Scolio Fancy Fruits at the Central Market

Old Time Erie: Scolio Fancy Fruits photo courtesy of Joe Scolio.

The Scolio family has been in the fruit business for nearly 100 years. Antonio Scolio, shown in the photo above on the left, was the pioneer in this business. He stands proudly behind his display in the Central Market at 16th and State Street in Erie, PA. This shot was taken in the 1920s. Antonio's son, Anthony Scolio, is shown on the right. A. A. Scolio sold fancy fruits such as apples, bananas and pineapples. Scolio also had stands in the Parade Street Market and the Twelfth Street Market. Antonio's great-grandson, Joe Scolio, continues the tradition with Scolio Fruit Baskets at 32nd and Cherry.

Here is a photo of the exterior of the Central Market shortly before it was demolished: http://oldtimeerie.blogspot.com/2012/06/central-market-on-state-street-in-erie.html

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

Phillips Fruit Company, Erie PA

Phillips Fruit Co. photo courtesy of Tom DiLuzio.

The Phillips Fruit Company was based in Erie, PA for at least 45 years. These wholesale fruit dealers got their start as the L. Phillips' Sons Co. They were located at 451 West 16th Street in 1922. The company was run by Angelo and Joseph Phillips, the sons of Louis and Elizabeth Casciani Phillips.

As the business grew more prosperous, they moved to larger quarters. In 1929 they were located at 11 West 16th Street, across the street from the Central Market.

In 1933, the L. Phillips' Son Company included President Angelo Phillips, Vice-president Sam Corso, and Secretary/treasurer Joseph Phillips.  Albert Phillips was co-owner of the Phillips Fruit Company in 1946.

In 1967, the Phillips Fruit Company made its home at 1502 Parade Street, and was run by Joseph and Albert Phillips.

According to the license plates, the picture above was taken in 1938. The trucks all bear the name Phillips Fruit Co., Erie, Penna. The three on the left are 1937 White Model 802 COE (Cab Over Engine). There are nine men in the picture, but they are not identified by name. It's interesting to note that there are several New York Central Railroad boxcars behind the men, and a couple more sets of tracks in the foreground.

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

Christmas Dinner at Central Market, 16th & State 1922

ad in the Erie Dispatch-Herald, December 22, 1922.

The Central Mall was located on the west side of State Street in Erie, Pennsylvania, from the railroad tracks south to West 16th Street. You could buy meat, poultry, fruits and vegetables at one location. This was long before Wegman's, Giant Eagle, Erie County Farms and Tops Friendly Markets came to town.

The Central Mall was a place for individuals or families to rent a booth to sell their goods. John C. Nick sold butter for 52¢, Philip Bova had oranges for 40¢ a dozen and Fred E. Bowers (who also had a corner store at 21st & Ash) had raisins for 33¢ for two pounds. 

Roy E. Tarr (who also had a butcher shop at 1102 West 10th St. in Erie, PA) sold fresh ham for 20¢ per pound. Ernest Throop sold chickens, ducks and eggs from his farm. He also sold cigarettes for $1.25 a carton and two pounds of sugar for 15¢. 

Central Market was the "Market at the Market, where you could buy everything for the table." This public market house was demolished by the Erie Redevelopment Authority. If you would like to step back in time and have a shopping experience similar to that of the Central Market, be sure to visit the West Side Market, at 1979 West 25th Street in Cleveland, OH.

Here is a link to a photo of the old Erie Central Market: http://oldtimeerie.blogspot.com/2012/06/central-market-on-state-street-in-erie.html

Central Market on State Street in Erie, PA

Central Market on 16th and State Street in Erie, PA

The Central Market was a huge retail outlet where people could buy fresh produce, fruit, meat, bread, milk and other items. Merchants could rent individual stalls, or a series of stalls, to sell their goods. Stalls on the State Street side had a door facing State so that goods could be unloaded from the trolley or from horse-drawn carts. I have the original slide of the picture shown above, so if you see it on some other site, it's a bootleg.

In addition to the Central Market, dealers could also rent stalls at the State Street Market or the Parade Street Market. It was not uncommon for a retailer to have stalls in two or three market houses. 

This shot was taken a little bit above the Erie Maennerchor Club, looking north on State St. The 'Black Label' beer billboard was on top of the building which now houses Jr's Last Laugh. You can see the railroad bridge which crosses state just south of 14th Street.

The Central Market was demolished by the Erie Redevelopment Authority. A bowling alley was built on this site. It was later turned into the Erie School District administrative offices and then became Perseus House at 1511 Peach St.

Here is a shot of the interior of the Central Market from the 1920s

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