Stearns Strikes it Rich in Erie, PA

Stearns Manufacturing Co., ad in Erie Morning Dispatch, January 7, 1880.

Glenn Stearns put Erie on the map with 'Undercover Billionaire' in 2019, a hit Discovery Channel television series based on the premise of building a million-dollar business with just $100 and a pickup truck. But long before Glenn came to town, a different Stearns struck it rich in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Edward H. Stearns moved to Erie after a fire destroyed his planing mill in Massachusetts. E. H. Stearns bought property at East 10th between Holland and German Streets in Erie and built a company that was known throughout the world, thanks in part to his keen eye for industrial necessity. 

E. H. Stearns held over 30 patents, one of which was issued by the United States Patent Office in 1856! His machines made it faster and safer to remove bark from trees and to turn logs in saw mills. This entrepreneurial spirit made life easier at a time when most houses were made of wood, and timber was king. 

"These productions, which are known in every lumber camp and saw mill in the United States, have maintained their excellence of construction during the entire period of their manufacture." -History of Erie County, PA (Warner, Beers 1884).

Enjoy more fun facts about Erie, PA at Old Time Erie!

Words and Music to Dream By

Words and Music to Dream By featured Skip Letcher and Dick Fry. The photo of downtown Erie by Dick Kubeja  shows the west side of State Street from 9th to 7th, from Kresge's to the Boston Store. 

Skip Letcher was the star of a popular children's television show by day, donning a beard to play Pappy. By night he was a radio personality. More about his career in a moment. Skip teamed up with organist Dick Fry for "Words and Music To Dream By," a record album that was released by Rodeo International. Dick played organ, piano and chimes; Skip read poetry written by Ellen H. Eff.

The Pappy Show was legendary. Hundreds of Erie youngsters appeared in the WICU-TV studio audience for a chance to be on television. Skip was very popular with the kids, many of whom remember him 50+ years later!

Skip Letcher's biography appears on the back cover of the album jacket. He was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and got his start in 1944 at CJCH in Halifax, Nova Scotia. His next gig was at CJCB in Sydney and then VON in St. John's, Newfoundland. He appeared in the 1949 or 1950 Columbia Pictures' short "Disc Jockeys, USA." This was a jumping-off point that lead to a dual job at WICU radio and TV in Erie, PA.

"On TV Skip does five children's shows a week and on the radio has the most popular show on Sundays, 'Music For Sundays,' four hours of good music and poetry. Skip's programs are heard over the tri-state area of Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania and also the London-Tillsonburg area in Ontario."

I'm not one for poetry, but Dick Kubeja's photo on the cover of this album is awesome. It was taken from the Baldwin Building (Renaissance Center) at 10th and State, which is why the Koehler Beer clock towers over everything. He also got a nice shot of the Boston Store from a different angle. Other stores in the picture are Kresge, Eckerd's Drugs, Jordan's, Thom McCan and Burt's Shoes. There was plenty of neon to light up State Street.

Thanks to Dale for parting with this sweet record! Enjoy more fun facts about Erie, PA at Old Time Erie.

Big Jim Carter Awarded Purple Heart in WWII

James W. Carter ABMC webpage and Cleveland Call photo.

U. S. Army Technical Sergeant James W. Carter was killed in action during World War II while fighting in Luzon, an island in the Philippines. 

I first learned of his fate while reading a Cleveland, Ohio newspaper. "T-Sgt. James Walker Carter of 217 E. 17th St. met a heroes death on the island of Luzon April 23, according to word received by Miss Lillian Carter, his wife, from the War Department and Lt. Col. George D. Bunch of the 870th Aviation Engineers, who was his commanding officer. Carter was born 35 years ago in Richmond, VA, and met and married his wife in Philadelphia in 1939. He worked with contractors throughout the country and came to Erie in 1941 and was inducted there on January 6, [19443]. 

'Big Jim' as he was known to his friends, could have possibly avoided death if he had accepted the opportunity offered him just prior to the time his outfit left Jefferson Barracks, where he was stationed. An offer was made to him to serve as an M.P. which he refused because of his admiration for his friends, who would leave him behind if he chose M.P. duty; he had always been known as a man of action. Sgt. Carter was buried with full military honors April 24 on Luzon Island. He is Erie's second casualty of this war." -Cleveland Call and Post, May 26, 1945.

I did a little more searching and found an article about the 870th Engineers in a Baltimore, MD newspaper. "With two battle stars, construction of five major airdromes and a unit citation to their credit, all but 83 of the original 752 men of the 870th Engineer Aviation Battalion expect to be home for Christmas...During their 28 months of oversea's service only  one man, T/Sgt. James Carter, Erie, PA, was lost due to enemy action...Every man in the unit wears the gold wreath on his right sleeve, signifying the Unit Citation award for meritorious service on New Guinea. Battle stars are for the New Guinea and the Luzon campaigns." -The Afro-American, September 24, 1945.

The 870th was sent to Japan after T/Sgt. Carter died. Ranking officers thought it was hypocritical to try and change the government and economy of this nation. "First steps toward the democratization of Japan should be taken in America, in the opinion of ARC Field Director Alvin Turner and Capt. Ernest N. Mattison, chaplain, both Washingtonians serving with the 870th Engineer Aviation Battalion here.

'America is in error trying to democratize the rest of the world,' says Mr. Turner. 'People can be made to swallow a thing but they won't always digest it and the chances of making a democracy out of Japan are slim because this nation is fundamentally a feudalistic state.'

By treating people in the United States fairly, especially colored ones, the country can best prevail upon other nations to let the Golden Rule be the international creed, he continues." -The Afro-American, November 24, 1945.

The American Battle Monuments Commission maintains 24 overseas cemeteries and 26 memorials, monument and markers which memorialize the sacrifice of more than 218,000 U.S. servicemen and women.

Find more historical facts and photographs of Erie, Pennsylvania at Old Time Erie

Rolling Stones And Smashing Pumpkins

Erie Daily Dispatch, September 13, 1870.

Rolling stones gather no moss, neither do roving boys. And when your aim is true, you might smash a pumpkin or two.

"On Saturday night a little daughter of Mr. William Mallery, had a children's party at her father's house on East 11th street, and a crowd of uninvited boys, about twelve years of age, congregated there to have some sport at the expense of those in the house.

Several stones were thrown at the building, some of them going into the hallway, where also, a small pumpkin fell and was smashed. Mr. Mallery ran out and caught one of the boys, to whom he administered a flogging.

Yesterday morning John Nugent, Henry Klitz, Jacob Klitz, Frank Klick, Charles Evans, Adam Harley, Christian Downer, Conrad Firch, George Siegel and Frederick Gudenburg, were brought up before Justice Griffith, looking nice enough to make a teacher feel proud of them. They admitted the facts as to the participation of each with commendable candor and the prosecutor and Justice were both disposed to let them off lightly. They were given good advice and discharged on payment of costs, which amounted to $1.15 each."

I don't see any mention of criminal charges being brought against Mr. Mallery for whipping one of the kids. Times sure have changed.

Find more old Erie photos and crime blotters at Old Time Erie

Peter Pulakos Chocolates at 11th and Liberty

Peter Pulakos Tradition House at 11th and Liberty in Erie, PA circa 1955.

Peter Pulakos Tradition House was located on Liberty between 10th and 11th Streets in Erie, PA. Even though the picture shown above was taken in the fifties, a decade before I was born, something about it looked very familiar. I figured it out pretty quickly, thanks to Google Maps. The Salvation Army! I spent many hours there during the summer shooting hoops, playing bumper pool and eating pork rinds.

The Pulakos family started manufacturing and selling home-made chocolate and candy in Erie in 1903. Brothers Peter, Stephen and August Pulakos inherited Pulakos Candies business at 1108 State Street from their father, George P. Pulakos, in 1913. The brothers moved to 926 State Street in 1916. Peter Pulakos always considered the windows to be the eyes of the store, and saw to it that all his stores, including the location on Liberty Street, made the best use of the display space so it was visible from the street.

The old Pulakos building on the left still stands, but has a different sign on the front. It's now the center part of the Salvation Army at 1022 Liberty Street. The house on the right was demolished years ago and replaced with a two-story brick building.

Find more obscure facts and old photos of Erie, Pennsylvania at Old Time Erie

Lawrence Dyeing and Cleaning

Old Time Erie photo courtesy of Ada Lawrence.

Emma Gertrude Lawrence was the first female African-American businessperson in Erie, Pa. She owned Lawrence Dyeing & Cleaning, which was located at 402 West 3rd St., on the northwest corner of 3rd and Chestnut.

The business was born of necessity. Emma's husband John passed in 1889 and she was left with four young children to care for. She started from scratch, taking in laundry in her own home. She excelled at her job and as word spread, business began to increase. Lawrence Dyeing and Cleaning was founded in 1906 and was well known throughout all of Erie. When Gertrude passed away in 1934, her son Charles Lawrence took over and the operated the business until 1963, working with his sister Effie Lucas. 

Gertrude made time in her busy life to maintain membership in several civic organizations. Her work ethic was not lost on her children. Earl Lawrence was a well-known musician and popular teacher in the Erie area. To learn more about other African-American families in Erie, read the wonderful book Journey From Jerusalem by Sarah S. Thompson and Karen James.

Enjoy more historical facts and photos of Erie, Pennsylvania at Old Time Erie

Villa Maria Academy Circa 1903

The old Villa Maria Elementary School was built around 1892 on the southwest corner of 8th and Liberty in Erie, PA. The photo above was taken around 1903, before the houses were constructed on the north side of West 8th St. When Villa opened it had 85 students. Villa Maria Academy moved to a different location on West 8th in 1953. Villa Maria Elementary followed, moving to 2551 West 8th St. in 1993. The institutions are run by the Sisters of St. Joseph.

Enjoy more fun historical facts and photos of Erie, Pennsylvania at Old Time Erie

Is It Too Cold for the Koehler Polar?

Erie Daily Times articles from Jan. 26th (guess the year).

Is it too cold for the Koehler Polar? If you're old enough to remember the Koehler Polars, there's a pretty good chance you remember this storm. 

No, it's not the Polar Vortex. Not by a long shot. But, it could have been ripped from the headlines and published in the January 7, 2014 issue of the Erie Times-News. 

The details of each major winter storm are practically interchangeable. The old: "Police Warn Of Danger As High Winds Rip Area." "Winds Batter Midwest, East, South: 13 Dead." The new: I just Googled the phrase 'winds batter midwest' and got 2,360 results, including a Sky News headline "US Weather: 13 Dead As Snow Batters Eastern US" published on Jan. 3, 2014.

Thankfully, the wind did not reach the intensity of the storm in the seventies.

Let's see if you can guess the year of the 'Worst storm ever.' Here are a couple of hints: 

The Char House restaurant at 12th and Peach was without power.
Picture windows at Goofy's (at 12th and Raspberry) were blown out.
The Erie International Airport was closed.
The whole Allegheny Airline system was shut down.
General Telephone said telephone lines were downed by high winds and tree branches.
Technical-Memorial closed at 2 p.m.

Are you getting warm yet?

My favorite event from the January 26th storm was the request by General Telephone. "The telephone company also urged customers to use their phone only when necessary, and to also keep their children from using the telephone unless it's necessary." Good luck with that.

Enjoy more historical weather facts about Erie, PA at Old Time Erie

Harris Ford Key Chain Fob

Remember back when you bought a new car and they gave you a token of their appreciation for being a loyal customer? Here is one such item, a Harris Ford key chain fob. No automatic car starter or heated seats in these old vehicles. If you left your headlights on, your battery would be dead after a few hours. Much simpler times then, without a need for ten keys for opening doors. The cashier didn't need to scan the barcode on your grocery store loyalty card on your key fob because the cashier at your neighborhood food market most likely knew you by name. 

Harris Ford was located at 150 East 12th St. in Erie, PA. There was a cluster of new and used car dealers on Twelfth Street at the time.

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

Gone Fishing at Four Mile Creek

When I look at old postcards I find it odd that people dressed so well to go fishing, to a picnic or to the beach. Take these young boys for instance. No hip waders here. They look like they just went to church and decided to catch dinner on the way home. Maybe that's why they are using tree limbs as fishing poles.

This scenic photo was taken near the Lawrence Park Gold Club, which was established in 1921. Are these young men spending some quality time with their fathers at the mouth of Four Mile Creek? The man in the middle looks like he is standing in the water all by himself, looking out at Lake Erie. I hope the boys had a bucket to carry their fish home in.

The S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie sponsor a pretty cool program to encourage sport fishing in Erie County. You can check out a fishing pole and a tackle box for free at the Blasco Memorial Library on the Bayfront or the Iroquois Avenue Branch Library in Lawrence Park. 

And here's a little bit of fishing history: A new fish hatchery was built in Erie in 1914. Fishing licenses were first required in 1922, when a resident fishing license cost $1. The fee was raised to $1.50 in 1928 and to $2 in 1948. The Pennsylvania Fish Commission collected $207,425.53 the first year. The daily creel limit for trout was set at 25 in 1925. Other limits were: 10 bass, 10 walleye, 15 pickerel and 3 muskies.

Enjoy more fun facts about the history of Erie, Pennsylvania at: Old Time Erie

Naval Award Named For Erie Girl

Naval Award Named for Erie Girl

by Debbi Lyon

Once upon a time a little Erie girl's good deed inspired thousand of people across America to follow her lead. Sound familiar? Believe it or not, it's been nearly 100 years since Marjorie Sterrett sent her 10¢ allowance to the U.S. Navy to build a new battleship to fight in World War I.

Marjorie wrote a letter to the editor of the New York Tribune on February 2, 1916 which said:

"Dear Sir: I read in your paper every morning a great deal about preparedness. My grandpa and great-grandpa were soldiers. If I was a boy I would be a soldier, too. But I am not, so I want to do what I can to help. Mamma gives me a dime every week for helping her. I am sending you this week's dime to help build a battleship for Uncle Sam. I know a lot of other kids who would give their errand money if you would start a fund. I am 13 years old and go to Public School 9, Brooklyn. Truly yours, Marjorie Sterrett.
I am a true blue American and I want to see Uncle Sam prepared to lick all creation like John Paul Jones did. P.S.- Please call the battleship America."

The NY Tribune forwarded her letter to the Secretary of the Navy, Josephus Daniels. Daniels wrote a letter to Marjorie which stated, "Your patriotic action is indeed commendable, and I congratulate you on the motives which prompted your action, but I am returning the stamps herewith. The revenue required for such naval construction...will be obtained by taxation in the usual manner."

Marjorie's story was quickly picked up by the wire service and was published in thousands of newspapers across the country. It even caught the eye of former president Theodore Roosevelt, who wrote to Marjorie on Feb. 5, 1916. "Dear little Miss Marjorie...I enclose a dollar. Forty cents- a dime apiece- are for: Gracie Roosevelt, Richard Derby II, Theodore Roosevelt III, Cornelius Van Schaak Roosevelt...The other sixty cents is for my other six grandchildren. They are not born yet..."

Marjorie met Theodore Roosevelt on February 11, 1916. Her photo appears on the Library of Congress website, where she is identified as "Marjorie Sterretti." Close inspection of the George G. Bain photo reveals that the last name is actually Sterrett.

"Several motion picture concerns have offered inducements to Marjorie to take up a career with them, but the little girl has flatly refused them. She is more interested in her school work than acting in the movies, and I am glad it is so. Neither Marjorie's mother nor myself would consent to her appearing in any sort of performance- stage or motion pictures- that was not directly concerned with the Battleship Fund and for its sole benefit. We will gladly lend our little girl to the cause of Americanism and patriotism, but we will not consent to have her patriotism commercialized. Neither she nor we have received one cent either directly or indirectly through the Battleship Fund, and we do not expect to receive any. Marjorie is now just and ordinary American schoolgirl, and we mean to keep her so. 
March 14, 1916 (signed) Thomas G. Sterrett"- Poughkeepsie Eagle News.

The Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund, which is still in existence,  ultimately donated $20,000 to the U.S. Navy. Two ships are chosen each year, one from the Pacific Fleet and one from the Atlantic Fleet, to receive the Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award.

Marjorie was born in Silver Creek, NY and was the daughter of Fred and Grace Rockwood Dean. Grace married Thomas G. Sterrett in 1912, following Fred's death. Marjorie then took the surname of her step-father. Thomas G. Sterrett was an actor and a military veteran. He was stationed at New York at the start of World War I and was in charge of the Marine Corps Publicity Bureau until the spring of 1919. The Sterretts moved back to Erie and Thomas served as Sheriff of Erie County from 1926 to 1930.

Marjorie Sterrett married Peter Raun in 1920 and had three children. Marjorie Raun died on March 2, 1927, in Wattsburg, Erie Co., PA. She was just 24 years old. The photo shown above is available on the Library of Congress website.

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

Baby It's Cold Outside!

Brrrr! There was more than an icy chill in the air when this photo was taken in the winter of 1947. Can't you feel that wicked wind whipping across the Public Dock? You would expect to see that kind of action out on Lake Erie, but not in the protected bay between the Presque Isle State Park and the foot of State Street. It looks like the dock is about to be submerged into the bay.

The eastern seaboard was pummeled by a three-day snowstorm from Thursday, February 20 through Saturday, February 22, 1947, causing at least 53 deaths. Erie native Marie Olsen took this picture at the Public Steamboat Landing during that storm. It's lucky that she didn't get blown across the ice and into the water by one of those gusts, which were recorded at 55 miles per hour in Buffalo, NY. Seven hundred and forty-eight flights were cancelled at La Guardia Airport over the weekend. Ten inches of snow fell in Pittsburgh. New York City and Washington, D. C. each got seven inches of snow. Some areas of Pennsylvania had drifts that were almost four feet deep, bringing travel to a standstill.

Many things have changed since 1947. The Public Steamboat Landing is now called Dobbins Landing. And you can now check the weather from the warmth of your home by checking out the local news or the Weather Channel on TV or the Internet (or TV on the Internet). But one thing never changes. You still need a parka, gloves, boots and a shovel to survive an Erie winter.

Enjoy more photos of Erie, PA, the Winter Wonderland, at: Old Time Erie

Horror at the Peninsula Drive In

The image flickers on the screen as you sit in the relative safety of your vehicle. Then it happens...a blood-curdling scream shrieks through the little silver box attached to your window. You cover your eyes and peak through your fingers. That's the price your pay for viewing horror movies like "The Fun House" at the drive-in theater. 

The Peninsula Drive-In was located at 301 Peninsula Drive, where the Tom Ridge Environmental sits today. Shows started at dusk, and there was usually a double or triple feature. Sometimes the early show was aimed at a young audience (think Herbie the Love Bug), and other times the movies were strictly for a mature audience. 

There was generally a long line of cars waiting to get in to the Peninsula Drive-in, which opened around 8 p.m. Cars would snake their way along the gravel covered lanes, which made a distinctive sound when you drove over them. The lot wasn't flat; it was quite a bumpy ride over the humps in the road. Station wagons would bottom out if there was a pothole in the lot. 

Enjoy more historical facts and photos of Erie, Pennsylvania at: Old Time Erie

Masonic Temple at 8th and Peach

The Masonic Temple Building in Downtown Erie, PA was constructed in 1909 and completed in 1910. This six-story building is located on the northeast corner of 8th and Peach. The grand lobby has beautiful marble and woodwork throughout.

The scene in the postcard above is much different today because the old Boston Store was constructed to the north of the Masonic Temple in place of the three-story building shown here. (You could enter the Boston Store on Peach Street and exit on State St.) The three-story building to the right of the Temple was the Ensign Building at 16 West 8th Street. The Ensign was replaced by a five-story building that is now occupied by UPMC Health Plan.

The Masonic Temple Building, at 32 West 8th St., is the home of the Perry Keystone No. 392, the Lawrence No. 708 and the Tyrian Commonwealth No. 362 Masonic lodges. There are a number of businesses, offices 

Enjoy more fun facts about the history of Erie, Pennsylvania at: Old Time Erie

Dependent and Neglected Children

Four hundred and twenty-nine dependent or neglected children received care from social agencies and institutions in Erie County, PA in 1940. The break-down is as follows: 

184 children lived in institutions (Sarah A. Reed Home and St. Joseph's Home for Children)
164 children lived in foster homes
81 children lived in relatives' homes

Additionally, 69 children with legal residence in Erie County received foster care outside of the county:

35 children lived at Bethesda Home in Meadville, PA
2 children lived at Carson College in Flourtown, Montgomery Co., PA
4 children lived at Girard College in Philadelphia, PA
2 children lived at the Odd Fellows' Home of NW PA in Meadville, PA
1 child lived at the Orphans' Home & Farm School in Zelienople, Butler Co., PA
9 children lived at Pennsylvania Soldiers' Orphans' Home in Scotland, Franklin Co., PA
4 children lived at Ruth M. Smith Children's Home in Sheffield, Warren Co., PA
3 children lived at St. Paul's Orphanage in Greenville, Mercer Co., PA
1 child was under the care of Children's Aid Society in Oil City, Venango Co., PA
7 children were under the care of Conference of Catholic Charities in Pittsburgh, PA
1 child was under the care of Children's Aid Society in Meadville, PA

"During 1939, 38 children were adopted through the Erie County Court. Of this number five were adopted by their own parents, probably after the second marriage of one natural parent of the children. Of the remaining 33 children, 18 had legal residence in the City of Erie and two in Corry, six children came from other Pennsylvania counties, two from Ohio, one from New York State, one from Mississippi and three from unknown localities.

Fifteen of the children were recorded as born out of marriage. In five instances the original placements in the adoption homes were made by social agencies or institutions. The adopting parents were married couple, with one single woman as an exception.

Many instances were cited of placements of children for adoption by doctors and private individuals." -Care of Dependent, Neglected and Delinquent Children in Erie County, Pennsylvania.

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

Hills Department Store Layaway

Every year around Thanksgiving hopeful kids would scour the ads in the Sunday newspaper and compile lists of presents that they wished to receive for Christmas. One of their parents would then go to the store, list in hand, and pick out toys, sweaters and jeans for their kids. 

If they did not have enough money to pay for the merchandise, they could buy the items on credit. There was usually a long line of people with cartfuls of goodies waiting at the layaway window at Hills Department Store on East 28th and Elm Street. This was back in the 70s and 80s, when stores actually ran out of things, before you could find practically anything on eBay and the Internet.

Here's how layaway worked:
Merchandise was held for 60 days to give the customer time to pay for the items. The clerk at Hills placed your items in bags or boxes and they were stored behind the counter in the layaway department.

A minimum deposit of 10% of the total purchase price or $1 (whichever was larger) was put toward the bill.

The total price of the merchandise had to be at least $5.

You had to bring your ticket and cash register receipt with you to make payments or pickup your merchandise.

A small fee was collected with each payment. In 1983, the fee was $1 per transaction.

If you failed to pay for your items within 60 days, the merchandise was returned to open stock, and you forfeited the service charge and handling fees. 

If you had items in layaway, your kids couldn't snoop around the house and figure out what their gifts would be. 

Enjoy more fun facts about Erie PA at: Old Time Erie

Tour Top Historic Sites in Downtown Erie

Charles M. Tibbals lived in this Greek Revival home at 146 East 5th Street more than 170 years ago. Tibbals was the founder of the Chicago & Erie Stove Company, which manufactured the "Invincible," an award-winning, ornate coal burning stove that heated many a parlor throughout the United States. This red brick house is a testament to his wealth and keen attention to detail.

Did you miss your chance to tour this beautiful home, and nine other nearby properties, this Thursday, Sept. 26th? The Erie County Historical Society coordinated this self-guided tour, which included sites owned by Erie Insurance. Many of the buildings pre-date the Civil War. Tickets are $10 each.

Ten sites on State and French Streets, from 3rd to 6th Street, were included on the itinerary. They included the Cashier's House and Erie History Center, Chandlery Corner (4th and State), the Dickson Tavern (2nd and French), Pierre S. V. Hamot House (3rd and French), Sullivan's Pub, O'Donnell House (4th and French), St. Patrick Catholic Church (130 E. 4th), the H. O. Hirt Building (East 6th) and the F. W. Hirt Building on the corner of 6th and French. On street parking is generally free after 6 p.m. downtown.

(On a side note, I almost called this post "The Trouble With Tibbals" but I wasn't sure how many of you were Star Trek fans and watched the episode about tribbles.)

Enjoy more fun and fascinating facts about Erie, Pennsylvania at: Old Time Erie

Picture Me In Old Time Erie

I love to look at old photo albums. It doesn't matter if I'm not related to the people in the pictures. It's fun to get out a magnifying glass and look for details in the background. As I'm sure you know by know, I also love Erie history. 

I don't know how many times I've visited a historic site and wished someone had taken a picture so I could reminisce about at it later. Especially some of the places that have been demolished. This got me to thinking...how can I encourage you to get out and discover the cool places in Erie, PA.

So, my challenge is that I want you to take a picture of yourself in front of a historic site in Erie County, PA. E-mail a copy to me and I will post as many as I can here, on Old Time Erie. It's that simple.

Those of you who grew up in Erie and no longer live here have an option. Look through your old photos and find a picture of yourself at a historic site in Erie County. I will also accept a shot of you in front of a store on State Street. This is not a contest, and there are no prizes. Just a fun activity to get you out of the house before the snow flies. 

Well, what are you waiting for?

Click here to e-mail your picture to Old Time Erie. 

Pennsylvania's $1 Minimum Wage Law

Ahhh....the good old days. Remember when gas was 19 cents a gallon? Or when the minimum wage was raised to $1?

On January 1, 1962, Pennsylvania raised the minimum wage for men, women and minors to $1 per hour. There were a few exceptions:

Learners made 85 cents an hour.
Employers could deduct 35 cents per hour if the employee got tips at least 75% of the working day which totaled at least 35 cents per hour. There was no such thing as a free meal; if the boss fed you on the job, he could deduct 50 cents per meal. If you received lodging from your employer, he could deduct $5 a week from your pay.

The new law replaced the 1937 Minimum Wage Law, which was on the books for 25 years.

How much did you make per hour at your first job? Click here to leave a comment. 

Enjoy more unusual facts about Erie, PA at: Old Time Erie

Tall Ships Erie 2013 Celebration

Thousands of tourists are in town this weekend to enjoy Tall Ships Erie and to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Lake Erie. I have never seen so many cars lined up on the Bayfront Highway, practically at a standstill from State Street to the East Bayfront Parkway. Motorcycle police were directing traffic at several intersections as people tried to find a good spot to view the Tall Ships Parade of Sail. A black and white helicopter patrolled the channel and shoreline, while big, puffy white clouds accented the blue sky.  

I see the Niagara so much that I take it for granted. Shame on me. When I walked past the window at work last night, I stopped for a moment to take a picture. I had forgotten how spectacular our sunsets are here in Erie, PA. And this sunset was even more spectacular with the Brig Niagara in the foreground. This view repeats practically every night when the Niagara is not touring the Great Lakes promoting maritime history.

Ten ships took part in Tall Ships Erie, and tours were available for a small fee. I walked around with a few co-workers on our lunch break amidst a sea of 5,300 children from schools in Erie, Crawford and Warren Counties. It's amazing that the teachers were able to keep track of them all.

Enjoy more fun facts and photos of Erie, Pennsylvania at: Old Time Erie