West 12th And Lincoln Holds Many Memories

Interstate 79 at West 12th near Lincoln Avenue. Erie Conference on Community Development photo.

When Interstate 79 was extended from West 26th to West 12th Street in Erie, PA, it forever changed the community. For most people it meant a faster commute in or out of the City of Erie. For others, it was the final chapter for their homes and businesses. 

My friend Marylou remembers sitting down to a family meal in the back room at Serafini's when it was located at 1714 West 12th Street. Other friends, like Ron Damico and Barbara Woodside, think of their family home in the 1700 block of West 14th St. If you happened to live in this neighborhood in the 1950s, you might recall the Big Erie Market at the corner of 12th and Lincoln, DeBello's Restaurant (next to Serafini's Cafe), Grehl's Dry Cleaners, Kent Hardware or Hayes Motors. Or the cluster of gas stations, like Victory Service Station at 1702 West 12th, Kahwka Esso at 1741 West 12th or Young's Atlantic Service Station at 1748 West 12th.

How can you forget the Delaware Avenue Housing Projects, built in June of 1943 to help ease the housing shortage experienced by returning World War II veterans? Or Custer Drive?

"It will consist of 200 dwelling units at 12th and Delaware Avenue and will be ready for occupancy soon. This again is of a temporary nature, the total cost being only $716,000. Owing to scarcity of materials, the houses will be heated with old-fashioned coal stoves, and refrigeration will be with ice-boxes. This project is to be known as the Delaware Avenue Housing Project and is about two blocks from the west city limits." -Know Erie compiled by Emelia Bark, Teacher of Civics, Gridley Junior High, Erie, Pennsylvania.

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