7/8/2002

How about the "Ice-Cup Man", selling ice-cups at Buzz Zebley Field behind St. Elizabeth's School. He would sell them for a nickle, and if you were lucky, you would get a free one if it said "FREE" on the bottom. He was there in the late 60's, early 70's.
George M McGovern, gmcgove2@csc.com

7/18/2002

Lore School County Fair 4th and Ferris St. in the Flats
Blackey's Barber Shop 7th Union St. next door to Pala's
Gallo's Barber Shop 8th Union St.
Skinners Market 4th & Bancroft Pkwy.(Flats)
Blums Market on Union St. next door to Fusco's Luncheonette
Going Bomba's Shoemaker Shop on Union St next to Walton's Cafe for "Cleats"

Great Web Site.Brings back the best memories one could have growing up in the Flats in the 50's & 60's
Sandals Candy Store 7th & Woodlawn Ave.
Papa Joe's (Pulgini's)Market 6th Rodman St.(Goat City)
Moonie Mongilo's Pool Room 6th & Rodman St.(Goat City)
Shirley's Candy Store Rodman St. " "
Farmers Market on Lincoln St. on Saturdays(Live Brown Chickens)
Mikes Sub Shop later Teddys on Union St. next to Mrs.Robinos
Snowball Store on Union St. down from Frankies Sub shop.
Buying Pizza(tomato pies) in the alley on 6th St.next to the Peidmont Club
Italian American Store between 7th & 8th on Union St.(Episcopo's)
Acme Store oppsite Corletto's Funeral Home on Union St.
Michini's Cleaners on Union next to Martha's Drug Store

Ralph Walsh Jr., ralphdc21@aol.com

7/10/2002

A wonderful page! Thank you so much for the memories, to which I'd like to add a few places.

I can't believe no one has mentioned Reynolds candy store yet! Not only did they have the best candy (my grandmother would send us chocolate pumpkins for Halloween and chocolate turkeys for Thanksgiving, and especially their coconut cream easter eggs, with our names written on them, they also had a soda fountain where you could have lunch and a real ice cream soda! Yum!

Also, Braunstein's women's clothing store downtown on Market, and the Steer-Inn (where you could get hamburgers for 10 cents!), out on Baynard Boulevard near P.S. duPont High School. And the bakery in the Hearns market just off Concord Ave. made -the best- fresh raised-sugar and glazed donuts.

Thank you again for the memories. I've been looking for a site like this for a long time. Thanks!

Ruth Gardner, zavijah@earthlonk.net

Wilmington born (only partially raised there, but my grandparents lived there) :)

 7/11/2002

I remember shopping for a fishing creel pocketbook at "Town and Country" on Delaware Ave. (-those wicker bags were so popular they couldn't keep them in stock), eating at the Copper Kettle nearby or the New York restaurant down the street from Dry Goods.  We also would go to the"other" Charcoal Pit on Maryland Avenue. We would walk to the Straite show's carnival at Prices corner before it became a shopping center.  I remember street dances on warm summer nights in Elsmere - once Bob, of "Justine and Bob" on American Bandstand showed up and he was mobbed for autographs.

 

I can still hum the tune played by the Mr. Softee ice cream truck.  The best pizza I ever ate came from the "Leaning Tower of Pizza"- Remedio's on the corner of 4th and Scott I believe.  I also remember great ice cream from Delmar dairy across from here and wonderful desserts from Three Little Bakers on Lancaster Ave.  My grandparents lived on Springer Street in the flats and I was always curious about what it looked like behind the tall, dark stone wall around Little Sisters of the Poor, which was right up the street from them.  I remember great horror films on Saturdays at the Park theatre as well as delicious spagetti at Marconi's on the corner of 4th and Lincoln. Having the big toy store, Kiddie World, build only a few blocks from home in Elsmere was a kid's dream come true.  Bonni's store in Elsmere carried a little bit of everything and for big grocery orders there was Hearns,up near the firehouse.  It was a daily ritual to stop at Sach's drugstore on the walk home from Oak Grove middle school for a fountain coke.  My best friend and I applied for jobs at Gino's at Price's Corner,right after it was built, only to be told they would "never hire females"! 

I could go on and on.....thank you for taking me back to a wonderful time in my life.

Also:

I read this email from you to my Aunt. She really enjoyed it.  She said she remembers the kids calling Lore "Dugan's Dirty Dungeon".  Her 3rd grade teacher was Mrs. Pew, whom they all called Mrs. P-U behind her back. I only went to Lore for 1/2 a year, but neither of us remembers the tower room.  Next month my aunt is coming up for a visit and we're gonna tour the old neighborhood,ending up with dinner at Mrs. Robinos.  Again, thanks for bringing back so many memories.

Sandee Miller, s_miller@mail,facilities.udel.edu

7/11/2002

Remember De La Warr High School and district. Your mailing address was New Castle and your telephone exchange was Wilmington. De La Warr was in Limbo land.
Remember the delivery men, for eggs, potato chips, bread.

C Brigante dob 1956, cbrigante@atonehill.edu
Mansfield, MA

7/14/2002

HERE ARE SOME OF THE PLACES I REMEMBER:
KIGER'S PHARMACY - CORNER OF 4TH & UNION STREET
KIGER'S PHARMACY - 1700 OR 1800 BLOCK OF W. 4TH ST
THE COB SHOP (SANDWICH SHOP) BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH STREET ON UNION ST.
SKINNER'S GROCERY STORE (CORNER OF 4TH & BANCROFT PKWY.
THE PARK MOVIE THREATRE (3RD AND UNION STS.)
BLUM'S GROCERY STORE - 6TH & UNION STS.
GOLDIE'S DELICATESSEN - 9TH & UNION STREET
LINCOLN CAMERA - CORNER OF 6TH & LINCOLN STS.
TOUMARKEN'S GROCERY - 7TH & SPRINGER ST.
BIRD SPEAKMAN WOMEN'S SHOP - 10TH & TATNALL
KATZ'S CHILDREN'S STPRE ) CORNER OF 4TH & SCOTT
FANNY'S FAMILY STORE (ON 4TH STREET BETWEEN LINCOLN AND UNION
THE LINCOLN SHOP - (DRESS SHOP) CORNER OF 4TH & LINCOLN STREETS
THE RITZ MOVIE THEATRE - DELAWARE AVENUE (NEAR THE OLD WILMINGTON HIGH SCHOOL)
SMITH & STREVIG PHARMACY - DELAWARE AVENUE (NEAR THE OLD WILMINGTON HIGH SCHOOL)
LATIN-AMERICAN DRUG STORE - CORNER OF 6TH & UNION STREETS
THAT'S ALL FOR NOW.

I AM THOROUGHLY ENJOYING YOUR SITE. I JUST FOUND IT TODAY!!!!!!!! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
ecc2313s@aol.com

7/15/2002

Some items I didn't see on your site.

Swimming in the Brandywine - Under New bridge ( first bridge upstream of Second Dam) we had a rope attached to the underside of the bridge to swing out over the Brandywine and do flips into the water, also jumping from the bridge ( many first time jumpers needed some extra insentive, like removing their trunks which required a jump when a car drove across the bridge, needing to wear trunks if you swam down to Second Dam and back.

Ice skating on the Brandywine above the dam in what was Hagley.

Carrying a salt shaker in your pocket during WW II during tomatoe season when Victory Gardens were the rage.

Meeting Judy Johnson, Hall of Fame Inductee from Negro Leagues working at Jas. T. Mullins clothing store after his playing days and him giving me a ball autographed by his Son-in-law Billy Bruton, long time right fielder for Milwaukee Brewers.

Really enjoyed you site.

John P. Hazzard, jhazzard@kc.rr.com

 7/27/2002

Naturally, I have some additional memories that I can't believe I forgot about in my earlier email.

My mother's family lived in Delaware and we lived in Michigan (until I was 11), and one thing I always looked forward to when visiting my grandparents was a visit to Rick's Riding Academy up on Concord Pike.
Rick had horses and ponies, and many kids got their first pony ride there, I suspect. Rick's was just over the PA. line, I think. Not far from Rick's was Valley View minature golf, where I played mini golf with my uncle many times!

My grandparents lived on Concord Ave., just a block from old number 30 school--the old Shortledge. I was frequently in Schuyler's Pharmacy (which some may remember as Fels, I think), and the old Save-More market, around the corner. I would also go to vacation Bible school at my grandmother's church, McCabe, over on the Boulevard (Baynard Boulevard). And I too remember getting subs at Lanks!

One of my granddad's favorite things to do was to go watch the boats and trains--we would ride up Governor Printz Boulevard, stopping at Lehmans for some of the best custard ice cream first, then go up just past Bellefonte to a good spot to watch both boats on the Delaware river and trains on the PRR lines.

Thanks again for the wonderful memories. My grandmother always listened to Mr. Goodwill, btw, although I don't think she ever won any money. I even remember his theme music. :)

Ruth Gardner
zavijah@earthlink.net

mailto:zavijah@earthlink.net

8/05/2002

How about Angelo the Huckster. He used to sell produce from a green big truck in Little Italy and Elsmere. He would drive slowly down the street yelling "ANGELO".

 

Kelly jamesvrs@comcast.net

8/13/2002

Bennet's candy store behind Stanton Junior High, a Mary Sue and a pretzel and sharing an RC Cola.
Michael's Restaurant in Stanton and "The Pool Hall" across the street.

*~* Duffy*~*, Duffy0818@aol.com

 8/20/2002

I was raised by my grand parents at 203 East 24th st.  A block away from "Prices Run Park".  It had the biggest public swimming pool in Wilmington.   Do you remember "Diamond Ice & Coal Co." at Vandever ave & Jessup sts.?  Where we would go get slivers of ice from the delivery guys on a hot summer day.  Across the street was the "Bond Bread Co."  We would get day old pies & cookies from the drivers free.  Then we would go swimming at the "Quarry" on 17th st behind the "H.Fletcher Brown" boys club.  Do you remember the bakery along side "George Gray School"?  I believe it was called "Chinofski's".

 

Do you remember "Bud's Barber Shop" at Vandever ave. & I believe Thatcher sts.?  Fraimes Dairy used to deliver milk, cottage cheese ( in different colored aluminum glasses) butter, and a variety of other dairy products.  I remember the glass milk bottles with cardboard tops would freeze up in winter and push the cream up to the top.  I remember helping my Grand Mother crush tin cans with our feet to be picked up by the trash trucks to be made into ammo. for the war.  We used to hunt & camp at the "Bull Dogs" which I believe was part of the dairy farm owned by the Sellers family.  Shellpot creek ran through it all the way to the Gov. Prinz Blvd.  This was between 35th st. & Bellefont.  We used to walk all the way to the "Penny Hill Doughnut Store" for fresh doughnuts.

 

There was ice skating at "Matsun Run" pond & "Twin Lakes" up on the Lancaster Pike.  There was the "B&G" restaurant, the "Dan Dee" & "Jans Steak House".  Jans had the best steak sandwiches in De.  I remember going to "Achenbachs" after school for Cherry & Vanilla sodas.  Playing basket-ball at the yard. C.O.K at 28th & madison sts.  The Printz roller rink, Leighmans ice cream "Horn & Hardarts" restaurant at the "Merchandise Mart.  First state bowling alley,
"Wilmington Blue Rocks" base-ball team, which "Richie Ashburn","Robin Roberts", "Curt Simmons" had played for as rookies. The "Blue Rocks" was the "Phillies" farm team.  Do you remember when the Phila. Pike was cobble stone (Belguim Block)? Got really slippery on wet days.  Do you remember when you could leave your windows open all night, & leave your doors unlocked?  The neighborhood women would get a bucket of hot soapy water & their broom & clean off the side walks & their porches.

These memories are just a few of mine growing up back in the "40's & 50's".  I am really glad that this web site is available to us.  It takes me back to my childhood memories.  And it's good to hear about others memories, too.   I don't know if names are
allowed, but if they are, my name is Herky.

 

Everett L Deakyne III, edeakyne3@earthlink.net

8/22/2002
Being born and raised across from Christ Our King School, rolling out of bed to go to school, then having the Bishop tell me on a hot day go put a dress on.  The yard gang were pretty cool.  Sledding down monkey hill and hercules county Club.  Going to Achenbacks for root bear floats, vanilla and cherry cokes, buy 2 pieces of cany for a penny,things have changed.  Swimming at Prices run pool for 10cents.  Sallies dances for 50cents, not to forget St. Elizabeth's dance and Fr. Burns>>hey your too close.  Listening to WAMS, Ps. HS Thanksgiving day foortball game & freezing but was fun.  Your site is so neat love it, please keep it going.
Ellen
epri307@aol.com

9/14/2002

Jippy's sub shop where Bill's Flower Shop is now by Canby Park       Hurricane Hazel coming up the Chesapeak Bay and a direct hit on Wilmington  Regina's store at the top of Canby Park developement   (where you could actually charge until payday).  And the Florence Crittendon Home for Unwed Mothers on corner of Clayton (I believe).

 

Lawrence Denney

ldenny@mchsi.com

9/15/2002

And:

What a fantastic website!  So many shared memories jogged the cobwebs which have covered my own childhood recollections!

One of these was being one of many little kids going to Kiddietowne in pajamas in the evening.  We would ride around for practically nothing until nearly dark.  Then we'd pile into the family station wagon and drive next door to the Ellis Drive in.   There we would play a while longer on the tiny playground up near the screen until the show was about to start.  Then, all cozy in the "back back" of the station wagon, the kids would enjoy snacks while the little tinny speaker hooked onto the window would provide the sound for the "big flick".  But it was always neat, because we could hear other cars' speakers as well for an eerie, "multi-stereo" effect.  Of course, in the humidity of summer, everyone had to stoke up the citronella coil to keep the mosquitos away.  Before the feature started, they always played 10 or 15 minutes of stuff about the concession stand to try to get folks hungry:  dancing hot dogs, twirling candy bars doing the tango with each other, and exploding popcorn.  If it was a double feature, the kids would never know it because they conked out long before the first film was over.  I still remember the dramatic theme to "Harlowe" we saw there...didn't understand a bit of the movie, but I remember the theme music.  If only life could be this simple again, even just for a little while...

Thanks again for a wonderful website!!

Kay
faith007@aol.com

9/18/2002

Truly enjoyed your web site.

I noticed a couple of people entered information in your Guestbook regarding the Diamond State Brewery.  There are also references made to it under the 'Industries' and 'Whatever happened to...' sections.

I published an article on the brewery for the American Breweriana Journal in 1997, which subsequently made its way to the internet at:
http://www.americanbreweriana.org/history/diamond.htm

Feel free to link to that article.

Best wishes,

John Medkeff
Glasgow, DE

9/19/2002

I remember "Rosebud" the Delaware Ave. busdriver. He was great, funny,and at times stern.
I remember going to Rockford Park and sledding sown the hill to Rockford Road where I lived; at times you could even go further down the Rd.
I remember the library branch on Rockford Rd. Bancroft Mills, where my family worked. The kindergarten at Bancroft Mills with Ms. Miller the teacher.
I remember the street dances that were held on Rockford Rd. with the grocer Al singing (on stage) Al Jolsons' "Mammie".
My rendition of "Danny Boy" on the ame stage at age 8.
So many memories.

Thanks for the memories.......

jimmarye@gte.net

9/30/2002

How about skating at the Marsh where I-95 is in Browntown
The gas price wars in Elsmere
The decorated store fronts on Market Street for either Halloween or Chrfistmas
Remember when the local National Guard Units would be in Parades.

Len Strycharz

lens160@hotmail.com

 

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9/30/2002

Your site provides a stimulating "nostalgia" trip for all Wilmingtonians who loved growing up in this precious city. I still feel regret remembering Wanamaker's in the 1960s, and the Merchandise Mart...

Does anyone recall the mean little monkey in the monkeyhouse who always tooks the other one's banana?

Please visit my own website A VIEW OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE THROUGH ANTIQUE POSTCARDS for a look at the city's social, business, cultural, and architectural history. http://pages.ivillage.com/oldwilmington/

Sincerely,
OldWilmington@nc.rr.com

9/30/2002

Thanks for the updates. Don't forget the Prices Corner Drive-In just NW of the rail tracks on Centerville Road just across the street from Able Motors used cars, which was later named Able Campers after the addition of RV's and boats.

That's it for now.

-MA
markableman@comcast.net

SPECIAL REQUEST             SPECIAL REQUEST            SPECIAL REQUEST

10/01/2002

In the late-60's, the Thompson Business School gave a number of women their first entre into business. Subsequently, the founder died and the school closed its doors. The records and transcripts are no longer available from the Department of Education. If anyone reading still has a transcript from the School with credit hours for courses taken, you could be most helpful to a woman who would like to earn her bachelors degree. Please call:

Molly Haas, Counselor
College of LifeLong Learning
Immaculata University
PO Box 656
Immaculata, PA 19345-0656

E-mail: shaas@immaculata.edu

610-647-4400, ext. 3247
FAX: 610-647-0215

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10/17/2002

Charlie's Original Sub Shop 413 Madison Street.
Owners: Rosario (Charlie) & Mary Limmina
This was the first sub shop in Delaware. It was opened in Wilmington in the mid 1930's.

Charlie's Son, Yatz Limmina, currently is co-owner with his son Tom Limmina, of Yatz's Sub Shop located at 7th and Union Streets.

Yatz has a picture of his dad's store showing his father behind the counter and the prices for subs in 1941. The small sub on a soft 12inch roll was 10 cents and a large sub on an 18 inch hard roll was 20 cents.

rlimmina@comcast.net

10/19/2002

Hoys 5 & 10 store at 3rd & union sts.   I do remember the 60s curfew, I remember jumping rope outside our house and the police telling us to get on the porch.  
As kids we walked EVERYWHERE.  We had no parents cars driving us, cuz 1/2 the parents had NO cars.  Metal rollerskates w/keys hung around your neck  that ya NEVER let out of your sight.
Tomato pie from Zaps was awesome.  We lived on 4th and Lincoln so we had it available whenever we wanted it.
Frank Russos Pharmacy was on the corner of 4th and Lincoln and he had penny candy.   Then it was Lincoln Luncheonette and something else and then Vincentes and now its a parking lot....
Poppitis Market at 3rd and Scott sts, they had every kind of candy a kid could want and were so patient, they would stand there all day until you made up your mind....and they had the best twin pops...
I do remember Sherwood diner and the record players in each booth.  Then it was Tavanis gas staion.
Oh man, I was just talking about the slaughter house on Lincoln st.(mmmmmooooooo)I was young and never quite understood why the cows mooed 1 second and were not mooing the next second.  Now I live in the country and hhhhhmmmmmmm.......
Do you guys remember Nick the blind broom man, he was all over wilmington selling brooms (handmade)..?????
My Poppop drove a chicken truck around and sold eggs from the back of it.  That was neat to go with him on Saturdays......
And, no I don't remember the mean monkey9/30/02,but I do remember crying like crazy because my older sister Susan got us tossed out of the monkey house
when she snuck peanuts in after my mom just told her to put them away......

Keep in touch

asprecious@aol.com

10/20/2002

I REMEMBER SLEDDING FROM ROCKFORD TOWER ALL THE WAY DOWN   ROCKFORD ROAD TO THE ENTRANCE OF JOSEPH BANCROFT & SONS TEXTILE MILL. AND ALSO, SLEDDING DOWN IVY ROAD.

JOHN MEDKEFF

medkeff@comcast.net

11/03/2002

Hi,

This is the best site I have ever seen.

The blind broom man was "Jake"
The DeLaWarr Motel is not the home of Wilmington College.  DeLaWarr Motel is now the home of WAWA.  It is at the intersection of Route 13(Dupont Hwy and Memorial Drive).   The Wilmington College is on the old property of the "Tour Inns Motel" in the Wilmington Manor Vicinity of Dupont Hwy. (Rt 13).

I love your site.  Soon as I have a chance to see what you dont have that I remember, I would like to help add to this.  I havent looked at everything yet but
there was a place next to the Ellis Drive in in the 1950's called "Kiddie Town" it was like a mini arcade (in the old fashion) with booths where you could play games, like balloon darts, ring toss,etc for prizes (cupie dolls). Merry go rounds and the like for kids.  It was great. Guess it closed due to changing times.

Im sure some of my memories are repeats of others, but once I got on a roll, I just couldnt quit.  Please keep up the good work, what a wondeful idea for a website, such wonderful memories of simpler, safer times.  Im not so sure these have been catagorized as they should be and if I dont stop, you will never finish reading it.   Hope some of this helps your site.  I would love to hear from some of the people who have the same memories.  Just like to reminise and remember the good old days.  Or as my sons tell me the stories of "back in the day".

Take care and keep adding to your site.  Cant wait to read more.
Thanks for the memories.
Vickie
Cooking0404@aol.com

11/03/2002

What kid that ever served Journal every evening papers in Wilmington can forget Stelini's (not sure of spelling) bakery at 2ND and Jackson Streets. It was the first time I ever saw a pizza, only it was called "Tomato Pie".

How about the Dravo Marshes where I caught Snappers and sold them to Shorty's Beer Garden at Front and Jackson Streets for Snapper Soup, and swam in the summer time from "Little Bridge" with the rest of the guy's from Hedgevill.

Love your site, really brings back memories, nice work.

GOLFOPERA@aol.com

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11/13/2002

How about the old Delmore Dairy at Lancaster Ave. and Scott St. (Wilmington)!  They had the best "milk shakes" in town and the largest selection of them that I can remember!
Do you remember that both Corpus Christi (Elsmere) and St. Hedwig's (Wilmington) Churches had High Schools.  St.Hedwig's was only girls and Corpus Christi was co-ed.
Remember playing ball games against the curb (curb ball) or steps (step ball) in the City.   Also remember playing "wire ball" using City utility wires.

Dennis LaFazia

dlf@college.dtcc.edu