Erie County Community College at St. Benedict

Erie County Community College at SBEC

Erie County Community College of Pennsylvania held its inaugural classes on the third floor of St. Benedict Education Center, 330 East 10th Street, Erie, PA, in the fall of 2021. Photo by Debbi Lyon ©2021. Old Time Erie

Houses on West 10th & Walnut circa 1910

West 10th Street near Walnut circa 1910. Old Time Erie historic postcards.

The elegant and distinctive houses shown in this postcard show a series of well manicured lawns along West 10th near Walnut Street in Erie, PA circa 1910. 516 West 10th was home to Edwin Davis, owner of the Davis Wall Paper Co. Elisha C. Mack resided at 524 West 10th and Joseph Weschler owned the dwelling at 536 West 10th.

Enjoy more fun facts about the history of Erie, PA on the Old Time Erie blog

Kids Raised Cash For Kennedy

Kids from the Schley Avenue neighborhood where Babe Harkins lived in Erie, PA.

The summer after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, the youth of Erie raised money to commission a bust of JFK to be placed in City Hall. Kids went door to door in their neighborhoods to collect money for the Greater Erie President John F. Kennedy Memorial Fund. Canisters were placed on the counters in local corner stores. Kids set up lemonade stands, had carnivals, bike races and other creative activities to add to the fund. Black crape paper was placed on old JFK campaign posters such as the one in the photograph shown here as the community was still mourning the death of the charismatic President Kennedy.

Find more historical photos of Erie, PA at Old Time Erie

Plymouth Manufactured a Car In Erie

Champion ad in Erie Daily Times, Aug. 23, 1935.
The Times Publishing Co. is located on 12th and
Sassafras St., near the old Plymouth dealership.

Can't make it to Detroit to tour the automobile factories? No problem. Plymouth hooked up a trailer and traveled around the U.S., stopping in Erie, PA on August 24, 1935, to show off the: 

"World's Greatest Miniature Manufacturing Exhibit."

The country was in the midst of the Great Depression, but that did not stop Plymouth from promoting its brand. This enticing free show was held at Champion Auto Sales Co., the local Plymouth dealership, at 12th and Sassafras St., near the other car dealers. 

It's like a trip to Detroit!

"See how the railroad cars bring in the various materials for the automobile, and then the various steps of manufacture that take place in the building of the car. At one end of the assembly line- the bare frames; at the other end of the line- finished automobiles ready for the road. And here is a duplicate of the amazing 18-mile long conveyor lines of the great Plymouth factory."                

Come and see it! 

"It's one of the most elaborate mechanical exhibits of modern industry...It is the marvel of modern industry. Come tomorrow and see this operating miniature factory at our salesroom. The public is cordially invited. The display is for one day only. Don't miss it."

There is one thing I would like to know. Since this was a miniature manufacturing exhibit, did Plymouth make a miniature car in Erie?

As a sidebar, when I saw an illustration of the old Plymouth plant on Lynch Road in Detroit, Michigan I did a double take. At first glance I thought it was a drawing of Central Tech High School / Tech Memorial High School in Erie, Pennsylvania.  

Find more fun facts about the old days in Erie, PA at Old Time Erie

Sigsbee Reservoir near the Erie Cemetery

Old Time Erie: Sigsbee Reservoir on West 26th St. in Erie, PA.

This photo of the Sigsbee Reservoir on West 26th Street in Erie, PA contains a couple optical illusions. At first I thought the upper portion of the caretaker's house was built on stilts, but the poles are actually on the north side of the fence. I also thought 26th Street was covered in grass. However, since this photo was taken from the ridge of Erie Cemetery, the elevation masks the presence of the road. Regardless of the angle, I think think it's a pretty cool old picture. 

The reservoir was built on the property of the old Cochran estate on West 26th Street, about halfway between Chestnut and Cherry Street. The property was purchased by the Erie City Water Works in 1871 and the reservoir was completed in 1874. The commissioners of the Water Works borrowed $176,632 on their own to finance this project. Those men included Mr. Reed, Mr. Barr, Mr. Gensheimer and Mr. Liebel.- Erie, Pennsylvania Illustrated (1888).

"The pressing need of an early completion of the reservoir, and the difficulty of selling bonds, has led the commissioners to shoulder a responsibility which could not have been demanded of them, and for which they certainly deserve great credit." -Report to City Council by the auditing committee of William A. Galbraith, Judah Colt Spencer and G. T. Churchill.

The Sigsbee Reservoir, which holds about 34 million gallons of water, exists to this day. The caretaker's house looks neat at night when the exterior is lit up.

Find more fun historical facts about Erie, Pennsylvania at Old Time Erie

I Stuck My Neck Out For You Kids

Longfellow photo courtesy of the Erie School District.

"I stuck my neck out for you kids," said the giraffe.

"Why do you always have your nose in the air? Do you think you're too good for this class?" said the gorilla.

"You seem nice, but a tiger never changes its stripes," said the elephant. 

OK, enough of the corny one liners. The kids who are sitting on the floor painting were students at Longfellow Elementary School which was located at 509 West 8th Street in Erie, PA. The subjects, from left to right, include a gorilla, a tiger, an elephant and a giraffe. The students... who knows.

This scene reminds me of the art class that I used to take in the basement at the Erie Public Museum in the mid-seventies. We met at a nearby school for one summer. We used to listen to the radio while we worked on projects and there is one incident that sticks in my mind. The Charlie Daniels song "The Devil Went Down To Georgia" came on and one of the Borczons jumped up and started singing. This was pretty funny, but we were in hysterics when he played the air fiddle. He would have been a YouTube sensation if only we had a video camera (or access to the Internet). Then again, if I had this incident on video, I probably would have forgotten it long ago. 

Find more frivolous facts about Erie, Pennsylvania at: Old Time Erie

Booker T. Washington Spoke In Erie, PA

Booker T. Washington article, Erie Evening Herald, June 1914.

Believe it or not, Booker T. Washington spoke in Erie, PA one hundred years ago. He appeared at the Central Presbyterian Church on the northeast corner of 10th and Sassafras Street on Sunday, June 21, 1914. Dr. Washington spoke to a large audience at 10:45 a.m. about "Negro Education With Relation to the Development of the South."

"The talk to the Erie audience was one of a series being given by the famous Negro instructor in Western Pennsylvania and New York, for the object of acquainting the people of this section with the work being done by this great place of learning [the Tuskegee Institute]. After his talk here Dr. Washington left for Jamestown, NY, where he was scheduled to speak in the evening." Erie Daily Times, June 22, 1914.

At Jamestown, Dr. Washington explained to the audience, "When we first told the parents of the students that, they must work at Tuskegee, they rebelled and said 'why we have been worked as slaves for 250 years and a school is the last place for work.' I explained that there was a vast difference between being worked and working. We have now reached a point where all prejudice is removed. We have entirely changed the spirit of the black people of the South. We have taught them the disgrace of idleness and the dignity and beauty of work. If we educate the mind and strengthen the hand we have accomplished much. Our work is practical. We do not use the book much. It is easier to learn about a horse from the horse than it is to learn it from a book." -Fredonia Censor, July 8, 1914.

Dr. Washington spoke in Auburn, New York on June 12, 1914 at the unveiling of a Harriet Tubman memorial. This was nine days before he appeared in Erie. 

"It is most fitting and proper from every point of view that the name of Harriet Tubman should be perpetuated by means of this tablet so that her memory and deeds can live in the minds and hearts of the present generation, and can be held up as an object lesson for all time to the generations that follow. Harriet Tubman was a unique and great character of which any race and any age should be proud. Here in the city where she spent the larger part of her life, and here where her body rests, is the place of all places where this tribute of love and affection should be expressed.  The citizens of Auburn had a chance to know her better than the citizens of any other community. Indeed, she was a prophet not without honor in her own home." -The Advertiser-Journal, Saturday, June 13, 1914.

Booker T. Washington died on November 14, 1915 in Tuskegee, Alabama. The Central Presbyterian Church at 10th and Sassafras in Erie, PA was demolished many years ago. The Booker T. Washington Center, named in honor of the famous educator, is located at 18th and Holland Street in Erie, PA.

Find more amazing historical facts about Erie, Pennsylvania at Old Time Erie

Strong Vincent High School Aerial View

Taken from the air, looking southwest at Strong Vincent High School. Photo courtesy of the Erie School District.

Strong Vincent High School, at 1330 West 8th St. in Erie, PA, was built in 1930. This incredible aerial photograph shows how undeveloped and the area was. At one time all of the property north of West 8th Street that is visible in this picture was owned by Charles Hamot Strong. It's a neat coincidence that Strong Vincent was built on the Strong estate. C. H. Strong was a very shrewd businessman; he was president of the Erie & Pittsburgh Railroad Company in 1908, owned the Erie Dispatch newspaper and held an interest in many other ventures.

Actress Ann B. Davis graduated from Strong Vincent, as did Tom Lawless. Lawless played professional baseball for eight seasons, 1982 to 1990, for the Cincinnati Reds, the Expos, the Cardinals and the Blue Jays.

The Bayfront Highway follows the path of the old railroad tracks on the right side of this photo. The intersection near the upper right hand corner of the high school is 8th and Weschler. Reed Manufacturing is across the street from the school, a block to the west.

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

General Electric Dan Patch Electric Locomotive

General Electric Erie Works and Dan Patch Electric Train postcard courtesy of Jim Peters.

The sprawling GE Transportation Systems Erie Works campus is shown in the top picture on this postcard. GE is bordered by Franklin Avenue, East Lake Road, Water Street and the Conrail railroad tracks on the south.

The center photo shows a gas electric motor car made by General Electric for the Dan Patch Electric Lines, run by the Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester & Dubuque Electric Traction Company.

The bottom photo, billed as the Largest Electric Locomotive in the World, shows the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway Company locomotive No. 10203. This 3,000 volt engine was GE locomotive No. 5028. Go train spotting for more C.M. & St. P engines in General Electric promotional photographs.

Want more historical facts and photos of Erie, PA? Check Old Time Erie

Erie Fire Department To The Rescue

Security-Peoples Trust ad by A. Hintenach.

Erie Firefighters have been saving lives and property for almost 190 years. the Erie Active Fire Company was formed in 1826, followed by the Red Jacket Company No. 1 in 1837 and Perry Eagle in 1839.

By 1890 there were seven fire houses in Erie, PA with four steamers, six hose wagons, one hook and ladder and one chemical engine- all pulled by 35 horses. There were 63 men on the job, fighting fires with a 25 foot ladder and 12,600 feet of 2.5" hose.  

The department answered 108 alarms in 1894.

Find more historic facts and old photos of Erie, Pennsylvania at Old Time Erie (or Old Tim Erie if autocorrect takes over.)

Ride Your Pony To The Stable and Vote If You Are Able

Ride your pony to the stable and vote if you are able. At Thomas Pickering's livery stable on 18th St. between Peach and Sassafras, customers could hitch their host to a post, head inside and vote for their favorite candidates. Pickering operated a business in the Sixth Ward, at a time when men could easily name the ward in which they resided. 

There were a couple of other unusual polling places in Erie, PA back in 1902, including the residence of Mrs. Phoebe Shadduck at 2425 German St.; Dunn's livery stable on the corner of 10th and Peach; G. P. Miller's barber shop at 610 West 6th St., Jacob Warfel's tool house in the Fifth Ward, Fourth District; and Peter Hellman's carpenter shop on 25th and Myrtle. 

Also Daniel Dougherty's store on the southeast corner of 6th and Ash; Michael Smith's at 14 1/2 East 5th St.; in a store building owned by Catherine F. Hancock at 125 German St.; A. Geiger's building on the southwest corner of 12th and Wayne; the office of Dwight J. Robbins and 17 West 6th St.; D. R. Beck's room at 1126 Walnut St.; Joshua Zuck's building on the northwest corner of 12th and Cascade St.; Frank Orsi's on Walnut between 16th and 17th Streets; C. Howard's on the corner of 2nd and Sassafras St.; Mrs. Serr's at 950 Brown Ave. and William Schroeder's building at 655 West 26th St.

There were six wards in the City of Erie in 1902.

Enjoy more 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

Top 40 Erie Cafes in 1959

Old Time Erie Cafes in 1959.

Cafe, tavern, pub, club, bar, beer garden, saloon. Why so many different names? It's a mystery to me. One thing I do know is that the term 'Cafe' seems to have all but disappeared from the Erie telephone book in relation to a retail establishment that has a license to sell liquor and beer.

Ice cold Koehler's, anyone? Back in 1959, there was a whole column of cafes in the phone book, mainly on the east side of Erie, PA. There were 28 on the east side and 13 on the west side. Seven of the establishments were on Parade Street. Five cafes were located within a six-block radius (Bruno's, Golden Goose, Krakow, Merski's and Warsaw). Quite a few were still in existence in the late 70s and early 80s.

Keep in mind that this list only includes cafes. No taverns, pubs, clubs, bars or beer gardens. I wonder how many liquor licenses were issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1959. 

How many cafes do you recognize from this list?

Enjoy more fun and fascinating historical facts about Erie PA at: Old Time Erie

Carl Neff Sacrificed His Life For Your Freedom

Carl W. Neff, World War I veteran.

Carl William Neff was an ordinary man who did extraordinary things. He was killed in action during World War I while running a message during combat. He is the namesake of the American Legion Carl Neff Post 571 in Wesleyville, PA. 

Carl was born in Harborcreek, PA on January 17, 1892 and was the oldest of nine children. He briefly worked at General Electric, but mainly worked in the farming industry. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on May 29, 1918, despite being entitled to an exemption from war for farm workers. 

He was assigned to Machine Gun Company, 60th Infantry, Fifth Division and was sent to France, where he fought in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. 

Lt. Merrick wrote about the heroic actions of Carl Neff: "His willingness and smiling reliability in the midst of a series of attacks and daily infernos without food and water, sick and terribly exhausted and sometimes with the battle against us, was note-worthy, even in a band of desperate men. Finally, however, his exhaustion made it a great effort to perform his duty, but with great resolution he continued as messenger. Seeing he made the trip at an extreme effort, I told him to rest with the others. We took positions in shell holes about midnight. Before morning the Germans shelled us, blowing up an ammunition dump in our midst. Under orders of Captain Warfield, deceased, (then acting Major), we rushed into the exploding and blazing boxes of hand grenades, machine gun ammunition, and salvaged as much as possible for impending attacks. We experienced casualties here. Carl was evacuated from these woods. However, I can assure you that his actions previous to this time are well and gratefully remembered and that his cheerful service was a credit to those whom he represented."

Medic Frank A. Frazier wrote to his mother and asked if she could contact Carl's mother. Frank's letter said, "His tag read Carl W. Neff, we buried him on Montfaucon Oct. 29th. I imagine he was killed Oct. 28th. He was a large man, 5ft. 11 inches and would probably weigh 175 lbs. He was hit by machine gun bullets in three or four different places. We lived, or rather, existed on Montfaucon during October." 

Carl's body was returned to the United States and he was buried in the North East Cemetery.

Visit the American Legion Carl Neff Post 571 at 1917 Eastern Avenue in Erie County, PA to view the full text of this tribute to Carl Neff. The post was formed by veterans from Wesleyville, Lawrence Park and Harborcreek, PA.

Please check Old Time Erie for historic facts and photos of Erie, Pennsylvania.

Florence Crittenton Home on Holland Street

This neat old brick house was constructed around 1842 and was the home of James M. Sterrett. James owned a tannery on East 5th Street between Holland and German. He died ten years later and his descendants lived in the home until the end of the century. His granddaughter willed the house to the Florence Crittenton Home. 

"The Florence Crittenton Home... for unmarried mothers... was established in 1896 by the Y.W.C.A. as the 'Door of Hope' at 325 West 23rd St., and moved 501 Holland Street on June 7, 1908…Three hundred girls, alumni of the Home, who are now mothers of families, respected by their friends and neighbors, are leading moral, healthful lives…The Home always insists that the patient keep her child, because the first concern is always the welfare of the child…

Since its incorporation, 472 girls and their babies have been cared for. The Home can care for twelve girls and ten babies…Were it not for the Florence Crittenton Home, the girls, instead of receiving proper medical attention and necessary instruction and training which enables them to start life anew, would suffer, bear the shame of publicity and be branded as social outcasts. With such handicaps they would not be able to start out in life with a fair opportunity to succeed. The guilty fathers would not be induced to accept their responsibilities at home and parents and relatives, humiliated by the conduct of the girls, would not be brought to see their duties in a true light. The girls themselves would not learn to become strong again and care for their children and home." -Albion News, February 23, 1922.

The Florence Crittenton Home remained in the old Sterrett Home from 1905 until 1982, when it moved to East 6th St. near Reed. The Sterrett house on the southeast corner of 5th and Holland was demolished around that time and is now a parking lot for Erie Insurance.

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

Winter Storm Hit Erie in December 1983

Storm clouds hugged Erie in its icy grip over the Christmas holiday in 1983. The storm hit on December 24, 1983, just as travelers were making their way to visit family and friends. Depending on where you lived, you likely had between ten inches and 1.5 feet of snow in your yard, not counting snow drifts of 3-4 feet in some areas. And the wind? Brrrrr! Cold enough to freeze exposed skin in less than a minute.

"Finally, it looks as though people around here will stop talking about the Thanksgiving snowstorm of 1956- chances are it will be the Christmas snowstorm of 1983 they'll be talking about for the next 30 years or so," wrote Jack Grazier in the Erie Times-News.

Well, it's 30 years later, and guess what? They're still talking about Thanksgiving of 1956 as if it were yesterday. 

The 1983 storm, on the other hand, is getting a little hazy, at least in my household. Me: "Remember when you came to pick me up but couldn't get on our street because there was too much snow?" My husband: "No."

"Don't you remember, you had to park on 21st and Ash and walk to my place?" Still nothing.

Oh well. Enjoy more fun facts about Erie, Pennsylvania at: Old Time Erie

Ripping Up the Railroad Tracks in Erie

Old Time Erie illustration by A. Hintenach.

Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7th, 1941. This is one event that our nation will never forget. Although far less tragic, few people are aware of an event that happened on December 7th, 1853 that put Erie, PA in the national spotlight. This is the story of the Gauge War.

"There had been haggling between the citizens and transfer men. Two changes of cargo between Erie and the New York line became unbearable…trackage was ripped up at Erie and Harborcreek on dark nights, to be stubbornly replaced the next day. Tempers flared. Action was demanded. 

Enraged citizens dropped their work and rushed to the public square at the summons of the court house bell…the old brass cannon, readied for an alert, careened up State Street until it stuck in a mud hole…and stuck. Helmeted figures with ropes and cables pushed on to the North East and Erie Railroad bridge on State Street. Armed with clubs, small arms, rotten eggs and terrific determination they stormed their objective, secured their ropes and cables…

Down came the bridge. Not a shot was fired and casualties from rocks, rotten eggs and clubs were few. The guerrilla warfare between the North East and Erie Railroad transfer men and the citizenry started thus and continued for over six months to end in a fanfare of flying debris. The 'Railroad War' passed into the musty archives of Erieana. And all because this connecting link between Ohio and New York was too wide between tracks to run through trains." -Landmarks of Old Erieland by Security-Peoples Trust Co.

Learn more forgotten facts about the history of Erie, Pennsylvania at: Old Time Erie

Wild Winter Weather of 1972

A two day snowstorm during the winter of '72 battered the Erie Public Dock and caused thousand of dollars worth of damage to Presque Isle State Park. The Times Publishing Company covered the event extensively in its newspapers, the Erie Daily Times and the Sunday Times-News.

This is one of those storms that people still remember, even though it took place more than 40 years ago, December 15-16, 1972. According to  WJET/FOX 66 meteorologist Tom Atkins, the storm dumped 9" of snow in the City of Erie and 12-18" inland, causing hazardous driving conditions, numerous automobile accidents and severe flooding to Presque Isle, the Public Dock and the Coast Guard Station.

Nine inches of snow doesn't seem like much if you grew up in Erie, PA, but wicked gusts of wind and drifting snow can quickly wreak havoc. "State police in the area advised all motorists to stay off the roads, which were considered extremely hazardous. Interstates 79 and 90 and Rt. 89 were reported to be passable 'only at times,' according to one trooper at Lawrence Park. 'We just can't keep up with the snow. You might as well paint your windshield black.'"- Erie Times-News December 17, 1972.

Driving on the highway into a snowstorm can make for a white-knuckle ride. Some of my worst memories include driving home in blinding snowstorms, staring directly into the hypnotizing effects of snow and trying to avoid looking at the headlights of oncoming cars. Or worse, trying not to panic when being passed by a semi, which would whip the snow into a giant, tornado-like cloud of whiteness. 

My grandmother often repeated a story of driving home in such a storm. My grandfather followed the tail lights of a vehicle for quite a while and wondered why the car eventually came to a complete stop. Grandpa got out to investigate and discovered that he had followed someone right into driveway of the house where they lived. That story still makes me laugh to this day.  

Enjoy more fun facts about the rain, the park and other things at: Old Time Erie

Western Provision Market 4th and Cherry

Old Time Erie photo ©Sandra K. Sagala. Published with the permission of the photographer.

Western Provision Market was on West 4th St. near Cherry in Erie, PA when this photo was taken around 1960. Again, another shot with some cool old cars! ('57 Chevy?) Check out the prices for meat: round steaks, sirloin steaks and t-bone steaks were only 75¢ per pound. Ground beef was 3 pounds for $1.25. Chuck roast was 39¢ per pound and ground chuck was 69¢ per pound. 

There were a number of Western Provision stores in Erie, including this one at 560 West 4th St. The store had a butcher in a white apron who would cut meat to order. You could also ask for ham, bacon, sausage or meat from the chilled display case. The butcher would measure out a specific quantity on the scale, wrap it in butcher's paper, seal it with a piece of masking tape and write the price on the package with a black mechanical grease pencil. The people who ran these stores knew everyone in the neighborhood by name.

City Hardware was located next door at 558 West 4th St. The Gem Social Club, which is not visible in this photo, was a few doors away at 552 West 4th St.

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

Record Storm Dumps 26.5" of Snow on Erie

"Snowstorm Cripples City"
"Mayor Declares State of Emergency Here." 
"PA Equipment is Sought for Snow Removal in City"
"More Snow Due as City Digs From Under Record Snowfall"

Was this the big Thanksgiving 1956 snowstorm? Not even close. 

"For us here in Erie the granddaddy still seems to be December 11-12th, 1944. That was the snowstorm that produced the record for the most snow in 24 hours in Erie…26.5". People still talk about it to this day," said Tom Atkins, meteorologist at WJET-TV in Erie, PA. 

That's more than two feet of snow, falling at more than one inch per hour. 

The stories are incredible. A 5' snow drift blocked the doors at Eckerd's and other stores in the 1100 block of State Street. A Erie Coach Company snowplow got stuck in a drift at 10th and State. Motorists were stranded all over the City of Erie. Most streets were impassible. If that wasn't bad enough, the snow kept falling….and falling. On Dec. 14th, officials at area shops that were involved in the war effort asked the government to send tractors to clear the roads. Erie Mayor Charles R. Barber declared a state of emergency on Dec. 15th. There were reported shortages of milk, bread and coal.

Back in those days, you didn't go to Dairy Queen to get a Blizzard. You just stepped outside.

One little girl made a grand entrance into the world. "Dr. Louise G. Brecht enlisted police aid in battling her way to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Harkins, 2916 French St., where [a] baby girl was born at 11:40 a.m. after an ambulance failed to get through. Unable to drive her car, Dr. Brecht called for a police cruiser, which was able to take her only to 26th and State Streets, from where she walked, arriving a full hour before the event."

Do you remember where you were 69 years ago today? Click here to share your story. 

For the latest weather report check out WJET-TV. Thanks to Tom Atkins and Jill McCormick for the Old Time Erie plugs during the Fox 66 TV and WJET TV weather trivia segments on Dec. 11, 2013 and again on December 12, 2013.

Enjoy more memories of Erie from the warmth of your home at: Old Time Erie