Erie Woman is Jeopardy Champ!

Mercyhurst Prep grad wins on Jeopardy!

Jeopardy champ Leslie Minot graduated from Mercyhurst Prep in Erie, PA!

Leslie Minot, a former resident of Erie, PA, was the champion of Jeopardy! America's Favorite Quiz Show on December 2, 2020! 

Imagine my surprise when I saw a familiar face on the screen while watching Jeopardy! Leslie Minot graduated from Mercyhurst Prep in 1986. Although we went to different schools, we each wrote for our high school newspaper (and hoped to work in the publishing field). If I remember correctly, we may have participated in a car wash to raise a few dollars to save the McDowell Hub newspaper in the mid-eighties. 

It is refreshing to see an intelligent and well educated woman on television. In high school, Leslie was a member of the National Honor Society and she participated in Model UN and High-Q. She graduated from Yale, earned a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the University of California, Berkeley, and an MFA in Writing from Goddard College. The clipping above Leslie's picture appeared in the Erie Times-News on June 8, 1986.   

She was one of the last contestants to appear on Jeopardy with host Alex Trebek, as this show was taped before he passed away. 

On a side note, Leslie's father, Dr. Walter S. Minot, taught at Gannon University for 36 years, and was named Professor Emeritus after he retired. 

Enjoy more esoteric facts about Erie, PA history at Old Time Erie!.

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!

Birdseye View West 6th and Peach

The Erie County Courthouse is the 'U' shaped building near the center of this photo. Old Time Erie history blog.

Here is a scene that has seen a lot of changes over the years. The Erie County Courthouse is the 'U' shaped building in the upper half of this photo. The part shown here is at 140 West 6th Street in Erie, PA, before the addition with the jail was built on West 5th Street. It would be interesting to find out how many thousands of people have walked the halls of the courthouse, appearing as jurors, filing a will or applying for a marriage license.

The bulk of this shot is between Peach and Sassafras Streets. Perry Square is in the center on the left, and below that is the old Greyhound Station on North Park Row.

Old Main, part of Gannon University, is partially hidden by trees, but the Erie Club at 524 Peach Street is clearly visible. The old First Presbyterian Church at 502 Peach Street is the one with the whitest roof and steeple. 

The Cathedral of St. Paul Episcopal Church is across the street from the courthouse. The triangle near the bottom right has seen the most change. It now contains green space, walkways and tall apartment buildings housing students attending Gannon University. 

LifeWorks Erie is now currently occupies the building at 406 Peach Street, visible in the very bottom right corner of this picture. The photographer was looking southwest more or less when this was taken.

Enjoy more cool photos and fun historical facts at Old Time Erie!

Harding Elementary School Addition

The 1951 addition to Harding Elementary School, on 8th and Lincoln in Erie, PA.
Old Time Erie photo from the Erie School District archives. 

Harding Elementary School at 820 Lincoln Avenue holds many fond memories for those who grew up near Frontier Park and the Delaware Avenue Housing Project. So many students attended Harding that the Erie School District built an addition on the north side of the school in June of 1951. The firm of Meyers, Krider, Werle and Ellenberger served as architects and engineer on the project. 

For more fun facts about the history of Erie, PA, check out 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.

No Loud Talkers!

Page from ledger of the Wesleyville Lodge of the Independent Order of Good Templars No. 188

The Wesleyville Lodge of the Independent Order of Good Templars No. 188 was formed on May 26th, 1854. They met once a week at the Sons of Temperance Hall. Members signed a pledge of total abstinence. This meant no beer, no wine, nothing of the sort. This fraternal organization accepted both men and women, and the group voted to admit new members upon nomination by a current member. 

The Wesleyville I.O. of G. T. had another strict rule: No Loud Talking. "Moved that any members who shall hereafter be found guilty of loud talking and making a noise in the hall and about the door of this house so as to disturb the members of this Lodge (when in session) shall be fined 25 cts for each offense this Res. to be in force one week from tonight." Passed September 17, 1856.

This ledger book was discovered in the home of a descendent of the Henry family in Rochester, NY and was recently donated to the Harborcreek Historical Society.

Enjoy more fun historical Erie photos and facts at Old Time Erie history blog

National Night Out 2014 Erie County, PA

Looking for a way to reminisce about your old neighborhood? Why not attend an annual National Night Out event. This annual gathering is funded by the United Way of Erie County. "These events seek to promote the spirit of community and encourage everyone to play a role in supporting the education of youth in our neighborhoods. Neighborhood events will feature free food, music and games, along with the opportunity to interact with local police and fire departments." -United Way.

The National Night Out events that I have attended over the years remind me of a laid-back block party where adults can mingle and trade stories about the old days. Or a family reunion. Local businesses and service providers usually have tables set up to share information. The children seem to really like to play games and see fire trucks up close. It's one big party before they get ready to go back to school.

This was the line-up for the August 5, 2014 celebration in Erie, PA:

City of Erie, PA- East Side locations:
John F. Kennedy Center
5-8 p.m. JFK Center - Building & Parking Lot, 2021 East 20th Street
Youth Leadership Institute of Erie
11 a.m.-7 p.m. 22nd & Reed Streets
Neighborhood Watch #13, SNOOPS Association
5:30-8:30 p.m. Friendship Park, 14th & Reed Streets
Bayfront East Side Taskforce (BEST)
6:00-8:30 p.m. Wallace Park
East Avenue/Hess Avenue Neighborhood Watch
5-9 p.m. Perseus House School/St. Casimir's Church (Lynn St., Brandes St. & Hess Ave.)
Eastside Eagles
5:00-7:30 p.m. Multi-Cultural Community Resource Center, 554 East 10th St. (5th and Ash St.)
SafeNet
5-8 p.m. SafeNet's Big Backyard Children's Garden, 240 East 9th Street

City of Erie, PA- West Side locations:
Little Italy Neighborhood Watch
5:00-7:30 p.m. St. Paul's Church Parking Lot, 19th & Myrtle Streets
West Bayfront
6-9 p.m. Gridley Park & Gridley School on Liberty Street near West 6th St.
YMCA of Greater Erie
5-8 p.m. MLK Community Center, 312 Chestnut Street
Housing Authority of the City of Erie
5-8 p.m. Erie Heights Housing Development, 4030 Garden Ave. Featuring music by the Sam Hyman Band.
Robbins Blass Neighborhood Watch
6-8 p.m. Pebble Park at Washington Avenue and Cold Spring Drive

County of Erie, PA locations:
Elk Creek Leisure and Recreation
1-10 p.m. Girard Community Pool behind municipal building in Girard, PA
Greene Township
6-9 p.m. Greene Township Municipal Building (9333 Tate Road)
Union City
6-9 p.m. Caflisch Park (Bridge & Willow Streets) 
Wattsburg Borough
6-8 p.m. Della Bayle Park in Wattsburg, PA 

Find more fun facts and old photos of Erie, Pennsylvania at Old Time Erie history blog

Top 10 Causes of Death in Erie, PA in 1946

June 1947 Erie's Health drawn by Helen P. Thurlow.

Sad to say, I don't have any fun facts about Erie. This post is pretty grim. One thousand five hundred and eighteen people died in the City of Erie, PA in 1946. The death rate per 1,000 population was 11.6. The number one cause of death?   Heart Disease

"Heart disease continues to rise and continues to be the greatest killer of mankind. There were 60 more such deaths in 1946 over 1945. Cancer is still unopposed for the second most common cause of death, although there were forty less deaths from that disease then in 1945. Apoplexy has shown a slightly lower trend for the past ten years. Pneumonia deaths have shown a gradual decline for practically the same period. Accidental deaths have shown a decline for the past three years, but the increase, already noted in automobile deaths, will probably tend to end this decline.

The epidemic of gastro-intestinal infection in young infants, which spread over the entire nation last year, accounted for this cause of death being elevated into the first ten causes of death in 1946. It also accounted for our highest infant mortality rate in a number of years. Diseases of early infancy and kidney diseases remained rather stationary. 1946 shown the gradual increase in diabetes deaths which has been evident for several years." -City of Erie Board of Health, June 1947.

Top 10 Causes of Death in the City of Erie in 1946:
1.   Heart disease, responsible for 528 deaths.
2.   Cancer, the cause of 193 deaths. 
3.   Apoplexy, 153 deaths.
4.   Pneumonia (all kinds), 84 deaths.
5.   Accidents, 61 deaths.
6.   Gastro-enteritis, claimed 50 children under two years of age.
7.   Nephritis (Bright's Disease), 47 deaths.
8.   Diseases of early infancy, including congenital deformities, 30 deaths.
9.   Diabetes, 27 deaths.
10. Tuberculosis (all kinds), 25 deaths.

For comparisons sake, here is a list from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Top 10 Causes of Death in the U.S. in 2010:
1.   Heart Disease
2.   Cancer
3.   Chronic lower respiratory disease
4.   Stroke
5.   Accidents
6.   Alzheimer's disease
7.   Diabetes
8.   Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis
9.   Influenza and pneumonia
10. Intentional self-harm (suicide)

Find more facts about Erie on my Erie History Blog

Where in the World is Weigelville?

Detail from a 1900 Sanborn Fire Map at 26th & Brown Ave in Erie, PA.

Where in the world in Weigelville? It's right in our backyard, if you happen to live in the City of Erie, PA. "Weigeltown or Weigelville, as it is variously called, at the intersection of Brown's Avenue with the Ridge Road, was named after George Weigel, Sr., who bought fifty acres in 1833, and laid out the Ridge road front into building lots. The hotel at Weigeltown was long a famous stopping place for parties coming to and driving from Erie. The village was then a mile and a half from the original borough limits." -Nelson's Biographical and Historical Reference Book of Erie County (1896).

"During the year 1828, a colony of 'Pennsylvania Dutch' reached the township [of Millcreek] from Lancaster County, consisting of George Weigel, Martin Warfel, Samuel Brenneman, Thomas Mohr, Jacob Metzler and others, followed by Jacob Charles in 1829." -Nelson's.

Looking for a Erie History Blog? You'll find it here.

St. Benedict Academy High School, Erie PA

Saint Benedict Academy (SBA), Erie's first private academy for girls, opened its doors in 1869. This school was in existence for nearly 119 years and was run by the Catholic Diocese of Erie, PA.

St. Ben's was located at 330 East 10th St., to the east of St. Mary's grade school, and around the block from St. Mary's Catholic Church.

The final SBA class graduated in 1988. Sr. Annette Marshall was the principal and there were 13 lay teachers and seven Benedictine Sisters of Erie. 241 girls attended SBA in its final year.

The school colors were navy and white. The new St. Ben's Academy was dedicated Dec. 8, 1955.
The SBA basketball team was District 10 AA champs in 1980.

"St. Ben's was a great high school," said Cherie DeMichele. "It changed our lives in that the teachers we had were Benedictines, and they stressed caring about the oppressed and getting involved in protests, marches, etc. We volunteered to see what it was like to only have a cup of rice to eat a day, we wrote letters asking the government to ban the B-1 bomber, we wore Huelga! buttons and got involved in the UFW strike and supported Cesar Chavez, etc. I was in the class of '78 but they closed in '88 or '89. I miss that school. We had more than an English and math education there. We had a social justice education. I am still very active in social justice issues to this day."

This article is in progress. Still need:
1) Notable teachers
2) Notable graduates

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