Things we remember or heard about
Last updated 28 July 2020
One summer evening Marge and a couple of her girl friends were sitting on the steps of the Eighth Presbyterian church on Perrysville Avenue eating ice cream. A red car came by,stopped and Bob got out and asked their names. It was not love at first sight, but it was like at first sight.
Sep’s father, William, called by his middle name Elmer rather than William. I assume there was a reason, but it never crossed my mind to ask why. Elmer must have been quite successful in the years leading up the the Wall Street crash in 1929. He owned several houses, and I suppose a considerable amount of stock. Apparently he lost almost everything in the crash. I was told that as things were getting worse in the depression, he went to North Park and took his own life with a pistol
I have tried to figure out why he would travel to North Park, 11 miles from home, to do himself in. Could it have been murder? Perhaps one of his associates was unhappy with investments made, or perhaps he had borrowed money from a less than reputable person?
Last updated 8 July 2020
In one of the kitchen cabinets, there was a flour bin that held 25 pounds of white flour. To me this seemed like a lot, but Mom baked often. I also remember seeing the bin refilled after most of the trips to the Pittsburgh Mercantile. She baked bread, sweet and plain rolls, Kolaches, cakes and cookies. Although at the time, I thought that was just another thing mothers do to feed their families, I learned later that she really liked to bake. She said she liked to feel the bread dough when she kneaded it, and that the smell of freshly baked bread was one of her favorite smells.
At some point Linda, Jim and I slept in the attic room on Bly Street. I remember waking up and coughing. I could smell something burning. I turned on the light and our attic room was filled with smoke. I ran downstairs and woke mom and dad up. Dad told us to open all the windows and he went down to the furnace room. There was no fire, but I believe there was something wrong with the belt in the furnace and it was spewing out smoke. I know dad was able to take care of it and he repaired it the next day. Scary! I don’t know if Linda and Jim remember that incident.
Joe was the first one to call me Terri. Actually, he used to say, “Terry and the Pirates.” I liked that name and I decided that I would use it. The nuns and the kids at school called me Teresa. My family called me Sis or Sissy. Once I went to Meyrels Meat Market (not sure of the spelling) to shop for mom. The guy behind the counter said, “What’ll you have, Sis” and I thought he knew my name.! 😂
When someone calls me Teresa, I know it is someone from my grade school years.
Memories:
Dad used to say, “A knife and a fork and a bottle and a cork…that’s the way you spell New York!
As a kid I couldn’t figure out what he was talking about.😂
I don’t know if any of you remember dad taking mom for a spin around the kitchen singing, “All of me, why not take all of me…”
I looked up the lyrics and I believe it was sung by Billie Holiday. It was also sung by other artists. I downloaded the song and it definitely is the song dad sang to mom as he twirled her around the kitchen.
Last updated July 4, 2020
In grade school, Joe’s nickname was “needles” because he was thin. His 
nickname changed as he got a little older to “Joe Cool”. Look at the picture of him in his 57 Chevy convertible. He was indeed Joe Cool! His favorite song was Charlie Brown by the Coasters. “Charlie Brown, Charlie Brown. He’s a clown, that Charlie Brown. He’s gonna get caught, just you wait and see. (Why is everybody always pickin’ on me?)”