Ralph Lucarella Wrote:
Hi Mac:
I saw Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig at Wetzel Field when i was a
young kid. They wore black uniforms and Babe Ruth did hit a
home run onto Chambers Street. We were living on Bert Avenue
at the time. We later moved to Franklin Street after I played
on the 1936 Schroths. At that time every kid in the city tried
out for the team. During the 30's I practically lived at Wetzel
Field. I played in the Industrial League, the Twilight League
and City League. I played with Art Holland on the Southards
along with other players from Trenton Catholic. We called
Art Holland by his nickname "chirp". He was a close friend and
became Mayor of Trenton for a long while. I'm gonna be 90 years
old in August and remember all the guys I played with. You may
remember those who played with my brother Chuck (Joseph) in 1948
on the Schroths. Jake Miller managed the 1936 team I played
on while Kelly Palumbo managed the 1948 team. Bus Saidt was
also a teammate on my 1936 team. Chuck played with Marty Devlin,
Bill Valyo and Andy Greener and they went on to win the 1948
American Legion World Series. Chuck went on to Wake Forrest
University and later to Jefferson Medical College. His office
was at 669 Chambers Street, across from St. Francis. He passed
away in 1988 at the young age of 56. My older brother Lou and I
ran the Olden Bowling Lanes, above the Olden Theatre on South
Olden Ave. One of the stores by there was Marruca Tomatoe Pies.
When I was born on Mott Street my father got his hair cut at
DeLorenzo's on Hudson Street. It later became DeLorenzo's Tomatoe
Pies. On your blog you show 123 Mott Street. In the 20's we had
a store there. You also mentioned Bodnar Service Station.
My Sister-In-Law Marge was married to Joe Bodnar and my brother
Lou had a radio shop on South Clinton Ave next to Dr. Levine's
office. My brother Lou and I were letter carriers in Trenton and
ran the Olden Bowling Lanes at night. In the 50's we left the
Post Office and built the Hamilton Bowling Lanes on Route 33
across from Tony Cal's Cafe in Mercerville. In 1957 we were
living on Marshall Ave and Edinberg Rd. We had the Bowling Lanes
on RT 33 for 15 years, 1955-70. Now you know all about me and my
brothers. Keep up the good work.
Regards,
Ralph
Thank you Ralph, this is Magnificent.
A beautiful walk down Burg Memory Lane:)
5 years ago
5 comments:
Mack and Ralph:
Ahh, if we only had more nanogenarians to remember those golden years! How well I remember our many visits to Wetzel Field to watch the Industrial League. to I member a heavy set guy who used to sell peanuts to the "bleacher creatures." Ralph, your memories of wonderful. You probably knew the late Renold "Rennie" Funari and Chick Bublitz.
Tom Glover
Ralph, I remember your brother and Marty Devlin, (and his brother) Bill Valyo and Andy Greener of the Post #93 Trenton Schroths, of Course also their manager Kelly Palumbo.
I watched them play there many, many times. Thanks, that was a great memory. I was a Boston Red Sox fan at that time. They all were great and they played a lot a the baseball diamond on West Street State across from JR 3. I remember well all the gang cheered where they won the 1948 American Legion World Series. I was 8 years old then and a real baseball fan.
I also was at the Olden theatre a zillion times and your blowing alley with my dad. That was doing the war years. I seem to remember in the movies they gave blue dishes and cups each week and sold war bonds. Remember the noise from your bowling alley. We lived on Locust Street at that time and I went to Cook school which was a few blocks from your bowling alley
Art Holland was also my friend, I served for him on and as Chairman of the Trenton Landmark Commission. I also of course had many meals in DeLorenzo's Tomato Pies.
Thank you for telling all of us about you and your family. You were a great part of the Trenton-Chambersburg community we all love to remember so much.
Ed MacNicoll
Opps.. I am getting old.. I made a mistake..I was 12 years old. Sorry..Smile
Ed MacNicoll
Mr. Lucarella,
God bless you, Sir!
Margie and Joe were neighbors of ours, living on the 800 block of S. Clinton. They lived down by Kovach's Mercer Confectionery. Joe used to walk past our house every morning to go to work and every evening for supper. We lived four doors away from Gliba's at 809, and then 811.
What was it about our neighborhhod? All nice folks lived and worked there.
God Bless You and thank you for the story.
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