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The Year In Review Browse Through The Weekly 1951 Brookline Journals <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> On January 8, 1951, the community of Brookline celebrated it's 43rd year as one of the many neighborhoods that make up the City of Pittsburgh. While the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Press covered the news throughout the city, residents here in Brookline also had the Brookline Journal, a member of the Western Pennsylvania Weekly Newspaper Association. The neighborhood publication highlighted local community events and happenings throughout Brookline.
The Brookline Journal's publisher was Lloyd Green. The managing editor was Guilbert Aubenque and the office manager was Rosemary Imhoff. Each year the newspaper was increasing in both advertising revenue and subscriptions. It was growing along with the fast-expanding community, and there was plenty of news to cover. The yearly subscription rate was $1.00. Individual editions were two cents apiece and classified ads cost four cents per word. The Journal office was housed in the back of the Paul N. Smith Realty building. The following text is a short recap of the Year 1951, using information gathered from a quick browsing of the weekly Brookline Journal collection. Afterwards is a complete page by page photo record of the each edition of the journal. They provide quite an interesting, and complete, look back at the neighborhood of Brookline in 1951. The year began with Brookline still struggling with the hardships relating to the epic Thanksgiving Blizzard of 1950. Residents grumbled about the long-standing piles of snow along the roadways. Merchants and shoppers were equally upset about the condition of Brookline Boulevard and several commercial sidewalks that were left unattended for over a month. <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> The Korean War The Korean War was also a source of tension as the new year began. The U.S. Army and Marine Corps divisions had just concluded a successful evacuation of their postions in North Korea following the Chinese intervention, but overall events were not going well for the United Nations forces. The South Korean capital of Seoul was about to fall for the second time. General McArthur was considering both withdrawal and the use of nuclear weapons against China. Several of Brookline's young adults were serving in the military, and many had already seen combat action in Korea. The Brookline Journal's November 24, 1950 edition told of Charles Roland's harrowing escape during the U.S. defeat at the Battle of Unsan. Private Roland, who was wounded in the engagement, was an employee of the Journal before entering the army. Among other Brookline soldiers fighting overseas were neighbors James McKenna and James Gormley, whose families lived just a stones throw from each other in East Brookline. On January 11, the Journal reported that McKenna, who lived on Bellaire Place, was listed as missing in action near the village of Kuni-Ri. That finding was later changed to killed in action. James McKenna was the first-ever Eagle Scout (1946) from Boy Scout Troop#6 at Resurrection. Three weeks later, Gormley's photo appeared on the front page, with news that he had participated in the evacuation of the Hungnam beachhead. His unit was one of the last to leave the area. By February, the Korean front had stabilized and the U.N. was preparing to launch a counter-attack. Although the outlook was brightening for the Allies, no one could foresee that the battles on the Korean Peninsula would rage for another two and a half years, and that the conflict would exact a further deadly toll on Brookline's young soldiers.
<><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> Back On The Home Front While the war raged in Korea, here in Brookline life went on much as it always had. The community was still growing at a rapid pace. The population had swelled to over 17000 residents and more were moving in all the time. The Ebenshire Realty Company was formed to handle the new housing development being built in Ebenshire Village. The Brookline Building and Loan Association was also involved in the busy real estate market. The Brookline Journal covered the local news week by week as it happened. In March, ninth grade Cadet Harold Norrish of Beaufort Street scored a record breaking 99% average for all classes during the fourth semester at the Randolph-Macon Academy at Fort Royal, Virginia. Closer to home, Morris Melman was awarded the Dealer-Clerk Award by the Colgate Company. In April, the newly-constructed DeBor Funeral Home, owned by Frank F. DeBor, opened it's doors at 1065 Brookline Boulevard. The month of May featured the winners of the 5th Annual Baby Contest, sponsored by The Kiddie Shop. The first prize winner was Ernest Reinhold, followed by Joanne Groetsch and Vincent Capuano in second and third Place. The May Queen at Elizabeth-Seton High School was Joan Monahan. The Spring and Summer months were dominated by a large number of wedding annoucements, including the nuptials of Joanne Weet, daughter of Brookline's Leander Weet, owner of the successful Olive and Pickle Company on McNeilly Road. Mr. and Mrs. James McGaffin celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary at Resurrection Church on June 5. The McGaffins were prominent Brookline citizens who boasted ten children and twenty-one grandchildren. Elizabeth-Seton High School graduated sixty-seven seniors on June 3 and the Brookline Memorial Community Center Association hosted a Spring Carnival from June 11 through June 16 at the Brookline Community Center off Oakridge Street. The yearly carnival was an effort to raise much needed funds to implement improvements in the publicly owned East Brookline park.
One of the main initiatives for the Community Center Association was building a ballfield to support Little League baseball. The Brookline Business Men's Association, led by Morris Grummet and John Pascarosa, was busy planning for Brookline's inaugural Little League season in 1952. Also in June, the BBMA sponsored the annual community and school picnic at West View Park. Trolleys were available on an hourly basis to transport picnic-goers. Special amusement tickets were available at a cost of 25 for $1. The picnic featured a free circus act. The summer months contained articles on the Kiwanis Club Water Carnival at Moore Park and the annual block-by-block community cleanup. Brookline's Fire House #57 and Captain E.A. Langbein received a new pumper truck, their first modern machine in forty-four years. On September 9, ground was broken for a new addition to Elizabeth-Seton High School on Pioneer Avenue. The Brookline Apache sandlot baseball team, who played their games at Moore Park, had another successful season. Pitcher Harrold Gallaher pitched an August no-hitter in 8-0 win over the rival Overbrook Foxes. The Apaches would go on to become Brookline's American Legion team. In October, Blue Bonnet Bakery celebrated a grand re-opening after an extensive remodeling of the store. Also in November was the Red Feather Drive, which raised money to support a variety of national programs for both veterans and the needy. The drive was well-supported by the Brookline community. The fall months also saw the Brookline Eagles football team, led by Paul Fornear, post a successful 5-2 season. Birthday greetings, get well wishes and congratulatory messages were published on a weekly basis. Birth announcements were another frequent post. The November 8 issue contained a short blurb trumpeting the October 15 birth of twin sons Timmy and Tommy to proud parents Helen and Harry Reitmeyer of Milan Avenue. In November, the ongoing debate about the extension of Brookline Boulevard from Edgebrook Avenue through to Saw Mill Run Boulevard heated up again. From Edgebrook to Jacob Street, the boulevard was known as the Stagecoach Road. Streetcar tracks ran along the unpaved center section of the boulevard, while two narrow traffic lanes stood along either side of the rail line. The debate over improving this section of the roadway, and making it "go somewhere," would continue for another fifteen years. In the meantime, Brookline motorists would have to make do with the treacherous drive along East Brookline's version of the Oregon Trail.
<><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> Churches and Schools There were several churches and schools to meet the spiritual and educational needs of Brookline residents. Depending upon a person's individual religious denomination, they could choose from the Church of the Resurrection and Pastor James Quinn, the Brookline Boulevard United Presbyterian Church and Pastor Stillman Allen Foster, the Paul Presbyterian Church and Reverend A.J. Stewart, the Episcopal Advent Church and Reverend Oliver Floyd, the Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church and Pastor W.A. Gordon, the Brookline Methodist Church and Minister A.A. Nagay, St. Mark Evangelical Lutheran Church and Reverand Walter Miesel, or the Maronite Our Lady of Victory Church. The Journal ran weekly information on events and masses. Elementary Schools included Resurrection Elementary, Brookline Elementary, West Liberty Elementary and Carmalt Elementary. For secondary education, students attended South Hills High School in Mount Washington. Girls seeking a parochial education could attend Elizabeth-Seton High School. For adults, Brookline Elementary hosted a men's woodshop and Resurrection offered an All-Gas cooking program for women. With respect to parochial school athletics, the Resurrection Athletic Association was formed in 1951 with Coach Harry Connors as president. The association worked quickly to bolster the school's existing basketball, football and intramural programs. The Ressi Raiders football team received new uniforms and played their first game of the season on September 16, tying St. Paul's Orphanage in a scoreless 0-0 contest. Another improvement was the installation of a basketball gymnasium in the school building. The gym was located in a converted meeting hall and would be the Raiders' new home court for the upcoming season. Scouting was also a major activity for the community youth, and most parishes sponsored one or more troops. There were numerous Girl and Boy Scout Troops and Cub Scout Packs. The November 23 edition of the Journal featured a picture of Brookline's four newest Eagle Scouts, Charles Steinkamp, Clinton Seeley, Robert Kraus and Albert Steele. <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> Brookline Boulevard Brookline Boulevard was the center of activity in the neighborhood. Along the boulevard were a diverse selection of merchants that catered to most all of the community's commercial and entertainment needs. From the Journal ads, here is an overview of the boulevard in 1951. There were several grocery stores, including Melman's Super Market, Datillo's Market and Grummet's Cash Market. The prices listed for selected items were: Tomatoes 19c/lb, Dozen Eggs 59c, Cereal 32c/box, Butter 85c/lb, Bacon 59c/lb and Irish Hams 69c/lb. For specialty cuts, a buyer could go to Klose's Meat Market and Sunny Farms Poultry Market. Kribel's Bakery offered two dozen cookies for 55c and Blue Bonnet Bakery sold pies for 50c. Stebbrook Pharmacy, Brookline Pharmacy, East Brookline Pharmacy and Charlson's Drug Store handled prescriptions from a number of doctors and dentists located along the main street. Hardware needs were met by Bryant's Hardware, Sam's Hardware and Jay's East Brookline Hardware. Along with the everyday hardware products, the three stores each marketed a competing brand of paint. Bryant's featured Satin-Lux for that Flatlux look, Sam's sold Lawrence Tiger Brand's Arvon and Spred, while Jay's peddled Wallhide Rubberized paints. At Christmas time, the hardware stores all advertised deals on the latest models of Lionel trains. Brookline Boulevard had several garment cleaners to keep the residents looking crisp and neat on special occasions. These included Henninger Cleaning and Pressing, Ruby's Dry cleaners, Eastbrook Cleaners, Metropolitan Cleaners and Quaill's Cleaners, owned by Pittsburgh boxing legend Al Quaill. The Brookline Half-Hour Laundry had all the equipment necessary to handle customer's clothes washing and drying needs. For shoe repair one could count on Star Shoe Service, and for the seamstress in the family, The Sewing Box sold sewing machines and supplies, as well as making excellent alterations and repairs. For women's clothing and accessories, Brookliners could visit The Betty Shop. Children's items could be purchased at The Kiddie Shop. Brookline Jewelry and Parks Jewelers were the place to go for special gifts on Mother's Day. For a hairdo or makeover, women could choose from Ella Bernhardt Style Shop or Ritz Beauty Shop, where a special perm with a winged wave cost only $5.95.
If you were looking for a good corned beef sandwich, Denmark's Cafe was the place to go. Joe Zitelli's Boulevard Garden's and Joe's Tavern were also good eating establishments. At Joe's, patrons could enjoy their new 30x40 inch TV that provided a life-like reproduction. Along with the bar/restaurants were Edward Coennen Distributor and Walsh Beer Distributor for those wanting to take home a case of their favorite brew. Anderson Radio and Appliance store offered $50 over blue book value as trade-in for old refrigerators to put down on the purchase of a new Kelvinator. The Brookline TV Center sold the latest models of Philco televisions, and the Brookline Appliance Company sold three-speed record players for only $24.95. Other appliance and electronic stores were Wedgebrook Television and Vogue Appliance Store. Kids enjoyed going to Sodabrook Toyland, where they could browse through a broad selection of toys and other goodies, including baseball gloves and bats. The Warrington Five and Ten Cent Store also offered a fine selection of low price items. The Boulevard Theatre showed feature length movies and, during the afternoons, had cartoon marathons for children. Bard's Ice Cream Store was a popular place for young ones to spend their spare change. Their large ice cream cones cost 5c for one scoop and 10c for two. For motorists, Myer's Service Station offered the latest in Goodyear tires, and Al Bachner's Auto Repair was the place to go if a vehicle was damaged. To purchase a new car, Downtown Motors at the bottom of Capital Avenue was a popular choice. For plumbing needs Brookliners could choose from Fred Doerzbacher Plumbing or Al Hoffman, the Brookline Plumber. For electrical issues there was George Haffner - Electrician. For structural alterations and repairs, J.J. McGaffin came highly recommended. Other businesses along the boulevard included Brookline Savings and Trust Company, which celebrated their 25th Anniversary in May and boasted $9,440,415.49 in resources. Fickley Photography was a trusted source for portraits, and Premier Photo Shop was a great place to purchase a camera or have film developed. <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> Other Interesting Things Almost every week the Journal posted a list of the new books available at the Brookline Library. A small cartoon featuring Vic Vet gave information and tips on programs available to veterans. A weekly editorial column by gil Aubenque, called "The Sound and The Fury," gave keen insights into some of the issues confronting the community at large. Rosemary Imhoff's column "Our Town" covered the lighter side of the news. Although Brookline's public transporation needs were well-served by the Pittsburgh Railways 39-Brookline streetcar route, another alternative was the privately owned Brookline Bus. The popular service was convenient for commuters living in areas removed from the traditional trolley line. Utility companies were also prominently featured in the Journal advertisements. The Water Company touted their cheap, clean and efficient service. Duquesne Light Electric Company ran several ads designed to boost the sale of the market's newest electric home appliances. Bell Telephone also ran a number of ads regarding their reliable and expanding phone network. As was common at the time, Brookline phone numbers were listed with the first three digits as Fieldbrook 1, Locust 1, or Lehigh 1, followed by the remaining four numbers.
<><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> <><><><> The High Price Of War While most Brookliners went about their daily business during the Year 1951, several of our young men continued to struggle in the mountains of Korea, battling bravely against the Communist Chinese and North Koreans. The war had already taken the life of James McKenna. Sadly, he would not be the last Brookline boy killed in action. On March 7, during a U.N. advance near the 38th Parallel, PFC Patrick Gallagher of Bodkin Street fell. Two months later, on May 24, Brookline Boulevard's Corporal James Gormley, a survivor of the Hungnam evacuation and a Silver Star recipient for heroism on April 15, was lost near the remote village of Habae Jae. Finally, on June 7, Corporal Gerald Hilliard of Edgebrook Avenue lost his life along the ridge lines of the 38th Parallel. Other local soldiers who returned home safely in 1951 from the Korea battle front were Dr. George C. Wright, an Army medic who lived on Bayridge Avenue; Marine PFC Ronald Shorts of Reamer Street, a gunner on the USS Rochester who provided fire support at the Battles of Inchon and Hungnam; Corporal Joseph Dawson of Edgebrook Avenue; Alfred Hutchins of Milan Avenue, a sailor aboard the aircraft carrier USS Bataan; Corporal James Prentice of Milan Avenue; Staff Sergeant Paul Siwik of Fordham Avenue; and Master Sergeant Charles Hershberger, who resided on Brookline Boulevard.
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