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| Official Ambridge Golden Jubilee Banner photo credit: Brian L Carter used with permission |
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| Ambridge Golden Jubilee seal photo credit: Brian L Carter used with permission |
While the two main events planned for Ambridge's official Golden Jubilee celebration were the big, big, big parade on July 2 and the presentation of the Ambridge historical pageant extravaganza "Frontiers of Freedom," June 29 through July 4, there was plenty going on every day from Sunday June 26 through July 4.
On June 24, "Freedom of Religion Day," the American Slovak Association held their picnic at Firemen's Park, and the Ambridge Eagles dedicated a Ten Commandments monument at what was then known simply as "11th Street Park".*
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| Ten Commandments Dedication Daily Citizen July 27, 1955 |
Original text:
UNVEIL MONUMENT -- The monument bearing the Ten Commandments was unveiled Sunday afternoon near the Ambridge War Memorial Honor Roll. The stone tablet was the gift from the Ambridge Order of Eagles to the borough in commemoration of the Ambridge Golden Jubilee. George A. Strine, York, Pa., a representative for the Grand Aerie dedicated the tablet. He is shown unveiling the monument with Burgess Walter Panek as Felix Rykaczewski, district deputy looks on. Burgess Panek accepted on behalf of the local residents.
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| Ten Commandments tablet Daily Citizen July 27, 1955 |
Original text:
PRESENTED TO BOROUGH OF AMBRIDGE -- This huge stone tablet bearing the Ten Commandments were dedicated Sunday afternoon in the opening event of the Ambridge Golden Jubilee near the War Memorial Honor roll. The presentation by the Fraternal Order of Eagles was made by Felix Rykaczewski to Burgess Walter Panek.
Monday, June 27 was "Golden Jubilee Day" and an official opening ceremony marked the occasion.
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| Golden Jubilee opening ceremony Daily Citizen June 28, 1955 |
Original text:
OFFICIAL OPENING OF GOLDEN JUBILEE -- The official opening of the Ambridge Golden Jubilee took place shortly after the noon hour Monday at Sixth and Merchant Sts., General Chairman Jack Bauder opened the affair by reading the program of events for the Jubilee. Other speakers included Burgess Walter Panek, Frank McDaniel and Genevieve Kokoski, who will reign as Queen of the Golden Jubilee. Miss Kokoski expressed her thanks to the committee and all contestants for her selection and then cut a birthday cake, donated for the occasion by Gutowski's Bakery. The Ambridge High School band played several popular numbers. Pictured left to right front row: Burgess Walter Panek, Virginia Skapik, Paul Vochko, Miss Kokoski, Jack Bauder, Dr. H. G. Squires. Second row: Mrs. Grace Martin, George Kisiday and Frank McDaniel.
Tuesday, June 28 was "Firemen's Day," highlighted by a Firemen's Parade. Twenty-eight fire companies driving 44 firetrucks and other vehicles participated.
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| Rochester Volunteer Fire Dept. truck Daily Citizen June 29, 1955 |
Original text:
FIREMEN'S PARADE -- One of the newest Rochester Volunteer Fire Department's truck is pictured in the Ambridge Golden Jubilee parade as it passes 4th and Merchant St., Tuesday evening.
And there was a firefighting demonstration after the Firemen's Parade. Here the Aliquippa Fire Department showed their rescue skills at Peter Pan Cleaners, 431 Merchant St. next to The Globe Men's and Boy's Wear, 429 Merchant St.
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| Firefighting demonstration Daily Citizen June 29, 1955 |
Original text:
FIRE FIGHTERS IN DEMONSTRATION -- Members of the Aliquippa Fire Department gave an hour long demonstration in how to fight fires in the 400 block of Merchant St., Ambridge, Tuesday evening following the Firemen's Parade. Over 30 different types of fighting methods were shown to a large audience.
There was also a "long" children's talent show at the First Ward playground.
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| Children's talent show Daily Citizen June 29, 1955 |
Original text:
TALENT SHOW -- A talent show among the children using the First Ward Playground was held Tuesday evening. Over 40 youngsters participated and they received great ovation from the some 200 persons that were on hand for the long program. The singers left to right are: Anna Marie Antonini, Mary Hnesduck and Anna Marie Kardash.
Wednesday, June 29 didn't have a special "day" name, but it featured a children's pet and costume parade with marchers from Ambridge's summer playground program. The marchers in the photo below are on Merchant St. nearing 8th St. The buildings on their left are Caplan Wholesale Grocery, 798 Merchant and the Ambridge Pharmacy, 752 Merchant. Both stores were razed and their former locations are now part of the CVS pharmacy parking lot.
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| Children's Pet Parade Daily Citizen June 30, 1955 |
Original Caption:
CHILDREN'S PET PARADE -- One of the best children's pet and costume parades in Ambridge was held Wednesday evening in conjunction with the Golden Jubilee Celebration. The Ambridge High School band led the large contingent of youngsters from the various playgrounds.
Later in the evening, "Frontiers of Freedom" premiered at the high school stadium, followed by fireworks.
More Golden Jubilee memories coming up including "Frontiers of Freedom," "Old Fashioned Bargain Days" which started with a real bang, the big parade, and the final events.
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* The name of the 11th Street Park was changed to Caul Memorial Park in honor of P. J. Caul, former Ambridge police chief, burgess, and council member in December 1958, a month after Caul died.
jd aka john domansky
ReplyDeletechildrens pet parade photo, i would swear that the 2 boys behind the sign on the left hand side, not the one on left in front of sign, i think they are my nephews bob eppley & danny eppley, ages about 11 & 9, bobby looks so much like our son, that i could not believe it. danny was dark haired like dad, jack in pic in the john domansky tailor shop photo, that was 1942, & frances had 3 boys & 1 girl judy, she & bobby are still living, judy lives in fair oaks area, just off ambridge ave, near the zassicks, if she sees this pic, she can make a + id,
oh yes i saw where a guy said he visited jack eppley on 14rh st near merchant st, no way, he is wrong, jack was from fair oaks, & lived on the 1st rd in from ambridge near the end at the creek area, where it flooded at times. jack roamed ambridge after divorcing frances for many years, he worked at spangs & called off a lot they lived up in anthony wayne terrace many years, have pics of her & other sis & her kids up there, made the trip up many xs waliking.
parade pic showing where kaplans was & cvs is now shows the donatelli pharmacy, son claude was a friend, they had a girl too, went there once to buy caps for my cap gun, father D patted me & said we don't sell caps johnny. claude ran track & lifted weights, a great italian smile & friendly. having a hard time seeing the globe & peter pan cleaners in my mind, peter pan was next to state theater way back 40s early. i recall mickeys flower shop & dad & son sold popcorn outside in a machine fresh made, ambridge was a fun place to live & work, start at hh day after i turned 18 dec 1950.
i just read most of rust belt boys blog, WOW that was great writing, i like how he worked in the mills, been there & more, ended up a true craftsman in 1994 retiring, if he worked w/me he would have gotten respect as a human being, not treated badly, those days were gone in the 70s. but it was very tough in the steel mills, bro in law worked for j& l then republic turned to LTV, just like j&l how ironic. the seamless pipe mill was the noisiest thing, i srarted in the coupling shop next door. more spurts later, ha
I walk past the 10 Commandments statue almost everyday. Its actually missing the Second Commandment. Strange huh?
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