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

Route 20 Flood on Buffalo Road in 1947

Buffalo Road was flooded on April 5, 1947. Photo from "Greetings from Wesleyville" Vol. 1 book by Debbi Lyon.

Torrential rains on April 5, 1947 sent rivers of water down side streets across eastern Erie and Erie County, PA, flooding a swath of land between Route 20 and the railroad tracks. Buffalo Road in Wesleyville was one of the hardest hit areas, as you can see in the photo above. The long string of connected buildings served as a dam, and the water soon rose high enough to cover the roadway and seep under front doors. Basements quickly filled with water. Firemen and business owners smashed out basement windows on the north side of these buildings to allow the water to escape, fearing the mounting pressure of the water would sweep away buildings like in did in the great Millcreek Flood in 1915.

Schaffner's Esso Station on Buffalo Road and Willow Street was one of those hardest hit by the flooding. Cans of oil floated in the basement, stripped of their labels. Grocery and meat stores had to throw away their inventory.

The stores in the photo above run from about 2926 to 3020 Buffalo Road in Wesleyville, just east of Erie, PA on Route 20. Most of the buildings still exist, for example, 3010 Buffalo Rd. is the home of JDL Computers. 3014 Buffalo Road was demolished in 2009 following a fire at J&L Sports Pub (the tall brick building in the center where Wesleyville Paint & Glass used to be).

The flooding affected many communities in Pennsylvania. Two to three feet of water flooded a long stretch of Buffalo Road from Harborcreek all the way to Downing Avenue in Erie and people in the Harbor Homes housing project had to be evacuated.

Penn Theatre in Wesleyville July 4, 1947 parade

Penn Theater and parade on Buffalo Road in Wesleyville July 4, 1947.
Photo courtesy of Nancy Schaffner Coake ©2012.
(Click on image- a larger view will open in a new window)

Penn Theatre in Wesleyville July 4, 1947 parade on Buffalo Rd

The Penn Theatre in Wesleyville holds fond memories for people in Erie, Wesleyville and Lawrence Park. "The Show Off" and "Springtime in the Rockies" appeared on the marquee at the Penn when this photo was taken on July 4, 1947. I love to check out the cars in these old pictures. This was a time of celebration, when people considered it their patriotic duty to honor the war heroes. 

The parade celebrated the dedication of Memorial Field in Wesleyville and was led by returning veterans from each branch of the service. Businesses from left to right include: the Penn Theatre, 2917 Buffalo Rd.; a vacant lot (later the site of Smith Furniture Co. and then Baby Fair at 2911 Buffalo Rd.;, Wright's Ice Cream Bar, 2907 Buffalo Rd.; William Wright Jeweler, 2905 Buffalo Rd.; W. H. Kehr Grocery, 2901 Buffalo Rd.; Eastern Avenue intersects; Mobil Gas Service Station on the southwest corner; Grenz Motors, 2809 Buffalo Rd. 

The Penn Theatre opened on Sept. 15, 1927. Crowds lined the sidewalk along Route 20 to see the movie, "McFadden's Flats." Admission prices in 1927 were: Children 10¢. Matinee 15¢ and Evenings 25¢.

The Erie Playhouse held performances here after the old theater stopped showing movies. Nearly all the buildings visible here have been demolished. Country Fair currently occupies this property on the corner of Buffalo Road and Eastern Ave.

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

Spanish-American War Veteran Genealogy Info

George N. Hathaway of Wesleyville, PA.

Spanish-American War Veteran Compensation

If you think one of your ancestors served in the Spanish-American War, you can check this new database on Ancestry.com, "Spanish-American War Compensation." If you don't have a subscription, you can search for free on four computers in the Heritage Room at the Blasco Memorial Library in Erie. The cards contain the following information:

1. The full name of the veteran.
2. Dates of Service.
3. Veteran's address when he entered the service.
4. His date and place of birth.
5. If married, his wife's first and maiden name.
6. The names of his minor children.
7. The names of his parents.
8. Grade or rating and place of service.
9. Date and place of honorable discharge.
10. Veteran's address when application was filed.