Here's a peachy idea: Say Hi to Old Friends.  Email us; we'll put it here.

Send us an email of recollections from the past, or friends you remember when you were growing up.  We'll put the ideas here, and someone may be able to help you recall names long forgotten.  To email, click HERE.

Hi, my name is Julia Geraci Gombach.  I happened to find your website and noticed that there is a mistake in the Q4U:  "This question was provided by Morris Levine. What did all of these gentlemen do as a profession?  Joe Zang, Tony Zang, Sam Forte, Al Pacifico, John Mangino, Tony Geraci and Joe Turiano?  And Woody Cox of Fayetteville, NC says, "Love your Q4U, keeps me in touch with the old home front.  Keep it going.  The answer is they were all in the shoe repair business." My father was John Geraci, St., and he was the shoemaker in Tyrone for many years.  My uncle is Tony Geraci and he was not a shoemaker.  He worked at the State Store for many years. Sincerely, Julia Geraci Gombach, www.livingplaces.com 

This is such a great site, I grew up in Tipton and remember the days when the park was called "Bland Park" in fact I bought a poster of the carousel framed and it's hanging on my wall. Remember when Bellwood's first football game was always with Tyrone? I graduated from Bellwood in 1971..those were the good ole days. I loved going to the 220 drive in on a Friday night, "Electric Glide in Blue" was playing and after that movie, I was leery on white vans..hahaha..I am now living in Maine and I miss the Juniata Baloney that was almost a staple at my house. Up here they never even heard of Lebanon Baloney..they looked at me like I was from mars..!!!
Any way, I love reading the articles from other folks like me, that miss home. Keep the site going and I hope to see more people writing. Maybe you should change the site name to "Memories of Blair County" it was just a fluke that I found you and I am sure glad I did.

Barbara Parshall 

From Rob Buck:  This is a photo of Bud Keefer, Bartender at the old Hub Restaurant on Pennsylvania Avenue.  Taken in the 1950's.   Guess how much a Hot Dog cost in those days.

Thanks, Rob!  (Scroll on down for a photo and note from Rob)

From Charlie:

Hello, Tyrone.  Like your website.  I lived in Tyrone with my grandparents on and off from 1942 till 1953,  first 11 years of my life.  We lived above Freeman's on the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and 12th Street.  I remember sled riding down the 12th Street Hill with my friends Eddie and Billy.  Have a lot of fond memories of Tyrone.     

An Old Friend, Charles

Civil War Encampment August 5 and 6, 2006 in 

Tyrone. Here, Mike Gherrity and his crew prepare to fire a cannon

"Hello, Tyrone!    I'd like to send a special "Hello Mum" to Marilyn Hosko; bet you're surprised.  LOVE YOU."   I really enjoy the Tyrone page; it's nice to be able to show Keith and the kids a little bit of Tyrone.  I wanna say hi to Sue, too.  The Bills Fan 106.  Bye.

Layne

Rob Buck, whose brother Ron has some interesting comments down this page, visited WTRN the other day.  He sat in on the air for Big Gene on the all-night show on WTRN/WGMR back in the 70s.  He says hi to all of his fans from those days.

"The Paper Mill Diner, and other memories"

From Rick in New Hampshire:

I spent at least a part of most summers in Tyrone in the 1950s and early
60s, staying with my grandparents, John and Mae Ferner, in their house on
maple-lined Logan Avenue. I have many fond memories of people and places in
this town that I miss and am sure I will visit again.

Neighbors: Edwin and Gertrude Woodring (she who taught me how to tie my
shoes, and he who coaxed lush vegetables from black dirt, both angels of the
first degree);the Rices (younger Jimmy and older Peggy, who was so kind to
me), the Carlins, the Dixons (Brownie and Bertha and tall beautiful daughter
Jane); the elderly but indefatigable Coulter sisters; Ronnie States, hip
teenager who wasn't too hip to be nice to little kids; Kurt Waite, so
generous with his duplicate baseball cards; the Housers and Wilsons down the
street who took me swimming at Spruce Creek; and the Ross family who lived
in what was previously the Pannebaker  house  (Nancy, her sister, and one
of their friends once "abducted" me for a car ride in the country. I had
wicked crushes on all of them and I surely hope they're well and happy. Does
anybody know?)

Places: Soldiers Park and the stone drinking fountain; Sinking Run
disappearing under the tracks behind the hardware/building supply business
Clasters, where there were old, yellow wooden PRR cabooses to
check out; Reservoir Park and the swimming pool; Sam Dunaway's store with
its pretzels, comic books, risque pinball machines, and its bottles of pop
(we yankees called it "tonic") bathed in the cooler's gurgling waters;
Pike's ice cream store with the Breyers leaf sign hanging out front; Rudy's
down on Pennsylvania Ave., similar to Sam's but famous for its hot fudge
sundaes with crushed peanut topping; the Wilson and El Patio theaters where
I saw "Sergeant Rutledge" and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," Lugg & Edmunds
with the pneumatic tube system that whooshed your money away, then whooshed
back with some change; Hcikes's Market; the ivy on the paper mill walls; and
maybe most of all, the little diner across the street. Did it even have a
name? The strong and beautiful woman who either owned or ran the place was
extremely sweet and tolerant of little boys who hung around every chance
they got. She was fortyish, I think, maybe younger, but with long
salt-and-pepper hair which she wore in a braid. I don't know if I ever knew
her name. Do you?

I'd love to hear from anybody who wants to share any memories (or photos, if
you've got any) of these Tyrone people and places.

Rick Jacunski
Northwood, NH
jski@metrocast.net

Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed seeing the Gardner Guards photos.
I was a snare drummer and still have one of the old GG patches
(attachment). I'll probably donate it to the Museum or the Historical
Society. 
It would be fun to get some of the Guards back together again, perhaps
as a small "reunion" drum and bugle corps. I know a few of the guys have
passed on and others either have moved away or are in poor health. But
there should be enough to do a parade or two, just for old time's sake.
Do you know if anybody still has the old equipment and uniforms, or was
it all sold off?  Mike Albanese, Altoona

JOE SCALIA HONORED

The longtime owner and chef of LaScalia Restaurant received a citation from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives upon his retirement.  Rep. Larry Sather, left, presented the bound certificate during a special Retirement Dinner for Joe's family and staff, which was hosted by new owner, Jeff Long.  Congratulations to Joe and his family and his staff

Mike Swiderski, a Tyrone Native, with twin sons, visits WTRN, where he worked as a deejay while in high school 

My grandfather, John "Jack" Reeder played football, basketball and ran track for TAHS Class of 1936.  Would anyone with any information about him please write to me at GwenDeakins@msn.com.

From James Irvin, Winter Haven, Florida:

Hi, I would like to point out that this park (The PRR Athletic Park discussed below) also also had a tennis court that got used regularly for several years after the Second World War.  I lived in the house at the corner of Adams Avenue and 23rd Street for more than 12 years.  My two brothers and I played in the park during that time and have wonderful memories of it. I was interested in publishing my email address if any of my old acquaintances or class mates were interested in writing back to me. Jim Irvin     jimdurrell@aol.com

Tyrone's favorite shape is the three-leaved Shamrock, but this Four-Leaf Clover was found at Sickler Athletic Park.

From Marilyn Hosko:

The PRR Athletic Park was a wonderful asset for Tyrone's citizens until it closed in the days after World War 2. Now located there are Chicago Rivet, Gardner's Candies, Dixon Tool & Die and Albemarle Corporation.  During the heydays of the park, were a baseball diamond, a grandstand, a running track, a swimming pool and a golf course."  Actually, counting the holes on the other side of Adams Avenue, there were two 18 hole courses connected with the Athletic Park.

From Woody Cox, retired and living in Fayetteville, NC:

     The earliest thing I remember in Tyrone was my family living on 10th street
along the mountain, my brother and some of his friends would venture off to
the hills and would not allow me to tag along. every time they would come
back they would tell me about a missile site located just over the mountain.
      After many days of asking they would still not allow me to tag along nor
would mom. So one day off I went all the way to the top past what we used to
call the white rocks, and after cresting the hill , yes you guessed it no
missile site just more mountains. After getting to the top one thing sticks
out in my mind to this day, I sat down to take a break and admired the
beauty of it all, and the site left a lasting love for the mountains. There
were so many paths in that area that as kids we never had to find something
to do. There were so many battles fought in the white rocks area, it would
make General Patton proud. It sure amazes me this  day and age when I hear
kids say there is nothing to do.           

We eventually moved from 10th street to Blair Ave.And what a great change came to our lives Burry Hill, sled ridding, the play ground. and a river in the back yard, how much fun was that. Of course we lived there when the river ran brown but we
didn't care, it was great. I must tell you though we probably owe the Wilson
and El-Patio theaters some money, we lived right across the street between
the two and they never had air back then so we would watch for the usher to
make their rounds, then sneak in and watch the movies. What a great time we
had. Got caught several times but most off the time they overlooked us.

 My Grandma worked in the laundry there at the play ground. She was a tough
cookie. We used to climb up the side of the laundry to her window and talk
every time we seen her there the heat inside that place must have been
unbearable we could feel the heat coming out the window, wow what a tough
lady she must have been. And by the way, Gary we were in that battle with the
snow fort and if I remember correctly we put a whoopin on you guys. Plastic
braided necklaces seem to stick out in my memory of the play ground never
could make one though.

    Then there was my other grandmom lived on Blair Ave
by the Mill and yep another play ground base ball field, where my brother
Dave hit a grand slam home run to win the pennant for the Dodgers not sure
what year you'll have to look it up it was in the paper. and easy access to
the power line that went to the top of the mountain. and some more great
times. I remember staying at Gram's house and lying there at night listening
to the machines running at the mill, and of course the smell, in my many
travels I have met many people that have passed through Tyrone and the one
thing that always comes too mind is the smell.  

   One more move to Logan Ave right across from the school. And more things to do stick ball in the school lot, and different types of adventures, smoking cigars with Bob and
cigarettes with Leonard. How dumb was that glad I gave that up. Going from
Soldiers Park down to the back of the Hookies under Dry Run;  what a spooky
adventure that was. Then a year with the Citizens Fire Co. Not so fond
memories but did instill a lot of respect for emergency workers.  There are
many things I miss and remember with the fondest of memories. Oh yeah, you
remember the missile site my brother Dave and them used to tell me about
just over the hill. Well It took me awhile but I finally got my missile site.
I retired from the US Army Hawk Air Defense Missile System in 1987. 

Tell me what you say to kids when they are little doesn't have a lasting effect on
them thanks for letting me share a few memories with you.      

   Robert C. Cox/Woody, SFC US ARMY Retired                                      Titanrc @AOL.com
Fayetteville NC Home of the 82nd ABN

"I just wanted to say thanks to everyone involved with the Tyrone website.  My brother first told me about it.  I had been looking for something like this for quite a while, and then, there it was.   My name is Ron Buck. My brother is Rob Buck.  Rob still lives in town. Out father was Charles "Charlie" or "Bucky" Buck.  He was well known in the community, as he was a mail carrier for around 30 years, and was very active in the VFW and other service clubs in town.  Our mother is Ardis Buck, and she currently lives in the senior housing that was formerly Adams School.  Every once in a while I take a look to se what else is new and if I recognize anything or anyone.  I've been living in Maryland for 30 years and get back home to visit my family several times a year.  Keep up the good work.  I enjoy seeing the pictures.  Thanks.  Ron Buck."

"Came across your web page and thought I would join in on the news of the old home town.  Grew up in Cook Hollow as the youngest son of Frank I. Rodgers from 1941 thru 1960.  After High School, the Marine Corps became home for the nest 21 years.  I have never forgotten my roots in Tyrone. What a wonderful place to grow up.  You all have a good web site, keep up the good work, and I'll keep checking back.  Thank you ".Charles D. (Chuck) Rodgers

"That July 2001 Mystery Photo of the Villa Cafe sure brought back memories.  My dad seved us girls, and Mom, spaghetti dinner there once in a while.   Guess Who!"

I came across your web site and thought I'd drop a line.  i grew up outside of Tyrone near Bald Eagle, so the rhododendron and Reservoir Park I remembered very well. I haven't been back since graduating from
high school in 1969. I'll be stopping by to check out your web page as
a way to visit Tyrone from California.

Alan Beckwith
alan_beckwith@spe.sony.com

At left, Pat and Joe Kaiser, of Auburn, California, back home to where Pat grew up.  At right, Pat's cousin, Harold "Moose" Beringer with wife, Lou.

Pat enjoys the Woodland Avenue Paper Boy's recollections of delivering papers, and hearing piano music.  She feels that this probably was from the apartment above Charlie Getz' store, where "Mick" Miller gave piano lessons. 

She recalls sled riding on 16th Street. And, one of the most wonderful memories is going to the Pavilion at Reservoir Park and watching her parents, Bob and Gert Lamkin,  dancing there.  Can you add memories to these?.

I am not sure if you are only listing those who were killed in action on the web site or all veterans that fought in world wars.  My father Paul G. Stewart, Sr., was in World War 2.  He died in 1978 and is buried in the cemetery up the hill in Tyrone behind the Catholic Church.  Just thought I would forward this information to you in case he needs to be included in your list of veterans.

Stewart_J1

Judy Swayne, are you still in Tyrone?   I haven't heard. Didn't hear from you this Christmas   Tampa Days.  Katie     CHensley@specialtyrisk.com

.FROM DORIS BURGET MITCHELL:

"Hi, I was happy to see a place where I could try to contact old friends.  The page is new to me since I last visited Tyrone's website.  I lived in Tyrone for my first twelve years and went to the old Adams Avenue School.  There were several people who were in my classes that I remember along with some of my teachers.  

Would like to know what happened to them.. Did they marry and move away or did they stay?  Susanne Wolfe of Columbia Avenue.  Jack Watson, Jackie Snyder, the American Legion Band's mascot) his father or uncle had a barber shop, Randolph Carpenter, Beryl Ray, Thomas Gill, Suzanna Calm, (her father owned Calm's Dairy in Altoona, I enjoyed weekends, visiting there) she boarded with Susanne Wolf's family during the week and went home on weekends. Also Loretta Updyke, Loretta Houser, Peggy Anderson, Peggy Baughman, the Adams sisters, Dolores and Florence (Sissy), as well as Charles Hand And teachers Miss Buck (first grade), Miss Van Scoyoc, our insurance man's daughter, Miss Stonebraker. 

I used to walk all over town with my grandfather, Martin Burget.  In those days, some people, when they passed away, were laid out in their homes, and I would accompany my Grandfather to pay respects to his old friends.

I remember the A & P Store on Columbia Avenue and Sherm's Drug Store.  The first movie I ever saw at the theatre downtown was "The Blue Bird of Happiness" with Shirley Temple.  I remember the golf course on Adams Avenue extended (The road to Vail), the swimming pool and the old ballpark at the end of Columbia Avenue, the paper mull, Gardner's Candy shop and their warehouse, where my Uncle Max used to buy candy corn by the box with a free pen inside.  I remember Tyrone with fond memories and am happy to see it making a comeback.  Would love to hear from anyone interested in reminiscing.  Doris Burget Mitchell, 559 Sunset Drive, Hanover, PA 17331.  My email address is dandjmitchell2@juno.com

Orange you glad you found this site!