Girardville: A glimpse into the past
BY LESLIE RICHARDSON
06/07/2007
GIRARDVILLE — People had the chance to step back
in time Wednesday.
The Girardville Historical Society opened the doors
to its headquarters, the former Murray Drug Store at 1 W. Main St.,
to offer a view of the old days.
“I like old things and old pictures,” visitor
Rosalie Jambeter said while she took a look at the artifacts on display
in the original drug store cases.
The historical society members spent several weeks getting
the exhibits ready for the borough’s 175th anniversary celebration
taking place all week, and although there is still work to be done
there was an impressive display of class photos, trophies and programs
from plays held at the Girard Theatre.
Old glass bottles were etched with West End Beverage
and Fetters Dairy.
Other business memorabilia included names like Rudy’s
Tailor Shop, Paramount Photo Service and Mike Sholis Cut Rate Meat
and Groceries.
Elizabeth Klemo, Gordon, took advantage of the open
house to relive some family history.
“My mother and grandmother were from Girardville,”
Klemo said. “My grandparents came from Lithuania and settled
in Girardville, my grandfather ran a bar on Second Street called Mike’s.
Now it is just a house. My cousin owns Tony’s, he’s famous
for his hamburgers.”
The building with its black glass facade is owned by
Historical Society member Robert Krick, who lives on the upper floors.
“I bought it about 15 years ago. I always liked
the building and the doctor I went to used to practice here,”
Krick said. “When it came available I bought it and rented the
store out to a florist. When the shop closed I offered the space to
the historical society as their permanent headquarters.”
Krick said his favorite artifact is the framed newspaper
clipping from the early 1900s of Austin J. Kyte, the Handless Vendor
of Poems.
According to Krick, Kyte was a former Girardville resident
who lost both of his hands in a mine explosion about 1878. He later
moved to Philadelphia.
The poems are titled, “On My Accident,” “On
the Loss of My Hands” and “On My Treatment.”
“They aren’t happy poems,” Krick said.
Borough Historian Evelyn Marquardt said there is much
more to be added to the cases that will show Girardville’s rich
past and former glory.
“It’s amazing when you look at the pictures,
what these little towns had,” borough council member Mary Beth
Dougherty said as she viewed the old photos and other memorabilia.
The next anniversary event will take place from 7 to
9 p.m. Friday at borough hall, where a wine and cheese wine mixer
will be held. Residents and visitors can enjoy jazz piano and vocal
standards of Kim Russell-Seibert.
Tickets for this event are $10 and include a commemorative
wine glass.
The glasses are available at all other events as well
as Centiole’s Pizza, borough hall, from any Girardville PRIDE
member, at the Upper Schuylkill Office at 1 W. Centre St., Mahanoy
City.
© The REPUBLICAN & Herald
2007
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