Month: December 2019

Posts about Jim

We could use a few short posts about Jim.  If you have information I can use, but don’t want to post it yourself, use the contact form and I’ll post it.

Last updated January 24, 2021

School.  I have been unable to determine if Jimmy went to kindergarten. Like all the other siblings, Jimmy started elementary school at Saint Boniface and went there through the eighth grade.  Then because of the move to Merwood Drive, he attended high school at North Hills High.

Terri had the basement bedroom in the Merwood St house.  She recalls that when Jim, a teenager at the time,  came home late he would tap on her window, which was just above ground, to let him in.  Apparently Jim did not have a key.

Jim moved out of Merwood Drive upon his marriage to Charlotte on August 9, 1976.

Lyceum

Last updated December 10, 2019

Who can forget St. Boniface’s Lyceum?  Pennsylvania liquor laws did not allow for the serving of alcohol on  Sundays except at private clubs.  The Lyceum was such a club run by the church and only members of the parish could be members.  The club had a beer bar (no wine or spirits) and two bowling  lanes.  The club was open seven days a week, and if I remember correctly, after 5 PM on weekdays and noon on Saturdays and as soon as the last Mass was over on Sundays.  Many men were at that Mass standing in the back of the church, near the sacristy, across from the door to the club.  As soon as the priest declared the Mass over, the rush began.

The bowling alleys, which were used mostly for league play could also be used when available by other patrons.  There were travelling and home leagues including mixed (male and female) leagues.  The pins, both standard 10-pins and Duck pins, were set up manually by two boys unless only one was available. The first four Hartmann boys were among those able to make a little extra cash.  Not only did the pin setters get paid by the number of bowlers, but often when a bowler  had a good day , a couple of coins would be would put in the holes.

Sep was often the bartender and clean-up man at the Lyceum, especially during the steel strikes.