Tara Di Matteo Boyd Remembers The Burg:

Tara Di Matteo Boyd Remembers The Burg:

Elmer Street
I can still remember the sound of my grand mom Dena sweeping
the puddles with an old fashioned whisk broom, in our mostly
cement covered yard, or the rumble of the Big Wheeles riding
up and down Elmer St. There wasn't a day in the summer that I
don't remember listening to my dad and grand pop Mike
screaming at the tv in the living room while they watched
their Yankees. My grandfather would vow every year to
disown them, but he remained loyal to the day he died.

The Feast of Lights
I will never forget hearing the familiar voices, year
after year, making the 50/50 announcements at the church
carnivals and the Feast of the Lights. During the Feast
the streets were filled with so many people you couldn’t
help but walk on the heels of the person in front of you.
For a quarter you could play the stand.. and take a chance
at winning a stuffed animal or plaque with a glittery
playboy bunny symbol. My personal favorite was the stand
with the 45 records. I still listen to them today.
The amazing scent of peppers and onions wafted through
the air, you could smell it from blocks away. Every year
my grandfather would make his own pizzelles so we didn't
have to buy them. After the procession on Sunday, my
whole family would have macaroni and a huge bowl of meat
that was cooked in the gravy. (gravy is what we call
sauce). Then on Monday night everyone would gather
to watch the fireworks.

Columbus Park and Trenton Joes
Chambersburg Little League games at Columbus Park had an
electricity about them that's hard to describe. Crowds
gathered around the fences to watch the game while others
lined up at the concession stand to get a hot dog and soda.
If you were lucky enough to know someone, you could sneak
upstairs and watch from the anno...uncer's box. Even if you
had no interest in the game you were at the park because it
was the place to be at night. A visit to Trenton Joes was
only a few feet from away. It was there that you could find
Wigwam socks, parachute pants, Member's Only jackets,
Jordache Jeans, studded belts and black lace gloves…if it
was hot in the 80's, he sold it! The store had such a
memorable smell, which I relate mostly to the Stiff Stuff
hair spray he displayed in the front of the store.

Church & Family
I remember walking every Sunday to Immaculate and back all
by myself to go to CCD. In the winter my grandparents would
have homemade soup ready and waiting for when I got home.
It was usually orzo noodles with mini meatballs, and I would
load it up with fresh pecorino ramano cheese that we would buy
at Belardino's around the corner. Every meal included a stick
bread with seeds from New Colonial Bakery and butter that was
left out on the counter.

The Burg
There was nothing greater than growing up in the BURG. I lived
on Elmer St until it was time to go to high school and then we
moved to the Township. It really was an amazing experience that
could never be recreated. It is so hard to describe to people
who didn't live there.

Thank You for these great memories Tara.
God Bless The Ole Burg:)