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Lock Haven in days gone by

It was delightfully surprising to hear from Express readers of their interest in Lock Haven (“City”) yesteryears. Traveling, I have no access to Kathy Arndt’s research from Heisey Museum or The Poorman Gallery. So, we’ll take this trip from memory, travel fringe areas and pass exciting new businesses along the way.

A long-time stop is Pizza City, next to the Hanna (Price) Park tennis courts. This eatery is owned by Ed Blesh. Ed’s family owned a Hudson car dealership next to The Texas Lunch. I taught Eddie keyboards in his younger years. Pass this eatery and you would’ve reached the Forty & Eight Chateau, Fibber’s Tavern and Casa Loma Restaurant.

Head back to the City to the Soldiers & Sailors Monument at the “five-way-lights” where a Widmann’s Drug Store operated. The building housed many tenants over the years including Cheryl O’Connor’s Floral Shop, the Jason DeJesus Custom Creations & Apparel and the Anthony A. Torsell (1906-2003) Real Estate Office. Next, on West Church, was the AAA office before moving to Dunnstown.

The next property became the law office of the (Mark) Givler & (Julie) Evers Law Firm where they practice law with their son, Travis.

Years ago the Dr. John George Treires (1956-2021) office was in this building. Treires was a brother of Estelle Procos who, with husband Peter, operated the Greek-style “Sandwich Shop” in my Simon Building. When ill as a child, Dr. Treires made Castanea house calls for $3 and left envelopes with pills. If you got a shot, you got a shot and a lollipop.

Treires drove new Cadillacs that I admired as a child. Eventually, I purchased two of his pre-owned Cadillacs from salesperson Dave Evers at Talley/Gordon Olds Cadillac (Lucky Seven Travel Plaza). Dave’s son now owns Dave Evers Construction. Later, Anthony “Tony” Torsell sold me the Dr. and Christanthe Treires home, where we still reside today.

In days gone by, medical treatment was more available, more personal and less costly. Imagine, a doctor’s house call for $3! Dad, who worked at New York & Penn, thought the expense was exorbitant!

Over on Bellefonte Avenue, the Hayes K. Schwarz Wallpaper & Paint Store, eventually operated by his daughter, Arlie N. Galitski (1927-2005); her husband, Thomas F. Galitski (1923-2005) and son, Tom, was founded in 1894. The Schwarz name is still embedded in brass letters in the sidewalk. The building is occupied by Realtor Patty Davis and Redmond’s Complete Comfort.

Up the street you’d find the Fred “Luigi” Leone (1924-2006) Sub Shop that offered the best subs you’ve ever eaten, dished out with some unusual and unexpected humor from Fred.

Next was Rinella’s wholesale bananas and Marconi’s Service Center founded by Anthony A. Marconi and operated by his son, Philip.

Across the street was the Eddie Wentz Store eventually becoming the Tommy and Cathy Shortledge Walker’s Hardware, f.k.a. Sam Walker Hardware & Supplies (c.1966).

Thomas E. McMaster recently acquired the building and there could be development plans on the horizon.

Nearby is the City’s only triangular-shaped building that once housed the Robert F. Yoder (1925-2010) Home Security, Calvin Arter’s office, tax services and other businesses. Next was a three-story apartment building razed for Colonial Sander’s parking lot. In days of old, the apartment building was home to the Adam C. Dickey (1882-1967) Auto Facility. Adam Dickey (1849-1921) donated land to construct the Dickey Elementary School that may, if politicians don’t mess it up again, be occupied.

In those years, there were ramps and vehicle elevators in the Blesh Building, Vesper Street Dickey Building and Cook Building; upper floors were utilized.

The I. Lipez Economy Auto Parts facility was located on the Kentucky Fried Chicken site and was developed by the late Ted Cocolin from State College. Izadore Lipez (1911-1992) was a brother of Harris Lipez (1915-1996), one of the WBPZ Radio founders, and the Honorable Judge Abraham H. Lipez (1903-1994).

Cross the tracks and you’d find Junior Jodun’s market. He added a second floor and the complex was sold to electrician Jim Hanna. Jodun roasted the same chickens once available at John’s BBQ on Grove Street. Junior’s spouse, Doris, after retiring as secretary to the President of Woolrich Woolen Mills, became a valued accountant, along with Emily Umstad, in my office.

The next block too has always been fully commercial including the arrival of Wendy’s.

We had Salvatore Assante’s Avenue Cafe (once one of many cigar factories in Clinton County), a hotel, Six-Pack and eventually, a rock and roll nightclub. The land now houses Hanger Nine, owned by the Gundy family. The Clinton County Assistance Office and Family Dollar is located nearby. This complex, once an auto parts warehouse, was restored by Tom McMaster.

On the next busy corner, Domino’s attempted to open a pizza store and the small building was occupied by a half dozen businesses. Several houses were razed in order to accommodate traffic.

Cross the street and you’d find ALVO Electronics that became One Stop Audio, owned by Charles H. Clausen (1950-1997). “Chuck” Clausen’s son, Micah, now owns Advantage Sales, LTD, located in the former Bobbie Brooks plant behind the Ford Dealership.

Attached to One Stop (now Avenue 209 Coffee House), was Lock Haven Laundry (now Hush Hair and Nail Studio, LLC) operated by “Judge” Maggs and it purportedly leaked tetrachloroethylene into the ground under the adjacent Casselberry Chevrolet building. Owner Howard A. “Bud” Casselberry (1921-2015) operated a successful business in his historically significant building.

The Casselberry building was razed and I negotiated a sale to CVS for its new store on the corner of Bellefonte Avenue and Commerce Street. There was also a Subway and gas station on the property.

Bud Casselberry employed engineer Warren Bowman. This innovative gentleman invited me to perform at his Second Street home for the unveiling of an electronic organ that he built from scratch. When asked where he got the beautiful trim, he said, they’re just painted “yardsticks.”

In the next block was The Citizen’s Hose Company No. 5 (c.1905). Dad was a member and after we’d help to tear down the festival held annually on the McDonald’s parking lot, they’d allow me to slide down the fireman’s pole and ride on a fire truck.

A&P (Atlantic & Pacific grocery chain that filed bankruptcy in 2015) occupied the McDonald’s site and while in my teens, I attempted to purchase the vacant store. But, McDonalds bought it for six-times the listed price.

On the corner of Commerce and Bellefonte Avenue was a Pickelner’s Auto & Tire Center (now Weis “Gas & Go”). Next came Romanesky’s Sunoco, owned by Mike and his father.

Next to the Sunoco station was another Widmann’s Drug Store and on the corner, the Coppes & Thorson Superette. It was across the avenue from Haddy Wolfe’s Photography Studio and Tom McMaster’s Brass Rail Bar.

Behind CVS you would’ve found the M. L. Claster & Sons Lumber Company (c.1901). This first store grew into a large chain operated by grandson, Bert Claster, and Tom “Dandy Fine” Walker. Clasters became Your Building Centers, one of the area’s only employee stock ownership firms.

Atop the hill was Poorman’s Gas Station and the Mayes School of Music. Mr. Mayes mentored me on keyboards for nine years. You’d soon come to Foy Spangler Ford. Sons Tom Foy and Pete Spangler are still active in businesses, but the founders are gone. The dealership has seen numerous owners including locals, Bob and Ina McCormick.

Next to the Ford lot was Junior Jodun’s Independent Grocers Alliance. Today it’s the home of Dr. George Sadka’s Susquehanna Eye Associates, Marek Kurowski’s PA Pain Management and other medical entities. Dr. Nicholas DiCuccio and his spouse, Patricia DiCuccio, previously owned this complex.

Dr. Larry R. Bason, a most admired veterinarian, practiced in an adjacent residential property. Bason, and his spouse, Charlotte, relocated to Mill Hall and Micah Clausen now resides in the facility that cared for animals for nearly eight decades. Next was a flower shop.

Still in City limits and at the triangle, was Esther and Harry Gebhart’s Service Station. Mike Romanesky and Jim Krape leased the building to operate M&J Industrial Supply.

I negotiated leases for the triangle land with James Bower, whose Williamsport family developed over 50 Dunkin Donut stores.

Today you’ll find Brite Laundry Center, Hub’s Home Oxygen & Medical Supplies, Inc. and the UPMC Outpatient Center on land owned by Ann Gebhart Lipez.

Looking across the Avenue, you’d see Wilbur McClellan’s renowned Allegheny Creamery. Wilbur, brother of Joe, who owned McClellan Insurance and Real Estate, concocted his frozen treats on Allegheny Street in Jersey Shore.

After the creamery closed, Dr. John Brandt, Jr. occupied the building. Dr. Brandt’s father, Dr. John “Jack” Brandt, Sr. (1918-2009), initially practiced on Grove Street and this “father-son team” treated patients for many years.

But we all miss homemade ice cream! Just imagine, in Days Gone By, you could lick your ice cream at about 16 places! You decide if there is more variety today than yesteryear.

You’re now about to cross over the boundary line between the City and Flemington. The City is located between the west branch of the Susquehanna River and a point near the abandoned Geisinger Medical Center structure. It is the ancestral home of the Linni Lenape Indians. In 1833 Jeremiah Church and his brother, Willard, purchased 200 acres of farmland from Dr. Henderson of Huntingdon and named the area “Lockhaven,” in reference to the lock of the Bald Eagle Canal and the haven provided for river boatmen. The area was incorporated as a town in 1834, it became a city in 1876, and thereafter, the seat of Clinton County.

Pick up a local history book at The Heisey Museum or Ross Library, and stay tuned for your next trip into Flemington and the Bully.

Stephen Poorman is a longtime area resident and business consultant.

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