I found this cool shot of State Street taken in 1926, so I took a break from my studies to write a new post. This photo shows the east side of State from 10th to 13th Street. The tall cream colored building on the left is the Erie Trust Company (later the Baldwin Building or Renaissance Center) at 10th and State. It still stands. The tall building to the right is the Commerce Building at 12th and State, which has since been demolished.
The sign for Lawrie Brothers Furniture, at 1207 State St., is partially visible. Reliable Furniture was located next door, at 1213-1221 State St. The Wayne Furniture Company, at 1223-1225 State, rounds off Erie's original Furniture Row. Erie Sea Food House was located at 1227 State, and Erie Window Glass Co. was on the corner of 13th and State (1229 State St.).
The New Commercial Hotel was across the street at 1301 State, Schneider Hardware was next door at 1303 State, and Joseph Erhart sold harnesses, horse supplies, trunks, bags and leather goods at 1305 State St. Most of the buildings south of 12th Street still stand.
In case you're curious, I'm studying the human genome. Be thankful I'm writing about State Street rather than bombarding you with details of DNA, nucleotides, cytosine and histones.
Enjoy more fun historical facts about Erie, Pennsylvania at: Old Time Erie
Four hundred and twenty-nine dependent or neglected children received care from social agencies and institutions in Erie County, PA in 1940. The break-down is as follows:
184 children lived in institutions (Sarah A. Reed Home and St. Joseph's Home for Children)
164 children lived in foster homes
81 children lived in relatives' homes
Additionally, 69 children with legal residence in Erie County received foster care outside of the county:
35 children lived at Bethesda Home in Meadville, PA
2 children lived at Carson College in Flourtown, Montgomery Co., PA
4 children lived at Girard College in Philadelphia, PA
2 children lived at the Odd Fellows' Home of NW PA in Meadville, PA
1 child lived at the Orphans' Home & Farm School in Zelienople, Butler Co., PA
9 children lived at Pennsylvania Soldiers' Orphans' Home in Scotland, Franklin Co., PA
4 children lived at Ruth M. Smith Children's Home in Sheffield, Warren Co., PA
3 children lived at St. Paul's Orphanage in Greenville, Mercer Co., PA
1 child was under the care of Children's Aid Society in Oil City, Venango Co., PA
7 children were under the care of Conference of Catholic Charities in Pittsburgh, PA
1 child was under the care of Children's Aid Society in Meadville, PA
"During 1939, 38 children were adopted through the Erie County Court. Of this number five were adopted by their own parents, probably after the second marriage of one natural parent of the children. Of the remaining 33 children, 18 had legal residence in the City of Erie and two in Corry, six children came from other Pennsylvania counties, two from Ohio, one from New York State, one from Mississippi and three from unknown localities.
Fifteen of the children were recorded as born out of marriage. In five instances the original placements in the adoption homes were made by social agencies or institutions. The adopting parents were married couple, with one single woman as an exception.
Many instances were cited of placements of children for adoption by doctors and private individuals." -Care of Dependent, Neglected and Delinquent Children in Erie County, Pennsylvania.
Enjoy more historical facts and photos of Erie PA at: Old Time Erie
Every year around Thanksgiving hopeful kids would scour the ads in the Sunday newspaper and compile lists of presents that they wished to receive for Christmas. One of their parents would then go to the store, list in hand, and pick out toys, sweaters and jeans for their kids.
If they did not have enough money to pay for the merchandise, they could buy the items on credit. There was usually a long line of people with cartfuls of goodies waiting at the layaway window at Hills Department Store on East 28th and Elm Street. This was back in the 70s and 80s, when stores actually ran out of things, before you could find practically anything on eBay and the Internet.
Here's how layaway worked:
Merchandise was held for 60 days to give the customer time to pay for the items. The clerk at Hills placed your items in bags or boxes and they were stored behind the counter in the layaway department.
A minimum deposit of 10% of the total purchase price or $1 (whichever was larger) was put toward the bill.
The total price of the merchandise had to be at least $5.
You had to bring your ticket and cash register receipt with you to make payments or pickup your merchandise.
A small fee was collected with each payment. In 1983, the fee was $1 per transaction.
If you failed to pay for your items within 60 days, the merchandise was returned to open stock, and you forfeited the service charge and handling fees.
If you had items in layaway, your kids couldn't snoop around the house and figure out what their gifts would be.
Enjoy more fun facts about Erie PA at: Old Time Erie
Charles M. Tibbals lived in this Greek Revival home at 146 East 5th Street more than 170 years ago. Tibbals was the founder of the Chicago & Erie Stove Company, which manufactured the "Invincible," an award-winning, ornate coal burning stove that heated many a parlor throughout the United States. This red brick house is a testament to his wealth and keen attention to detail.
Did you miss your chance to tour this beautiful home, and nine other nearby properties, this Thursday, Sept. 26th? The Erie County Historical Society coordinated this self-guided tour, which included sites owned by Erie Insurance. Many of the buildings pre-date the Civil War. Tickets are $10 each.
Ten sites on State and French Streets, from 3rd to 6th Street, were included on the itinerary. They included the Cashier's House and Erie History Center, Chandlery Corner (4th and State), the Dickson Tavern (2nd and French), Pierre S. V. Hamot House (3rd and French), Sullivan's Pub, O'Donnell House (4th and French), St. Patrick Catholic Church (130 E. 4th), the H. O. Hirt Building (East 6th) and the F. W. Hirt Building on the corner of 6th and French. On street parking is generally free after 6 p.m. downtown.
(On a side note, I almost called this post "The Trouble With Tibbals" but I wasn't sure how many of you were Star Trek fans and watched the episode about tribbles.)
Enjoy more fun and fascinating facts about Erie, Pennsylvania at: Old Time Erie
