French Street pre-Erie Insurance. Photo by John E. Baker, used with permission. |
This scene on French Street between East 5th and East 6th Streets was captured by John E. Baker. The buildings on the left were demolished to make way for the expansion of Erie Insurance. The Gulf station, which sat on the northwest corner of French and North Park Row, is gone as well.
Some of the businesses, from left to right, include Lechtner's Wholesale Company, the Perry Square Cafe, Lake's Electric, Larry's Billiards, Savelli's Tavern and the Erie Achievement Center.
Here is a view of this block from a different angle (and possibly the same blue Volkswagon): http://oldtimeerie.blogspot.com/2012/10/6th-and-french-st-savellis-tavern-erie.html
Enjoy more historic facts and photos of Erie, PA at: oldtimeerie.blogspot.com
My mom worked at Lakes Electric, that black building there. I remember the neighborhood was kind of run down. the bar on the corner was pretty scary. Rumors of prostitutes. I was barely a teen then. Daryl Kidder
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