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

Victor Distributing 16th and Myrtle in Erie PA

Old Time Erie Victor Dist. Co. photo courtesy of Tom DiLuzio.

How sweet is this old Studebaker pickup truck! As you can tell from the logo painted on the door, this delivery truck was used the Victor Distributing Company. This beer distributor was located in Little Italy at 1602 Myrtle Street in Erie, PA in 1939. Victor was owned by Philip Sansone. Unfortunately, there are no names written on the back of this photo.

Joseph Ferraro was the president of Victor Beer Distributing of Erie in 1938. Philip Sansone was the secretary/treasurer, and Anthony Sansone was a laborer at the business.

Click here for a photo of the Ferraro & Sansone Steinhaus Beer truck: http://oldtimeerie.blogspot.com/2013/01/ferraro-sansone-1938-steinhaus-beer.html

The house in the background is located at 1601 Myrtle Street. It still stands, but has had some major changes. The small porch on the first floor is gone and a porch has been added to the second floor on the front of the house. This house sits on the southeast corner of West 16th and Myrtle. The building to the right of the house has been demolished.

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

Chestnut Street Garage, Winter in Erie PA

Chestnut Street Garage photo courtesy of Tom DiLuzio.

The Chestnut Street Garage, located at 1711 Chestnut Street in Erie, PA had a unique feature...two curbside globe gas pumps. The City of Erie banned these pumps many, many years ago because some of them had gas tanks right under the street. About the only time you see those vintage pumps anymore is on an episode of American Pickers.

An alley ran parallel to the gas station, and led to the automobile garage to the east of the gas station. The red brick building on the left is now occupied by Dobrich Electric. 

The two small houses to the right have since been demolished. Arthur Young lived at 1715 Chestnut St. in the 1920s. Frederick Reymore lived at 1717 Chestnut St. in the 1920s. The two-story building to the right of the two small houses was on the northeast corner of 18th and Chestnut. The second-floor apartments had an address of 1721 Chestnut Street and the businesses that fronted Eighteenth Street had an address of 364 West 18th St., 362 West 18th St. and 360 West 18th St.

This winter street scene of Little Italy in Erie, PA was probably taken in 1938, based on the globe gas pumps and the cars. Plus, Joseph Ferraro, who lived right near where this photo was taken, very likely took this picture.

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

Columbus Furniture 440 West 18th St Erie PA

Where did all the stores go in Little Italy? There was a time when you could purchase all the items you needed from family-owned stores in this neighborhood.

Here is an ad for Columbus Furniture Company at 440 West 18th Street in Erie, PA. It was printed in the Erie Daily Times on January 3, 1928.

Confectioner Fred Ore operated a store at 440 West 18th St. in 1922.

This building was located on the north side of West 18th Street near Chestnut St. in Erie, PA. The building no longer stands. There is a small plaza which includes 438-440-442-444 West 18th St. It is just east of the Trinity Center. St. Paul Catholic Church and the old Columbus Elementary School are located within walking distance.

Enjoy more fun facts about Erie Pennsylvania at Old Time Erie