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| Milk wagons, baker wagons, farm huckster wagons and butcher wagons were familiar sights on the streets of Frackville in the good old days. This photo shows Carl Wagner with his butcher wagon in front of 127 South Balliet street, the residence of Mrs. Elmer Sanner. |
Do you remember the restaurant owned by John Boehmar at 22 South Lehigh where Lehrman's Mens Store is not located? It was later owned by Oscar Wagner and, after him, the Splendid Restaurant owned by Peter Classen.
Bill Davis' restaurant was on the site of the present Hoffman Gas Station, and Harry Walsh's restaurant was located on the site of Sophie's Jewelry Store.
Elias Nahas' restaurant at 38 South Lehigh Avenue was later dismantled, and Scharadin's Pharmacy was built here.
The Hazle Maid at 15 South Lehigh Avenue was in existence for many years. The Meyer Apparel Shop is on this site.
The Altamont Restaurant at Altamont Boulevard was another restaurant remembered by many townspeople.
Lil Shadel's 31 South Lehigh Avenue where Andrew Bender's Store is located was a favority of many people as was Swade's at 48 South Lehigh Avenue.
Did you know that Frackville had several slaughter houses?
Wagner's at 16 West Spring Street is still remembered by the older residents.
Brothers Carl, Gus, and Willie Wagner were the owners and Bill Orth drove the butcher wagon and delivered in Frackville and Lewis Seltzer delivered to Mahanoy Plane. Sam Barrett was the butcher and Abby Wagner worked in the butcher shop.
The cattle were brought in by cattle car each week and unloaded at the freight station. The men "drove" the cattle down Lehigh Avenue into the cattle yards behind the slaughter house.
The steers were pulled in by a "Steam tugger" machine, knocked unconscious by a blow on the forehead and "sticked". (Their throats were slit and bled.)
They were then "dressed" and hung in the ice refrigerator. These were small walk-in rooms, packed with ice to keep the meat cold but not frozen.
No meat was bought frozen as it is today. The ice kept the meat only cold enough to keep from spoiling.
Another slaughter house was owned by Frank Deitrich at 504 South Lehigh Avenue where Mike Roman resides.
They were famous for home made sausage, bologna, pudding and minced ham.
The butcher wagons were equipped with hooks on which the meat was hung and a chopping block where the meat was cut right off the steer as you wanted it. No meat was packaged as it is today.
No butchering was done on Saturday; this was delivery day and Mr. Deitrich, Sr., drove his butcher wagon in town, Mr. Boehmer delivered down the valley, and Frank Deitrich conducted the butcher shop at 14 South Lehigh Avenue where the Home Savings and Loan Association is located.
A steer's horn or a large seashell was used as a "butcher horn" which the driver blew as he approached each house.