Ask Joan: The Long and Short of It edition
Last week, I shared some longer letters I received in the mail; this week, most of the letters I’m bringing to you are of the shorter variety. I like them all; keep them coming!
What’s inside
1. Memories of Camp Tuckahoe
2. Restaurant and dance floor
3. More on the paint sign
4. Recalling former Dover businesses
5. Sharing many downtown memories
1. Memories of Camp Tuckahoe
Reader Gary Reeling sent me a photo from Boy Scout Camp Tuckahoe, taken in 1956. “I hope you will be able to use it in the paper… I wonder what the response will be? I do know many of the names; I’m in the front row at the right end.”
Gary, thank you for sharing that photo. I love hearing stories from York County’s various Boy Scout and Girl Scout camps and other experiences, so if you were in this specific photo – or just have another Scouting memory to share – please let us know!
2. Restaurant and dance floor
A letter from reader Betty Smith of the Manchester area asks, “Sometime in the 1960s I remember going to a restaurant (?) that had a dance floor in a separate area behind it. I don’t remember if there was a jukebox or just piped-in music to dance to. I think it was in the second block of South Duke Street in York. Does anybody else remember this?
I’d be very interested in hearing more about this! I have some ideas but can’t quite pin down what place this might have been.
3. More on the paint sign
Toward the end of December, I shared a column with many details on a former sign in the Freysville area. I have two more letters on that subject I didn’t yet share, confirming our earlier notes on what it was from.
The first, from David Sentz of the Hellam area, notes, “I read your article.. regarding the rusted sign at East Prospect Road and Freysville Road. I was born in that house on that corner and lived there eight years. Sometime after I moved a store was built behind the house where they sold building supplies and paint. I believe that sign was advertising the store. I believe the name was Reimold’s.”
The other letter came from Joyce Peters, who wrote, “I live about a half-mile from the sign… The sign was advertising Reimold’s Supply, which is now where the Den’s Service Center owner or worker lives on Freysville Road.”
Thank you both for adding to our knowledge of the former Reimold’s!
4. Recalling former Dover businesses
Reader Leisa Gross wrote to me some time ago about a past column on Dover and Weigelstown-area memories.
She said, “I grew up in Dover. In fact where Regenthal’s was, Mrs. Regenthal was hit by a car while crossing the road and was killed. Also where Dr. Herrold’s office was later became Dr. David Litrenta, MD, now deceased. I also remember Lankford’s Barber Shop. In fact my late grandfather worked there. I also have a picture of him cutting a child’s hair. It was given to my late grandmother by a Mrs. Landes on March 30, 1971…. The Crafty Basket was the Dover five-and-dime store. Also, Eimerbrink’s Grocery Store at the corner of North Main Street and Butter Road was later a laundromat. In Weigelstown, where Walgreen’s is was Nellie’s Restaurant.”
I don’t remember all of those things, but Nellie’s was a fixture of my high school days; I lived off Fox Run Road and my friends and I would walk there for breakfast on the weekends because it was cheap and close!
5. Sharing many downtown memories
Today’s last letter comes from Lonna (Ambrose) Wilderson of York. She wrote that she knew Charlotte Halpin, who shared information about the former C.B. “Red” Klinedinst store, back in the 1950s. In a photo published previously of that store, she said, “I’m pretty sure that the fourth person on the left is Charlotte, and I know the second man in on the right is my grandpa. He worked at C.B.’s and lived right next door. His backyard went right into a back door of the store. When we would visit my grandparents we always went in to see grandpa and Charlotte. If my memory serves me correctly my grandpa had something to do with repairing bicycles. I was not too old when my grandpa passed away.”
Lonna noted she would love to get a copy of that photo, so I reached out to Charlotte’s sister, Audrey Lerew, who often writes to me on behalf of both herself and her sister, to see if they might be able to help!
Lonna continued, “My grandma stayed living there so I was still able to see Charlotte when we visited. My mom kept in touch with Christmas cards and such and I would see her from time to time out shopping but lost contact when Grandma moved.”
She also wrote about some other topics, including the Hiway Theatre, which we’ve talked about in the past. Lonna noted, “I remember the theater with fondness. It was our Saturday afternoon hangout. Movies were 35 cents except if it was a Walk Disney film, then it was 50 cents. My dad would give us enough to get in and a few extra cents to stop at Stormie’s newsstand for penny candy to take along. Back then you were allowed to bring it into the movie – not like today. That’s frowned upon. Anyway it was the era of rock ‘n’ roll and the theater was sponsoring a dance contest. It would be the Twist from Chubby Checker fame. My older sister and a neighbor boy entered this contest. The theater was packed that day with kids sitting on the floor in the aisles for lack of seats. Lee Ann and Bobby practiced forever. They got up on that stage and danced their hearts out. They won! I don’t remember what the prize was but having a few minutes of fame was awesome.”
She continued, “I also remember the Washington House that Jim Fahringer wrote about in another column of yours. It was on the corner of North George and North streets. My dad’s mother lived on North Queen Street, very close. When he would go to see her on a Saturday afternoon with us kids in tow, he would stop there for a ‘quick beer!’ There were actually two bars – one in the back where the mirrors and beautiful bar were and also one up front where the shuffleboard games were. We were allowed to play these games and also a piano in the hallway between the two bars. The back bar had no stools and a water trough running under the brass footrest. My dad said it was for the tobacco-spitters. I remember eating pigs’ feet souse and pickled tripe there. They kept it in jars on the bar along with the hot sausages and stone eggs. Your column brings back so many memories.”
Finally, Lonna concluded, “Someone else wrote in about Mike’s Nut Shop and a small donut shop. That donut shop was Dixie Creme. I worked there in the late ’60s. They had the best cream-filled donuts around. Lastly, Playland Skating Rink… I cried when that icon burned down. That was my teenage hangout. We were a family of skaters. My mom took us to a rink in Weigelstown to start us out young. Then we went to Playland later. I still have my skates plus my mom’s beat-up old case with her skates in it. Wow!”
Lonna, thank you so much for sharing all those memories with us! I hope you will continue to share even more of them!
Have questions or memories to share? Email me at joan@joanconcilio.com or write to Ask Joan, York Daily Record/Sunday News, 1891 Loucks Road, York PA 17408. We cannot accept any phone calls with questions or information.
