Ambridge's doughboy statue dedication, Memorial Day 1930

Ambridge's doughboy statue currently stands in P. J. Caul Park, 11th and Merchant Sts., but it once stood further west on 11th St., at the entrance to the Ambridge-Aliquippa Bridge, south corner. The doughboy was placed at the bridge about two-and-a-half years after the bridge was opened in December 1927.

Doughboy statue
11th St. at Ambridge-Aliquippa Bridge
circa 1930s
courtesy Beaver County Genealogy & History Center

The statue was the result of a joint project of the Ambridge and Aliquippa American Legion posts.

Ambridge's Canady-Hull Post No. 341 and Aliquippa's Post No. 225 had two doughboy statues made, one for each side of the bridge. These World War I memorials were dedicated on Memorial Day 1930.

A platform was erected in the center of the bridge for the ceremony which included speakers from both boroughs, Beaver County commissioners, and representatives of district and local American Legion organizations. "Amplifiers" were placed at each end of the bridge so that even those not standing near the platform could hear the proceedings. The Ambridge High School and Aliquippa High School bands played at the ceremony.

The dedication ceremony followed parades by war veterans and "patriotic organizations" in Ambridge and Aliquippa.

The above information came from the Daily Times, April 19 and May 28, 1930.

I don't know when the doughboys were moved from their first locations near the bridge. But I do know that the original large bronze plate with the preamble of the American Legion Constitution that was on the base of each statue, was replaced on the Ambridge doughboy's base in 1950. You can see a photo of the Ambridge Memorial Day 1950 ceremony, plus read the inscription on the newer plate, in the May 25, 2014, blog post "A Memorial Day past." You will see that I originally thought that the ceremony shown in the 1950 photo might have been the dedication of the statue itself, but obviously, it was not. Maybe it was a ceremony dedicating the new bronze plate?

The Aliquippa doughboy statue is now at the borough's war memorial on Main St.

Some facts and figures:

• The statues and bronze plates were made by the Matthews Company of Pittsburgh.
• The original granite bases, four feet square and three feet high, were made by the New England Granite Company in Rhode Island. The price was $1,300.
• Joseph F. Bontempo, Aliquippa, was the architect who designed the "canopies" behind each statue.
• The cost for the complete construction of the memorials was approximately $10,000.
• The photo shown above the caption "Statue of an American Soldier at Ambridge-Aliquippa Bridge" is watermarked "E. Simantiras, Photo-Studio, Pittsburgh, PA."

Here's a photo from today's Memorial Day ceremony at P. J. Caul Park. It's nice to see that some traditions continue.

Doughboy salute
Memorial Day ceremony
P. J. Caul Park
May 30, 2016
photo credit: Alan Freed Photography / Ambridge Connection

Decoration Day 1948 ad, Gray's Auto Store

Memorial Day was once called Decoration Day, since traditionally, that was the day the graves of military veterans were decorated in honor of their service.

So I had mixed feelings about posting this Gray's Auto Store ad, celebrating what should be a solemn day of remembrance with a sale of auto parts. But, I decided that the ad documents what the holiday has become for many Americans, a day to shop for bargains.

I'll post a more fitting photo on Memorial Day, but in the meantime, take a look back in time at auto supplies--and prices--in May 1948.

Decoration Day ad
Gray's Auto Store
453 Merchant St.
Beaver Valley Times
May 27, 1948

Group photo: Divine Redeemer booth, Nationality Days 1966

The first Ambridge Nationality Days was in April 1966. The photo below belonged to the late Eddie Dzubak, Sr. His daughter, Lesabeth Trzcianka, says she believes the photo was taken during that first festival.

left to right in booth: Pat Halicek, Marie Dzubak, Virginia Ochman, Dorothy Roman
Divine Redeemer Church booth
600 block of Merchant St.
Nationality Days
April 1966?
courtesy of Lesabeth Trzcianka and Eddie Dzubak, Jr.

On the left side of Merchant St. you can see Perlman Jewelers, 609 Merchant St.; a business with a sign that looks like it says "Gil's" which I don't remember at all; Lee's Shoppe, 619 Merchant, which sold women's clothing; and Sun Drugs, 625 Merchant.

On the right side, you can make out a bit of the sign of Dr. Alter Steinberg's optometrist office, 608 Merchant; Krauss Jewelers, 610 Merchant; the white building to the left of Krauss was Timney's Appliances, 612 Merchant; and on the left of Timney's was the old Prince Theatre building.

Last year's 50th Annual Nationality Days probably was the last one to be held. There are no plans to hold one this year or in the future. I haven't been to Nationality Days for many years, but I heard it just wasn't the same now that there are fewer ethnic churches to staff the booths and make the food sold at them, fewer ethnic organizations to provide entertainment, and fewer businesses to help support the Chamber of Commerce which sponsored the event.

If you want to read more about Nationality Days:

The debut of Nationality Days, Part 1, May 14, 2014

The debut of Nationality Days, Part 2, May 15, 2014

Nationality Days 1983, May 15, 2015

Miss America visits Ambridge, 1927

In 1927, Miss America visited Ambridge. In the photo below, taken at the Mackintosh-Craven Garage, Miss America is on the right. Her companion was Miss Ambridge, Stella Fallieras Bellas. The Maple Restaurant's Tom Pappas told me that Stella Bellas, his great-aunt, was the first Miss Ambridge.

Stella Fallieras Bellas and Miss America
in front of Mackintosh-Craven Garage
300 block of Merchant St.
 April 1927
Laughlin Memorial Library archives

The August 15, 1983, Beaver County Times had a "Looking Back" article about this photo. The article said that during a 1927 nationwide tour, Miss America stopped in Ambridge for the I.O.O.F. (Odd Fellows) follies and a merchants' promotion.

Although the Times article said the Miss America in the photo was either 1926's Norma Smallwood, Miss Tulsa, or 1927's Lois Delander (misspelled Delaner in the article), I believe it must be Miss Smallwood, since the Miss America Pageant was held in September, so the 1927 Miss America wouldn't have been crowned yet.

The Times article said that the photo was taken during the summer of 1927. However, another photo of the two women, obviously taken during the same visit, is marked April 1927:

Miss America and Stella Fallieras Bellas
Ambridge Country Club?
April 19?, 1927
Laughlin Memorial Library archives

I think the women's clothing is more appropriate for April than the summer, so I'm inclined to think the April date is accurate.

According to the Times article, the garage provided the Buick in the photo for Miss America to use during her visit.

Here's a better view of the car parked at the Ambridge Country Club. The sign in the window says "Miss America, I.O.O.F. Follies."

Miss America and Stella Fallieras Bellas (in car)
Ambridge County Club
April 1927
Laughlin Memorial Library archives

The garage building is still standing in Ambridge, but much altered. Many may remember it as the former Taylor's Dairy building. Currently, the building is the location of Creekside Springs bottled water company.

Taylor's Dairy
Intersection of Duss Ave. and Merchant St.
Beaver Valley Times
February 13, 1954

Kindergarten May Altar and procession, Divine Redeemer School 1955

At Divine Redeemer School in the 1950s, classrooms always had a decorated May Altar honoring St. Mary during her special month of May. The kindergarten class of 1954 - 55 honored Mary not only with an elaborate altar, but also a procession with a May Queen, her court, and their classmates.

Here's a group photo in front of the altar. I don't know the names of all the students. If you can help fill in the blanks, please let me know.

Kindergarten class
Divine Redeemer
May 1955
photo courtesy of Margaret Barlow Kosis

Students, left to right:

Front row (floor): unknown *

Second row: Donna ?, Nancy Bohinsky, Margaret Mary Pavicic, Marlene Vukovcan, Margaret Barlow, unknown girl, Martha Farkasovsky

Third row: unknown girl, unknown girl, Antoinette Shorter, hidden/unidentifiable, Deborah Hlozek, unknown girl, unknown girl

Fourth row: unknown boy, unknown girl, Jane Presto, hidden/unidentifiable, unknown girl, Josetta Scisciani, Barbara Kutzko, unknown girl, unknown boy

Fifth row (left side boys): hidden/possibly Ronald Mazur, David Yanko, hidden/unidentifiable,

Back row (left side boys): Joseph Meshanko, Stephen Farkasovsky

Fifth row (right side boys: hidden/unidentifiable, unknown boy

Back row (right side boys): unknown boy, unknown boy

_____

My mother, Agatha Bohinsky, helped decorate the altar. Some of the flowers came from our garden.

May Altar
Divine Redeemer Kindergarten
May 1955
photo courtesy Agatha Bohinsky

Below are some snapshots taken by my mom on the day of the procession and crowning:

The kindergarten room in the first Divine Redeemer School,** a former hotel, was the only classroom on the first floor. It had a entry door leading directly into the classroom. Upper grade students used another entrance a few feet to the right, which led into a large lobby with stairs to the upper two floors.

The kindergarten May procession wasn't a long one. It began with the students exiting through a door at the end of the kindergarten room furthest from the entrance door. That route allowed the procession to enter a hallway that led to the lobby used by the other students. The procession then left the building through the lobby door, turned left, proceeded a few steps in front of the building, then back into the kindergarten room through its entrance door.

Kindergarten boys exiting lobby doors during procession,
boy on right with rosary is David Yanko,
girl behind David is Mary Ann Shvach
Divine Redeemer School
May 1955
photo courtesy Agatha Bohinsky

Marlene Vukovcan exiting lobby doors during procession
Divine Redeemer School
May 1955
photo courtesy Agatha Bohinsky

May Queen
Margaret Mary Pavicic exiting lobby doors during procession
Divine Redeemer School
May 1955
photo courtesy Agatha Bohinsky

Crowning St. Mary

May Queen Margaret Mary Pavicic

Marlene Vukovcan watching

Divine Redeemer School

May 1955

photo courtesy Agatha Bohinsky

 May Queen Margaret Mary Pavicic
Divine Redeemer School
May 1955
photo courtesy Agatha Bohinsky

Sister Alberta
Margaret Mary Pavicic, Marlene Vukovcan, David Yanko
Divine Redeemer School
May 1955
photo courtesy Agatha Bohinsky

David Yanko and unidentified boy
Divine Redeemer School
May 1955
photo courtesy Agatha Bohinsky

Jane Presto in front of May Altar
Divine Redeemer School
May 1955
photo courtesy Agatha Bohinsky

Kindergarten students
Divine Redeemer School
May 1955
photo courtesy Agatha Bohinsky

The students I can identify in the above photo are:

Two girls seated in front left to right: Deborah Hlozek, Jane Presto

Girl holding pillow: Barbara Kutzko

back row, left to right: Joseph Meshanko, unidentified boy, David Yanko, Nancy Bohinsky (partially hidden by Barbara), Margaret Mary Pavicic, Marlene Vukovcan, Mary Ann Shvach

____

One thing I love about vintage small town papers is that they covered events such as a parochial school kindergarten May crowning.

May Queen and some court members
Divine Redeemer May Crowning
May 1955
Daily Citizen

Daily Citizen caption:

KINDERGARTEN MAY QUEEN CROWNED -- Margaret Pavicic, rear center, was crowned "Queen" at Divine Redeemer School kindergarten last week. Members of the court included, left to right, front -- Debra (sic) Hlozek and Jane Presto, and rear -- Nancy Bohinsky, Margaret and Marlene Vukovcan.

_____

* The girl sitting on the floor in the group photo appears to be holding a copy of our Kindergarten "Certificate of Graduation." Here's mine:

Nancy Bohinsky'
Kindergarten Certificate of Graduation
Divine Redeemer School
1955

** The first Divine Redeemer School was at 300 Merchant St. in a building now used by the Karnavas Vending Co. Here's what the building looked like in the 1956 Divine Redeemer Golden Anniversary book. The door on the left front of the building was the kindergarten room entrance. You can see how far the May Queen procession had to walk to return to the kindergarten room from the the main school door, to the right between two sets of windows.

Divine Redeemer School
Divine Redeemer Golden Anniversary book
1956