Before consolidations and budget cuts, there were more than 50 post offices in Erie County, PA. The photo above shows the rural delivery routes for the County of Erie in 1903. There are lots of names that you don't hear of anymore. Does anyone know where Northville was?
The Top 50 Post Offices in 1903:
Albion, Anson, Arbuckle
Boscobel
Century, Cherry Hill, Clipper, Corry, Cranesville
Delhil
East Greene, East Springfield
Fairview, Francis, Franklin Corners
Girard, Godard, Greenfield
Hammett, Harborcreek, Hornby
Ivarea
Kuhl, Keepville
Lavery, LeBoeuf, Lowville, Lundy's Lane
McKean, McLallen Corners, McLane
Milesgrove, Mill Village, Moorheadville
Nasby, North East, North Springfield, Northville
Pennside, Phillipsville, Platea, Pont
Sterrettania, Swanville
Tracy
Union City
Wanneta, Waterford, Wattsburg, Weis Library, Wesleyville, West Springfield
Enjoy more fun facts about Erie, Pennsylvania at: Old Time Erie
Wolff's Department Store was located on the northwest corner of 13th and Parade Street in Erie, PA. Nathan Wolff established the business in 1898 and it was later run by his sons, Max and Herman Wolff. This discount retail store still existed in 1963.
"The Wolff Brothers have in addition to the 13th and Parade store opened the giant surplus stores in Erie and have used all the excess space in the Parade St. store for warehousing, which is now bulging with first quality merchandise, including all the heavy winter needs necessary to all of you for Erie's long winters."
The sale items included oxfords, sport shirts, chino slacks and children's dresses for 99¢ each; Dungarees, rugs and flatties for $1.44 each; work pants for $2.57 and work shirts for $1.99. They also had ladies' dress heels for $3.99 and men's work shoes for $2.77. Need a pair of work gloves to haul scrap metal or build a shed in the backyard? Those would set you back 33¢ per pair in 1963.
The building that housed Wolff's Department Store at 1228 Parade Street was demolished. It is now a vacant lot just south of a Country Fair store and gas station.
Enjoy more historical facts and pictures of Erie, Pennsylvania at: Old Time Erie
Remember back when you bought a new car and they gave you a token of their appreciation for being a loyal customer? Here is one such item, a Harris Ford key chain fob. No automatic car starter or heated seats in these old vehicles. If you left your headlights on, your battery would be dead after a few hours. Much simpler times then, without a need for ten keys for opening doors. The cashier didn't need to scan the barcode on your grocery store loyalty card on your key fob because the cashier at your neighborhood food market most likely knew you by name.
Harris Ford was located at 150 East 12th St. in Erie, PA. There was a cluster of new and used car dealers on Twelfth Street at the time.
Enjoy more fun facts and photos of historic Erie, Pennsylvania at: Old Time Erie
When I look at old postcards I find it odd that people dressed so well to go fishing, to a picnic or to the beach. Take these young boys for instance. No hip waders here. They look like they just went to church and decided to catch dinner on the way home. Maybe that's why they are using tree limbs as fishing poles.
This scenic photo was taken near the Lawrence Park Gold Club, which was established in 1921. Are these young men spending some quality time with their fathers at the mouth of Four Mile Creek? The man in the middle looks like he is standing in the water all by himself, looking out at Lake Erie. I hope the boys had a bucket to carry their fish home in.
The S.O.N.S. of Lake Erie sponsor a pretty cool program to encourage sport fishing in Erie County. You can check out a fishing pole and a tackle box for free at the Blasco Memorial Library on the Bayfront or the Iroquois Avenue Branch Library in Lawrence Park.
And here's a little bit of fishing history: A new fish hatchery was built in Erie in 1914. Fishing licenses were first required in 1922, when a resident fishing license cost $1. The fee was raised to $1.50 in 1928 and to $2 in 1948. The Pennsylvania Fish Commission collected $207,425.53 the first year. The daily creel limit for trout was set at 25 in 1925. Other limits were: 10 bass, 10 walleye, 15 pickerel and 3 muskies.
Enjoy more fun facts about the history of Erie, Pennsylvania at: Old Time Erie
