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.

Wesleyville M.E. Church and Underground Railroad

The old Wesleyville Methodist Episcopal Church was located on Buffalo Road in Wesleyville, PA. Frank Henry, Dr. Mark M. Moore, Major Frederick Fitch and the Chambers family used to hide fugitive slaves in the belfry before they were whisked away to freedom in Canada. 

This old church was demolished after its members built a new church at Station Road and South Street. A three-store shopping plaza sits in place of the old church at 3306 Buffalo Road. The old Wesleyville Cemetery is directly behind the plaza. Several of the men mentioned above are buried there, as are some of the founders of Wesleyville. 

For more information about activities of the Underground Railroad in Erie County, Pennsylvania, check out Lisa Gensheimer's article in Lake Erie Lifestyle called "Time Travel on the Underground Railroad" http://www.goerie.com/article/20130127/LEL02/301279996/time-travel-on-the-underground-railroad

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

Thanksgiving Snowstorm 1956 Wesleyville, PA

Thanksgiving Snowstorm 1956 on Station Road in Wesleyville, PA. Photo ©Dr. Barbara Chambers 2012.

The great Thanksgiving Snowstorm of 1956 was so big that it is still talked about to this day. The storm dumped 27 inches of snow on Erie County, Pennsylvania over the Thanksgiving holiday. The City of Erie came to a standstill. The snow was so deep that the National Guard was called in to deliver food and clear the streets in November of 1956. 

The picture above shows Hill's Market at 2013 Station Road in Wesleyville, PA. As you can see, cars were stranded on both sides of Station Road (Route 430). Some people had to shovel a path to the street to unbury their cars. Station Road ends at the traffic light at Buffalo Road (Route 20). The big white house is in the center of this photo is located at 3216 Buffalo Road. Plubell Hardware was located on the southeast corner of Buffalo Road and Station Road. It has since been torn down.

How did your family survive this winter storm? Please click here to leave a comment.

Check out this photo of the: 1956 Thanksgiving Snow Storm in Erie, PA.

Enjoy more fun photos of Erie, PA from the warmth of your home at: Old Time Erie

Johnny Arnone's Deli, Wesleyville PA

Arnone's Deli at 2907 Buffalo Rd. Photo ©Debbi Lyon 2012.

Johnny Arnone had a store at 2907 Buffalo Road in Wesleyville, PA. Since it was right next door to where I worked, I'd pop in occasionally for some lunch meat. "Try this...try some of this," said Johnny Arnone, owner of the deli. He insisted that I was too skinny and was always trying to give me free food.

The store at 2907 Buffalo Road was torn down to make way for the new Country Fair store. Arnone's Deli moved to 3342 Buffalo Rd. Johnny and his wife have both passed away. Their son John Jr. runs the deli at the corner of Buffalo Road and Center Street in Wesleyville, PA.

Wesleyville First to Build War Memorial in 1945

Wesleyville First to Build War Memorial

The Erie Tribune, August 26, 1945 courtesy of Nancy Schaffner Coake.

Here's a post in honor of the Wesleyville Centennial, which the borough is celebrating this year. The Erie Tribune featured a front page story about the construction of Memorial Field, the same five-acre plot where the Centennial picnic and fireworks were held in early June.

"Long before V-J Day, actually even before Victory in Europe, Wesleyville started plans for the construction of a suitable memorial for its men and women who fought in the armed forces and helped bring World War II to its victorious end.

Late in 1944, representatives from each civic organization met and formed the Wesleyville Memorial Association, Inc., with the purpose in mind to build a memorial athletic center in tribute to all Wesleyville G. I.'s, and particularly those who gave their lives for freedom. 

Through public subscription and various benefits, ample funds were secured to purchase necessary property and start clearing and grading work."