWARD TO ST PAUL'S SPAGHETTI SUPPERS... AND LOTS OF PEOPLE STILL BRING CONTAINERS FOR "TAKE OUT" ORDERS.. THAT'S THE MOST "ITALIAN" THING ABOUT ST. PAUL'S TODAY........BUT AS WE SIT IN CHURCH WE'RE ALWAYS REMINDED OF THE ITALIAN IMMIGRANTS WHO WORKED AND SOME DIED,, IN THE STONE QUARRIES.. OUR ALTER IS MADE OF LIMESTONE.. AND WHEN THE CHURCH WAS DEDICATED IN 1981, MY FATHER CARRIED A PIECE OF LIMESTONE UP TO THE ALTAR, TO REMIND EVERYONE OF GENESIS OF THE PARISH AND THE ORGINAL FOUNDERS OF ST PAUL'S PARISH.. CIAO JOHN
FROM JOHN: CHARLIE, WHAT WONDERFUL PICTURES YOU SENT TO DR POGIE.......I REMEMBER
LOTS OF THOSE PEOPLE,,, WHO WAS FRANK MARIANI?? I NEVER MET MY MOM'S
UNCLE ANTONIO FRATTAROLI, BUT I MET HIS SON, DAUGHTER IN LAW AND THEIR
CHILDREN IN BEFARO, ITALY WHERE THEY WERE ALL BORN WHEN I WAS THERE A LONG
TIME AGO. HIS SON, ALSO NAMED ANTONIO LIVED IN THE HOUSE WHERE MY MOM WAS
BORN IN BEFARO,, A SMALL VILLAGE NEAR THE ADRIATIC COAST.. THERE WERE A
FEW OTHER FRATTAROLI'S IN THAT VILLAGE, WHO WERE COUSINS OF MY
MOM'S...REMEMBER SKEEZIX AND LIZZIE QUINTILLI, WHO LIVED ACROSS FROM JUMBO
PEROTTI? I WONDER IF HIS WIFE MARCEL IS STILL LIVING,, HE BROUGHT
HER BACK FROM THE WAR,, SHE WAS FRENCH.,, AND WHEN HE BROUGHT HER AROUND
QUEEN STREET , WE WERE ALL ENTHRALLED WITH SEEING A LIVE FRENCH GIRL ,
WITH RUBY RED LIPS!!!. AND DO YOU REMEMBER, THAT IT WAS SAID THAT AMOS
NARDINI FLUNKED HIS PHYSICAL INTO THE SERVICE BECAUSE HE TOOK A LARGE DOSE
OF ASPIRINS BEFORE HIS TEST..??
WE HAD NEIGHBORS WHO RENTED PART OF OUR OLD HOUSE AT 539 W. QUEEN STREET,,
ALLEN AND ELSIE BLOUCH AND THEIR CHILDREN RUSSELL AND RENA MAE.... RUSSEL
WANTED TO GO TO THE "WHITE HALL" QUARRY SWIMMING WITH US ONE DAY AND HIS
MOM WOULDN'T LET HIM,,,,, SHE FINALLY GAVE IN, AND SAID BEFORE HE LEFT
WITH US,,"IF YOU GO OUT THERE AND GET DROWNED,, YOU'RE GETTING A DAMN GOOD
LICKING WHEN YOU GET HOME"!!!!!!! RUSSELL IS DECEASED AND RENA MAE
MARRIED CLAIR "COOKIE" HOSTETTER, AND THEY HAD A DAUGHTER THEY NAMED
"PALM"... THEY LIVE IN CAMP HILL,PA. NOW.., AND I PRESUME THEIR DAUGHTER
PALM IS MARRIED WITH HER OWN FAMILY.....................JOHN
From Pooge"
John, you've got a great memory for detail. It brings back a lot of
memories. I remember my Dad, Dan, and Frank Moore telling stories
about Skeezix but I don't remember him.
From Charlie:
Hi Gang,
I just had to respond to this.
---Skeezix was a gentle soul and always wanted to be a part of anything
going on. He pushed himself in even if he wasn't wanted ---- The Perrotti
boys Pete. Charlie & Casper were very active -- playing softball on
Cherry Street, getting Tony Mariani down to the street corner to play
his accordion ( sometimes Ammon & Ray Balaster would join in on the
banjo) and being HAPPY & ALIVE.
Well, the foregoing is to let you know the following was not meant to
hurt Skeezix -- they thought they'd just give him a "hot ass" when on
one 4th of July, they dropped a good sized , lit firecracker, down the
back of Skeezix's pants.
MUCH skin was removed as we saw when his Mom brought him back out of
the house with his pants down and him crying in much pain -- cussing and
looking for first aid. -----
I, myself, was a little too young to piece this all together but my 3
brothers must have discussed this at the supper table for years
afterwards and I gathered the above.
Charlie
From John:
That's hilarious Charlie....Those Perotti guys were TOUGH guys.. If we could go back in time, I wonder what we would do differently... I think most of our friends remember most vividly, the Christmas Eve festivities up and down Queen street, going from house to house, drinking anisette, eating homemade cookies, eating, eating eating.... and staying up practically all night!! the OPEN HOUSES on Christmas Eve were wonderful... Ciao john
Email thread, Polenta Abruzzeze
Johnny, Charlie, Larry, Poogie
> From: NAPA422@aol.com
> Date: 2006/02/24 Fri PM 08:48:53 EST
> To: ammonbalaster@yahoo.com
> CC: arianicj@webtv.net, larylori2@bellsouth.net
> Subject: POLENTA, ABRUZZESE STYLE.MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM GOOD
>
> aLL THE ITALIAN-AMERICANS IN ANNVILLE ATE POLENTA DURING THE WINTER
> MONTHS,,, IT IS A PEASANT DISH FROM THE ABRUZZO REGION OF ITALY,, CONSISTING
OF
> YELLOW CORN MEAL.. IT WAS BOILED IN A BIG POT AND STIRRED, AND STIRRED AND
> STIRRED...UNTIL IT WAS THE RIGHT CONSISTENCY... IT WAS THEN POURED ONTO A
"POLENTA
> BOARD" ON THE TABLE TOP..... THE POLENTA BOARD WAS A SMOOTH, CLEAN BOARD,
> SANDED SMOOTH AND WASHED AFTER EACH USE.... TO EAT POLENTA, ABRUZZESE
STYLE,,
> ONE NEEDED ONLY A FORK,,,,,, THE POLENTA WAS SPREAD OVER THE BOARD, AND
> SMOOTHED TO ABOUT AN INCH THICK,, THEN COVERED WITH TOMATO SAUCE, SAUSAGE,,
OR
> GROUND BEEF, AND TOPPED WITH PAMESASANO CHEESE.MMMMMMMMMMMM WAS IT
GOOD!!!......
>
> ONE NIGHT AT HOME,, WE ARE ALL AROUND THE TABLE EATING POLENTA... ALL EIGHT
> OF US, AND MOM AND POP............THE DOOR BELL RANG AS WE STARTED TO
EAT...MY
> OLDEST BROTHER ALBERT YELLED, "GET THE BOARD OFF THE TABLE".. THINKING
> THAT AMERICANS WOULD NOT UNDERSTAND OUR EATING CORN MEAL FROM A
BOARD....... MY
> FATHER SAID "NO,,, THIS IS HOW WE EAT POLENTA".. THE BOARD STAYS ON THE
> TABLE.." MY MOTHER ANSWERED THE DOOR..... IT WAS AN INSURANCE SALESMAN
COMING
> TO COLLECT.............( HE CHANGED HIS ITALAN NAME,UNBEKNOWNS TO US), WE
HAD
> NO IDEA HE WAS ITALIAN AMERICAN.
>
> , HE LOOKED INTO THE KITCHEN AND SAID ,,,,,,,,, "DO YOU MIND IF I ASK WHAT
> YOU'RE EATING"...? MY MOTHER EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS CALLED POLENTA, AND
THAT
> WE ATE IT ON THE "BOARD" LIKE THEY DID IN ITALY...." TO WHICH HE
> REPLIED,,," I HAVEN'T HAD POLENTA LIKE THAT SINCE I LEFT HOME THIRTY YEARS
> AGO"!!........ OF COURSE HE WAS INVITED IN TO EAT WITH US............AND
BOY O BOY DID
> HE EAT THE POLENTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>
> I STILL COOK POLENTA,, BUT HAVE NO POLENTA BOARD,, MY SISTER MARY HAS IT,,
> AND WHEN SHE MAKES IT,, WE EAT IT ON THE BOARD, LIKE OLD TIMES!!!!!!!!
Date:
Sat, 25 Feb 2006 16:37:20 EST
Subject: Fwd: POLENTA, ABRUZZESE STYLE.MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM GOOD
To: StratNtwk@aol.com, marianicj@webtv.net, KMIN28@HOTMAIL.COM,
MLRieker@aol.com, Scrubs7231@aol.com, NORGEPOST@aol.com,
TJ390507@aol.com
From: <larylori2@bellsouth.net>
To: <NAPA422@aol.com>
Subject: Re: POLENTA, ABRUZZESE STYLE.MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM GOOD
Date: Sat, 25 Feb 2006 12:27:14 -0500
Hi John, I sent it on to Pooge. I still do it here when the kids are here. Mom
used to close the blinds so no one could see in, when we were eating. That
insurance man always showed up around dinner time.....Larry
From CharlieMariani
To John Bernardo
2/26/2006
POLENTA, ABRUZZESE STYLE MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMGOOD
Oh John,
Why should I get teary eyed reading this?
I guess it's because my memory of any of the Traits brought from Italy
were humble,honest,shared,and done with an abundance of love. No one,not
me or the insurance man in this story, was ever able to leave Annville
Italian homes without being invited to eat or drink something.
When we youngsters started bringing home some of our non Italian school
friends they were treated the same and were they surprised and always
happy to return. ----- I remember Mr. Ely, coming to our house to
solicit workers for his garment factory, being offered some form of PORK
and had a hard time explaining that Jews don't eat pork! ---
But there again, when I became 13 years old and Prof. Dotter gave me
"working papers",
I started to work for Mr. Ely and became "his man Friday" --- I asked
him about the generosity of offering Italians jobs during the depression
even though most could not read or write English --- he told me what he
needed was good workers, not scholars!
Thank you John for giving me in this warm feeling before church
on this COLD, Sunday morning.
click here for the picture albums
ahhhhhhhhhhh YES,,, I REMEMBER LITTLE MR. ELI... BONNIE DROVE HIS BIG CADILLAC, WHEN SHE WAS HIS BOOKKEEPER... SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS THE CAT'S MEOW DRIVING THAT BIG CAR!!...
ONE OF THE PAINFUL MEMORIES I HAVE AS A CHILD, PROBABLY IN FIFTH GRADE: MY MOM USED TO GET THE FLOWERED FEED BAGS THEY ONCE USED AT BRANDT'S MILL,,,,,,,AND MAKE US SHIRTS OUT OF THEM. WELL, SHE MADE ME A SHIRT ONCE, THAT WAS WHITE WITH TINY YELLOW FLOWERS ON IT,,, AND I WAS SO PROUD OF IT...THE FIRST DAY I WORE IT TO SCHOOL. A GUY IS MY CLASS, NOW DECEASED, MADE FUN OF THE SHIRT....I RAN ALL THE WAY HOME CRYING, AND CHANGED MY SHIRT OVER LUNCHTIME.....MY MOM WAS VERY RESOURCEFUL WITH THE SEWING MACHINE, AND SEWED OUR RIPPED PANTS, SHIRTS,, DARNED SOCKS, ETC ETC...... TO MAKE THEM LAST AS LONG AS POSSIBLE., AND EVEN ATTEMPTED TO MAKE SHIRTS FROM THE COLORFUL FEED BAGS SHE WOULD GET FROM THE MILL NEXT TO OUR OLD HOUSE. I GUESS DURING THE WAR THOSE COLORFUL BAGS WERE CHEAPER TO USE THAN BURLAP....I DON'T KNOW IF SHE BOUGHT THEM , OR IF MR. BRANDT WOULD GIVE THEM TO HER VERY CHEAPLY, OR FREE....
YOU KNOW, KIDS CAN BE VICIOUS AT HAT AGE....I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT THE HOLES IN THE BOTTOMS OF OUR SHOES,, AND PUTTING CARDBOARD IN OUR SHOES ACTING AS A TEMPORARY "SOLE" , UNTIL WE COULD AFFORD TO GO TO JOHNNY BATDORF'S AND GET A NEW PAIR...... BOY, HE SOLD EVERYTHING IN THAT OLD MUSTY SMELLING STORE!!!..................CIAO JOHN
From Pooge
Jackie DiAngelis joins in
Friends are Angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble
remembering how to fly.
Jackie
Click below to go to
Jackie DiAngelis' Pictures
Betty, That one picture is my POP,, and your mom,,, "my uncle
"baby" Vincenzo Spurigo, and my Aunt Dunell and your aunt
MABEL.......................... WOW THAT IS AN OLD ONE,, my mom must have
taken the picure,,, I don't know who your mom is holding,,, maybe
you?? JOHN CHARLIE,,,,,,,,,, YES, I THINK MY POP WAS EATING AN ICE CREAM CONE.... "UNCLE
WINGY".. HIS NAME WAS VINCENZO SPURIGO..... WAS A CHARACTER,, HE HAD A SPECIAL
LITTLE DANCE HE DID WHEN HE WAS DRUNK, ,WHICH WAS MOST OF TH E TIME,,, I THINK
HE "RETIRED" AT 40!!!!.. MY POOR AUNT DUNELL WORKED AT THE ONO DINER, AND
WALKED TO WORK IN SNOW,, RAIN, SLEET, ETC... THEY LIVED IN A LITTLE HOUSE IN
ONO,,,, THE SNOW BLEW UNDER THE FRONT DOOR IN WINTER.. WHEN WE VISITED THEM,,
I USED TO CRY, BECAUSE THEY HAD SUCH A DIFFICULT LIFE..... BUT THE KIDS ALL
TURNED OUT WELL,, WE HAVE A SPURIGO, FRATTAROLI, BERNARDO REUNION EVERY TWO
YEARS AT MY COUSIN LOUIE'S HOUSE IN SHEAFFERSTOWN........... FUN TIME!!... ON
THE PICTURE WITH MY POP,, THE LADY ON THE LEFT IS SADIE,, SHE'S HOLDING
MAFALDA.... BETTY IS MAFALDA'S SISTER,, DI ANGELO.......AND HER DAUGHTER
JACKIE IS SENDING THE PICTURES TO DR POOGE.. JACKIE LIVES IN THE HOUSE WHERE
RUSSO'S LIVED,, NEXT TO WHERE BETTY, RONALDO AND FRANKIE NOW LIVE.. ON S.
CHERRY STREET,, CIAO JOHN
Click here for John's picture album
Does anybody recognize where this picture was taken>
Pooge
Charlie.............. I THINK the name Booba is a diminutive of a word that means a little DOLL, in Italian....,,,,,,,,,,,and probably was her nickname from the day she was born.... I've never hear that name Booba before, or since... They're all gone, so we will never really know .. I wish i had used a tape recorder to record conversations of the old folks when they talked about the "old country".. and their experiences,, There are so few of the old folks left that we just have wonderful memories of them.....I can't believe that Angelo Vitti and Louie Ercoli who were step brothers, are both gone.. I think that Jennie Vitti is gone also... Frannie DiEnno is still living,, but I haven't seen him in YEARS......... I used to visit Tony Di Enno while he was in Manor Care in Lebanon...He was a super guy. They also lived on Cherry Street....We should have a "brain picking" session with Anna Balaster, Bonnie,, Mary, Frannie DiEnno, Bob Micozzi who is very sick,, Carl and Lydia Mariani Lupinetti,,, Helen Lupinetti,,,,,,Helen Mariani, Betty and Mafalda Di Angelo,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Jennie Perazzoli DiVittore who lives in Hershey.., you and I......... when i get back from Florida,, and RECORD the conversations and memories.........I think Tony Moore's wife Norma, has lots of old pictures of the Mooore family.,,,,,,,,She lives in Hershey............. Any one i missed,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,??? any others?
3/2/06
From Larry
Hi Dr. Pooge, this project is really growing, and should be of benefit to all of us, that want to remember the "Good Times", in Annville. I have a bunch of pictures that I am getting ready, but I am going to send them to you, as I don't know how to put them on the page. I need your snail mail address, so that I can get these off to you.
Many of these pictures are very old, and I can't identify all the people. The main center of these, is Queen and Cherry Streets. The streets are still dirt, but it seems most of the action was right in this part of town. We only ever had one roll of film, for the "Brownie Box Kodak", and only on special occasions. There never was too many places for a "Kodak Moment", other than the Quarries, Queen street bridge, down by Brandts Mill, and the street. Others were taken in the garden, or backyards.
Frankie Moore, was a great friend of the family. He was always helping my Dad, building, remodeling, wallpapering, and always invited to dinner. I spent a lot of time with "Fishy", going to farm sales, to the mountains to get rocks, and hauling something for someone. He did the stone work in front of the house at 130 S. Chestnut St., and it is still standing, I think. I remember the many "concerts" we had in the back yard, with your Dad, and banjo, and my Dad, with guitar or accordion, and Joe Viozzi, on the little Italian accordion.
I'll get these off to you, with captions, that I remember, and we will go from there. Tell your Mother, we, Lorraine and I , say hello. My wife Lorrraine and your Mom, used to work together at "ITG" making sanwiches and salads, for the vending machines........Larry Frattaroli
Tina BalasterFrom: Orestina Balaster
In a message dated 3/2/2006 6:07:05 P.M. Mountain Standard Time, orestina@paonline.com writes:HI I'll check my picures , I might come up with something. As for making polenta , there"s an esier way to do it now with instant corn meal. 5 minutes and done. aunt tinaClick here to See Tina's Picture Album
Click here to See Jim Balaster's Picture Album
From: Pooge
Thanks Aunt Tina. About the polenta, Mom said the same thing. She even mentioned a foreign bran of cornmeal called Goya I think. She says it's better.Dr. Pooge
DR POOGE,, Thanks for the copy of your note to Cousin Larry Frattaroli.. The guy you referred to played the "squeeze box" was called SHOEMAKER............ His real name was Silvio DiCesare,, and his wife "PUMPY".. was Pompelia....They never had children.. Pumpy was a Capretti... she has sisters, Eva.. who lived next to Viozzi's on main street,, and Lavira who lived on Queen Street.. Lavira had BRIGHT RED HAIR. and married a guy named Greenawalt.. They had a daughter EVA JANE, who still lives in the area,, I think she was a nurse.. Tina Candori would know perhaps.............. Ciao John
DR POOGE.... DO YOU REMEMBER THE LIVERING FAMILY WHO LIVED ACROSS THE STREET FROM WHERE ZAMPARUTTI'S LIVED??? MY GRANDPARENTS LIVED IN HAT HOUSE,, AND MY GRANDMOTHER DIED IN THAT HOUSE,,, PROBABLY AROUND 1931??LIVERING'S HAD A SON NAMED THEODORE, BETTER KNOWN AS "KNOBBY". HE WAS RETARDED, BUT WAS VERY NON VIOLENT AND FRIENDLY.. HE WENT SKIPPING DOWN THE STREET SAYING " HEY MISTER, HEY MISTER, HERE COMES SOMEBODY MISTER KNOWS"........HE VISITED OUR HOUSE OFTEN. I WONDER IF LARRY OR CHARLIE REMEMBER HIM.... HE'S DECEASED NOW,,, HIS SISTER BETTY WAS IN MY CLASS IN HIGH SCHOOL. BETTY WAS CHASING ME DOWN THE HALL AT THE OLD GREYSTONE BUILDING ONCE,, AND MISS KRUM TOOK US INTO HER ROOM AND SMACKED OUR HANDS WITH A RULER.. SHE WAS MEAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!.......... JOHN
From
Charlie
Hi John,
I think the Liverings had moved into that house some years after the
Yeagleys had moved out ----- we moved to Church Street not too long
afterwards.
We got to know Ronald who was in my nephews school class and Jimmy
would bring him around. He was extremely polite and dressed neatly
almost always wearing a tie.
It's strange that I can't recall "Knobby" or "Duper" --------- after
we moved to Church Street I won a bicycle at Diel's Drug Store. (
located in the old bank building across the street from the Tydol gas
station) --- later the two Davis brothers bought the store and moved it
up to the old Kimport's Dept store ------ WELL,any how, at 12 years old
and transportation,
I spent most of my spare time on Queen Street with the Mariani's and
Candori's ---- yet, ole Knobby or Duper aren't in my memory
There were four Livering boys,,,, herman,, ronald,, knobby, and the oldest one, whose name i can't remember,,,,,he married Jenny Vitti..... and Betty, Lucille, and perhaps another girl.....
Dolores says his name was Eugene/ He push Dolores into a mud puddle on the way to school and got Dolores' dress all muddy. She didn't like him much after that. Duper had flunked first grade so he ended up in my sister Dolores' class. He came to school one day and the bell rang and the teacher saw that he had put something in his pocket. Mrs' Bomgardner, the first grade teacher, asked him to take it out of his pocket ......it was an ice cream cone.
From
Tina Alonzo Candori:
The other girl was "Mimmy". She is still around. I
think she may be the only one living. The older boys were Peanuts and oretty
boy. Never did know their real names
That's a very old log house. It was in bad shape with rotted clapboard siding and no paint. I suppose now it has vinyl or AL siding but it's still log under there.
Lavera was married to "Sparkey'. They both had eye problems. They had a daughter Rosemary. Eva Jane's mom was Minnie. She was married to Harry Greenawalt Eva Jane and Rosemary both came to my Mom's funeral last year. a Lebanon.I too have pictures and will get to it soon. Tina
I think Sparkey was the guy who tuned our piano and he had a case with him when he came. We thought it was his piano tools but later, after he was done, he opened the case and he had a trumpet. So Daddy got out his gutar or banjo and they played some music.
dr pooge. FOR THE RECORD............. TINA IS RIGHT,,I was confused about the Capretti girls,,,, and who they married.....Rosemary was Lavira's daughter, and Eva Jane was the daugher of the other sister Minnie.......... SORRY... my memory is getting fuzzy,, but then TINA CANDORI is lots younger than I am!!!...
ANOTHER THREE SOME ON THE WEST END OF ANNVILLE WERE MY COUSIN ED FRATTAROLI (FETTEROLI),, FISHY MOORE AND HAMMER DISHONG.. THEY HUNG OUT IN ED'S GARAGE, PLAYED CARDS,, WENT HUNTING AND FISHING TOGETHER, ETC... ED IS STILL LIVING IN WARREN MAINE,, A WIDOWER, IN HIS LATE 80S............ HE WAS THE SON OF MY UNCLE CHARLES, AND EMMA METZ.......... REMEMBER HER? JOHN
Yea Lucille was slow too. She got pregnant at the old carnival near the creek on mai st. She had a baby but we never knew where it went.Do you remember the carnivals on Saturday night. My dad always played the blanket wheel and won those awful wool blankets that we used on our beds. Also we never ate polenta on a board. John, you know that my Dad was way too fussy to do that.
DR POOGE,, THERE WAS A GUY NAMED NICK PORECCA... WHO WAS A HUCKSTER,,, HE DROVE AROUND IN A CAR FILLED WITH EVERYING FROM SOUP TO NUTS,, AND SOLD THE STUFF OUT OF HIS CAR... HE WAS FONDLY KNOWN AS "NICK THE JEW".............. WE THOUGHT HE WAS A JEW FROM NEW YORK. HE SOLD EVERYTHING OUT OF HIS CAR!!!!............. AND DO YOU REMEMBER THE "RAG MAN" ......WE USED TO SAVE RAGS,, NEWSPAPERS,, PIECES OF IRON, ETC, AND SELL THEM TO THE RAG MAN........ HE HAD A LITTLE SCALE AND WEIGHED EVERYTHING AND PAID US ACCORDING TO THE WEIGHT.... WHAT FUN TIMES WE HAD!!! JOHN
click here for the picture albums
From: CCANDORI To: NAPA422 I remember the rag man. My Mom was always telling me that she was going to give me to the rag man and every time I heard him I was so scared. I remember feeding the "Bums" all the time. They would come and sit on our back porch and Mom would feed them
Don't forget about Aunt Jemima coming to kreider's store. She was real
The carnivals were at the same spot where the tug of wars were held. They always had a country western band. I was very little when we went. We really got some carnival glass there.I don't remember what they had to eat. I'll have to ask Maggie She has a good memory. Boobo was Pooba and I think it had something to do with her being crippled.
EMMA METZ,, MY COUSIN ED'S MOTHER LIVED ACROSS FROM THE OLD PAUL TRENTA HOUSE ON QUEEN STREET..... I THINK ED AND HAMMER WERE BEFORE YOUR TIME, DR POOGE.. YOU AND TINA ARE STILL BABIES.. JOHN
Dr. Pooge
THE FIRESTINE'S LIVED ACROSS THE ALLEY FROM ALONZO'S.... JANET,, FIBBY, AND BEN.. ARE THE ONES I REMEMBER,, JANET WAS IN MY CLASS, AND IS LIVING IN ANNVILLE,,
Dr. Pooge
BOY O BOY,, DR POOGE,, YOU DAD WAS VIVACIOUS, HAPPY GUY,, ALWAYS SMILING AND LAUGHING, MAKING MUSIC,, OR RIDING HIS MOTORCYCLE....WHAT A PERSONALITY HE HAD!!
INTERESTING STUFF, DR POOGE.... I ESPECIALLY REMEMBER FINKS BAKERY TRUCKS GOING TO THE DUMP UP NEAR PERAZZOLI'S.... THEY WOULD THROW AWAY THEIR DAY OLD PIES, ETC,, AND WE'D BE THERE WHEN THEY ARRIVED, AND THEY GAVE US THE PIES,, OUR FAVORITES WERE THE MONTGOMERY (CHESS) PIES............MAN, THIEY WERE GOOD!! THE CLOSEST THING TO THEM TODAY IS PECAN PIE,,,, WITHOUT THE PECANS ON TOP...........MMMMMMMMMMMM GOOD!!!!!! JOHN
ge
OH YEAH,, JACK HAINES,, AND THE CARNIVALS IN LEBANON,,,, UNCLE JACK AND MARY LOU.........REMEMBER THOSE BEAUTS??? I THINK THEY DRESSED LIKE ROY ROGERS AND DALE EVANS,,AND SANG COUNTRY/WESTERN MUSIC............THE LOCALS WENT WILD OVER THAT REDNECK MUSIC. BUT THE CLIMAX OF THE YEAR WAS ALWAYS THE ANNVILLE PICNIC... WHEN EVERYONE WENT TO HERSHEY PARK FOR THE DAY.. THEY DIDN'T LOCK THEIR DOORS!!!.. EVERYONE PACKED A BIG PICNIC BASKET, WENT TO HERSHEY PARK,, GRBBED A PAVILLION AND HAD A WONDERFUL DAY IN THE PARK,,,,,, THERE WAS NO ADMISSION, BUT THE RIDES, SUCH AS THE ROLLER COASTER, THE WHIP. MERRY GO ROUND,,, FUN HOUSE,, ALL CHAGED A NOMINAL FEE.. LIKE TEN, FIFTEEN OR TWENTY FIVE CENTS!!.. WHAT FUN!! EVERYONE LOOKED FORWARD TO THE ANNVILLE PICNIC CAY AT HERSHEYPARK!!!!!!! JOHN
YEAH, ANYWAY, TINA,, HOW DO YOU KNOW LUCILLE GOT PREGNANT AT THE CARNIVAL??? WERE YOU A WITNESS TO THE ATTACK??
Dolores said that Lucille actually raised that baby and
took good care of her. It was a baby girl. She always had
her dressed real cute.
-----Original Message-----
From: NAPA422
To: CCANDORI
Cc: StratNtwk; KMIN28@HOTMAIL.COM; EDPALM@VERIZON.NET; Pagansgem
Sent: Fri, 3 Mar 2006 9:48:00 PM Eastern Standard Time
Subject: TINA
From Tina
Town Gossip I quess. think my mom kept telling us to scare us.
We used to question Lucille all the time. Hell, She was the
only teenager in the block that already had sex!
From Tina:
What about those picture things in the penny arcade where the ladies had just their underware. I quess that was the 50's porn! I think it cost a penny
Dolores remembers that you, me, Butch, Mari, Betsy and Dolores made a record one time. We sang something and Dolores thinks that Betsy had the record for a long time. I wonder if she still has it......Pooge
Poog , You remember Benjy, don't you. He used to walk to school with Betsy and Dolores . Brian Hanley was his friend
Pooge, I think it was Raymond, but they called him "honeyboy". There was also Eugene, Ronald. Herman (dooper), knobby, betty, Lucelle, and another younger daughter. Raymond, was in the service, as I remember......Larry
Great memory, Larry. The younger daughter was Mimmie......Pooge
>
> From: StratNtwk@aol.com
> Date: 2006/03/03 Fri PM 10:02:00 EST
> To: NAPA422@aol.com
> CC: marianicj@webtv.net, larylori2@bellsouth.net, Pagansgem@aol.com
> Subject: Re: THE LIVERING FAMILY ON CHERRY STREET
>
>
> In a message dated 3/3/2006 6:33:24 P.M. Mountain Standard Time, NAPA422
> writes:
>
> mY BROTHER SAYS THE OLDEST LIVERING KID WAS RAYMOND........ TINA MIGHT
> KNOW... IM COPYING HER ON THIS..JOHN
Dolores says that Lucile was slow too.
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Good Morning John,
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Friends are Angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble
remembering how to fly.
Jackie
WOW, WHAT A STORY,, FISHY WAS A COLORFUL CHARACTER!!!.. I HOPE IT WASN'T A HORSE HEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JOHN
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Subj: Frank "Fishy" Moore Date: 3/4/2006 7:18:50 A.M. Mountain Standard Time From: larylori2@bellsouth.net To: StratNtwk@aol.com, napa422@aol.com, marianicj@webtv.net Sent from the Internet (Details) I have to tell this story, as most of the people are now gone. Rest in Peace.
One Saturday or Sunday, a group of adults, and kids, were at Fishy''s new house, and we were helping him with a project, and he was going to make dinner for all of us that were helping. There was my Dad, some Donmoyers, Barney, "Batai's " son in law, and I'm not sure who else.
We knew we were going to have spaghetti, and meatballs, NO salad, Fishy did'nt eat "Rabbit Food", and he was making a roast. I can still smell the garlic, and rosemary, as that roast was cooking. Plenty of wine, and beer, and soda.
When he called us in to eat, He served the spaghetti and meatballs in a roasting pan!! About three pounds of spaghetti, with meat balls. When he finally brought out the roast from the oven, and popped the lid, it was an animal HEAD!!! I don't remember if it was beef or pork, but there was more picking than slicing that day. Bachman the butcher, up on the hill, had prepared it for him, and this was one of several, he cooked.
It was a great day in the early forties, and life was good. The End.......Larry
Annville picnic was the highlight of the summer.We didn't have a picnic basket so my mom used her wicker laundry basket. Pooge, we alway got a table right below th big airplanes. The Shuey's always got the prize for the most kids
YOU GOT THEM ALL RIGHT LARRY,,,,,,,,,,,,, THE LIVERING FAMILY....... RAYMOND MARRIED JENNY VITTI AND THEY HAD A NICE DAUGHTER NAMED MARYANN.. WHO MARRIED A GUY NAMED JOHN HEISEY.. THEY RENTED THE APARTMENT ABOVE MY MOM'S HOUSE ON MILL STREET FOR A FEW YEARS.......NICE KIDS..... I RECENTLY RAN INTO LOUIE ERCOLI'S DAUGHTER AT THE ANTIQUE DEPOT IN CLEONA.... I DON'T KNOW ANY OF THER OTHER KIDS...... THERE'S A WHOLE GENERATION OF KIDS WE DON'T KNOW... SIBLINGS OF THE GANG FROM WEST ANNVILLE.............................. CIAO CUZ JOHN
Dr. Pooge
THE LIVES OF THE POOR IMMIGRANTS FROM ITALY WAS ABOUT MAKING THEIR OWN FUN,, WITH THEIR OWN PEOPLE... LAUGHING, DRINKNG, EATING.. EATING. EATING... PLAYING BOCCE,.... MAKING WINE, KEEPING THEIR GARDENS, SHARING THE PRODUCE,.. THE CHURCH WAS THE BOND THAT HELD THEM TOGETHER, ALONG WITH THEIR TRADITIONS, CUSTOMS AND KINDNESS TO EACH OTHER. WE WERE ALL IN THE SAME "BOAT" SO TO SPEAK.. POOR,,,,,,, LANGUAGE BARRIER IN SOME CASES, BUT LIFE WAS GOOD!!! AH,, FOR THE GOOD OLD DAYS!!!!!!!!!! JOHN
From John:
OK Are we done with the Livering family before we go onto the Shuey family??
Yeah, Tina, lets hear about the Shuey's while we're talking about the Dutchmen in the neighborhood.
.......... I ALSO THINK THERE WERE MORE TRENTA SISTERS,, MARY , WHO MARRIED TONY MARIANI, AND DELLA, WHO MARRIED RALPH SOMEONE,, AND RAN A SMALL POST OFFICE SOMEWHERE IN CHESTER COUNTY I THINK,,,,,,,,,,
3-5-06 John writes:
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MARY DIENNO MARRIED PETER BUGDA.......... FRANNIE DIENNO'S SISTER.. SHE WAS A BEAUTIFUL GIRL,, THEY LIVE IN FLORIDA I UNDERSTAND AND HE IS NOT PHYSICALLY WELL.... I USED TO VISIT TONY DIENNO AT MANOR CARE,, AND HIS WIFE KEPT ME UP TO DATE ON FRANNIE AND MARY... REMEMBER THEIR DAD PAUL DI ENNO, AND THE SHOEMAKER SHOP ON MAIN STREET, NEAR THE FIRE HALL>>>
NO TAG
NO SHOES
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APRIL ................... I ALSO THINIK THERE WERE MORE TRENTA SISTERS,, MARY , WHO MARRIED TONY MARIANI, AND DELLA, WHO MARRIED RALPH SOMEONE,, AND RAN A SMALL POST OFFICE SOMEWHERE IN CHESTER COUNTY I HINK,,,,,,,,,,
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On several emails being passed around, I saw several references to Nick the Jew. I did not see any text, that was being sent. Include me in these messages, please. His name was Nick Porrecca, and he also had a store down in Reading. Mom always bought socks and underwear, from him, I think on Sundays. We visited his store once, and it was like Johnny Batdorfs, in Annville. He had everything!
It seems like we named all the Liverings. I think it was, Raymond, Theodore, Peanuts ?, Betty, Eugene, Ronald, Herman, Lucille, Mimmy. Gene would be in his seventies now, so I don't know who is left.
We're slowly bring West Annville back to life, as we knew it, and its great. It seems like the little things we remember, and share, is bringing back memories to all of us..Keep it comming.....LarryGo to Jim Balaster's Pictures
In a message dated 3/9/2006 8:54:17 P.M. Mountain Standard Time, NAPA422 writes:DR POOGE, WHO WAS ADALAIDA, AND LENA??? i WONDER WHAT YOUR FAMILY NAME REALLY WAS............BALASTIERI,, BALASTRA,, DALESTRA? SOMETIHING WAS DROPPED FROM YOUR MAKE, PERHAPS IN ELLIS ISLAND,, THEY SCREWED UP LOTS OF ITALIAN NAMES, BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T READ THE WRITING OF THE POOR IMMIGRANTS ENTERING THE USA THROUGH ELLIS ISLAND, SO THEY WROTE IT LIKE IT LOOKED TOTHEM,, AND SPELLED THEM DIFFERENTLY......... THESE PEOPLE HAD VERY POOR HANDWRITING AND SOME WERE COMPLETELY ILLITERATE... HAVE YOU EVER SEARCHED THROUGH ELLIS ISLAND, OR THE MORMONS? MY COUSIN LARRY DID THAT,, AND I'M STILL WORKING ON IT ON MY FATHER'S SIDE.........THE PICTURES ARE GREAT!!!.......... IM NOW ON YAHOO... AND CAN ACCESS THE STORIES AND PICTURES DAILY....... THANKS,,,,,,JOHNHi John,Yes, you are right about the name. I have a copy of my Dad's birth certificate from Italy: Certificato Di Nascita. His real name is Arnesmando Balestra.Dr. PoogeIn a message dated 3/9/2006 8:57:51 P.M. Mountain Standard Time, NAPA422 writes:
OK,, I PRESUME THAT ADALAIDA WAS YOUR FATHERS MOTHER.....DID THEY LIVE IN HERSHEY? WAIT TILL YOU SEE THE PICTURES OF THE BERNADO CLAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JOHNRight Again, John. Adalaida was my Dad's mother. We called her Nonna Rae. I figure that family portrait was taken sometime around 1912 not long after they came to this country. I have to ask Mom but I think they may have lived in West Annville when the picture was taken but later they lived in Hershey. Of course all of the kids except Lena then lived in West Annville when they grew up.ok,, i think i remember Tina and Ray living there,, but don't remember the kids.....hmmmmmmmmmmm. am i slipping??
Go to Larry Frattaroli's Pictures
Stay tuned, there's more to come. My Aunt Tina Balaster sent in some good ones. I'll publish them this weekend.
Click here to See Tina's Picture Album
Also check out these pictures and join our OldWestAnnville group on yahoo. Just go to http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/OldWestAnville and sign into the group.
Ciao
Pooge
those old pictures are fantastic....... we have so many of the Bernardo clan on west Queen street..............the whole family lined up,,,,,,,in order of their birth........ i was second from the last........Eddie was the baby. I think my sister Bonnnie or Mary have picture of the old St. Paul's choir,, first communion pictues,, and lots of us when we were kids at the house at 539 West Queen Street.............. the last house in West Annville, next to Brandt's mill..........Did you find anything out at the original Balaster name, when they came from Italy?? That could be ineresting.................... Ciao john
In a message dated 3/10/2006 9:04:26 P.M. Mountain Standard Time, NAPA422 writes:wow,,,,, i can imagine the Teachers at Annville elementary school trying to pronounce that name!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do you know the genesis of AMMON?? Probably came from a teacher. huh? They had a difficult time forcing themselves to prounounce "foreign" names One teacher told me that they were fearful of walking down Queen Street because we were all Cathloics,, and Democrats!!!!!!!!!! (my father was NEVER a democrat!!) This is the way it was, way back when.., believe it or not.... There was one family on West Queen Street who called us names walking to school past their house............,,,,,, names like WOP,, Daigo,, Garlic Snapper,, Greasers,, etc etc........ They were difficult times growing up as a "minority"... But that's what we were.. we were different,, our names ended with a vowel,, and we were Catholics. and some of us had dark hair and darker complexions... BUT,, we made it,, didn't we??. Those painful experiences probably made us more determined to succeed.................Thank God times have changed. and that bigotry is history.......................................JohnI think the name Ammon is a biblical name and maybe, as such, a PA Deutch (German) name. When I move out west here I found that Ammon was also a great Mormon warrior or something. Arnesmando is also quite unique.Dr. Pooge
In a message dated 3/11/2006 7:06:53 A.M. Mountain Standard Time, marianicj@webtv.net writes:LEST WE FORGET !!!
That statement always impressed me.
I remember hearing it as a child and associating it with those who died
serving our country, especially on the 4th of July and at Memorial Day
parades and cemetery speeches ------
This project of ours makes me realize how "Lest We Forget" is part of
our heritage in remembering our departed family and friends in such a
pictorial way and accompanied with loving editorials.
The family picture of the Balasters is indeed the best yet to get to
our web site so that others can share.
AND! What would we do without the memory of John Bernardo!!!
Thank you for organizing this wonderful project.Hi Charlie,This has turned out to be something far better than I could have ever expected. I think I thought of the idea after my trip to Annville this past Christmas but you and John and Larry have really made it come alive and everyone else has been getting involved ......It's wonderful!What I'd like to do now is get a compilation of everyone's email addresses. We each seem to have a different list for Old West Annville and, as such, some people miss some of the communications. It would be good to have a comprehensive list that everybody has it would be helpful. I guess you, Charlie and John have the most complete list and along with Larry's and the others we should have a pretty good start. John if you're up to it, maybe everyone could send their Old West Annville email list to you and you could compile a master list for everybody. If so, then we all should send emails to our list asking everybody to send their Old West Annville email list to john so we can always communicate with this growing group of friends.What do you think?Dr PoogeI never cease admiring your e-mails.You two are brilliant and enjoy
life, PAST & PRESENT!
My thoughts on this one:
"IF" we ever get this project published, THIS e-mail should be the
book's Preface!
Charlie,, Wait till you see all the old pictures of the Bernardo clan!!...And, speaking of colorful characters,,you were always the happy, laughing fun guy as irecall growing up,,, and the Accordion music was always a TREAT!! And he opportunity you gave me to work on the Kingsley Brown Truck with you, was a lesson in personal responsibility....That "pin money" got me into many movies at the ASTOR theater!!Many times we had to beg for a quarter to see a movie,,,,a quarter which my Mom didn't have,, so we just cried ourselves to sleep,and forgot about the movie.... THEN, there were times , especially on pay day. when our BOARDERS gave us nickels , dimes and quarters to go to the movies! They were like uncles to us!! They were wonderful old guys who came to America and left their wives and families in Italy........Somehow,, some of them never got round to sending for them! I have another story on this subject,, will i'll submit separately,, about a guy named Fiorindo Fulminis,, who worked for my Pop.... next installment>>>>>>>>>>>>. ciao john
I'll be eagerly awaiting that story, john. Dr. Pooge
bACK IN THE SEVENTIES A GUY CAME FROM ITALY AND SETTLED IN THE HERSHEY AREA.. HE WAS ALONE,, HE GOT A JOB IN THE MILLARD STONE QUARRIES. HE LEFT A PREGNANT WIFE IN THE VILLAGE OF CHIETI, ALONG THE ADRAITIC SEA.. ABOUT 20 KM FROM THE CITY OF PESCARA..................HE WORKED FOR MY DAD AT THE QUARRY, AND HAD A ROOM AT THE HOTEL PENN IN HERSHEY,, OWNED BY MY BROTHER ALBERT.. HE SPENT LOTS OF TIME AT THE BAR IN THE EVENINGS,, BUYING PEOPLE DRINKS...HE HAD BECOME AN REAL "AMERICANO"!!!ONE DAY, A 40 YEAR OLD CARABINIARI (POLICEMAN) ARRIVED FROM ITALY,, SEARCHED OUT FURY,,,, LOCATED HIM IN HERSHEY, AND ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS THE SON HE HAD NEVER SEEN,, AND THAT HE'D COME TO TAKE HIM BACK TO ITALY.....OF COURSE "FURY" RELUCTANTLY WENT BACK,,,,, HE WAS NOW RETIRED, AND LIVING IN THE HOTEL PENN IN HERSHEY..THE FOLLOWING SUMMER,, I WAS PLANNING A TRIP TO ITALY TO GIULIANOVA, MY POPS BIRTHPLACE ON THE CENTRAL ADRIATIC SEA........ BEFORE I LEFT HOME,, MY POP SAID ' BE SURE TO GO VISIT FIORINDO IN CHIETI.. AND GIVE HIM MY REGARDS...............SO..........I JUMPED INTO A CAB,, (I HAD HIS ADDRESS IN CHIETI),, AND WENT TO CHIETI,,,,, INTERESTINGLY,, THE CAB DRVER HAD RELATIVES IN CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA!!!.......WE ARRIVED AT FIORINDO'S HOUSE, AND I PAID THE CAB DRIVER AND WALKED UP TO THE DOOR,A ND KNOCKED..... "FURY" ANSWERED THE DOOR.............HE DID A TRIPLE TAKE,, AND FINALLY SAID
JOHNN-EEE!! WHATA YOU DOING HERE!??? i EXPLAINED THAT I WAS ON A VACATOIN AND CAME TO EXTEND GREETINGS FROM MY DAD.. HE IMMEDIATELY HUGGED, KISSED,, CRIED,, AND CALLED FOR HIS WIFE,, HIS SON,, DAUGHETER IN LAW AND GRANDSON.........IMMEDIATELY THE BOTTLES OF SODA, BEER AND WINE WERE ON THE TABLE..........AFTER "FURY" REGAINED HIS COMPOSURE,,,HE LEANED OVER T ME, IN HIS BROKEN ENGISH,, AND SAID,, "JOHN EE,,,, TELLA ME,,,, HOWS A EVERTHING IN THE OLD COUNTRY?? I CRACKED UPHE AND HIS SON TOOOK ME TO A LOCAL BAR AND DRANK WINE, AND INTRODUCED ME TO EVERYONE IN THE VILLAGE........ HIS WIFE THEN MADE A BIG BIG DINNER,,,,,, AND WE SPENT ABOUT THREE HOURS EATING, ITALIAN STYLE!!..IT BEGAN GETTING DARK, AND I ASKED TO CALL A CAB FOR ME.. OF COURSE, THE SON WOULD HEAR NOTHING OF IT,, AND INSISTED ON DRIVING ME BACK TO MY HOTEL,, WITH HIS WIFE AND LITTLE BOY...WHAT A WONDERFUL REUNION WITH A COLORFUL OLD CHAP.WHO WORKED IN AMERICA FOR FORTY YEARS,, AND NEVER GOT AROUND TO BRINGING HIS PREGNANT WIFE OVER..... HE AND HIS WIFE HAVE SINCE DIED,,BUT IF I GO BACK,, I'LL LOOK UP THE POLICEMAN SON,, WHO IS PROBABLY RETIRED ALSO...... WHAT A WARM , FUZZY VISIT!! JOHN..What a great story, John. You know, I remember my Aunt Lena's husband Albert Ferretti talk about Fury. I guess it was the same guy. My uncle Albert lived just up and across the street from the Penn Hotel. He hung out there all the time. Pooge
In a message dated 3/12/2006 8:06:49 A.M. Mountain Standard Time, NAPA422 writes:MAN YOU MAKE MY EGO SWELL,, AND GIVE ME A BIGGA HEAD!!!.. THANKS FOR THE NICE COMPLIMENTS, DEAR FRIENDS.......I thought that Fiorindo Fulminis story would be interesting,, since he workd in the Stone Quarries with my pop....................My line is work,, incidentally is RETIREMENT,, of course,,,, Before that, I was Executive Vice President of the PA.. Association of REALTORS for 25 years,, Had 28,000 members Statewide and a staff of 22.. Before that , I had an italian Restaurant and Bar in St. Thomas,, in the Virgin Islands it was called La Dolce Vita......... and before that,, I was Execuive Director of the Pa. Osteopathic Associaiton for 5.5 years.... and before that I was in the US Army, as Aide to Major General Edwin A. Walker,,, in the 25th Division in Hawaii, and later in Little Rock Arkansas,,, Where General Walker was sent by President Eisenhower to INTEGRATE Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas,,, that was 1957!!. I was there through the integration process,, and a Sergeant friend of mine drove the black children to school each day in an Army vehicle.... B.efore that I was in the Stigmatine Fathers Religious Seminary in Natick, Mass studynig for the Priesthood.............. for two years, and before that i was in College at Kutztown State Teacher's College.. majoring in English and Art Eucation... and before that I was in Annville High School, the Greystone Building..... and working on the Kingsley and Brown dry cleaning truck with you!!!!............. and growing up in Annville....As teenagers, my brothers Teenie and Eddie and I shined shoes in Donmoyer's Barber Shop next to the Pennway.. My Pop rented a Shoe Shine stand with THREE chairs in Donmoyer's Barber Shop ,, and we shined shoes i there for "pin money". on Saturdays.... 25 cents a shine!!!..........I think that about covers my varied and wild career.. But, it's been a fun journey!! ciao,,,,,,,JohnThat's a great historical summary, John. Thanks.
Okay, her's another thought for you. I told my Mom about this website and the Old West Annville group we have. She thought it was great and drove up to my Aunt Tina's place in Hershey to view the website (That's right, Mom is still driving at 93).She suggested that we have a party at her house sometime (perhaps this summer) and invite everybody to view all the pictures together and tell stories. Since we were talking about polenta I thought it would be great to make it a big Polenta Party. We can view everybody's pictures, tell stories, (take video's of the whole occasion) and eat polenta. My sister is jazzed about the idea so stay tuned. Maybe we can put it all together this summer . Be sure to send me all your old pictures if you haven't already done it so I can get them scanned in for the Old West Annville Polenta Picture Party .Ciao,Pooge
charlie..........Forgot to tell you,, in the Army, i had a Top Secret Clearance since I was an Aide to Major General Edwin A. Walker,, at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. He was Commanding General of the 25th Division Artillery. I remember Della Marino telling me that Government investigators were in her restaurant asking if she knew me, how long,, etc etc etc..While stationed in Hawaii, General Walker got a transfer and I accompanied him back the States... He THOUGHT he was being transferred to command the Texas Military District in Austin, TX... We landed in San Francisco, and he immediately bought a new 98 Oldsmobile.... and decided to take some leave time,, and asked me to DRIVE HIM....... So, we traveled down the California coast,, into Las Vegas, Hollywood, Albuquerque, NM, and all over the Southwest. into Texas.. While in Las Vegas,, he called my hotel room and said "I just spoke with my friend Westy, in the Pentagon.. (General Westmoreland), and he advised me that my orders were changed.... We're not going to Texas,, but to Little Rock , Arkansas..............I said, "ye Gads,, they don't wear shoes there!"..... He chuckeled and said,, "there's good fishing and duck hunting there"......... To MAKE A LONG STORY SHORTER.. HE WAS SENT TO LITTLE ROCK BY PRESIDENT EISENHOWER, TO INTEGRAT CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL IN LITTLE ROCK... I was there with him through that assignment from President Eisenhower,,,,, . An Army Sergeant friend of mine drove the black children to school in an army vehicle each day.... It was an interesting assignment, and I was proud to be part of that history in America....As an aside,,, Lee Harvey Oswald attempted to assassinate General Walker,, he took a shot at him through his apartment window in Dallas, TX... I have copies of the police record of this incident..Walker was very ANTI COMMUNIST,, and a John Birch society member at the time. and very outspoken about Communism. Needless to say Oswald Missed,, but ended up killing John F. Kennedy...................That's part of my Army career which I shall never forget... this was 1957.................John
In a message dated 3/18/2006 11:54:42 A.M. Mountain Standard Time, NAPA422 writes:HI DR POOGE. DECEMBER 7, 1941 IS A VERY SIGNIFICANT DAY FOR ME AND MY COUSIN LARRY FRATTAROLI. IT WAS A SUNDAY MORNING ON DEMEMBER 8TH, AND MY MOM WAS IRONING CLOTHES AT OUR OLD HOUSE AT 539 WEST QUEEN STREET... AS WE KIDS GOT UP,,,,,,,,,, MY MON,,CRYING WHILE IROINING CLOTHES TOLD US THAT HER FATHER (OUR GRANDFATHER) WAS HIT BY A CAR THE NIGHT BEFORE AND WAS KILLED. HE WAS WALKING FROM "OOSIE" MILLER'S BAR ACROSS THE STREET TO ROTUNDA'S BAR ON WEST MAIN STREET,, AND WAS STRUCK BY A CAR.. IT WAS DARK, AND RAINING... THE YOUNG MAN WHO HIT HIM WAS LOCAL,,, I THINK HE WAS FROM CLEAR SPRING..OUR GRANDFATHER LIVED WITH US. HE DRANK LOTS OF WINE AND SANG A LOT AT NIGHT. WE CALLED HIM "SHA SHA"........ DON'T ASK ME WHERE THAT NAME CAME FROM.........HE HATED MILK FOR SOME REASON,, AND AS A JOKE , PEOPLE ON QUEEN STREET USED TO THROW MILK ON HIM AND HE'D TAKE HIS SHIRT OFF AND BURN IT!!...HE WOULD DO ODD JOBS FOR PEOPLE FOR A GLASS OF WINE!! HE DIED WHILE WE WERE ALL VERY YOUNG... I WISH I HAD KNOWN HIM BETTER... HE WAS THE ONLY GRANDPARENT I KNEW. LARRY PROBABLY HAS SOME MEMORIES OF HIM,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, JOHNThanks for that story, John. That was before I was born and I never heard that story. There was always a fair bit of pedestrian traffic across main street at that corner between the two bars. What was your grandfather's name? Pooge
In a message dated 3/19/2006 6:02:47 P.M. Mountain Standard Time, orestina@paonline.com writes:PoogeWould you please email me again that ANNVILLE ?????.story .? I accidently deleted it and I can't find it in the deletedbox I Also want to share something with you about our last name.About ten years ago my sister and I were having a heated discussion, actually we were arguing, and she mentioned that when I married Ray I changed the pronounceation?? of his last name.Years later I mentioned to your mom and sister and they sort of agreed.Well, I'd like to tell you what happened. When I met Ray he introdused himself with that pronunciation . So that is how I started saying it. Later he told me that in the NAVY that is how everybody pronunced his name, and later onhe told me how they pronunced it aroundn ' here. So I DID NOT change the pronunciation of his last name. That Is How he introduced himself. AS I understand it all the females he dated talked about me about that subject and I never knew it till the argument. love tinaHi Aunt Tina,That's interesting to know that Uncle Ray brought that pronunciation of our name back from the Navy. We then carried it on through school I guess.Pooge
Dr. Pooge writes:Does anybody remember Soonda who lived in the little shack on the far end of South Cherry St. Dolores thinks she was the sister of the couple that lived in that last house on the west side of S. Cherry but we can't remember who they were. Dolores thinks they may have had a daughter named Jessica. The Mom had cancer and she died around 1955 or so.
Also does anybody remember my great uncle Henry who was married to Levia . No kids, I think he died in a motorcycle accident.Dolores also remembers a story about somebody who climbed a telephone pole and got electrocuted. Anything????
In a message dated 4/1/2006 12:17:56 P.M. Mountain Standard Time, NAPA422 writes:The squeezebox player:
his name was really SILVIO and her name was really Pompelia,,,, Their last name was DiCesare..... Pumpy and shumak,,,,,, go figure!!!!!!! lol Dlolores has a good memory too,, and she still looks 18!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! johnThanks, John. I looked back in our dialogue and found where you mentioned that before. I'll pass on your comment to Dolores. She'll appreciate that.PoogeIn a message dated 4/1/2006 12:35:03 P.M. Mountain Standard Time, NAPA422 writes:LARRY AND HIS SECOND COUSIN(?) TONY MATTASSA HAVE LOTS OF PICTURES OF JUMBO PEROTTI..... i REMEMBER SHOEMAKER PAYING THE CONCERTINA.........HE WAS GOOD.. AND THEY USED TO HAVE DANCES IN OUR OLD HOUSE AT 539 W QUEEN STREET, WHERE THEY DID THE TARANTELLA!!!!BATTAIA'S WIFE ORSELINA,, WAS A LITTLE LADY WHO RAN AROUND LIKE A BANTY ROOSTER... SHE WAS FROM TYROL,,,,,,,,,,,,, IN THE SWISS ALPS...................CIAO JOHNGreat, John, thanks. Dolores thought he was called Shumec but maybe it was a shorter Shoemake. Dolores and I were trying to remember what Battaia's wife's name was. I think you mentioned it before but I couldn't find it. Orselina...In a message dated 4/1/2006 12:30:42 P.M. Mountain Standard Time, NAPA422 writes:DR POOGE.. ASSUNTA LAVINE, WAS RUGGIE'S SISTER,,,,,,,,,,,, HIS REAL NAME WAS RUGGERIO , BUT THE ORIGINAL NAME WAS NOT LAVINE... TINA PROBABLY HAS THE REAL NAME.. AT ELLIS ISLAND THEY WROTE NAMES LIKE THEY "LOOKED" OR "SOUNDED" ....I KNOW THE LAVINE NAME BEGAN WITH AN "S"...............ASSUNTA,, WAS RUGGIE'S SISTER, AND LIVES IN A ROOM BEHIND THEIR HOUSE ON SOUTH CHERRY STREET.. SHE USED TO WALK DOWN PAST THE MILL, AND INTO THE WOODS AND GATHER STICKS,, FOR A FIREPLACE, i UESS,, SHE BUNDLED THEM UP, AND TIED THEM WITH A PIECE OF ROPE, AND CARRIED THEM BACK TO THE HOUSE ON S. CHERRY STREET... SHE WAS OLD AND WRINKLED.. I DON'T THINK SHE EVER MARRED,, BUT LIVED WITH THE FAMILY TTILL SHE DIED...... nOTE: WE NEVER PRONOUNED THESE PEOPLE'S NAMES CORRECTLY,,,,,, INASMUCH AS WE SPOKE THE DIALECT FROM ABRUZZO OR MARCHE,,,,,,WE WERE ABRUZZESE, AND THE MARIANI'S AND LUPINETTIS W)REMARCHEGIANI,,,,,,,,,,,, THEY CAME FROM ASCOLI PICENO,, IN THE REGION OF MARCHE............(MAR - KAY) MARCHE IS JUST JORTH AND CONTINTIGUOUS WITH ABRUZZO. ON THE ADRIATIC COAST IN CENTRAL ITAY.I VAGUELY RECALL SOMEONE BEING ELECTROCUTED, BUT DON'T KNOW WHO IT WAS......... BACK TO LAVINE'S......... RUGGIE, HAD THREE DAUGHTERS,, RONDA,, LENA AND JESSE.. AND ERNEST, WHO MARRED MAGGIE CANDORI........ JESSE HAD TWO DAUGHTERS. JESSICA AND YVETTE.....ONE OF THEM JUST DIED,, AND EVO THEIR FATHER RECENTLY DIED ALSO, HIS NAME WAS SCHIAVONE... AND WAS FROM HERSHEY. RONDA HAD MARY AND BELLA.. LENA HAD LOUIE, JOSEPHINE, PASY, HELEN..... JOSEPHINE DIED YOUNG.IM TAXING MY BRAIN NOW,, AND JUST CAME FROM THE BEACH............ MORE LATER AS I REMEMBER IT,,, MAGGIE CANDORI LAVINE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE LOTS OF INSITE INTO THIS FAMILY. THIS IS ABOUT ALL I KNOW,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, CIAO,,,, KEEP IT GOING DR. POOGE!!! JOHN.A wealth of information, John. You are amazing. Thank you for all that. I'll pass this on to my sister who may now actually thinking of getting on the Internet just to join this great group. Ciao, Dr. Pooge
BETSY, THANKS FOR SENDING THAT OBIT ON RENA BLOUCH HOSTETTER..... WHAT A SHOCK......... DID SHE DIE OF LUNG CANCER?? HOPE YOU AND MICKEY ARE DOING WELL,,,,, IM STILL IN FLORIDA ENJOYING THE TEMPERATURES AND SUNSHINE........... TAKE CARE,, CIAO JOHNFrom Betsy Alonzo Santora:
Hi John, I don't know how she died, but You had thoughtRussell died & she was living, & I remembered reading that in the Patriot, that it was vice versa. I really enjoyed reading the polenta stories. We used to beg Mom to put ours on a board (we wanted to be like everybody else), but she wouldn't. And every time she would set the dish down in front of my Dad,he would say "mush!" He said it EVERY single time. I ate with the Balasters many times & of course we all remember making the streets & the tunnels til you get to the middle. Your Pop was the funniest man ever. Whenever he would drive by & my Dad was on the porch, he would throw a rubber chicken at him. So then Daddy would take it back down to him,--- next day, Dominic would throw it again. Whenever he came to the house, he would make us laugh with his homemade noise-maker thing. We were thrilled to death when he made us one of our very own! I had many a feed bag dress. Mom used to go down to a mill in Myerstown, she thought they had "prettier" patterns. A bunch of us used to have Halloween parties up in Mariani's garage. Once we went up to the cemetery, just for scares in the dark, & a gang of older kids heard about it & they were laying on graves & hiding behind tombstones & jumping out at us. I'm sure you & your bros. were part of that. Don't forget sled riding on Silbermans hill & the mill hill, but the worst one was the hill across the crick, on Mt. Pleasant rd. side. The kids used to come up the street & stop at homes to gather as many kids as they could, the more the merrier, then piling about 4 kids on their backs & stopping right at the crick. I was petrified. We're all well here. Take care, Betsy
Hey Betsy,Thanks for those great memories. I remember coming down that hill one time on my Lightning Glider and I almost went into the crick but worse yet I hit the bridge and split my lip pretty bad. When I got home I got nailed again for being dumb and getting hurt.......Glad to see you in here, Betsy. We need those memories and you've got a memory like your Mom did, it's great. ....Pooge
BETSY............ what a memory you have!!.... i remember that rubber chicken.. My pop was a practical joker.....He could laugh at the drop of a hat>> and you know something,,,,, I NEVER saw him angry!!!.... I think he never got over the thrill of becoming an American citizen, and living in this country....Can you imagine where we'd be if our parents hadn't come over here from those peasant villages where they grew up, and eventually left for a better life??He loved making people laugh,, I think i have some of his genes in that regard. We should talk about our parents' arrival in this country.. My pop was seventeen, i think,, and saved his Lire... and packed his bag one day and told his parents he was coming to America!!!....He was the only child!!!.. His mother came running after him down a dirt road, and handed him a coin, and said,, " you might need this,, wherever you go,, it's all i have".... It was equivalent to a dime!!!!!.... That story brought me to tears when my pop told me about leaving the "old country"....Life was difficult working in the fields in Abruzzo.. What GUTS these people had!!!..To make things worse, they didn't know one word of English. I still have my Pop's passport, which i cherish,, and his Citizenship Paper............ Do you have any history of your dad's beginnings in Italy?? These stories would be a great testimonial to the caliber people they were... how they struggled in the stone quarries,, and how they raised their families with dignity,, Powerful stuff..... Let's hear more stories about the Italiani who settled in old West Annville!!............. Thanks Bets,,,,,,,JohnHere's some new old pictures that my Aunt Tina Cialone Balaster sent. Check them out.
Tina Balaster's Pictures
DR POOGE........ I'LL BE HAPPY TO COMPILE A LIST... IF ANY OF THE CURRENT PARTICIPANTS KNOW OF SOMEONE WHO SHOULD BE ON THE EMAIL LIS,, PLEASE SEND THEM TO ME,, AND WE'LL ADD THEIR NAMES.. SO THAT THEY CAN ALSO SHARE THE WONDERFUL PICTURES AND STORIES OF OLD WES ANNVILLE. SO,, IF YOU HAVE RELATIVES OR FRIENDS WHO HAVE EMAIL ADDRESSES,, AND WANT THEM TO SHARE IN THIS WONDERFUL ADVENTURE.. PLEASE SEND THEM TO ME...........SUCH AS HARRY "BUTCH" ALONZO,,,,, HELEN ZENGERLE, FRED FRATTAROLI, FRANK RUSSO,, LOUIE DI ANGELIS,, CARL AND LYDIA LUPINETTI, ETC ETC ETC..................SEND THEM ON.. AND I'LL COMPILE A LIST FOR DR. POOGE... SO THAT WE ALL RECEIVE THE SAME INFORMATION,, STORIES, PICTURES, ETC. THANKS FOR YOUR COOPERATION FOLKS,, LET'S KEEP THIS THING GOING AND GROWING!!.. WHAT A TRIBUTE TO OUR ANCESTORS WHO SETTLED IN OLD WEST ANNVILLE!!!........... CIAO JOHN.......PS....... TINA,, PLEASE SEND ME BETSY'S EMAIL ADDRESS.. I SEEM TO HAVE LOST IT SOMEWHERE!!!!!!!!!!!! THANKS JOHN
Click here to See Tina's Picture Album
INTERESTING, DR. POOGE.....OUR FAMILY NAME WAS DI BERNARDO.. THE "DI" DISAPPEARED SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY.. YOUR DAD'S NAME IS UNIQUE,, I NEVER HEARD THAT ONE BEFORE. I WONDER IF AMMON MARIANI'S NAME WAS REALLY AMMON? PROBABLY NAMED AFTER YOUR POP,, DR POOGE!!.. IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE THE MANY NAMES THAT WERE CHANGED BY EMPLOYEES OF ELLIS ISLAND AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY. SOME ITALIAN NAMES HAVE A "Y" AND "J" IN THEM,, THESE LETTERS ARE NOT PART OF THE ITALIAN ALPHABET!! THIS IS WHY IT'S SO DIFFICULT TO TRACE OUR FAMILY TREES.. IM STILL WORKING ON OURS,, AND LARRY HAS DONE LOTS OF WORK ON THE FRTTAROLI NAME. CIAO JOHN
dr pooge...........Your MOM is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOD BLESS HER.. the polenta party sounds FANTASTIC this summer....I can see it all now!!!..All the survivors of the Old West Annville gang.. WHAT A PARTY!!!!!!!!!!!,, i have an italian ACCORDION which i bought for my mom in Pescara, Italy,,,, back in the seventies,,,,,,,,,,,,, i'll bet CHRLIE MARIANI could play it!!...................I'll bring it!!!.... WHAT A FANTASTIC IDEA... IM GLAD YOUR MOM SAW THE WEB SITE.... YOU KNOW YOUR AUNT TINA LIVES IN THE SAME COMPLEX WHERE I LIVE... I SEE HER ABOUT ONCE A YEAR AT OUR ANNUAL PICNIC AT ROCKLEDGE......... IM SURE EVERYIONE WILL BE EXCITED ABOUT THIS "OLD WEST ANNVILLE REUNION!!!!!!!!!!!! CIAO JOHN
Thanks, John. I remember you mentioned that you
live in the same complex as Aunt Tina. I guess it's really Palmyra, not
Hershey right. Well, I figured you'd like the polenta picture party idea.
Mom was really excited about it too. Here's a picture of her and
Dolores
this past Christmas. Mom is 93.
Ciao, Dr. Pooge
Anna Balaster 93 and Dolores Balaster Long 67
DR POOGE,,MY GRANDFATHER'S NAME WAS GUISEPPE FRATTAROLI... HE WAS IN AMERICA AND WENT BACK TO ITALY.. I THINK HE WORKED IN THE CORNWALL ORE MINES, AND HE SENT FOR MY GRANDMOTHER IN 1906.. SHE CAME TO AMERICA AT THE AGE OF 34,, WITH THREE SMALL CHILDREN,, MY UNCLE CHARLES (CONSTANTINO),,,,,DOMENICO, WHO DIED VERY YOUNG,, AND MY MOM WHO WAS THREE MONTHS OLD.. CHARLES WAS TEN, AND DOMENICO WAS FOUR... MY GRANDMOTHER HAD $120.00 WITH HER,, AND HER MAIDEN NAME WAS DI BATTISTA,, AND THAT WAS THE NAME ON THE MANIFEST IN ELLIS ISLAND..... WHAT A COURAGEOUS LADY!!.. I REGRET THAT I NEVER KNEW HER.. SHE DIED THE YEAR I WAS BORN.......... i am doing further research on my father's family...the Di Bernardo's.............More later,,,,,, ciao John..
DR POOGE................ I'VE BEEN READING, AND READING, AND LOOKING AT SOME NOSTALGIC PICTURES... WHAT A WONDERFUL THING WE'VE STARTED!!!..... WILL YOU WRITE THE BOOK?????? CAN'T WAIT TO GET HOME AND GET SOME PICTURES TO YOU!...........GREAT TRIBUTE TO THE OLD WEST ANNVILLE GANG!!! CIAO JOHN
Friends are Angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble
remembering how to fly.
Jackie
Thanks Jackie. I think you're right about that being Dominic Russo. Let me know if you identify the crew in the other picture. Also I wonder if you might know where that picture was taken. Ciao, Pooge
In a message dated 4/8/2006 10:45:43 A.M. Mountain Daylight Time, CCANDORI writes:
Ernie Lavine had a brother who was electrocuted when he was a young adult. He climbed a pole somewhere in Hershey. His father was Ruggie, Old Sue was Ruggie's half sister. She was never married. We were always afraid of her. Maggie said she shook all the time.Maggie is the one who know the west end I am going to show her the pictures. She will know all of them.
mid_nights_dream03 <pagansgem@aol.com> wrote:
Hi,
Levia told me that Henry was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1937.
She told me that the accident was out at the Lickdale intersection. Our
cousin, Henrietta was named after him, I think she said she was born a
few days after he was killed.
Levia and Henry didn't have any children. In fact, I don't think they
were married very long. Maybe two or three years.
Great. Thanks, Jackie. I didn't know that Henrietta was named after him. How interesting. Pooge
-----------------
Forwarded Message:
Tony,
Here's a letter I received from Larry about his grandfather, Jumbo. He also sent some pictures of Jumbo. Check them out at the bottom of Larry's Album at: Larry Frattaroli's Pictures
Pooge, in one of your emails, you asked for information about "Jumbo" Perrotti. Here is a picture of him about 1950, in the backyard of 402 West Queen Street.
Born 1878 in "Amatrice, providence Di Rieta Italy. Francesco Perotti, (note
one R) in April 1978. Father, Pietro, Mother, Maria Di Matteo.Married, Lucia
Quatrocchi in Amatrice Italy in, September 26, 1901. Came to the US around
1905, according to the 1920 census.%20Perrotti.jpg)
They had 10 children, starting with Louis, who was a cripple, and was left with an Aunt, in Italy, because of the immigration laws at that time. Lucia came to the US, with Hanna. Then, Nancy, August, Mary, Octavio, (Tavis), Peter, Rose, Charles, Casper, were all born in The US. He worked long and hard as a laborer, in the stone quarry, to support his family.
He was a big man, about 6' 4", and stood straight and tall, most of the time. He liked his wine, and most of the pictures I have, shows him, with a glass or pitcher in his hands. In the later years, he worked at many odd jobs, for a gallon of wine, including digging graves at the cemetery, behind, Frankie Moores.
One day, on his daily trek to Rotundas Bar, he was sitting on the porch across the alley ITom Kreamers store to rest, and possibly dose off for a minute, when Bob Kreamer came around the block driving the hearse, stopped, and got "Jumbo" by the arm, and said" c'mon Jumbo its time for you to go!! Jumbo started waving his cane and cursing in Italian, as he continued on to Rotundas. From that day on, He crossed Main Street at Kreiders store, and walked on the other side of the street. Cursing in Italian until he was passed Kreamers.
Bob Kreamer was a good mend of the family, and grew up with Casper, Charlie, and the boys, and at Jumbo's funeral, he was a bit teary eyed also. Most of the old timers of Annville, knew the only ticket out of town, was through Kreamers Funeral home. More than anything, they feared the "Poorhouse", so back then, every family took care of their own.
"A mother and father, can raise and provide for ten children, but the ten children cannot provide for the mother and father, in the later years" Sad thought, isn't it??
I'm sure there are many stories about my Grandfather, but I was 18 at the time he died, and didn't bother too much with "old people". I sure wish we would have talked to them more, about their lives, instead of being concerned so much about ours. Guess who the "old people are today??????
Larry
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW TONY MATTASSA,, HE IS JUMBO PERROTTI'S GREAT GRANDSON HIS GRANDMOTHER WAS MARY PEROTTI MATTASSA.. AND LIVES IN TEMPLE AREA. HE'S VERY INTO HIS HERITAGE AND HIS ANCESTORS FROM OLD WEST ANNVILLE......... JOHN
Hi John, I still make the bread and pizzelles at the holiday time. Last
year, I had the girls over and we made pizzelles for Christmas. Stacey even
bought an iron. We made about 15 dozen, so everyone would have some. They
were gone very quickly, and when they wanted more, I told them to make
some. Needless to say they did nothing. Then in March, I had them over , and
we made Easter bread.Everyone got two loaves, and when they came back for
more, I told them to make it. But again they did not. The other day, Michele
asked where the bread was, and I told her I lost the reciepe!!
Actually I did not have any oil left, so I went on line and ordered two
ounces. So I will make it this week. Mom used to make loaves with the egg,
and also about a 12 inch braid, with 4 0r 5 eggs. That was more like
biscotti though. Mom used to make it in a galvanized wash tub, about 25
loaves at a time. The house would smell of anise for a week. She let it rise
by the coal stove, covered with a damp towel.. I sure miss those days. I've
been experementing for a couple of years unt I got the formula very close to
Moms. Now Angie and I make it every Easter. Angie usually make a couple of
batches, because every one wants some. Well till next time, Happy Easter
to you Cuz, take care of yourself, Love Larry and Lorraine
noooooooooooo DR. POOGE,, I NEVER KNEW YOUR MIDDLE NAME!!!! AND NO,, I NEVER HEARD ANYONE CALL YOUR NONNO "ROME"..........INTERESING,,,,,,,, I WONDER WHO CAME UP WITH SOME OF THE NICKNAMES PEOPLE HAD GROWING UP...REMEMBER DORIS STOBER? SHE WAS PHYLLIS PEROTTI'S COUSIN,, HER DAD WAS HOWARD STOBER.............. SHE WAS CALLED "CHUBBY" ALL HER LIFE..... SHE ALSO PASSED AWAY VERY YOUNG.. MY BROTHER VAL WAS CALLED "DOOTS".. OR "TEENIE"....... MY SISTER BONNIE WAS CALLED " BIONDI"...... CHARLIE MARIANI WAS CALLED "WILLY".... TRIESTE TRENTA WAS "TREA".... GLORIA TRENTA WAS "CURLY"....I FORGET THE WINDLE GUY WHO WAS CALLED "BUCKY"...AND OF COURSE DOMINIC QUINTILLY WAS "SKEEZIX" ...MAFALDA MANFREDI CORRADO IS "MUFFY" .. DOES EVERYONE REMEMBER ANGELO VITTI, AND HIS STEP BROTHER LOUIE ERCOLI?? AND JENNIE VITTI,, ANGELO'S SISTER WHO WAS MARRIED TO THE OLDEST LIVERING GUY...AND THE CLODOVEO'S.. RAYMOND AND HELEN,,, WE USED TO PICK TOMATOES AND DE TASSLE CORN FOR RAYMOND CLODOVEO!!!... HE DIDN'T NEED ILLEGAL ALIENS TO HELP HIM HARVEST HIS CROPS,, WE DID IT.. FOR PENNIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JOHN
Yep, that's right. I barely remember Marietta. I remember she always sat in a rocking chair in front of the fireplace at Rosie's house.Friends are Angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.
Jackie
What great memories.... Rose was wonderful...so full of life!.. I miss her. John
John and Dr. Pooge:FYIThis info is from Larry Frattaroli.Notice the date he gave for the Phyllis (Perrotti) Testa photo. This is the photo of her and James Mariani in the middle of Cherry Street.Additional info to this "Phyllis" photo: The Frank & Lucy Perrotti residence is on the left of this photo while their daughter and her husband's (Hanna Perrotti Manfredi and John Manfredi) residence and store is on the right of this photo (front porch showing).I really wish that Phyllis would have the internet so that she could see this great site! Even though she and her husband Midge have a mushroom business in Kennett Square, they still do not have internet connection!!!Tony Mattassa
-----------------
Forwarded Message:
Hi Tony, that great pitcher of Phyllis was taken about 1936. Phyllis and I were born in 1934. That pitcher was taken right there next to the Perrotti house, on Cherry St. As for identifying the Perrotti pitcher, the order was Hanna,Nancy, Mary, Tavis,Peter, Rose, Charles, Casper. I think Casper might be missing. Born later. Take care, Larry
>
> From: Mgt67@aol.com
> Date: 2006/04/08 Sat PM 08:32:41 EDT
> To: larylori2@bellsouth.net
> Subject: Re: (no subject)
>
> Hi Larry!
> Yes, John did make me aware of this VERY INTERESTING site!!!
> Did you catch the photo of Phyllis as a little girl???
> Last night, John emailed me the "Perrotti Family Photo" taken at Clear
> Springs for me to identify.
> I have to dig out my photo to get the names that I can't figure out.
> See ya later!
> Tony
>
hey LARRY!!! I SURE DO REMEMBER THE GUY WITH THE PONY ON WEST QUEEN STREET.......... WE HAD A PICTURE OF TEENIE ON THAT PONY..........I DON'T KNOW WHY EDDIE AND I DIDN'T HAVE OUR PICTURES TAKEN ON THAT PONY,,, AND THERE'S NO ONE LEFT TO ASK!!! EASTER BREAd........wow,, DIDN'T KNOW YOU STILL MADE THE SWEET EASTER BREAD............... I HAVE A COUPLE SMALL BOTTLES OF ANISE OIL,, I BOUGHT AT A FLEA MARKET HERE.. I ALSO HAVE MY PIZZELLE MACHINE HERE IN FLORIDA, BUT HAVEN'T MADE ANY PIZELLES YET!!!...............THE COOKBOOK IDEA SOUNDS LIKE A POSSIBILITY....OUR MOM'S DIDN'T COOK "GOURMET" ,, BUT THE FOODS THEY COOKED ARE NOW "GOURMET" IN UPSCALE ITALIAN RESTAURANTS~!!! THANKS MICHELLE FOR THE IDEA!!........WE HAVE TO HAVE A MEETING THIS SUMMER AND TALK ABOUT THIS.DID YOUR MOM MAKE EACH OF YOU KIDS YOUR OWN LITTLE BREAD, WITH A HARD BOILED COLORED EGG IN IT?? THERE WERE SO MANY VARIETIES OF EASTER PANE DI PASQUA" . I THINK THE MARCHEGIANA PEOPLE PUT CHEESE IN THEIRS,, SOME PUT RAISINS,,,,,,,,,,SOME ANISE.......I LOVED ALL OF THEM, ESPECIALLY THE ONE WITH CHEESE!! NOW IM HUNGRY, LARRY.. IM GONNA HAVE TO GO OUT AND BUY SOME PANETONE!!! TAKE CARE, CUZ,,,,,JOHN
Hi Dr. PoogeI'm not sure who the baby is in the picture with my great aunt Mabel, perhaps it is one of her children (Helen or Hannah). I'll see if I can print out and ask Helen if she knows.As for the group picture, I will need to find the sheet with all the names listed on it. I believe the man to the right of the woman (our left) holding the baby, is Dominic Russo. The man in the dark suit to the left of the man holding the toddler, is supposedly my great-grandfather (Clayton Brewer) or my great-great- grandfather(Thomas Brewer).Friends are Angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.
Jackie
DR POOGE,,IT WAS LOCATED JUST DOWN THE STREET FROM YOUR HOUOSE,, ON THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF CHERRY AND QUEEN...I DON'T KNOW THE YEAR,, BUT THE MANFREDI'S LIVED THERE AND HAD A STORE.. MUFFY WILL HAVE A WEALTH OF INFORMATION IF WE CAN GET HER INTO THIS GROUP....MANFREDI'S THEN MOVED TO KENNETT SQUARE AND GOT INTO THE MUSHROOM BUSINESS.............JOHN
John,Speaking of the Kennett Square (Chester County) family, here is the website address of the Manfredi business.John and Hanna (Perrotti) Manfredi's grandsons (John and Frank) own this business.You can email them through this site also.Tony
THANKS DR POOGE..... I THINK THIS WILL KEEP GROWING, AS WE THINK OF MORE PEOPLE WHO LIVED OR HAD RELATIVES IN OLD WEST ANNVILLE,, LIKE TONY MATTASSA AND MAFALDA CORRADO OR HER CHILDREN........WE USED TO GO VISIT MAFALDA'S FAMILY, JOHN AND HANNAH MANFREDI IN KENNET SQUARE........ THEY LOADED US DOWN WITH MUSHROOMS,,,,,,,,,I THINK HANNAH MANFREDI WAS MY SISTER STELLA'S GODMOTHER. MAFALDA STILL BRINGS LOTS OF WONDERFUL MUSHROOMS WHEN SHE COMES TO ANNVILLE,, I TOOK HER ON A TOUR THE LAST TIME SHE WAS UP,, WE DROVE UP AND DOWN QUEEN STREET, AND CHERRY STREET,, AND THE ALLEYS,,,,, SHE REMEMBERED WHO LIVED IN ALL THE HOUSES ON QUEEN STREET,, SHE'S GOT A FANTASTIC MEMORY. AND IS STILL GOING STRONG.. SHE WANTS TO GO BACK TO ITALY!!........... CIAO JOHN
DR POOGE,, MUFF" IS MAFALDA MANFREDI,, HER MOTHER WAS HANNAH PEROTTI MANFREDI,,,,,,,,,,, JUMBO WAS MAFALDA'S GRNDFATHER,, SHE IS IN HER 80S AND A GREAT LADY.. HER MARRIED NAME IS CORRADO, AND LIVES IN KENNETT SQUARE......SHE'S A GREAT FRIEND OF OURS FOR MANY YEARS AND STILL COMES TO THE ANNVILLE HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI BANQUETS........................JOHN
John, neither one of Evo's two daughters died. It was Evo's son-in-law who just passed away in February. He was married to Yvette, Evo's youngest daughter.Friends are Angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.
Jackie
HI ,, I JUST GOT BACK FROM FLORIDA..... IT WAS GETTING VERY HOT DOWN THERE,, AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE SPRING IN PENNVYLVANIA!!!!!!!!!....I JUST LEARNED FROM THE AHS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION THAT PETER BUGDA PASSED AWAY... .HE WAS OUR ART TEACHER AT AHS, AND WAS MARRIED TO MARRY DIENNO.. THEY LIVED IN GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA.. I'LL GET THOSE PICTURES TO YOU POOGE....IN THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS............ CIAO JOHN
Good morning DR POOGE,Frankie Russo came over last Saturday to fix my leaky faucet, while he was here I showed him the pictures and he said that guy in both of the pictures wasn't his dad. However, my mom thinks that it is. So, I'm not real sure.Frankie also asked that I email the site to his daughter, as he and Rosie do not have a computer.The old pictures are great, I just love this site. Although I've only heard of some of these people, and didn't really know them. I like to read the stories.I scrapbook a lot, I would love to scrapbook these old pictures. I made a mini scrapbook of my family heritage and I started one with my family tree. Next time you're in town, if you have time I'll show them to you.Friends are Angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.
Jackie
Dr Pooge.............I doubt that anyone has a picture of Battaia... Im sure his daughter Mary is dead,,, and her husband Barney.. Can't remember his last name,,, I remember Battaia's last name was Vannicola... I'll check with Carl and Lydia Lupinetti,, maybe they have some old pictures of him..I don't even recall anyone being related to them!!..... I"ll let you know what i find out from Carl and Joe Lupinetti,,,,,,,,,,, ciao John
I remember Battaia well. I used to sit and "talk" with him on his porch when I was a kid. He would see me on my bicycle down on Queen St. and he would yell for me with his big voice "HEY ARMANDO, GET DA HELL UPPA HERE". I would ride up and sit and "talk" with him on his porch. He didn't speak much English but we communicated ok. Also my Dad used to tell some stories about him from the Quarry.
WOW,, I WAS GOING TO SAY SHE WAS 80!! SOME BEAUTIFUL CARS!!! MY POP ONCE HAD AN OLD ESSEX.... AND A BIG PACKARD THAT HAD "JUMP SEATS" SO WE COULD ALL FIT IN THE CAR!!!. JOHN
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Dominic Candori always had a nice Packard.
NAPA422@AOL.COM wrote:
wow........that's OLD... Annville is over 250 years old!!.........I think our old house was originally owned by a family named HERR...You know, there's no such thing as PA DUTCH.........I doubt that ANYONE in Lebanon County really came from HOLLAND. They are Germans. Perhaps during WW II they were ashamed to admit they were Germans with Hitler terrorizing the world, etc. Of course, Hitler's bosom buddy was Benito Mussolini!! The two muskateers!! They both got what they deserved!My neighbor is working on his wife's geneology... Her father's name was D'Occhio.. and came from Italy..... When he got here,, his name was changed to DODGE!!.. They lived in Waltonville,, which was an annexed part of Hummelstown, Pa. D'Occhio literally means "of the eye" in Italian........... His nickname was Eagle Eye!! Unfortunately, there's no one living in that area who is old enough to remember the family. This is true of many Italain families...the Old Timers are gone,, so we lost that resource for information. Ive traced back to my GREAT Grandfather in Italy,, his name was Vincenzo Frattaroli. Im still worknig on this... Is anyone else into their geneologies?? There are two great sources, for information,, Ellis Island, and the Mormons. and there's a program you can load into your computer called Family Tree Maker.............Check it out/......John
Pooge
wrote:
Yes, you know I didn't realize that until many years later that the people of
the Pennsylvania Dutch were not Dutch at all but Germans. I think the name
Dutch came from the the German word for German which is Deutsch from the
country Deutschland. What you say about Hitler I think
also played a significant part in the confusion too, as you say, they didn't
want to be associated with Hitlers Germany after the war. A funny thing is
that I was so naive that when I was asked to design a cartoon character mascot
for the school newspaper. I drew ( actually I think my sister Dolores drew
it) a little Dutch Boy with his thumb in the dike....how dumb was I, but as
Italian immigrant's son, it was an honest mistake. Most strangely, however,
is that no one ever told me. Not even the teachers told me of my mistake.
Not the Social Studies, Civics, or the History teachers....
Dr. Pooge
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