30 years ago – August 1980
Brownsville Time Capsule Brownsville Time Capsule looks back over the years through the archives of the Brownsville Telegraph.
n Shelley’s Meat Market on Old National Pike in Malden was destroyed by a four-alarm fire that was reported at 4:10 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 21. The market recently ceased operations, and the market equipment was to have been auctioned off soon. The building also formerly housed a soft ice cream parlor.
A resident who lives close to the market stated that he saw an automobile pull into the store parking lot shortly before the fire started. According to the resident, who requested anonymity, the vehicle “stopped a while, and then took off like a bat out of hell.”
Nearby residents suspect arson. A report from the state police fire marshal is expected in a few days.
n It was a heartbreaker for the Brownsville Little League All-Stars, who narrowly missed becoming the first Brownsville team to participate in the state Little League tournament. The team needed only one more victory to become one of the four squads to compete in the state competition, but Oil City emerged with a 3-1 triumph over the locals in a game played at Carroll Township.
Mike Conte hurled a fine four-hitter for Manager Tony Iacconi’s squad, which finished with six hits but stranded 10 runners on base. Browns-ville’s run came in the first inning when Conte reached on an infield error, Mike Mammarella singled, and Matt Wasko and Johnny Sheehan each walked. That forced in a run, but the Oil City hurler recovered his poise and was able to retire the side without further damage.
Salvin Wallace, Randy Covington, Eric Hanula and T.J. Kravits also hit safely for Brownsville, which mounted several more scoring threats later in the game but were unable to score.
50 years ago – August 1960
n A large stone fireplace has been uncovered in the old trading post part of Bowman’s Castle. The fireplace was discovered when an old cupboard was removed, according to Esther Brain, who is operating the castle as a museum. Brain originally planned to open the castle only on weekends. However, the number of visitors has been so heavy that she has decided to keep the castle open seven days a week in order to accommodate those wishing to tour the historic landmark.
n Watch out for a tricky “con game” that has been attempted on unsuspecting travelers along the Narrows and Rush Run Hollow road in Luzerne Township. According to all of the near-victims, the “game” goes like this:
As you are driving along, a tire, apparently new and still wrapped in paper, can be seen lying near the side of the road. As one stops to investigate, the tire is pulled away by a rope and several men come out of hiding to attack the curious motorist.
The latest to become involved was Robert Robinson of Clairton. Robinson and his wife were returning from Maxwell on Sunday after a visit to his wife’s mother, Ann Demyan, when he noticed the new tire lying on the Brownsville side of the Narrows.
Robinson stopped and was about to pick up the tire when three men came down one side of the hill and three or four others came down the hill on the opposite side of the road.
Robinson managed to get into his car and escape before the men could reach him. Several other motorists have reported similar incidents, but so far no one has reported being robbed.
n Go-Cart riding will begin at the Brownsville-Luzerne Community Park this week, as the track area is being completed today. The concession includes seven three-horsepower carts. Four are adult size, and three are for children. Park concessions are operated by John Raven.
n David Hanula, 12-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Hanula, Knox-ville, and star pitcher for the Eagles team in the local Little League, will represent the Brownsville Telegraph in a zany baseball game between the KDKA Radio-TV team and the Junior All-Stars tomorrow night at Forbes Field.
The local youngster was selected by the judges from the group of boys in the tri-county area who sent in letters of 50 words or less on “Why I Would Like To Play At Forbes Field.”
Besides appearing on the mound and enjoying a 7-0 record with Manager Bud Purcell’s Eagles team, David also performs at shortstop.
The contest will take place immediately prior to the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs. Included on the KDKA team will be Bob Prince, Art Palan, Ed Schaughency, John Hills, Clark Race, Don Riggs, Bob Tracey, Ron Rining-er, Mike Levine, George Eisenhower and others.
The Junior All-Stars will consist of young boys representing 15 area newspapers. Newscaster Bill Burns and sportscaster Tom Bender will broadcast the contest on radio.
n Coach Buddy Parker of the Pittsburgh Steelers called Big Buck Grover, former all-around athlete at Brownsville High School, into his training camp office at California State College yesterday morning and notified the local athlete that he was being given his release.
“Buck, I have four veteran defensive ends on this ball club and it’s almost impossible for any rookie to win a defensive end job,” Parker told Grover. “However, I believe you’re capable of making the grade in pro football, and so I phoned Coach Paul Brown of the Cleveland Browns, who is in need of defensive ends.”
Today Grover is on his way to the training camp of the Cleveland Browns at Hiram College in an effort to win a berth on the squad.
65 years ago – August 1945
n Brownsville “blew its top” last night as hundreds of residents from the community and surrounding districts gathered downtown after President Truman reported at 7 p.m. that the war with Japan had ended.
Brownsville let its hair down in a gigantic celebration as noisy motorcades swept through the streets, honking their horns, beating tin pans, and waving and cheering at curbside spectators. Every conceivable type of noisemaker was being used to contribute to the ceaseless tumult.
An impromptu parade moved along High and Market streets, continuing for nearly two hours. Later in the night, a large truck loaded with members of the Battaglini Band of LaBelle moved through town playing patriotic numbers.
Burgess William J. Long and his corps of police officers controlled traffic at street corners as traffic lights proved inadequate to handle the influx of happy motorists.
n Herbert O. (Jack) Hornbake, 65, widely known Brownsville resident, has died after a lengthy illness. Active politically in old South Brownsville Borough and later in the consolidated borough here, Hornbake served variously as justice of the peace and burgess in South Brownsville and later as a school director in the consolidated borough.
He was a charter member of the South Browns-ville Fire Co. and was postmaster in South Brownsville at one time. For years, he served as secretary-treasurer of the old J.D. Armstrong Drug Co., which was located in the Neck on the site of the present Sidler’s Department Store.
Editor’s note: At the request of our readers, we are running previously published versions of the Brownsville Time Capsule.
Comments about this column can be directed to Peter S. Skirchak, Associate Editor, at pskirchak@heraldstandard.com.