Grist for the Mill A bimonthly Publication of the Freeport Area Historical Society - December, 2007 / January, 2008
			MEETINGS Reminder – the December meeting will be a dinner meeting on December 8 at 6 p.m. in the Methodist Church – no meeting on December 13. The deadline for reservations is December 1. If you are reading this after December 1 but before December 8 and are interested, contact the Society to see if you can still get in. The January meeting is Thursday, January 10, at 7 p.m. at Kings Restaurant Community Room. Come earlier if you'd like to eat dinner with other members. 501(c) (3) FAHS finally received our 501(c) (3) document from the government! This will give us a better chance of getting grants that we apply for and we simply cannot thank Helen Goodman enough. She has really done the legwork on this project, along with help from Monica White of the Freeport Renaissance Committee who lent her expertise in doing the paperwork. Thanks gals, you are the BEST! MEMORIES DeBlasio is an old Freeport name and Rev. Dom DeBlasio is well known locally even by non-Catholics. His parents were born in Italy. Dad Nicola – known as Nick – came here in 1911 to work on the railroad. He worked here long enough to accumulate a little money, maybe $100, and returned to Italy where he married Theresa and then brought her back to Freeport. Theresa never spoke English. Nick learned it because of his job, despite the fact he had only 3 years of schooling in Italy! There were 8 children born to them, Larry, Dom, Jim, Joe, John (who had the unique nickname of Dewberry), Mary, Louie and Betty. Theresa died when Dom was in 8 th grade and Betty doesn't even remember her. Mary quit school to stay home and raise Betty. Nick worked out of Butler Junction (BJ) and during his career with the PA railroad had two different jobs. One job was working on the tracks. This work was done in fair weather or foul, it didn't matter. You worked 8 hours and didn't get paid for that half hour lunch break. Another job Nick had was on the wreck train. He was the cook. There was a huge coal-fired stove, and he would cook for the bosses, summer and winter. He would also cook for crews when they were out at a wreck site - perhaps 30 or 40 men. In those days there was no refrigeration, so groceries were purchased wherever the wreck train was located. Periodically the train would come into BJ and Nick would load up on groceries at the Service Grocery, located where the dance studio is today. His kids would help him carry bushel baskets of food down the tracks to the train. Sometimes if there was food left over, his family would benefit. Bacon was bought in jars; nothing perishable could be bought, at least in quantity, as there was no way to keep it. In the “good, old days” rail service was terrific. Five trains ran down to Pittsburgh in the morning and the same in the evening going north. It wasn't the cleanest transportation; the steam and cinders would do a number on a white shirt. It also wasn't real fast, because the train would stop at just about every little town on the way down and back. But it sure was convenient. One of the perks was that employees could get passes for family. Father Dom had a school pass to ride the train to Natrona, to St. Josephs, and then later to Pittsburgh to college. The pass was a piece of lightweight cardboard, about the size of an envelope with squares on it. The conductor would punch a hole in a square for each trip. Employees had to apply on a monthly basis for the school passes. Employees got a yearly pass. As trains approached Freeport, coming up from Pittsburgh, the conductor would call out “Butler Junction, change for Butler and other stops.” Gradually there was less business and trains became too expensive to run up the Butler track, so they put a gasoline-powered engine on the track. It looked like a big streetcar and a few passenger cars would be added to make the trip up to Butler and back. Eventually that also ceased to run. Father Dom lived on Water Street (Riverside Drive) and became one of Freeport's “river rats” along with Paul Rassau, Russ Colwell, Gene Ankeny, the Flemm brothers, Owen Clark and others. Their life revolved around the river. They had rowboats, some were homemade, and they were always out on the water. Father Dom had one of the first boat docks in town and rented out spots. Once during high water he snagged a rowboat floating down the river. The owner assumed Dom had stolen it and reported the mischief to the constable. Dom explained to the constable that it would have gone on down the river if he hadn't caught it and he knew eventually someone would claim it. The owner later apologized. The river rats built a camp of sorts across the river from Third Street. There was a level stretch of land there between the tracks and the river. They went up the river hill in the wintertime, cut poles from sassafras and dropped them over the edge of the hill. They slid down near the track. The boys carried the poles over the tracks and used them to build a “camp” with no sides, just a roof. It was called Camp Maple. They built a fence out of tree branches and white washed it. There was a sort of stairway going down to the water's edge. They would tie their boats up there and it got to be well known among town residents. One maiden lady, Alice Gillespie, was fascinated by their activities and one time bought them a watermelon and gave it to them so they could take it over to Camp Maple and enjoy it. They had the place going over there for years. One Fourth of July, they all asked their dads (all employed by the railroad) to bring home a couple of flares. A flare would be lit in the manner of a match and would last for about 15 min. A slow moving train would drop one on the track as it pulled out and it was a signal to trains following to slow down. So, the boys took their “borrowed” flares and lit them all at the same time, stuck them in the fence and rowed out to the middle of the river real fast to enjoy their July 4th lights. The river provided most of their entertainment in the mild weather; they had no radios or TVs, boats had no motors and they had no money. Ray Flemm made some money when there was a new floor put on the bridge. The bridge had to be shut down to tear off the old wood – it was thrown in the river. Ray had a rowboat and he got out on the river and pulled all the old planks into shore – eventually he built a large barge out of the creosoted planks that weighed a ton. His brother, Paul, later got a job staying out on the river in his boat in case any of the men would fall off. Ray followed Paul in doing this job. Ray eventually had a job on the river as a watchman on a big houseboat in Pittsburgh. Dom would occasionally take things down to Ray when he was going to school in Pittsburgh. Kids didn't have money in those days and parents didn't have any extra money. The boys could sometimes earn a dime trudging all over town helping a paperboy deliver papers. A dime would get you into the movie - if Dad said you could go. The river rats played out on the street; in an evening maybe only two cars – Model T Fords – would creep along, so it was very safe. By 9 p.m. everyone would be inside. Dom was 15 before he spent a night away from home – at a scout camp. Responsible men in town, such as Mr. Seitz and Mr. Rowley, led the scouts. Nick said Dom couldn't go, but after Mr. Seitz visited Nick 3 or 4 times, he finally gave permission. The boys were safe and had a wonderful weekend. And, Mr. Rowley even drove the Catholic kids into nearby Harrisville so they could attend Mass. Father Dom began his education in Freeport public school, but after three years switched to St. Mary's and then went on to St. Joseph's High School in Natrona. He knew from third grade on that he would become a priest and has always felt it was his destiny, one he never regretted. To be ordained, a priest had to be adopted by a bishop. Dom was adopted by the bishop of Pittsburgh and “belongs” to that diocese to this day. The Bishop decides where the young men will go to school. It was convenient for Dom to go to Duquesne – he could ride the trains and live at home. After ordination, priests would pay $50 a year for 50 years or so until their school bill was paid. After ordination Father Dom served parishes as far to the southeast as Uniontown and as far northwest as Hillsville (near New Castle). It's hard to believe, but he has been retired 19 years. While in school at Duquesne, the winter of 1936 came along. It was a severely cold winter; with frost 24 inches deep and heavy snow in early March, followed by warmer weather and heavy rain. By March 17, a Tuesday, the rivers were coming up. He skipped his afternoon class and got home about 12:30. At home they moved everything upstairs, even utilizing the beds to hold the contents of the first floor. It was to no avail as the water went well into the second floor. What a mess when the water went down. It was made more difficult because the town had no running water for some days so they couldn't just hose out all the muck. The electricity was also out. Homes had mostly wallpaper then, and by the time there was water to begin a thorough clean up, the paper was hanging down in strips, hardened and more difficult to remove. Before the flood a neighbor asked him to pin up some curtains and he assisted, wearing hip boots. The water was high enough he couldn't see where he was walking and he walked over a trap door…except the water had moved the trap door and Dom went down! He caught himself, but not before he was soaking wet. And, of course, the water covered the curtains despite his work. It was quite an adventure for the young people. He lost nearly a week of school. That Sunday the Freeport priest took Dom and a brother and they drove into Pittsburgh. The National Guard was on duty and they were stopped until they noticed the Roman collar. The men said, “OK, Father, you can go on in.” They had free run of the city and were able to see big pumps shooting water onto the streets – it was being pumped out of the basements. One thing Father Dom notices is the economy and the cost of things. In the mid 1930s his father was making $3.43 – not an hour, but a day! He has a Sears Roebuck catalog from 1912. Corncob pipe – 3 cents, plus 1 cent for postage! When his family did have a little money to order something, they would send the order Monday, and it usually came Thursday. Today mail goes from Freeport down to Pittsburgh to be processed, then is shipped back out and it actually takes longer than years ago. When the trains were running, the front car had a railroad post office in it. There was a very pleasant African-American man, George McClellan, who worked for the railroad in Freeport. He had a 2-wheel handcart to put the mail sack in and would push it up from the station to the post office and then take outgoing mail back down. As soon as the mail sack came into the railroad car, the postman would dump it out on a table and start sorting. A letter going to Tarentum, for example, might be delivered in about 15 minutes as the train went down the river. Sometimes the “good old days” really were the good old days.!! Thanks to Father Dom for a delightful visit in which he shared so many great memories. THE RELIGIOUS LIFE It is amazing how many men and women have entered the service of God from our relatively small area of Freeport, Buffalo, and South Buffalo. Some 16 churches were contacted seeking information and we were astonished by what we learned. In addition to Rev. DeBlasio, St. Mary's produced Revs. Andrew Lambing, James and Charles Kerr (brothers), Geno Rivi, Henry Dinicco, and Msgr. Thomas Klinzing. Parish daughters were Srs. Augusta Morgan, Norbert Stadler, DeChantal Mardorf, Pancratius McQuade, Agnes Joseph Kerr, M. Julia Kerr, Marguerite Kelly, Marie Therese Sevic, M. Hugh Stein, Victor Conti, A. Grace Wood, M. Stephen Skyzinski, Marie Catherine Burns, M. Eunice Wood, Bernita Burns, M. Donald Burns, Justine McCulloch, and M Kristin Craig. All the Kerrs were siblings as were the Burns sisters. Chuck Canterna, who spent some time at St. Mary's as a youngster, moved to Natrona Heights as a teen, and later entered the priesthood, so we'll count him, too. Freeport United Methodist produced Sally Jo Snyder. Faith Community Church, one of the newest congregations in the community, has already had two members enter religious life – John Parton and Steve Kromer. Sowers' Chapel, also known as Freeport New Church, has Chuck Blair, now serving a church in the Philadelphia area. The Sarver Free Methodist Church has had two men enter the religious vocation, Bob Linhart, current pastor, and Fred Craig, serving a church near Blairsville. Zion Methodist Church in Sarver has quite a record: Jerry Gray, Edward Saxman, Patricia Saxman Nelson, William West, Jr., Marilyn West Fitcher, Warren Wilkewitz, Everett Hoover, Robert Miller, Gene Hasson, Earl Huston, and Bruce Bishop. They have one currently in training – Jerrold Shetter. The Saxman brother and sister and the West brother and sister are children of former pastors at Zion as is Bruce Bishop. Evangel Heights has sent many into full time ministry. Entering the field of missions are John and Betty Swank, Jonathan Kuert, Pam Fincher, and Pete Korones; Shirley Good is a missionary evangelist. Pastoral Ministry includes James Swank, Dennis Sproull, Lisa Kuert Bogaczyk, Jeff Davidson, David Sproull, K. R Mele, Dave Decker, Nathan Watkins and Julie Rametta. Melanie Fedon and Missy Beer are in Christian education and Bethany Benson is in the field of Christian communications. Quite a record, isn't it? By the way, the Kuert siblings are children of the current pastor, Rev. John Kuert. Trinity Lutheran has sent our final three into ministry: Judith Hird who is believed to be the first woman in the U.S. to become a Lutheran parish pastor, back in the l970s, and two others – Kenneth Stoyer and Brenda VanTine. Altogether this is an amazing record. We appreciate the help of Leona Barnes, Betty Canterna, Chuck Edwards, Janet Kaltwasser, John Kuert, Bob Linhart and Ethan McCardell in compiling this list. IT'S GETTING TO BE THAT TIME What time is it? Time to pay your dues. You can send a check for $10 for 2008 dues to FAHS at P. O. Box 107, Freeport, PA 16229. Thanks for your continued support. TIDBITS IN TIME From the December 3, 1906, edition of the Daily Dispatch: “State says drunks can't ride on trains – Pennsylvania has revived an old order about hauling intoxicated persons on its passenger trains. The order, issued several years ago, was to the effect that any person found to be under the influence of liquor should not be allowed to enter a train. Intoxicated men are often boisterous, and officials fear they will annoy passengers and the conductor and risk the danger of being thrown from the platform.” Apparently women under the influence were less boisterous! And from the December 3, 1932, edition: “Hunters can bag doe, buck in the same season – For the first time, the Pennsylvania Game Commission inaugurated a 15 day open season on deer of both sexes. A hunter may shoot either a buck or a doe in the same season. An increase in deer herds led the commission to declare an open season on both sexes. A record kill is expected.” Are you done with your Christmas shopping? In December, 1905, an advertisement from E. H. Wallace Hardware in the Journal suggested: “The most complete line of aluminum and nickel plated copperware ever seen in the town…prices from 25 cents to $3.00. See my new Quartered Oak Drop Top New Royal Sewing Machine. Just the thing for your wife. No price listed for that item. The “social event” of the season was to be presented on December 10 and 21 that year at the Seitz Opera House. For 35 or 50 cents you could see “Heart of Alabama” presented by the Columbian Band with Jack Champion and Grace Richmond as well as local talent Wm. Sweeney, Jos. Morgan, J. J. Mardorf, H. Newell, F. Foreman Margerie Fullerton and Jennie Patterson. MASSY'S SIGN It took awhile, but the sign at the location of the final abode of Massy Harbison was installed this fall – thanks again to long distance member, Ned Sweeney and to Freeport Dept. of Public Works. The sign is located at the corner of Fourth Street and Cherry Way. A picture is included in the newsletter, but stop and see it in person when you are in town. You might also wish to visit these web sites related to Massy: Story of Massy Harbison and Beaver County History site. The text on the sign is as follows: ”Massy was 22 when she and her three children were captured by Indians, on May 22, 1792. Two of her boys were killed, one at what is now known as River Forest (her first cabin) and the other on Todd's Island. John Harbison, her husband, was away on a spying mission, watching the movement of the Indians in the area. She escaped from her captors two days later and made her way through the wilderness while carrying the baby in her arms. She faced hunger, exposure to cold, rain, and rattlesnakes and her strength was nearly gone. She found her way to the Allegheny River where men who spotted her from the other side rescued her. Massy and the baby were taken to a cabin where one of the ladies in the area cared for her. One hundred and fifty thorns were taken from her feet and legs. She was reunited with her husband the following day, May 28, 1792. This is the site of Massy's home here in Freeport where she lived until her death in 1837. “ Our thanks to Rod Chapman for the text and to Frank Craig for the wonderful graphics.