Amity Inn Bar With Neon Koehler Beer Sign

Amity Inn photo courtesy of Tom DiLuzio.

The Amity Inn on West 26th Street in Erie, PA had a pretty cool bar setup in 1943, as you can see in this photo. The most impressive feature was a neon Koehler Beer sign hanging right in the center, above a nice display of flags from around the world. Look to the right and you'll see an antique blade fan on top of an old oak refrigerator with glass doors. Some of the other features in the picture include a Calvert calendar, a Planters Salted Peanuts display, bags of popcorn and beef jerky, and a nice, shiny bar. There is a wide assortment of liquor on display, including bottles of Union Town and lots of other names that are too small to decipher. 

Joseph Ferraro owned the Amity Inn, which was located at 1334 West 26th Street in Erie. Guy Lombardo had dinner there in 1946.

Enjoy more historic facts and photos of Erie, PA at: Old Time Erie

Guy Lombardo at the Amity Inn in Erie PA

Guy Lombardo photo courtesy of Tom DiLuzio.

Band leader Guy Lombardo was in town on March 20, 1946 to help Father Francis J. Schlindwein break ground for the new Saint Boniface School, 9363 Wattsburg Road, just south of Erie on Route 8. Father Schlindwein brought all sorts of celebrities to Erie, and knew many musicians and movie stars. He met Guy Lombardo in New York City in 1943.

After the ceremony at St. Boniface, Guy Lombardo had dinner at the Amity Inn, 1334 West 26th Street in Erie, PA, with local dignitaries. The men in the photo above include (from left to right): Erie Mayor Charlie Barber, Father Schlindwein, Guy Lombardo and Joseph Ferraro. Ferraro owned the Amity Inn. The identity of the woman seated at the table is not known.

Guy Lombardo popularized the song "Auld Lang Syne" and his band appeared in New Year's Eve performances in the early days of television.

Enjoy more historic Erie, PA facts and photos at: oldtimeerie.blogspot.com

Ferraro & Sansone 1938 Steinhaus Beer Truck

Ferraro & Sansone distributed Steinhaus Beer in Erie, PA in 1938. Photo courtesy of Tom DiLuzio.

Ferraro & Sansone distributed Steinhaus Beer and Old Shay Ale in Erie, Pennsylvania in 1938. Here is a photo of their delivery truck parked on Old French Road next to Jefferson Elementary School. This company existed for a very short time prior to World War II.

Joseph Ferraro was the president of Victor Beer Distributing of Erie, PA, 1602 Myrtle St, in 1938. He later owned the Amity Inn at 1534 West 26th Street. Joseph died on December 20, 1950 at the age of 45. He was married to Lucy Sansone Ferraro.

Philip Sansone was the secretary/treasurer of Victor Beer in 1938. (He was listed as the owner of the Ferraro & Sansone Service Station in the 1937 city directory.)

Anthony Sansone was a laborer at Victor Beer in 1938. He worked as a bartender at the Amity Inn in 1948.

According to TavernTrove.com, the Victor Brewing Company, located in Jeanette, PA, was sold to Fort Pitt Brewery of Pittsburgh in 1941. The Steinhaus and Old Shay brands were discontinued in 1939.

Enjoy more historic facts and photos of Erie, PA at: Old Time Erie