 |
| This was Grummies Dam, once located at the west end of town where Dr. Hale lives. It was the spot where all the boys went skinny dipping as soon as the weather became warm enough. Many youngsters learned to swim there and have fond boyhood memories of the Good Old Days at Grummies. |
Gordon was born in Shenandoah and moved to Frackville in 1914. He attended school in the Lincoln Building from first grade in 1917 to his senior year in 1929, all in the same building. He recalled there were no gym facilities available and basketball games were played in the Waisitis Hall on North Balliet street. He and his wife, the former Christine Haberle, were born the same day -- also graduated in the same class in 1929. Because the schools did not have an auditorium, commencement exercises were held in the Garden Theater. They remembered their commencement party being held in the ballroom of the Berkshire Building.
Mr. Gradwell attended the Pierce School of Business in Philadelphia and graduated in 1931. His first position was with the Pennsylvania Relief Board. He was Treasurer of our town for several years and when Squire Connelly passed away was appointed Squire and had his office at 48 North Lehigh avenue.
An interesting story about this building is that both the First National Bank and the People's Trust Bank started at this location. The People's Trust Bank built on the opposite side of the street and the First National Bank built the "Brownstone" Bank at 32 North Lehigh avenue. A newspaper office is now located here. They later built a larger bank on the corner of Frack and Lehigh and is now known as the American Bank.
The Gradwells remembered when the Law Building was the Scott Building and Mr. Scott was in the hauling business. Stables were located to the rear of the building. Frank Walsh had a barber shop in the rooms on the left with Squire Connelly having his office to the rear of these rooms. A bake shop was located on the right side and the second floor was used by the Temple of God Congregation. The United States Post Office was located on the right side several years later and after that the Law Firm of Watkins, Walesky and Wisansky bought this building.
He remembered that the George Burchill homestead was located on the present site of the Zion Lutheran Church on West Oak street but was moved to South Nice street to make way for the new church. This house is still used as the parsonage for the Lutheran Minister.
We laughed when Mr. Gradwell told us about their dates at the "Shooting Gallery" in town. This was the Victoria Theater on North Lehigh avenue. (The Frackville Library is now located here and the building is owned by Walter Baran.) He reminisced about the "Silent Western Pictures" that were shown here and said "You haven't lived if you haven't seen and heard a piano player accompanying a silent film." He recalled that Mr. Murphy of town was a fabulous accompanist at the Victoria Theater.
He remembered the many Vaudeville Shows, Minstrel Troupes, Dancing Travelling Companies, and Magicians that played at the Jim White Theater and told me "many a boy learned to swim at Grummies Dam by going skinny dipping there." The home of Dr. Hale is now built on this site.
When he was a young boy his family shopped at the Lawlor Store on the corner of Oak and Railroad avenue. This was a general store on the first floor and in later years a hardware department was added to the second floor. He was ten years old when he helped Mrs. Allen move merchandise from her Hat Shoppe from the small building on the left of the Haupt Building to the new location to the rear of the Bohard Building. They waited until 9 p.m., after shopping hours on Saturday to move so that no business would be lost.
Some interesting facts he mentioned were that in 1975 there are 3,435 taxable residents in town and 1,837 dwellings located here compared to the 3,671 taxable residents and 1,716 dwellings in 1950.
The Gradwells have many fond memories of Frackville and I had a most enjoyable visit with them.
Go to the Robert Reick biography which was originally printed with this tale (now located in the Old Timers section).