High above Coopersdale - with the Conemaugh River.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Pennzoil Truck - 1958
Old Pennzoil Truck - 1958 - this was taken behind Johnstown Poster Co. in the parking lot along the river.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Rocket Car
Summer repeat - I know this car was built here in Johnstown - but have no idea who made it or why. I have a feeling it might be an early prototype racing car. There were lots of dirt tracks scattered across the area in the early days.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Pvt. Gerald Horner - Killed in Action - WWI
On this day - 98 years ago - a Bosnian Serb, Gavrilo Princip assassinated Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sofia in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914, setting off a chain of events that would culminate in a world war by August. Some sources list the total number of military and civilian casualties in The Great War at over 35 million - either wounded or killed. Pvt. Gerald Horner of Johnstown is but one of the many soldiers that died - In the War to End All Wars.
The war and it's effects are never very far from my thoughts. I think about it all the time. Some of you will understand completely what I am getting at and others of you will think I'm nuts - but that's ok. The war to me - is both in the present and the past tense. It's almost like there is an invisible line - that every once in a while - you can cross and not realize you are over there - that is until you think about what year it really is - and zap - you get sucked back into the present and the moment is gone and you can't get it back and you can't remember how you got there in the first place.
This post honors a Johnstown boy Gerald Horner who died in France at 23 years old - while serving his country and is buried at Grandview Cemetery. CLICK HERE to see where he is buried. It isn't too often that I doctor pictures up. I think a picture should stand on its own merit. But I think this one just works better in black and white to help you get a better feel of the era.
The following article is courtesy of Cambria County Rootsweb - http://www.camgenpa.com/news/1922UNK.html:
Mrs. Elda Sann, of 924 Lemon street, Dale Borough, sister of the deceased soldier, ordered the statue, which was made in Italy, the sculptor using a photograph as a model for his work. The likeness of the statue to Private Horner has been commented upon by many of the people who knew him.
The statue is made of Corio marble, and is spotless white. It is located in the recently added part of the cemetery and it is visible from a great distance. It is the work of a skilled sculptor, and a wonderful piece of art.
Gerald Horner was the son of Nathaniel and Mary Horner, both deceased. He was born December 27, 1895 and he was 23 years old when he was killed. He was drafted into the army February 26, 1918, was sent to Camp Lee, and later transferred to Camp Hancock and Camp Upton before he sailed overseas on May 5, 1918, with Company I, 111th Infantry, which was known as the "Keystone Division." He was in seven battles before he was struck by a six-inch shell at Fismes. Several others were killed by the same shell, and a number wounded. Private Horner was rushed to the hospital, but he died about 20 minutes after he was struck. He was the first Dale boy reported killed in action."
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Smoke Stack City
This is for all you younger readers - when people talk about how smokey it used to be - this is why.
Hungarian Club
The Hungarian Club is no longer accepting new members.....nor old members for that matter.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Franklin Street - Looking Towards Hospitals
Franklin Street looking down towards the hospitals. The photographer is standing directly in front of my cousin (Sunseri's) house. There never was ever a good place to park there. Unknown year - but 1950's for sure - think I'll stop down at the old Gulf Station and fill up - since it's only 26 cents a gallon.
Old Monte Carlo Mural
Repost - Still working on finding a good home for these five sections of the old Monte Carlo Restaurant Mural.
You can drop me a line at cacicia@hotmail.com.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Peris & Tross - Billboards - 1920's
This two billboards are located along the side of the Conrad Building right by the Franklin Street Bridge. Peris Laundry Soap - made right here in Johnstown and Tross Clothing Company.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Unknown Victory Garden - 1918
The back of this photo was not marked as to the location of this Victory Garden. The lone house in the background looks familiar to me.
Strayer and Fairfield - Morrellville Trolley
This trolley is heading up Strayer at the intersection of Fairfield Avenue. The photographer is standing where A Plus is now.
The trolley is heading down Fairfield just past K Street and my house. If I look out the window - I can just see it leaving.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Friday, June 22, 2012
Civil War Veterans Doing the Rebel Yell
Rare footage from the Library of Congress of some Civil War Veterans doing the Rebel yell. I can not stop watching this - it's touching and funny at the same time because you can still see - fifty years after the fact - that these guys are still comrades in arms and are enjoying every minute of it.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Yoder Falls - June 21, 1914
This is pretty cool! It isn't too often that you can date an old picture exactly to the day. You can thank my grandfathers two sisters - who are in this picture taken June 21, 1914 - at Yoder Falls. I believe these are members of a church group from St. Paul's on Virginia Avenue.
Railroad Street Billboards
Railroad Street - Nice look at all the billboards and hillside signs. Butter Twist Bread, Hallman's Chevrolet, Iron City Beer along with Duquesne and Fort Pitt Beer.
A Slice of Downtown Life
Walked to town for the ballgame at the Point - so I stopped to take some pictures of Central Park. Not the best of weather for shooting. It had just finished up raining - one of the those dull....gray...misty kind of days.
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The old Assistance Fire Company No. 1 bell - March 1867
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Stopped at A Piece of Cake on Franklin Street for some of the best cupcakes EVER! And I don't say that about too many things.
Got a mix of flavors - it's hard to pick exactly which one is my favorite - because I like them all and could gladly eat them all.
They are the official cupcake of Point Stadium - baseball and cupcakes - always a winner.
My nephew is the batboy for the Berkey Hills Renegades.
Here he is talking with his pal Ben.
