Golden Jubilee: Old Fashioned Bargain Days

Ambridge's Old Fashioned Bargain Days were scheduled for June 30 through July 2, with a kickoff chicken dinner attended by about 300 people on June 22 at the Melody Ballroom.*

Most business dinners aren't very exciting, but the kickoff dinner's program started with a bang. Literally.

Men at Old Fashioned Bargain Days kickoff dinner
Daily Citizen
June 23, 1955

Original text:

SOME OF THE PRINCIPALS who aided in making the kick-off dinner last night to inaugurate "Old Fashioned Bargain Days" by Ambridge stores June 30 through July 2: Front left to right: Charles T. Wise, Joe DePasquale, Lawrence LaSpada. Rear: William J. Fedoryk, Al Stevens, David Apple, Eugene Williams, Jack Sterrett, William Curphey, William Merz, Phil Krauss.

  

After the dinner, Eugene Williams, president of the Ambridge Chamber of Commerce was speaking to the diners, when the police burst into the room and, according to the Daily Citizen, felled Williams, "with a fusillade of cop pistols." Keystone Kop pistols actually. Then stretcher bearers quickly arrived and carried the "wounded" Williams away. The Citizen described the diners as "startled and considerably amused" by the mayhem.

Old Fashioned Bargain Days sales began with a Merchant St. parade of costumed store clerks, led by Burgess Panek.

Burgess Panek and store clerks
Old Fashioned Bargain Days parade
Daily Citizen
June 30, 1955

Original text:

BURGESS PANEK LEADS the Old Fashioned Bargain Days parade in a rig that harks back to the pre-automobile stage. Surrounded by clerks from Ambridge stores, attired in 50-years-old styles, the line of march was along Merchant St. when the business places opened for the feast of bargains."

Hurdy-Gurdy
Old Fashioned Bargain Days parade
Daily Citizen
June 30, 1955

Original text:

EVEN AN ANCIENT HURDY-GURDY was in the Old Fashioned Bargain Days Parade this morning which started from the Borough Building. Left to right: Gene Williams, Sears; Charles Wise, Murphys; in rear of Wise is Dave Apple while at Apple's right is Andrew Hammer, of Krauss Jewelry.

The Jubilee wooden nickels could be used as currency in Ambridge stores during the celebration, but I suspect that they all were kept as memorabilia or scooped up by collectors. The front of the nickel says, "One Wooden Nickel, Face Value 5¢." The back says, "This wooden nickel is redeemable in cash at the Mellon National and the Economy Banks of Ambridge, PA. on or before June 30, 1955."

Golden Jubilee wooden nickles
Daily Citizen
June 22, 1955

Original text:

THE FABLED WOODEN NICKEL has become a reality. They are in current circulation about Ambridge in connection with the Golden Jubilee celebration. Round and about the size of a silver dollar, many local people will send them to friends. Distribution will continue today as business places are receiving their allotment. Letters are being received from coin collectors who want one or more for their possession. 

Store employees and business people wore their old-fashioned costumes. And some stores had old-fashioned displays or special events to bring customers into the store.

Rare GWK car
Daily Citizen
June 30, 1955

Original text:

A RARE AUTO ON DISPLAY -- A 1919 GWK two cylinder car, the only one in America is on display all this week during Old Fashioned Bargain Days at the Davidson's Store, Shoe Department. It was revealed that only two other model cars remain in the world and they are located in Daker, Morocco and Johannesburg, South Africa. Edgar Davidson is behind the wheel while others pictured left to right include Mrs. Ann Vorce, Ann Maravich, Mike Vito, Carol Carrerra and Dorothea Russin.

Cowboy George Boyle, Ambridge Theatre manager
Daily Citizen
June 30, 1955

Original text:

COWBOY DESERTS HORSE, GOES MODERN--George Boyle, manager of the Ambridge Theatre, deserted the horse in favor of a modern auto Thursday as he took part in the Old Fashioned Bargain Days parade.

These two amigos posing in the 300 block of Merchant St. are unidentified. If you know who they are, please leave a comment.

Two amigos
300 block of Merchant St.
July 1955
photo courtesy of Bob Mikush
used with permission

Here are some Old Fashioned Bargain Days ads, I'll post more in the next blog article. How many of these businesses do you remember?

Ambridge Chamber of Commerce
Old Fashioned Bargain Days ad
Beaver Valley Times
June 29, 1955

The David Shop
704 Merchant St.
Old Fashioned Bargain Days ad
Beaver Valley Times
June 29, 1955

Economy Furniture
440 Merchant St.
Old Fashioned Bargain Days ad
Beaver County Times
June 29, 1955

Fishers
562 Merchant St.
Old Fashioned Bargain Days ad
Beaver Valley Times
June 29, 1955

Goorin & Harris
651 Merchant St.
Old Fashioned Bargain Days ad
Beaver Valley Times
June 29, 1955

Steiner's
Old Fashioned Bargain Days ad
564 Merchant St.
Beaver Valley Times
June 29, 1955

Stork's Nest
652 Merchant St.
Old Fashioned Bargain Days ad
Beaver Valley Times
June 29, 1955

Tamers
547 Merchant St.
Old Fashioned Bargain Days ad
Beaver Valley Times
June 29, 1955

Taylor's Ice Cream
Old Fashioned Bargain Days ad
Corner Duss Ave. and Merchant St.
Beaver Valley Times
June 29,  1955

Terner's
654 Merchant St.
Old Fashioned Bargain Days ad
Beaver Valley Times
June 29, 1955

The Venger Shop
545 Merchant St.
Old Fashioned Bargain Days ad
Beaver Valley Times
June 29, 1955

More Old Fashioned Bargain Days ads coming!
_____

* The Melody Ballroom was located at 472 Merchant St.

Dean's Dining Car

I'm still working on the next installment of the Ambridge Golden Jubilee posts, but in the meantime, here's a vintage restaurant photo for you to look at.

Dean's Dining Car
Fifth St.
Daily Citizen, August 10, 1929

All I know about Dean's Dining Car is the little information that's in the ad and that it was on 5th St. in the late 1920s and early 1930s. The later Fifth Street Diner had an address of 286 Fifth St., and that part of 5th St. is only a short half-block, so I'm guessing that both diners were in the same location at different times. Butch O'Keefe says that he believes that the diners actually occupied the same building.

That part of 5th St. is now the parking lot for The Maple Restaurant.

Golden Jubilee: Let the celebration begin!

Official Ambridge Golden Jubilee Banner
photo credit: Brian L Carter
used with permission

Ambridge Golden Jubilee seal
photo credit: Brian L Carter
used with permission

Note: The above Golden Jubilee banner is currently for sale on eBay. 

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".*

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
_____

* 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.

Golden Jubilee: Brothers of the Brush, Sisters of the Swish

Brothers of the Brush pin
Ambridge Golden Jubilee
courtesy of Bob Mikush

All men who lived or worked in Ambridge were required to become "Brothers of the Brush" and grow beards for the Golden Jubilee celebration, June 26 through July 4, 1955. "Shaving permits" were available to men who wouldn't, or couldn't, grow a beard. I didn't find (yet) a mention of how much those permits cost. Woe to the men who were caught without a beard or shaving permit. The scofflaws faced an assortment of penalties, including arrest by the Keystone Kops and trial in Kangaroo Kourt. Punishment was usually swift and silly.

Shaving permit pin
Ambridge Golden Jubilee
courtesy of Ron Strauss

Some of the Brothers of the Brush chapters included: Pastafazola, UWA Pyrohy's, and the Knight of the Hot Salami. The Brother with the longest beard won a silver loving cup at the American Slovak Association Picnic at Firemen's Park on June 26, one of the Golden Jubilee's first scheduled events. A beard judging contest also was held during the Jubilee celebration.

Women had their own Jubilee group and became "Sisters of the Swish" by wearing old-fashioned dresses. I don't know if women had anything similar to the men's "shaving permit." The women's costumes also were judged during the celebration.

Hijinks ensued even before the Jubilee celebration officially began on June 26.

Pirate Coach John Fitzpatrick was made an honorary member of the Patafazola Chapter at a Pirate's game.

Pastafazola Chapter with Pirate Coach John Fitzpatrick
Daily Citizen
June 14, 1955

Original text:

HONORARY MEMBER -- Pirate Coach John Fitzpatrick, center, was made honorary member of the Pastafazola Chapter of the Brothers of the Brush in between the Bucs-Braves doubleheader at Forbes Field Sunday afternoon. The other players in the photo are Dick Groat and George Freeze while the Keystone Kops in the front row are: Steve Powell and Al Russo.

Looks like the Kops made a raid at Wyckoff Steel and Kourt was held.

Painted worker at Wyckoff
Daily Citizen
June 22, 1955

Original text:

KANGAROO KOURT was held by the Woolly Whoopers of Wyckoff Chapter late yesterday afternoon following the day shift. Regis Roll, left, was made honorary member after being painted by the president of the chapter.

Man in a barrel
Daily Citizen
June 22, 1955

Original text:

SEVERE PUNISHMENT--Another Wyckoff employe gets his punishment following a Kangaroo Kourt late Tuesday afternoon. 

John J. Kotarski in dress and bonnet
Daily Citizen
June 22, 1955

Original text:

ANOTHER FORM OF PUNISHMENT was meted a worker at Wyckoff Steel plant late Tuesday afternoon. The unidentified worker is being held by two Kops as sentence is pronounced.

There was the cooking of the "Human Pirohy."

Cooking of the human pirohy,
Daily Citizen,
June 24, 1955

Original text:

COOK HUMAN PIROHY--A "human pirohy" was "cooked" last evening at the Ukrainian Workingmen's Association Branch 5 lodge, Melrose Ave., following sentencing at Kangaroo Kourt by the Brothers of the Brush. Held inside a six foot replica of a rolling pin, and a four by six flour sack was used in making the human pirohy. The victim is pictured in the center, shortly before the "cooking" job.

Being a news photographer has its dangers.

Daily Citizen Photographer in stocks
Daily Citizen
June 27?, 1955

Original text:

PHOTOGRAPHER PUNISHED -- Norm Hanevich, a Daily Citizen Photographer, failed to have a "Brother of the Brush" pin Friday evening when he was given an assignment to cover the Kangaroo Kourt at Eighth St. Cafe. As a result, his punishment was a "paint" job.

According to the June 24 Daily Citizen, the Sisters of the Swish Pirohettes and Piroghy Brothers of the Brush made a woman who wasn't wearing a costume wash down a parking meter. The Sisters supervised the job by holding a rolling pin over the offender's head.

And on June 27, the Daily Citizen reported that an unlucky visitor from Ohio ended up with a pie in his face. So apparently, even men who didn't live or work in Ambridge might be penalized for being beardless in Ambridge.

Joseph Bartolo, who was six at the time of the Jubilee, remembers beardless men being thrown in clawfooted bathtubs full of water which had been placed around town.

I love seeing and reading about our parents, grandparents, and other Ambridge adults acting so silly and having such a good time. And being good sports.

More blog posts on the Golden Jubilee celebration coming soon.

Golden Jubilee: The Big Train Robbery

Sixty years ago, Ambridge celebrated its Golden Jubilee. Most of the official activities, which ranged from solemn to silly, were held Sunday, June 26 though Monday, July 4, 1955. But the shenanigans started earlier and included a rootin'-tootin' train robbery on the morning of June 14, when a passenger train headed to Cleveland was held up at French Point by a gang of masked--and bearded--cowboys armed with pistols and rifles, and two women were kidnapped.

Luckily, photographers were present to capture the entire crime. And the only loot the outlaws got was wooden nickels which could be spent only in Ambridge during the Golden Jubilee celebration.

Newspapers later reporting on the event made clear the "robbery" was staged, as was the "kidnapping." The June 14, 1955, Daily Citizen assured readers that the railroad had approved the stunt, and the appropriate government agencies had been notified in advance.

The train's crew and passengers had also been forewarned, and the June 15, 1955, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported the stunt "threw passengers into a state of shock manifested by uncontrollable laughter."

Big Train Robbery
Daily Citizen
June 14, 1955

Original text: 

TRAIN ROBBERY -- Two pistol packing gunmen boarded the Pittsburgh Steeler passenger train at French Point this morning and staged a "hoax" robbery in conjunction with the Ambridge Golden Jubilee celebration. Holding the train engineer at gun point are Bob Gaona, Pittsburgh Steeler tackle, and George Kisiday, former Buffalo Bills lineman.

"Gladys Zallenich is kidnaped by robbers Kisiday, Deiter and Szafaryn"
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
June 15, 1955

Armed bandits holding up train
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
June 15, 1955

Original text:

Bandits Sam Gaona, Chester Starr, Len Szafaryn, Bob Gaona, Sam Gagliardi, Charles Deiter and Joe Rodio are shown in the act of forcing Janice Hatt and Gladys Zallenick from train at Economy. They escaped in a buckboard toward Ambridge after the "robbery."

Given that the bandits were identified as men well-known in the Ambridge area, including Borough Council member Charles Deiter, Borough Secretary Joe Rodio, and Ambridge policeman Ed Gagliardi, their arrest by the Ambridge police was swift--even though the desperados had switched their choice of get-away vehicle from the original buckboard to a Jaguar.

Arrest of the train robbers
Beaver Valley Times
June 15, 1955

Original text:

ARRESTS MADE -- Ambridge Policeman Charles Bruich catches two culprits, Len Szafaryn, Green Bay Packer football player, and Bob Gaona, a lineman of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Both footballers played on the same "team" yesterday in the "robbery" of the Pennsylvania Railroad train "Morning Steeler." Gaona has the loot--wooden nickels--Ambridge Golden Jubilee money which will go on sale at the end of this week. The "robbery" was staged as part of the jubilee celebration.

Train robbers nabbed
Daily Citizen
June 15, 1955

Original text:

ROBBERS NABBED -- Three bearded men who took part in the big train robbery early Tuesday morning were apprehended by Ambridge police a short time later as they attempted to get away in a Jaguar auto. Pictured left to right are: Sam Gaona, George Kisiday, Charles Deiter and arresting officer Walter Knafelc. 

What do cowboys and a train robbery have to do with Ambridge or its history? I have no idea. I suspect the men just wanted to play Western bandits. And they did show off their mandated Brothers of the Brush beards and highlighted the wooden nickels. 

I will grant that coming up with a fun, more-representative-of-Ambridge event is hard. The best I could come up with is a "throw pierogies at duckpins while an accordion band plays polkas tournament." Not real pierogies of course! Actual pierogies should always be eaten, never tossed. So beanbag "pierogies" would be used for the event.

More on the Golden Jubilee celebration, including the huge parade, will be posted soon.