 |
Grist for the MillA bimonthly Publication of the Freeport Area Historical Society - October-November, 2007 |
|||
MEETINGS SEPTEMBER MEETING FUTURE MUSEUM HOLIDAY DINNER LERNERVILLE Deeds show that George Wade bought the property, 29 acres, from John Hooks at a cost of $550 in 1891. Frank Lerner bought the property from George in 1910 at a cost of $1,600. Frank owned it until 1946 when Steve Varos became the next owner, at a cost of $20,000. The property was leased by the Speedway from 1967 until 1998 when Helen Martin purchased it. However the Speedway had previously bought the Livingston farm to the north and the Elcock farm to the south. It is believed that the yellow brick house that still sits on the property was built in 1911. It has been both a home and a restaurant. The skating rink was also built early on, and it was built as a car storage area. Lerner had an auto garage and a Chevrolet dealership. The garage and the skating rink buildings still exist today. Another building, torn down in recent years, housed various establishments over the years including a hotel with rooms upstairs and a restaurant. The restaurant changed hands and at times was a beer garden, except during prohibition, of course. There are pictures of it showing Iron City Beer signs on the front. Its most recent use was as the 356 Bar which closed in 1978. Jack's Restaurant bought the beer license from George Kutch upon its closing. In the 1930s the rink was open for skating Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings. The original restroom walls, with the obligatory autographs, are still there. The restrooms had “outhouse style” seating. The rink closed in 1978. Even by today's standards the entertainment complex was impressive. Besides the skating rink there was an incredibly large pool – about 150 x 75 ft. – one of the biggest pools in western PA. It had a bathhouse, a sliding board and a diving board. A Ferris wheel was on the site – when dismantled, it was sold to Conneaut Lake Park. A merry-go-round was another feature. A covered mini golf course was part of the complex; that was unique then, as now. There was a dance pavilion and Lerner owned some 20 cabins that he rented for a weekend or by the week. Over the years they were remodeled a time or two. FAHS has been given a scorecard for the mini golf. The first ground rule stated “Start play at No. 1 and continue through 18 holes to No. 18. This constitutes one game. One or more can play at each hole.” And later on it says: “At the 18 th hole the ball disappears into a locked box. This is done to check our games and is in no sense done with the idea that any player would fail to return our ball.” Patrons could travel up from Pittsburgh on a train and walk a path up the hill to the complex. There are signs in storage with an arrow and the words “Lernerville Park” and these were probably placed along that hillside path. Businesses, school groups and the like could have an outing there and the patrons could swim, dance, and play mini golf. Another feature was a baseball field with a grandstand and a concession stand. Surprisingly, there was also a spot where jalopy races were held. There is one picture of an old car with what looks like a dust storm enclosing it. A few years ago Emma Livingston, a female driver from that time, appeared at the Speedway one race night and signed autographs. She was then close to 90. Isn't it incredible to think there was a female race driver back then? And she even had a sponsor - Esso! Check out the picture of her “car” on the insert. Many great athletes came from the little village of Lernerville, among them Don Altman, Ed and Bob McGuire. Perhaps their success was due to the facilities there. The current Speedway began in another location, although there was never a race there. Bucky Fleming, Dale Hafer and Earl Bauman and the owner of the Lynch farm in Washington Township began to cut a raceway in on farm property. The neighbors thought it was just part of the new Route 380 then being built; but they raised a fuss when they learned what it was. Lynch dropped out of the group, but the others came to Lernerville because it was already a park. They leased the property from Varos and began putting in the track. They didn't have much money so they approached Don Martin to see if he would do the work and he became a partner. Don actually owned a racecar at the time, with Dick Swartzlander as his driver, so it was a great collaboration. They managed to get a couple races run in during October of 1967. This was important because zoning was coming to Buffalo Township in January of 1968. Having the races meant that the track could be grand fathered in. The owners didn't really make any money although they were able to pay employees; they put the profits back into the business. Hafer and Fleming eventually sold their share to Martin and Bauman. Over the years the track was enlarged several times. In 1986 baseball returned with two Little League fields being established. A few years ago a youth football field was added. Ouch Roenigk was the primary force in getting those fields built; but he'll tell you he had help from every single person he asked. Ouch tells one funny story he heard years ago. Lerner was kind of a character and one of his businesses was selling eggs. One day a lady stopped to buy a dozen eggs. She said, “Mr. Lerner, how much are your eggs?” Ouch doesn't remember the specific amount, but let's just say that Lerner said “15 cents a dozen.” “Oh, my,” she said, “Mr. Smith down the road sells them for 10 cents a dozen.” “Well, you should go buy them from Mr. Smith.” “But he doesn't have any.” “Well, holy hell, lady if I didn't have any, I'd give them to you for free!” We're pretty sure Ouch cleaned that story up a bit. We appreciate the time he took to gather up and share some material on Lernerville. Chuck McCafferty and Relden Cooper were also helpful. It is believed the park buildings were built in the 1920s and gradually torn down beginning in the 1940s, but exact dates are not known. The Saxonburg Museum has artifacts relating to Lernerville and would be worth a visit to local readers. LERNERVILLE NEWS Pictures were included and one was of the Lernerville baseball team, which began the 1931 season winning the first 5 games. There were advertisements, most of them connected to Lernerville Park and local establishments. One such is the following: Lerner Auto Garage Quick starting in the coldest weather; added power; knockless on any hill, or at any speed. All around increased performance. Get a new idea of motor performance. Fill up with No-Nox Ethyl today – it knocks out that “knock.” One edition included a bus schedule from the Evans Bus Company listing bus schedules for Freeport – Lernerville – West Winfield. Buses went from Freeport to West Winfield with stops in Silverville, Sarversville, Lernerville, and going the other direction as well, with connections to Saxonburg, Butler, Pittsburgh, New Kensington, Tarentum, Leechburg, Vandergrift, and Apollo. Each edition included a few jokes such as this: He: “Do you know the great secret of popularity? She: “Yes, but mother says that I mustn't.” We would consider that pretty corny, but perhaps it was a little risqué at that time! Chuck McCafferty, of Sarver, believes the paper existed a year or less. Holiday Dinner Reservation Form RESERVATION ________ Name: __________________________________ Number of Attending: ____________________ Telephone No.: __________________________ Checks must accompany reservation. |
||||