The Briolas' ice-making business began in 1904 in the Ambridge-Economy Brewery Co. building, once located on 11th St., immediately east of where the Trinity School for Ministry* is now. The 1924 Economy Centennial book, Economy of Old, Ambridge of Today, said that while the Briolas' ice business was in the brewery building, it could make up to seven tons of ice per day. The brewery went bankrupt in 1913.
The Heinz Co. later bought the former brewery building for making malt vinegar, and perhaps that was the reason the Briolas built, and moved to, a new building for their ice business. Heinz started vinegar production in April 1920, a month after the Briola Bros. Ice Plant on 10th St. and Glenwood Ave. began selling ice.
The Briolas began making making ice for wholesale only in its own plant in March 1920. The Economy Centennial book says that the new ice plant, with seven employees, was "the best equipped ice plant in this section, the capacity being 45 tons daily."
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| Briola Bros. ice ad Ambridge Citizen March 27, 1925 |
The small print in the ad above says:
For prompt delivery and satisfaction, come to us. We aim to please our customers at all times.
We handle ice for all occasions, including the cracked ice, which is used for glass refrigerators, ice cream manufacturing and for many other purposes.
Preparations have been made in our plant increasing the capacity which enables us to supply Ambridge, Fair Oaks and Leetsdale.
Ice books on sale at our office, also obtainable from our drivers.I don't know what "Ice Books" were, other than they obviously let purchasers buy ice at a discount. Anyone know what they looked like and how they worked?
The Ambridge Supply Co. was once at 1st St. and Park Rd., opened by George A. Mytinger in 1910. (Genealogical and Personal History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, Volume 1, 1914).
Why am I mentioning the Ambridge Supply Co. and posting a photo showing its horse and wagon below? Because while that may be the Ambridge Supply Co.'s wagon, I believe that the building it's stopped at is the Briola Bros. Ice Plant building. Compare the door and window locations with the later photos of the Briola Ice Co. below.
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| Ambridge Supply Co. wagon at Briola Bros. Ice Plant circa early 1920s Courtesy Ambridge Borough |
Thanks to the sign, there's no doubt about the identity of the building in the photo below. The "Belt-Line" mentioned in the information about the building's location was the spur rail line that once ran through Ambridge from French Point, across 14th and 11th Sts., behind the businesses on the east side of the 900 block of Glenwood Ave., and ended at 8th St. Some may remember it as the rail tracks that ran behind the west side of Ambridge High School's football stadium.
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| Briola Bros. Ice Plant 10th and Glenwood at Belt Line 1947 Courtesy Ambridge Borough |
At some point, the name of the business was changed to Briola Ice Co. I don't know when it closed, but the photo below is dated 1958.
The people in the photo have been identified by members of the Briola family:
Left to right: Mike Briola, Dick Briola, David Briola, Billy or Bobby Briola, Louise Briola, and Raymond Briola.
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| Briola Ice Co. 1010 Glenwood Ave. 1958 Courtesy Ambridge Borough |
While the Briola Ice Co. may be gone, the building is still there, although it now uses the address 421 10th St. As far as I could tell, it was occupied when I took the photo below in 2014. The current business advertising that it's in the building is Muscles' Gym.
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| Former Briola Ice Co. building 421 10th St. 2014 |
Frank Briola was the victim of an attempted "Black Hand" extortion attempt in 1912. Usually, victims were told some harm would come to their businesses if they didn't pay the demanded amount. The May 28, 1912, Daily Times, said that the demand was for $6,000 and plans were arranged for police "to watch for the black-handers...but Biola (sic) failed to carry out his part of the agreement and the plans fell though."
However, there was apparently a second extortion attempt: A November 16, 1912, Pennsylvania State Police report said:
At the request of U. S. Postal Inspector Craighead, of Pittsburgh, Sergeant McLaughlin and detail, of Troop "A" investigated "black hand" case in which the victim, one Frank Briola, of Ambridge, Pa., was requested to place $3,000 at a designated spot between Ambridge and Beaver Falls. By the use of a decoy package, the detail were successful in apprehending two Italians, Joseph Candilaro and Dominic Fiore.Both men were tried, Fiore was found guilty, but Candilaro was acquitted.
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* Many older Ambridge area residents may remember the main Trinity School building as the A & P, although much renovated.
I am Jim Briola I live in Medina Ohio and I am the owner of North Coast Sign and lighting Services Inc. I am the son of Patsie Briola M.D. who was raised in Ambridge PA. My Father was a graduate of Case Western Reserve Medical School in Cleveland, Ohio where he met my mother Mary Mc Fadden. My father was in the Army reserves and was called into service at the begging of WW2. He was sent to Guadal Canal with US Marine and Army forces to stop the Japanese from establishing an air base close to Australia. He served as a Regimental Surgeon there. During that four month period the island was under repeated attack by the Japanese to retake that island. US forces were isolated with no re enforcements' and limited supplies. Finally the island was secured by US Military Forces. My father was awarded The Legion of Merit Situation by President Roosevelt for his service in The Battle of Guadal Canal. I have a book of his personal poems and and writings' My Uncle Don , also born in Ambridge. He was a bomber pilot in WW2.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that writing is a skill that is common among the Briola's. I have a copy of an essay that my grandmother wrote as a twelve year old girl in 1905. The school contest topic was to writ a letter to a friend in Italy describing an experience in the United States. My grandmother spoke and wrote both English and Italian. Her letter focused on her trip to the Natural History Museum in Pittsburgh. She was awarded first prize. She describes her experience in a very sensitive and expressive way, as if talking face to face with her young friend back in Italy. My Aunt Anette sent me a short family history that she wrote about her childhood experiences in Ambridge. I am looking for additional information about my family in Ambridge. I found pictures of The Briola Brothers Ice Plant and their grocery store. I am fortunate to be a descendant of the Brolas
who fist settled in Ambridge from Italy generations ago.
I would like to writ a more concise and inclusive family history including my grandmothers and aunts writings.
Oh Yes! I forgot to mention: I copied the picture of The BRIOLA ICE building with my great uncles standing in front of it and made a T shirts with that image on them. I'm always proud to wear it knowing what it takes to run a successful business. I guess you could say, a part of them lives in me.