Visitors Nostalgia & Memories

(Archive #115 January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015)

Date: 12/30/2015, 8:44 pm, EST
Name: D Williams
Web:
Location: Newark
Old Neighborhood(s): Chestnut st
Schools Att'd: St anthony
Employers:
Message: Jerry, the zoobieville I am looking for is aka midgetville. Very small houses and mailboxes. Several stories as to how this place came to be. It is now overgrown and uninhabited.

I think everybody had a 6 button benny back in the 50s.

I remember a blizzard with thunder and lightening one Christmas day in the early 60s and my mother was sad because we couldn't drive to Western Maryland to visit her family.

The Pastor at St. Thomas then was Monsigneur Conway. The assistant Pastors were Father McDonald and Father Bockoffen. The Principal at St. Thomas grade school was Sister Saint Dorothy. Some of the other teachers were Sister Irma, Sister Donalda, Sister Lambert and Miss Agnes.

Is your wife related to Dr. Swartz the veterinarian that used to be on 202?

Of the other greenhouses you mentioned, of course, Talley's greenhouses are long gone, Martines are vacant (it was still in business last Christmas season) and the land was recently sold, but nothing's happening there yet; and Czackerowskis is still operating.

I don't/didn't know Fred Bartsch, or any of the other names you mentioned.

Merry Christmas to all on this forum, and to your friends and families, too!

Do you remember the greenhouses behind the Esso Station? I forget who the caretaker was there, but a couple high school friends of mine and I would go there a couple nights a week, to sit with him and drink a beer or two (which he'd provide - some rot-gut, like Rolling Rock or Ortlieb, or maybe Ballantine) while we listened to Joe Pyne on the radio: WILM-AM; "It's Your Nickel". I don't know why, but that was the thing to do, for some reason. I have no idea what year that was, maybe mid 50's?

I worked for old Fred from 1955 till 1960 when I started working at Hy-Point Garage.
I went from horses to horsepower.
What was your wife's maiden name?

Thanks for the question on Fred's farm.
It would be where Foulk and Wilson intersect.
There was an Esso Gas Station on one corner and an Atlantic Gas Station which was run by and old guy named Jake. Jake's Gas station was a hang out.
I believe it is a private auto repair shop now and Simpsons Hobby shop was right behind it

Re: Mousley's Row - a boy lived there by the name of Richard and he had a young sister. Was his last name McGonigle or Monigle? There was a death notice of Richard Monigle, Jr age 73. The face shape and age makes me think it could have been him.

All along the Brandywine river, from the Swinging Bridge to the Washington St. Bridge, and it's surroundings, including Happy Valley was like Paradise to me.

Another time we were climbing the rocks on the N side near the Washington St bridge and were on a ledge not as deep as our feet and I felt myself falling backwards. I leaned forward and here I am today.

Here's a little note on how things have changed in the last years. When we went to school basketball players wore shorts. Now they wear Peggy Hill culottes. Football players wore knee pads - now they wear bicycling shorts. Small eggs were labeled 'small', now they're labeled 'medium' - if you can find them.

Back in 1966, when I was 18, I went with my Mom and older brother, to a Pontiac car dealership somewhere in Pa., to trade in our 1957 Chevy. There was a 1966 deep blue GTO which I was desperately trying to convince my mother to buy. My brother's opinions won out telling my mother that I'd kill myself driving it. So, she settled for a deep blue Pontiac Le Mans, automatic. I was heartbroken, but got used to the Le Mans. Was still able to pick up some girls in it.

Bones lives out in Arizona and has for a ling time. Craig stays in touch with Bobby.
Craig Miller is still working in his shop on 4th and Hawley streets.
Craig is our oldest twin daughters GodFather.
A lot of burnt rubber left on Mt. Lebanon Road back in the day.
If you were friends with Craig you had to know Larry Records too.
Larry and his wife are our best friends and we try to vacation together as much as possible.
Larry picked up a low mileage 2010 Mustang California Special from a car collector near Harrisburg about a year and a half ago.
Really nice car under 30K miles with a Borla exhaust and updated suspension and it goes like hell.
It's black on black and the body is straight as a pin.
Runs in the low 12's.
Have a nice fall.

Enjoy Florida. My mother, born in Blackbird. DE and lived in Wilmington for the next 45 years moved down to Hollywood in '55 and passed away in 2002 at 91. Enjoyed many visits down there. Navy flight school in Pensacola and later at NAS Jacksonville with Fighter Squadron VF-173.

I fondly remember growing up in Wilmington. We lived in a row house at 2223 Tatnall St. It was a mixed neighborhood of Irish, Italian, German, Polish, etc. We kids played outside all day until the street lights went on at dark and then inside. No TV yet, but the Lone Ranger and the Green Hornet were on radio.

My Dad worked at Bancroft Mills and walked to work through the Brandywine to save the 8 cents carfare. I walked home from St. Patrick's for lunch. My Mother hung the sheets and clothes on the clothesline in the back yard. The corner store was Neugebauer's Grocery and Fraim's, Clover Dairy and Carroll's delivered milk. Frank was our "coal man" from Diamond Ice and Coal.

It truly was a magical time to grow up in what I think was the greatest city in the whole world!

Growing up, I regularly walked in-town to the Grand on Saturdays, from Penny Hill, to watch the double feature, for 9 cents, I think; no worries about any type of trouble; and after the movie, we'd walk over to swim at Prices Run Pool; and later, when I went to Brown, from 1957-1961, I usually walked rather than rode the trolley - and saved my 10 cents fare each way, and spent it at M&M Bakery, at 22nd & Market, on tomato pie (5 cents a slice). Again, no fears as I walked Market St. all the way to school and back - never had a problem. I don't remember any crime, as you don't.

Growing up, I used to hang around with a couple of the Knowles boys - the only name that comes to mind at the moment is Ricky Knowles. He was probably 4-5 years younger than I. They were from Gwinhurst, and we'd sometimes go in-town to their store, for one reason or another.

Also found out that besides Graziano and others, Jack Dempsey, Sugar Ray Robinson, and Dave Tiberi fought in Delaware, along with Al Tribuani.

In later years, 1960's and 1970's, Delaware also sported Joe Barbizzi from Delaware and Ronnie Branch from Phila., I think.

Ed Mulderick : yes, I was in the R.O.T.C. Rangers at the U. of D., 1967-1968, As soon as I saw your last name in the same paragraph with R.O.T.C. Rangers, I knew there was an association. I proudly wore my Black Beret, along with my ' earned ' R.O.T.C. Ranger ' patch on campus and to classes, even though I'd get some strange looks from some anti-war protesters and from members of the radical, S.D.S. ( Students for a Democratic Society). If you were in the Rangers with me, please contact me through e-mail to share some recollections : jerrytomczyk@yahoo.com

Fred :

I also remember Bob Touhey very well. He was in most of my classes at Archmere. He excelled in the Sciences, especially Chemistry and Physics. Some years back, and I can't remember how many, there was an article in the Journal about one of the oil companies/refineries in Delaware City. Bob had some comments as a Vice President, in some capacity, for one of them.

Were you in the ROTC Rangers at Delaware ?

Also, I think Bob Touhey went from St. Thomas to Archmere. He lived on Bancroft Parkway tween second and third.

Jethro : my brother, John Tomczyk , was in the 1956 graduating class at Sallies, the last from the old school. Ever bump into him ? Also had cousins go to Sallies, Bartkowski's, Mitchell's.

As far as muscle cars go I would have to say a 68 Big Block SS Camaro.
I bought one new from Colonial Chevrolet on Market street upon returning from Vietnam.
The car is still in Delaware and is owned by Rich Burns who bought it from me in 1981.
The engine in it was a Bill Jenkins pre pared 396 bored .060" over making it a 402 Cubic Inch Big Block.
It put out an honest 485 HP and ran in the low 12's on pump gas.
It now has a 540 Cubic Inch Crate motor in it and runs in the 10 second brackets.

Very fast car.

I like all 9, but lean towards the 1964's, with a darker, blue, metallic/sparkle exterior.

Gar : Didn't you once say that you lived near Dela. Park racetrack. Also, stretching the rUles a bit - did you have a win with Pharaoh in the T/C ?

Never heard of the free tuition. Don't think they had it at St. Hedwig's .

St. Thomas class of 1962 sent two boys to Archmere, Steve Brady and Neil DeBonneventura. You might remember Neil driving a GTO to school. At that time a St. Thomas graduate could go tuition free to Sallies, Padua, St. Lizzies, St Hedwigs, St. Peter New Castle or Corpus Christi High Schools and maybe even Holy Cross in Dover. All you had to do was keep your grades up and work Friday night bingo every month or so. I think the students from St. Ann's parish also got free tuition to several of the Catholic High Schools.

Last edited by admin at 8/23/2015, 10:09 am, EDT

I remember Banjo's Sub Shop and Riccio's Produce. My favorite at the time was Patsy's Sub Shop, but can't remember now if it was on Lancaster or 4th St. This site says Van Buren. Anyway it was the closest to 302 S. Jackson, where I lived. After that it was Frankie's, run by Helen Gallo, on Union, between 4th and 5th, until she closed shortly before her passing, a couple years ago. In an interview with the News Journal, Helen mentioned that ' Skinny Joey Merlino ', boss of the Philly Mob, stopped in with one of his henchman , told Helen that he heard that she makes good cheesesteaks, and bought a couple.

Usually Harry Scari himself would drive one of his trucks to the Morning News/Evening Journal building in town and get several fifty bundles of the race track edition of the Evening Journal. He would go back to the terminal and we would climb aboard and sit on the bundles for the trip to Delaware Park. We sold the papers for 10 cents each when the regular paper cost 7 cents. The race track edition had the latest results from various east coast race tracks which the sporting public had an interest in. In other words they had laid bets with a bookie on out of town races and wanted to know how healthy their finances were.

Delaware Park was open only during the summer. Trains brought people from Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philly, New York and points in between. For big races the parking lots would fill up and the grandstands and clubhouse would be packed.

Harry Scari would stay at the Park with us until the last race was over then take us back to the terminal. We earned 4 cents per paper and $4.00 was a good days sales plus tips. I came home more than once with less than a dollar for an afternoons efforts.

Hard to believe that is over a half century ago.

Saw something on this site a while ago about Banjo's Sub Shop on the odd number side 4th street between Harrison and Franklin. I think that is the twelve hundred block of 4th street. I think in the early 60's a regular sub was 50 cents and you could have it made on a hard roll or a soft roll.

The northwest corner of 4th and Harrison was Cunningham's grocery store. The northeast corner of 4th and Harrison was Biloon's Appliance Store. Riccio's Produce was at the northwest corner of 4th and Franklin.

Ray Jubb : share with us, another story when you were on the W.P.D.

The arena on the north side of third street between Clayton and Dupont was also before my time. I do remember my father talking about seeing the Tribuani brothers there. One was a promoter and the other a boxer. I also think, not sure but think, that Bob Carpenter was a financial backer for several local boxers in the 50's and 60's.

Brandywine Springs State Park operated from the 1880's until 1923. I remember stories from my mother who was born in 1913, about taking a trolley from Wilmington to Brandywine Springs Park when she was a youngster.

In the late 40s we could go to the Friday night games at the Ball Park and see our neighborhood buddies; Bill Farrend, Frank and Neal Kelly, Jack Mosley, Tommy Leonard, et al play. In those days they rented their uniform jerseys and had a different color each week. Also picked up a sub ar Bob Piani's on Market Street on the way to the stadium. Expensive evening as I remember, $ .35 for the sub.

Hey Gar : keep on truckin' !

We used the strike-anywhere match heads for home made rocket ships. Made a 5-6 inch rocket tube out of aluminum foil, filled with the match heads, twisted to a point at the top, then slightly opened at the bottom. Used a small piece of wood to lean it against, a small piece of wood for sort of a runway leading to the bottom of a rocket. Then a strip of model airplane glue on the runway to the bottom of the rocket. It shot up a little higher than a 2 story house.

Now you know.

Bruce d : thanks, I forgot about Elkton's notoriety for having fireworks. I liked the fact that the cherry bombs, M60's and M80's had those wicks which would burn under water. Used to PO fishermen when we would throw them near where they were fishing.

They made and sold the cherry bombs, M-80's, quarter-sticks, and other explosives, along with the showy display fireworks, for shows, etc.

I imagine that you still, to this day, can't drop a lit match on any of the ground around there, without causing an explosion and fire.

You can read his obituary at the link below:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/delawareonl...

Anyone remember 'Jo-Jo's 15 cent hamburgs', on Dupont Highway across from the airport? I worked there for awhile in 1960 and 1961.

Bill Fisher : I had an Uncle, Hank Szatkowski, who flew at Atlantic Aviation in the 1950's. He told me that he flew some experimental aircraft. Also said that he took a flight to Cuba once, and also took a Miss Delaware somewhere for something.

In the Hook in that era, there was a bar on 10th St. named "The Golden Ring", which was supposed to be a lesbian bar. I know of that name also, but know nothing further. It was a few storefronts from a bar with a pool room in the back (whose name I forget, now), where we used to play pool and drink beer often.

Not to be confused with "The Golden Slipper", which was out 452, past Hurley's, which was a rocking bar

Flash - I checked back to the Jan. 10. 2006 archive and found that you and I were discussing this subject back then. Further research led me to a website that had a copy of the 1959 Wilm. H&H menu, and the statement that the Wilm. H&H was NOT an automat. If this link works:

http://collectibles.bidstart.com/Horn-and-Ha...

Scroll down to see the menu and statement.

Bill, I remember the name Andy's Musical Bar, but I can't remember anything else about it; can you help me with the cobwebs in my brain, please?

Connie and Jerry T: do you remember Horn & Hardarts Restaurant in the Merchandise Mart? My family ate there occasionally: I got a kick out of putting the coins in the slot to get the food (and it didn't lead me to gambling, in any manner, either).

Connie : don't remember the Horn and Hardart's Children's Hour on the radio, but did eat at a Horn and Hardart's in Phila., after a trip to the Art Museum with an Uncle in the mid 1950's. Was fascinated by the place as a kid. Had a sandwich and jello.

Anyone remember the Horn and Hardart Children's Hour on Sunday morning radio? I remember one little boy would say he was so con-fue-ezzed.

I remember the one on Union St. had a chute over the drive that trucks would pull under, and the operator would fill the truck (bulk). That's also where my father would go when we were low on coal and he had to buy some bagged coal to hold us over until a truck could make a delivery to our house.

Brick side walks were all over the place when I was a kid. Loved them but they weren't too easy to shovel snow off.

I remember Frank the iceman who would give us kids a small chunk of ice to suck on. My grandparents had a coal furnace in the basement - and of course two coal bins just inside the front of the house. I got to use a coal shuttle and put in a small amount of coal when we went to visit. I remember the loud roar of coal being delivered to the house across the street from our apartment.

How many remember having bricked sidewalks ? Concrete took over, but now the bricks are coming back.

I remember when they paved the entire street with black stuff. They paved right over the manhole covers. Telephone repairmen went there to work on cable and looked at each other like - 'what the?' They had to get someone to come dig up the manhole cover.

"Food Trades" class prepared the meals for us students, so there was a wide variety of items, and the prices were ridiculously low - because it was training for them. I was going to use the term that we were 'guinea pigs', but that wouldn't be correct; all of the preparation was closely monitored, and I never had a meal in the years I was there.

Before I went to Brown I went to Wilm. High for one semester. Does anybody remember a lunch room across 10th St. from there run by C. W. ???? He used to sell cigarettes for a penny apiece. That would have been in the fall of 1941.

Mr. Casseday was still teaching and going strong when I graduated from Brown in June, 1961.

Swifty, this is the correct name for the Bruce you knew. I used to be just Bruce until I got away for awhile, and when I came back someone else was using that name, so I added a d. No prob. I know how you feel about the direction this place goes sometimes, but times, and people change, and all's good again.

I can't remember the name of the other bar on MacDade, and it does no good to retrace my steps, as I don't recognize anything in that area anymore.

I have a vague recollection of the other bar near the T-Bar but my brain cells cannot recall the name.

D.T. Van Sice was there in the period you went to Brown - 55 to 58. You remember Robt. Hall Clothes; so if you walked north (toward the Market St. Bridge), along the front wall of Robt. Hall and follow that wall around the corner (that would be a short block - of 15th St). Brown was at 14th & Market. Around the corner on 15th St., was D.T. Van Sice Motorcycles. (really only a couple of storefronts, then a small parking lot, then King St.). I was going to post a picture, then remembered I can't do that here. Hope this confusion I've printed helps you place where the MC shop was.

Interesting reading about your family and area history of the Valley. You lived near the State Line Restaurant, then? Great home style cooking there.

I remember the sports bar next to Mar Stan's, I've stopped there a few times. I also remember the custard stand; it was next to a miniature golf course and driving range, run by Mr. Bomboy and Mr. Boucher, teachers at MtP., which was across from the best little hot dog stand in the area (besides Jimmy John's) Those two also owned the driving range at 202 and Woodlawn Rd., across from where Concord Mall is now.

When I was small my parents would stay up until 10 pm to hear 15 minutes of news on the radio. After we got TV, they had 15 minutes of news around dinner time. Now the TV has 1 -2 hour (opinionated) news programs - and they say the same thing over and over.

I remember Bill, haven't heard from hardly anybody from Brown since moving to St. Louis.
For a small town and State, Wilmington Delaware was a greet place to grow up.
My wife's family dates back to 1661 in the Chadds Ford area. She still has a lot of cousins right across the state line.
My wife and I lived on the state line on 202 back in the woods on a rented Woodlawn property, when we were first married.
We had a lot of wild parties back in the woods and didn't bother any nieghbors
George Hatfieds fish store was at the entrance to our driveway.
My Father-In Law oversaw all of Woodlawn's properties in Beaver Valley back then.
He built the house we lived in for one of Hitler's doctors who came to the U.S. after the war.
His name was Dr. Berringer and ha started a home for alcoholics called" Brandywine on The Green".
He got busted when family members found out he was still giving his patients booze and then turned the place into a Road House.
Woodlawn bought the property in the early 60's when old Doc Berringer died of throat cancer.
So there's a little Beaver Valley history for the people of the Brandywine Hundred area.

My buddy, Bill/William Kaper, graduated from Brown in 1966, in Electronics, I think. Ever bump into him ?

Tom : 15 cent drafts and $1.25 spaghetti buffets sounded good for those days.

As for a bar just over the PA line on 202, southbound lanes: There were a couple I can almost remember. One was Mr T's, sobnd. lane, Hy Lit broadcast from there a lot. I never went there though, so know nothing more - but it was popular. Another was almost straight across 202 from Mar-Stan's furniture; at the moment I can't remember any more - I never went there, either.

Bob Mosbrook, I don't remember go-go dancers at the Anvil. I remember it as being, besides late hours (Delaware stopped serving at midnight, PA cranked things up then), a young (early 20's) crowd, with live music and cheaply priced drinks, as being the draw for going there. And yes, the Anvil was on rte. 1, close to the entrance to Longwood Gardens, and just on the outskirts of Kennett Square.

I spent many a night, in the early 60's, at the Horse & Buggy. If I recall the Micholob drafts were 25 cents. That was about all I could afford back in those days.

Maybe one or both of you guys, or someone else, remembers a favorite tavern/pub of mine on Concord Pike (Rt. 202), just across the line, in Pa., but in the southbound lane. Can't remember it's name, but it had a small, short archway above the front door. Reminded me a lot, inside, of the tavern in Billy Joel's video, the 'Piano Man '. Same type of camaraderie.

Enough on that: I started going to Stanley's in the early 60's, and I totally forgot when Bill Brooks bought it and Billy ran it, shame on me. I might have gone to Stanley's more than I did except that we'd have to go past the Buggy to get to Stanley's - coming out Marsh Rd. So Stanley's was our second stop, if we made a second stop in DE before heading to PA for the bars that were open later. I'm very lucky, and surprised, that I survived the ride home from the PA bars, especially the Anvil - coming down Rte. 82, and through the Valley after a night of drinking, like at 2 or 3 in the morning.

I had a similar experience with my 21st birthday, but it was at the Highway Inn, on Gov. Printz. I'd been going there for a couple of years; and when I celebrated my 21st birthday there, and told the barmaid, Ruthie, what I was celebrating, she liked to killed me.

Speer Rd.: On the corner was Mike Dicostanza's little market and sandwich shop next door to Troop 1, (yes, brother and cousin to the other Dicostanza's), he sold a great little $1.00 sub for lunch. I knew John McDaniels on that street, and Ricky Sylvanus and his father. I think that's all I knew on Speer Rd. My early years were on Beverly Place, across the pike from Brown's Drug Store, just down the pike a few blocks from Speer Road.

P.S. - I noticed that you lived in the Penny Hill area. Did you know anyone who lived on Speer Rd., which was the last little street on the left, going north, before the intersection of Wash. St. Extension and Phila. Pike ?

The Anvil Inn on rte. 1, near Kennett Square, last time by there I saw that the building is still there; but (I didn't stop) it looks like a minor bar to me; not the jumpin' place with great music that it was back in the early 60's. That's where I first saw and heard the "Kit Kats" play.

The location where the Horse and Buggy was is still there, though it's now one of those places that buys and sells old gold, silver, and jewelry. I'll leave the details of the ownership chain and change, to others who know better than I, but when it originally sold, in the mid 60's (?) the new owners metered EVERYTHING, drafts, shots, even sodas (and probably napkins, too). That turned the crowd I hung with off, and we stopped going there. It went through a series of owners over the years, retaining the name for awhile, then changing to just "The Buggy". New crowds, different crowds, and new times, but in the long run, always sliding further and further down the tubes. I think the location's last name was "Murph's Bar". That bar moved to another location maybe 8-10 years ago, and the place was empty until this gold/silver place opened. I sure miss the original Horse and Buggy, and The Anvil, a couple of my favorite places.

Trivia question : how many flavors of ice cream did Howard Johnson's ( Ho- Jo's ) boast that they served ?

My other two favorites were the Ivystone Restaurant and Howard Johnson's on Kirkwood Highway and Limestone Rds.

Craig Miller is our oldest twin Daughters God Father.
Yes he is still wrenching on cars and trucks at his business on Hawley Street off of 4th street near Henry Bros. Body Shop.
We will be going back to Wilmington in a few weeks for a wedding and I will see Craig then.
If you knew Craig you must have known Joe Timney also.
Joe has a shop in Townsend called Delaware Chassis Works where he builds top fuel car chassis's and Bonneville cars and motorcycles.
Joe and his second wife are both members of the 200 mph club at Bonneville.
We are Old Hot Rodder's now.
Old Hot Rodders are like old Hot Rods, We might be slower than the new guys, but we got there first.

Pat (Stillwell) LeVan : In the early to mid 1950's, I remember neighborhood girls using the old rubber heels for hopscotch.

Defiance A.A. was first organized in 1863
it was reorganized in 1919
and it was Incorporated in 1922.

One of my oldest brothers' buddies, nicknamed 'Spider' died a couple years ago. Forget his last name. He lived on Porter St., the middle of the 3 blocks of Porter, between Elm and Linden. Did you know him? When I was a small kid, I remember him as being tall, having jet black hair, seemed to wear dark clothing a lot, and black boots.

One other thing I noticed in the 1940 Census was that there were a lot of people in the Hedgeville area, who when they moved, only moved within a couple blocks in the same neighborhood.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/delawareonl...

I remember once, driving through, in the mid to late 60's, in the area, somewhere near the Deerhead , either on Shipley or Orange, and the ' ladies of the evening ', were standing on the corners, soliciting.

Also have fond memories of the cherry tress along the Brandywine and Josephine Gardens.

Gar : all well. Happy Easter !

Connie: I also remember old Reddy Kilowatt. There was also a DP&L building on Lancaster Ave. and Madison St. Can't remember if one could pay their bills there as well ?

I remember, as a small child, my mother would take me on the trolley to pay the electric bill at the D P & L office down town on Market Street. I remember seeing Reddy Kilowatt on the roof of the building. Then we'd hit some of the 5 & 10 stores and, of course, Wilmington Dry Goods.
I also recall when we went to the carnival where the Ball Park was later built on the Printz. I had a cotton candy when it began to pour as we walked up 30th (?) to the trolley stop. A 5 came up the street and, even though we needed to take a 4 on the other side, we took the 5 and ended up on the top of Penny Hill before coming down to where we lived.

Betty T., I graduated Brown in 1961 - they had changed the name from vocational to technical while I was attending; but I didn't know that the school moved to another site, under the same name. I thought what was Brown became Hodgson Vo Tech, down around Glasgow somewhere; after the school at 14th & Market closed.

Dick S., No, you were a little before me, it seems. I had two brothers who went to Brown before I did, one in '53-'56, and one who would have started the year you finished '45. His name was Kyle Stockton; he studied electrical. Mr. Cassidy was still there when I was there, '58-'61.

Continental Can Company (was/is???)located at 1209 North Orange Street between West 12th and West 13 Streets,Wilmington,Delaware...

Dick S....Sorry,missed you by a few years. I graduated Brown in 1970(First graduating class at the new vo-tech)They moved us over there our Senior year.My major was in Commercial Art,though to hear my older sister tell it,I was a "Drama Queen"...LOL

Remember Rappa Scrapple and Habbersett Scrapple? Sliced,and pan fried,topped with ketchup,served with eggs and toast.It made a great breakfast.
They have "Country Scrapple" here in VA., I seldom see Rappa,and never see Habbersett.

And speaking of breakfast foods,Smucker's use to make Tomato Preserves(tomato jam).I have not seen it in the markets since I was a kid. Great schmeared on toast to go with ketchup topped scrapple and eggs...LOL

Anyone remember the name of the pet shop on Market Street,across from The Majestic Grocery Store(Late 1950's or early 1960's) A little blonde older woman ran it.She had puppies in there,so all the neighborhood kids would visit daily!She was kind enough to let us pet the puppies,but would finally tell us "Now go run and play"...

I believe it closed due to crime,as I heard it was broken into one evening while she was closing up or had just closed,and she was attacked....So very sad. Never heard what became of her.Hope she lived.

Tenth Street park,the sandbox pavillion,and the reservoir above it,where my older(then teenage)sister would meet on the sneak,her boyfriend,who we nic-named "Skinny Leg Stanley".....LOL....I caught them smooching up there.LOL

Walk-in wooden pay telephone booths with rotary dial phones at Becker's.

The Brandywine Diner had a cigarette vending machine.

Jerry T., I think Mullin's was at 6th and Market, but I'm not positive without checking my folders. My family was friends with the Mullin family of the 40's & 50's (the store goes back way longer than that), and their sons were the same age as my brother and I. The store was a men & boys clothing store; I don't know if they carried any women's clothes. Also, most of their clothing was fine clothing: too expensive for my family; but we, also, did our scouting material buying there. I knew a Ron Aiellio (worked at DMV and was a politician), and Siv Aiellio, who was a supervisor at DuPont Edgemoor.

Does anyone remember a Frankie Aiello who went to St. Elizabeth's ? He went to Archmere for the first 2 years, then went to St. Lizzie's.

Roman's sub shop. The owners worked it.He was a big Italian fellow named Johnny,and she was a sweet little lady,I think was Sylvia or Kathleen.Nice people,GREAT subs.

The rabbit hutches at Brandywine Zoo (the park side,near the fountain)

Whatever became of the Riley boys? I remember James and Norwood,but there were 5 or 6 in all.Wild ones they were.LOL

But, I used to go to the movies at the Grand (with kids from my neighborhood) on Saturdays, so I don't know how I fit that in, as I went with my mother to the market. I guess I didn't go to the movies every Saturday. I, too, think the farmers were only there on Saturday.

I'm not into Facebook, so maybe one of these days, I'll give Dino a call, if he don't mind, to reminisce for a couple minutes. The last time we bumped into each other was about 15-16 years ago.

Charlie

Before Bob Piani's sub shop his parents, Sam and Mima, operated an Italian restaurant there. I also recall someone else running the sub shop after Bob had his sub shop. Later, when Bob started his catering business, he used the restaurant area for something else.

While on the area of W. 4th St., anyone remember Jimmie's Ice Cream, in the first block of Washington St., above 4th? Great homemade ice cream, sold out of their house.

While on Google Maps, Street View, I noticed that there's a ' Dragon Cuisine ', probably a Chinese Restaurant, where the old Planter's Peanuts was, on 4th and Market.

Does anyone remember a Bill Binkley from the Becker's Corner area ? He 'd be about 70 now.

I will try to digitize the pictures from the negatives. One of the pictures is of me and Mary Ann Woodstock at about six years old.

Sometimes I used to take a bus back home, and when arriving near Rodney Square, the bus driver used to stop and take his approx., 10 minute lunch break. My mouth used to water, and my stomach started to growl, as I sat in the front seat, to the right side of him, watching him munch down on his ham and cheese sandwich with lettuce and tomato, on rye bread. Couldn't wait to get back home. Does anyone else remember a bus driver stopping for breakfast, lunch or supper breaks ?

My grandparents lived at 2219 Tatnall St. I have been in your father's store countless times. We probably also met many times. I remember when he installed the 29 cent toy rack in the rear. I also played at the 24th park on the razzle dazzle. I have a number of photos of Tatnall Street from the 1950's. Back then, both sides were lined with maple trees. Did you ever play stickball in the garages across from Ashton Street ?

We may have corresponded before. I didn't actually live on Tatnall Street. My grandparents, the Thompsons, lived at 2219 Tatnall. I lived in Wilmington Manor. Both my parents worked at DuPont when I was young so I would stay with my grandparents during the day. This went on for many years. This why I have a dual indenity, part Wilmington, part New Castle. In 1950, I was only two years old. The only other Mulderic(k)s in Wilmington besides my father and other grand mother was my uncle Jack.
His family lived on union street but he died before I was born. Looks like your cousin was related to my aunt.

I belonged to the Jackson St. Boys Club. Started in 1955, at age7, when an annual membership was 50 cents for a Prep. There was a Prep, a Cadet, a Junior, an Intermediate, and a Senior, depending on your age. Lots of good times there.

Sometimes when we were the area, going to the library, or maybe to WDEL studios (in the IOOF Bldg.), to watch the live on-air broadcasts, which we got a kick out of; sometimes we'd go to the café for a bite to eat - that was about the only nearby place to grab a quick bite, and we took advantage of it.

We swam nude at the "Y", but at Tockwogh, when I went there in the mid-late 40's, we wore swin suits at that time.

Does anyone remember Stan's Café, in between the Family Court building and the YWCA ? You had to go down some steps to enter. My cousin, Stan(Stasz) Bartkowski owned and operated it for some years, until at least 1988. Was open for breakfast and lunch.

And I made a mistake when I mentioned the front entrance being on 10th street, it's actually on 11th Street, sorry.

I used to catch a number 5 bus to go into town for the movies in the 1950's. It came back, down Lancaster Ave. and turned on Maryland Ave. Think it went as far out as Silview, but may have gone out to Marshallton. There was a 5-1, a 5-2, and I think a 5-3.

I also remember the YMCA. Took swimming lessons there. Good cheeseburgers in the cafeteria. Nice little bumper pool table somewhere in the front as you walked in.

And, I too remember the Scotch tape with Christmas designs; a good idea.

George : I once worked with a Bob Cherico, about your age(maybe 2 years older) who also went to Sallies. His Dad, had a pool hall at 5th and ?, maybe Scott., called Cherry's (sp.- ?). Not sure if he was related to the Cherico's Dry Cleaners.

Did you know a Mr. Mundorff who had Mundorff's soda bottling in Wilmington, and do you know where his bottling Co. was located ?