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Saturday, February 28, 2015

Inside Job



This is the inside of one of the old Johnstown trolley cars.

February 29, 1944: American Dive-Bombers Pound Air Fields at Rome


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The Johnstown Tribune - Febuary 29, 1944
1944 was a leap year.
To read larger - CLICK HERE.

February 28, 1944: Sharp Increase in Fighting South of Rome Is Reported


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The Johnstown Tribune - February 28, 1944
To read larger - CLICK HERE.
Local Names:
Janet Parks
Mrs. Henrietta Samuels
Mrs. Olga Eckstine

M. Kisslak - General Grocer

Reader Mike Mertle sent in this rare gem. You are looking at a picture of Michael Kesslak on the right and two unknown people taken at 211 Chestnut Street in Cambria City around 1895. They are all standing in front of his shop. Mike asks that if anyone might recognize the other two men to let us know. He thinks they are either Kesslek's or Gilbert's. Michael Kesslak was married to a Gilbert from Browntown. 
Note the spelling in the window, by the 1920's - it was spelt with an "e". There is also a Family window in St. Mary/Immaculate Conception. 
I have to say that it's rare that a picture moves me as much as this one. The courage it took for the man in the middle to go on after such a devastating injury....let alone the pain he must have had for the rest of his life....what a truly amazing man!

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Emerson '39

Rothert's - Main Street - Just Below Walnut

Shopping Time

Downtown Johnstown - Main Street

February 25, 1944: Senate, Like House, Votes To Override Tax Bill Veto


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The Johnstown Tribune - February 25, 1944
To read larger - CLICK HERE.

Franklin Street

Franklin Street with the bridge just out of camera range on the right hand side.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Above Woodvale

Looking down towards Woodvale and Swank Refractory.

Franklin Mill

Franklin Mill

February 24, 1944: Huge U.S. Bomber Fleets Tangle With Luftwaffe


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The Johnstown Tribune - February 24, 1944
To read larger - CLICK HERE.

High Above

VJ Repeat for the new readers coming aboard - Downtown Johnstown with Gautier on the right hand side.


Monday, February 23, 2015

Trolley Time

Woodvale

February 23, 1944: Barkely Resigns Senate Leadership in Tax Break


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The Johnstown Tribune - February 23, 1944
To read larger - CLICK HERE.

February 23, 1945

The most famous picture to come out of World War II or any war for that matter - taken by photographer Joe Rosenthal on Iwo Jima on this date 70 years ago today - February 23, 1945.

The front four are - left to right: Ira Hayes, Franklin Sousley, John Bradley, Harlon Block.
The back two are Sgt. Michael Strank (behind Sousley) and Rene Gagnon (behind Bradley).
Strank, Block and Sousley would die shortly after this picture was taken. Bradley, Hayes and Gagnon  went on to become national heroes with weeks.


Sunday, February 22, 2015

Our Flag Still Waves

What a great crowd at the War Memorial for the premiere of the new Sgt. Michael Strank documentary - honoring one of Franklin's finest on the 70th Anniversary of the Flag Raising on Iwo Jima. The folks at Wix Pix along the Veterans Memorial Monument, Inc., Conemaugh Valley Veterans, Franklin VFW and Marine Corps League Detactment #287 came up with a plan to erect the Strank Monument in Franklin and also pooled their resources to make the documentary possible.
Sorry for the quality of the video - I was having some camera issues....but I think this will give you some idea of just how many Johnstown folks showed up in the middle of a snow storm. Here is a clip from the new documentary. Speaking is Sgt. Strank's sister - Mary.
For more on the project just go to Strank.org.

Trolley Time

Washington Street

Somerset Street

Somerset Street - the beauty that once was....

Shifting the Scales

National Radiator - Johnstown, Pa.

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Strank Project

I plan on being there today.

Trolley Time

Horner Street

February 21, 1944: Hirohito Fires Army, Navy Chiefs


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The Johnstown Tribune - February 21, 1944
To read larger - CLICK HERE.
Obits:
James Downey
Frederick Haer
Richard Martin
Walter Johns
Mrs. Catherine Stolz
Mrs. Helen Kelley
Mrs. Mary Riehl
George Davis
Robert Anderson
Miss Helen Mae Crum
Joseph Myers
Mrs. Clara Pavlik
Mrs. George Amigh
Mrs. Margaret Flynn
John Broberg
Charles Wright
George Haney
Mrs. Mary Donalik

Johnson Steel Company

Johnson Steel - Moxham - known worldwide for their street railway systems.