History and Heritage

THE CONSTABLE STORES STORY

Henry and Urannah “Rennie” Wilson Constable braved the Atlantic seas from London, England arriving to the Port of New York with their five children on October 12, 1836. Henry, 48, was a farmer by trade and he and Rennie, 33, would have nine more offspring after settling in the hills of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The family was drawn to Johnstown because Henry’s brother resided there. Henry likely helped his brother farm after initially arriving in Cambria County but by 1850 his occupation is listed as “brick maker.” The area where the brothers raised their crops and Henry made bricks became known as “Constable Hollow.” It is said that Henry Constable made the first bricks in Johnstown.

The Cambria Iron works established itself in Johnstown in 1852; almost certainly Henry Constable made some of the first bricks for the company buildings. With the iron works constantly expanding Hiram Swank, and A. J. Haws, brickmakers from Indiana County, Pennsylvania each brought in over 100 men and established large brick refractories near Johnstown in 1856. The Cambria works built four large iron and steel mills in the area, one of which sat on land purchased from Henry Constable. Henry and his eldest son, Henry Jr. both labored at brick making, probably working for either Swank or Haws. Urannah passed in 1856 and Henry Sr. twenty years later.

Henry Constable Jr., born in England in 1823, married Mary Goucher in Johnstown in 1859. They would have eight children including Elmer Ellsworth, born in April 1864. Henry quit brickmaking and began a family farm in the early 1860’s which was interrupted by his enlistment in the Union Army with Company A of the 51st Pennsylvania Infantry Volunteers in September 1864; Henry was mustered out of the service as a private on June 2, 1865. He returned to farming but by 1880, with several of his boys now old enough to work the farm, he took a job with the local railroad. He became an invalid in 1887 and received a Civil War disability pension until his death in 1900. After his passing, Mary, his wife, received a Civil War widow’s pension until she died in 1909. The children of Henry and Mary settled in Constable Hollow with the exception of Elmer.

Elmer Ellsworth Constable married Julia Ann Wissinger in August 1888 at the home of her parents in Stoney Creek Township in Cambria County, Pennsylvania. At the time Elmer was a mill hand at the Cambria Iron Works. The couple settled in Stoney Creek. Julia Ann and Elmer had seven children; Norris (1890), Ralph (1892), Elsie (1893), Roy B. (1897), Ruth (1899), Freda (1900), and Howard (1904). Elmer worked in a machine shop in his early married years but throughout the 1920’s and 1930’s he followed his father’s footsteps as a farmer. Elmer passed in Stoney Creek in 1952, Julia passed in 1941. Sons Norris and Ralph worked in the steel mills in Johnstown while Howard labored as a coal miner. Around 1915 Roy B. went to work for M. Nathan & Brothers Department Store in Johnstown as an assistant window trimmer, it would be his first employment with a large firm in retail sales. During his school days Roy B. had delivered newspapers and did farm labor. After graduation he was employed by a grocery store soliciting orders and then delivering them, as was a practice of the day. Later he earned a payday at a local confectionary store and eventually spent some time working at Johnstown’s National Radiator Works.

When W. E. Zierden, founder of Zierden’s Department Store in Johnsonburg, left Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania in 1916 he turned the operation of his large retail store over to his manager and erstwhile partner, J. J. Donnelly. Donnelly, who had come to work for Zierden from the Nathan Brothers Department Store in Johnstown, soon brought his former co-worker at Nathan’s, Roy B. Constable, to Johnsonburg to manage the grocery department at the Zierden Store.

Roy Benjamin Constable and family 

Roy Benjamin Constable, born April 26, 1897 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, apparently did not care to labor in the Johnstown steel mills or coal mines like his brothers; instead he turned his talents toward retail merchandizing. Shortly after going to work in Johnsonburg at the Zierden Store but while still maintaining his Johnstown residence, Roy B. sealed his fate as a future Johnsonburg resident by falling in love. Roy B. and Miss Blanche Marie Osbourne of Vennard’s Island in Johnsonburg, were married at the home of her parents on April 10, 1917. This union would set the stage for retail enterprises in Kane and Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania that would become one the longest and most successful merchandising institutions in those communities. Roy B. and Blanche would have five children born to them; Jaretta (1917), Melvin (1918), Gloria (1923), Phyllis (1926), and Peggy Ann (1938).

The Zierden Department Store ceased selling groceries in early 1920 which may have cost Roy B. his position at the store or maybe Roy B. just felt like he needed a change. In any case, he left the employment of Zierden’s and moved on to work for a time at two well-known Johnsonburg retail stores; the E. Deiches Store and the Louis Gross Store. However, by June of 1921 he had become the manager of the Schreiner Brothers store on West Centre Street in the West End of Johnsonburg.

Frederick Otto Schreiner was born in Ellenville, Ulster County, New York in 1868 and arrived in Wilcox, Pennsylvania in 1870 with his parents, George Joseph and Elizabeth Schreiner, along with his older siblings; Anthony, John, Anna, Eva, and George Joseph II. As a young man Otto, as he liked to be called, took a job as a clerk with the John Meehan General Store in Johnsonburg and wedded Susanne Thompson in 1897. They would have one surviving child; Frederick Otto, born in 1898. John Meehan came from Ulster County also and labored with Otto’s father in the Wilcox tannery. He opened his store on Centre Street in Johnsonburg in 1881. Possibly that is how young Otto got the position; his father being a friend of the owner.

About 1895 Otto saw a need for a hardware store in the growing West End of Johnsonburg and established the F.O. Schreiner store on West Centre Street diagonal from what would soon be the Central Hose Company firehall. By 1896 the store had grown and was known as F.O. Schreiner, Dealer in General Merchandise. The store stood two stories and sold a wide array of merchandise from hardware to clothing to furniture to groceries. George Joseph Schreiner II, a year senior to Otto, worked as a lumber scaler in the area but in the early 1900’s he teamed with his brother Otto to form the F.O. Schreiner and Company Store at the same West End location. Otto was the manager and George, bookkeeper and clerk. In 1904 the store was commonly called the Schreiner Brothers Store and Otto and George purchased a larger building across the street (Cushing Avenue) due to expanding business. In 1970 the original store was torn down and the land donated to the Methodist Church. The brothers additionally had financial interest in piping projects, salvage, and real estate. Around 1920 with the health of F.O., as Otto was now more commonly known as, failing (he suffered from crippling arthritis and heart problems), the brothers took on Roy B. Constable to assist George and manage the store. The reorganized store would now be known as the Schreiner Bros. Store. In 1924 the store was incorporated as the Schreiner Store Company, Inc. with F.O. Schreiner, President, George J. Schreiner, Vice-President, and Roy B. Constable, Treasurer.

While the Schreiner Brothers store had always been a prosperous enterprise serving the West End of Johnsonburg, under the tutelage of Mr. Constable, sales at the store exploded throughout the 1920’s. With the popular Zierden’s store in downtown Johnsonburg in its demise due to absentee management and lack of advertising, Mr. Constable took a page out of the old Zierden merchandising book and began purchasing ½ page ads in the Johnsonburg Press. Roy B. was a great believer in advertising and sales promotions. Undoubtedly he knew what marketing worked and what did not through his years of retail experience at the various stores where he had been previously employed. Schreiner Bros. Store used some novel sales tactics in those years.

Christmas Toyland was introduced in 1923 at Schreiner Bros. with Mama Dolls and a wide variety of friction toys available. The “Roaring Twenties” not only brought in bootlegging, speakeasy’s, and the Charleston dance, but consumer’s now had more disposable income than ever and Christmas was slowly becoming a retail bonanza. No longer did children find a homemade doll, a whittled bronco, or a storybook under the Christmas tree but now manufactured dolls and tin toys were all the envy of each boy and girl. Schreiner Bros. grasped the concept quickly and expertly. After Christmas the firm had a ½ off toy sale. This moved the playthings off the shelves in anticipation of Spring merchandise.

In June 1924 Schreiner Brothers Store under manager Roy B. Constable offered a free baseball for every pair of boys shoes purchased. So what was the big deal? In those days many boys went bare-foot for the summer or wore their prior winter clodhoppers if they were not too small, or they cut off the fronts of their ill-fitting shoewear to give their toes some room. New baseballs were hard to come by as most balls were homemade; a small stone wrapped in cloth or yarn and covered with tape. Boys would likely beg their parents for new school shoes (purchased a size larger and not worn until school resumed in September) just to get an official ball. For the girls? Nothing. Girls were supposed to wear shoes all year round. The free item for a shoe purchase was restricted to boys. This sales pitch would get boys shoewear off the shelves during the typically slow business time of the summer months.

Radios were becoming extremely popular in Johnsonburg and Schreiner’s had them. Alva Gregory, owner of the Johnsonburg Press, was radio crazy and devoted a whole page of his weekly newspaper to the latest in radios and radio gadgets. Few other stores in Johnsonburg dabbled in radios at the time.

Santa Claus appeared at the Schreiner’s Store in 1924, a first in Johnsonburg.

In 1925, with Roy B. minding the store, F.O. and George Schreiner bought the Ridgway Tannery for salvage purposes. The brothers also operated a service station across the street next to the Central Hose Company in what was called Schreiner’s Court, which unfortunately, along with the NYPEN Field grandstand burnt down. The station is rebuilt in 1926.

Toyland and Santa reappear at Schreiner Bros. in 1925.

Every June Roy B. runs an annual Schreiner Brothers Store Anniversary sale, another innovation.

In 1930 Santa Claus is back at Schreiner’s for his yearly visit with a new twist; each child will receive a free gift! Other surprise packages can be bought for 10 or 22 cents. The rest of the business community catches on, somewhat. The Johnsonburg Business Merchants sponsor a visit with Santa at the Elks club. Each child under 10 will receive an orange and candy. Nice gesture, but does it get the kids and parents into the stores?

Frederick Otto Schreiner Jr., son of Otto, showed no interest in being part of the store, married in Chicago in 1923 and moved to Los Angeles, California where he founded the Schreiner Insurance Company, a successful insurance brokerage firm.

George Joseph Schreiner III, born in 1908 to George Joseph Schreiner II and his wife Olive, elopes to Chautauqua, New York to wed Mary Richardson in 1928, she is 18. They move to Lower Merion, Pennsylvania where he is a bond trader.

G. C. Murphy opens its doors in Johnsonburg in the old Zierden Store in 1929 and with their East Coast buying power puts pressure on Johnsonburg’s independent stores for sales. The Great Depression hits and Johnsonburg, like the rest of the country, feels the pain, the Paper Mill cuts hours due to lack of orders and retail sales suffer. Johnsonburg residents are unsure of their income and restrict spending. However, Schreiner Bros. Store with Roy B. Constable at the helm struggles through the lean years.

In 1936 one of the worst floods ever hits the West End of Johnsonburg and the Schreiner Bros. Store is almost “wiped out.” But through the heroic efforts of the Schreiner family and Roy B. the business is cleaned and put back in operation. However, in 1938 Otto and his wife move to the warmer climate of Los Angeles to be near their son and George II suffers the first of what would be several heart attacks. By 1939 the Depression has taken its toll and the Schreiner Bros. Store disbands and declares bankruptcy. George Joseph Schreiner II then experiences a further extreme tragedy when his son George III dies of an accidental death in Cape May, New Jersey; breaking his neck while diving into the ocean. After the store’s demise Roy B. Constable spends the next year and a half as a sales representative before embarking on the rest of his life’s work.

In 1940 Roy B. is 43 years old when he starts his own business at 406 Centre Street in downtown Johnsonburg where the Patsy’s Shoe and Clothing will eventually set up shop. Family history has it that Roy B. borrowed $500 from his mother and another $500 from his son, Melvin, to help get the enterprise off the ground. Melvin had been working for Bosler’s Drug Store and had designs on becoming a pharmacist but went to work in partnership with his father. However, Melvin and his life-long friend Jack Rosenhoover were in the Ridgway National Guard when on February 17, 1941 they enlisted in the United States Army. They were eventually assigned to the 883 Preflight Training Squadron at San Antonio, Texas. After a short time, Roy B. decides to purchase the old E. Deiches Store on Centre Street in downtown Johnsonburg and move his retail operation there. It is nip and tuck for the store for a while especially after Johnsonburg’s calamitous July 18, 1942 flood closes the enterprise for a time. But Roy B., with son Melvin and Jack Rosenhoover (who take leave from the service to help), has experience in cleaning up and re-opening after floods, and that, combined with the Country’s resurgence in retail sales after World War II, work to make the store successful.

In the years following the war Roy B. and Melvin would purchase several properties on Centre Street and expand the business. The Ware Building, the Knudson Building, the Marino property, and the Dinardo property were bought between 1946 and 1953. The store added floor coverings, appliances, televisions, paints, and lawn mowers among other items to its line of merchandise. About the only items not for sale at Roy B. Constable Stores were groceries, clothing, and hardware. When son Melvin returned from World War II service in December 1945, he became assistant manager to the growing enterprise and was instrumental in stream-lining the Store’s somewhat dubious recordkeeping. At this time Melvin attended the Armstrong Flooring School and installed hard surface floor coverings for the store.

John (Jack) Christopher Rosenhoover was born in Johnsonburg in 1919. Prior to World War II he worked at the Kanski Bros. grocery concern on Cobb Street in Johnsonburg. After returning from the war Jack went to work at Constable’s and an informal partnership was formed with Roy B., Melvin, and Jack. The partnership was later incorporated in 1957 with Roy B., President, Mrs. Blanche Constable, Vice-President, and Melvin Constable, Secretary/Treasurer. Roy B. Constable was the majority stockholder. Jack Rosenhoover was never a “formal” partner. Roy B. Constable owned 820 voting shares of stock and 1900 non-voting shares. Melvin R. Constable had 660 voting shares, Blanche E. Constable had 20 shares of voting stock and 20 shares of non-voting stock. Roy B. and Melvin R. each received identical remuneration for their work at the separate stores.

Melvin R. Constable married Margaret Parana in February 1947 in Wilcox, Pennsylvania. They would have five children, Roy M., Neal, Charles, Michael, and Jaretta.

Roy B. Constable and Mel did not rest on their laurels. In April 1955 they grabbed at an opportunity to open another Constable’s Store; this enterprise on Fraley Street in Kane, Pennsylvania, about 18 miles from Johnsonburg. They purchased the former A. J. Dolan Furniture Store in Kane from Carl B. Braunstein of West Palm Beach, Florida. The sale involved a three-story building, the fixtures, and the remaining close-out merchandise. Mr. Braunstein had bought the store from the Dolan family in 1953. The Kane store would be managed by Roy B. Constable with his son Melvin R. Constable taking over the management of the Johnsonburg store. The Roy B. Constable Store of Kane would soon open with a final close-out sale and then was closed for remodeling and introduction of all new stock. On June 9, 1955 the Grand Opening of the Roy B. Constable Store of Kane was held with a bicycle giveaway and $500 in other prizes, ranging from a Sealy mattress to a swivel rocker.

The first year in Kane is quite successful with Constable’s hallmark little red Ford truck seen constantly motoring here and there making deliveries. Many of the store lines of merchandise are similar to what is sold at the Johnsonburg store; Sealy mattresses, Samsonite luggage, Armstrong flooring, Speed Queen washers and dryers, Nelson Brothers living room furniture, Crosley Shalvadors (refrigerators), RCA electronics, bedroom suites, Cosco kitchen stools and tables, cabinet bases and doors, chairs of all types. Constable’s advertises that trade-ins are welcome and liberal credit is available. A Constable Stores innovation is a monthly special and in late 1955 the stores introduce the area to “unfinished furniture” which becomes all the rage; furniture you can paint, stain, or varnish yourself. Also, Constable’s has “Do it yourself flooring,” an idea ahead of its time.

Christmas in 1955 at Constable’s new store in Kane offers layaway plans as does the Johnsonburg Store, “if you can lift it you can lay it away” and Toyland is much advertised although Roy B. informs Kane customers that the Johnsonburg store has a much larger selection of toys with the caveat that if Kane doesn’t have what the customer wants, Johnsonburg will. It is noted that the little red truck delivers to Kane, Ludlow, Wilcox, Kinzua, Sheffield, Marienville, Clermont, Halsey, Mt. Jewett, Clarendon, Smethport, and James City. The Johnsonburg store delivers to Johnsonburg, Ridgway, St. Marys, Wilcox and surrounding area all at no charge. No other store in the area offers such complete service and quality goods at fair prices and that is Constable’s Stores motto: Service, Quality, Good Values.

Back in Johnsonburg the Roy B. Constable Store lands a coup when it gets the bid and installs a new gym floor at the Johnsonburg High School.

The Roy B. Constable Stores of Johnsonburg and Kane prosper in the late 1950’s into the 1960’s. Constable’s advertising is generally homespun as though the ownership is talking to a person on the street. The stores become well-known throughout the area and a great many customers travel quite a distance to shop at the Kane and Johnsonburg establishments. The reason why can be explained in a 1956 Constable advertisement:

“First, we will handle medium and good quality merchandise. Second, we will strictly guarantee everything we sell, third, it will be priced the same for all under similar circumstance, no free goods or gifts to anyone. No special discounts. Every item will be marked plainly. No exaggerations. No exaggeration trade-in-values-because our prices will not be raised to do this. REMEMBER, all prices will be clearly marked.”

In 1956 Constable Stores bring back meeting Santa Claus in person at both stores. Free gifts are given to all good boys and girls and surprise packages are for sale at minimum cost. The children and adults get to parade past the impressive Toyland display starting at 1:30 p.m. It is marketing genius. In future years, Roy and Neal Constable, Melvin’s sons and Roy B.’s grandchildren will play the parts of Santa’s Elf helpers.

The company automobile, a Packard, is replaced in 1957 with a Ford Lincoln and also in that year Roy B. begins to transfer amounts of his non-voting stock to his son and daughters. These transfers will take also place in 1958, 1959, 1961, and 1962.

Advertising plays a large part of the Constable Stores success, “Everything For The Home.” Constables places ads almost daily in the Kane Republican and weekly in the Johnsonburg Press. The ads are sprinkled with references to the little red Constable delivery truck which is reported to be seen delivering daily within a 50-mile radius of Kane and Johnsonburg. In 1959 the red truck is retired and replaced with a larger truck and a station wagon. Lifestyles are much slower in those years with most businesses closing at noon on Wednesday (except during December) and very few open on Sunday. For example, in November 1959 Constable Stores announced they would be open until 9 o’clock Friday and Saturday during December with no afternoon closings on Wednesday and the stores would close on Christmas Eve at 5:00 p.m. Employees would have a three day holiday returning to work on the 28th. The Kane and Johnsonburg Stores would close on December 31st and reopen on January 4th.

As with any motivated businessman Roy B. heads several business organizations and belongs to many social clubs; Roy B. presides over the Johnsonburg Businessman’s Progressive Association and the Kane Retail Merchants Bureau, and is a Rotarian, member of the Chamber of Commerce, Elks member, and member of Johnsonburg Borough Council. Likewise, Melvin R. Constable is a member of the Johnsonburg Chamber of Commerce, Rolfe Sportsman Club, Wilcox Sportsman Club, Johnsonburg Elks, Johnsonburg Rotary, James W. Brown Lodge, Zem Zem Shriners Temple in Erie, and the Johnsonburg Businessman’s Association. Melvin is also instrumental in organizing and supporting the Calypso Carnival (1961) and Indian Festival Days (1963) in Johnsonburg.

In January 1959 Constables expands the Kane store and makes improvements to the front facade. Ironically, both the Johnsonburg and Kane stores suffer broken plate glass windows; in Kane a mishap with a ladder causes the breakage and in Johnsonburg an errant auto does the damage. On July 25, 1960 the Kane store celebrates its 5th anniversary with a grand re-opening with door prizes and showing off their new addition, an Early American Room display. The Pirates win the World Series versus the Yankees and yours truly (the author) receives a great Xmas gift, a board game purchased from Constables called “Baseball Game Approved By The Little League For Little Leaguers And Their Fathers.” I do not recall my father ever playing the game but childhood playmates Tom Bouse, Tom Schott, John Michaels and others also have the game which is played at everyone’s house throughout the summer of 1961 and beyond.

Santa is back at Constables in 1961 with surprise packages that kids can buy for 10 cents, 25 cents, 50 cents, or one dollar, with every brown bag guaranteed to contain a toy worth more than the price of the gift. Many Johnsonburg residents remember lining up along Centre Street in anticipation of winding around inside the store salivating over the many toys on display, especially the train set, and finally telling Santa what his/her wish was for Christmas morning and receiving their surprise package purchase from elves Roy M. or Neal Constable, sons of Johnsonburg store manager, Melvin Constable.

From 1959 to 1961 Constable Stores offers a free high chair to the first New Year’s Baby born in the community the Store’s serve. This, of course, builds customer loyalty; a premise always maintained by Constables. In October 1959, the Roy B. Constable’s Stores decide to start selling televisions, stressing service and warranty on all merchandise.

Interestingly, Roy B.’s daughter, Phyllis Constable opens a Kiddie’s & Infant apparel shop in Kane in July 1962 when she purchases the former Ruth Ahlquist Shoppe at 77 Fraley Street. Although Roy B. Constable Stores is not a partner in the store in later years the two stores in Kane sometimes combine their advertising. Roy B. Constable Stores approved a business loan to Phyllis Constable with her shares of non-voting stock as security. The Phyllis Constable store will close in 1991.

By the 1960’s Constable Store’s floorcovering installation has become a larger part of the business as demonstrated by considerably more advertising in that area and the notice that the company has won the bid for the tiling of the Johnsonburg West End Elementary School and also the laying of carpeting of the main room of the Kane Masonic Lodge. The floorcovering work in Kane is done by Dave Magnuson and Jack Valentour, employees of the store. At the time Magnuson is being groomed to take over the Kane store when Roy B. retires.

In 1962 the Kane store no longer offers toys for sale at Christmas but the Johnsonburg store continues the Santa tradition and has a large selection of children’s playthings. Meeting Santa at the Johnsonburg Store will continue until 1968. Also, in this year, the Constable Stores Board of Directors increases the salaries of the President and Secretary-Treasurer for the first time in five years, but months later, the increase is rescinded due to Johnsonburg Paper Mill layoffs. After a two year economic downturn, business in Johnsonburg comes roaring back and the former raises are re-implemented in January 1964.

Another innovative sales pitch by Constable Stores in 1964 is the oldest Kelvinator (refrigerator) contest whereby the oldest Kelvinator traded in for a new refrigerator will get their new fridge free.

In December 1964 Constables buys the Bernard Rose building at 53 Farley Street in Kane to expand the store’s radio and electronic section. The annex opens in March 1965 and the store in Kane now runs from addresses 45 to 53 on Fraley Street. The Roy B. Constable Stores Inc. borrows $24,000 to cover the cost of purchase/remodeling of the Rose building, the payment to Phyllis Constable for 60 shares of non-voting stock, and to satisfy the current obligation owed to the Warren Bank of Kane.

By 1965 Constable Stores have eight employees in Johnsonburg and seven in Kane. The Kane store celebrates its tenth anniversary with a big 3-day sale and record crowds attend. Constable Stores pays tribute to his 15 employees with a roast beef dinner at Bloam’s Tavern on the Wilcox highway. It has been 25 years since Roy B. opened the store in Johnsonburg.

On February 8, 1966 a strange occurrence happens at the Kane store. At 4:00 a.m. patrolman William Boyd discovers a back door broken off the hinges and a refrigerator placed in front of the door. The cash drawer is rifled and $3.75 is taken but a drawer containing a large number of bills is covered with water as is the floor. No explanation is ever found.

Business is going well at the Kane and Johnsonburg stores as salary increases are given out again by the Board of Directors.

In early June 1966 Constable’s announces that a shiny new red delivery truck has been purchased! Everything seems to be going great for Constable Stores as salary increases are again approved in January 1967, but then tragedy strikes. On June 15, 1967, after an illness of three years, the Vice-President of Constable Stores, Mrs. Roy B. (Blanche) Constable dies at age 71. The stores are closed on Saturday, June 17 for her burial services. Her position as vice-president would not be filled until May 1968.

In May 1968 Melvin R. Constable suffers a heart attack and his services are lost to the Company for six weeks. Daniel Brahaney, local attorney, is elected as interim director to replace Melvin. The Company is reorganized with Roy B. Constable-President, Jack Rosenhoover-Vice-President, and Melvin Constable-Secretary/Treasurer. Mr. Rosenhoover filling the vacancy of former director Blanche Constable. In August Melvin resumes his duties as director and makes a motion that would affect Johnsonburg Constable Store patrons for many years; due to lack of adequate profit margins the large toy business that had been built up over the years in Johnsonburg was to be discontinued. The motion carried. Attorney Brahaney would remain on the Roy B. Constable Stores Board of Directors until January 1973 when Jack Rosenhoover will take his place.

For the first time in Roy B. Constable Stores Inc. history bonuses are allotted to the Board of Directors in December 1968. In addition, in January 1969 the corporation purchases the “Green Door” building from Melvin R. Constable at 416 Center Street. The corporation had been leasing the building from Mr. Constable. In October, the company’s 1965 Chrysler was replaced by a 1970 model.

With the closing of the Johnsonburg Paper Mill in 1969 there were concerns by the Board of Directors that the unemployment problem caused by the closing would have a detrimental effect on the business and it was voted to pay down the current debt faster in case it would be necessary to borrow in the future. Repairs to the Kane store were also made in 1970.

In 1971, after graduating from Gannon University of Erie, Pennsylvania, with a B.S. Degree in Accounting, Roy M. Constable, eldest son of Melvin, takes over some of the duties from his grandfather, Roy B., in managing the Kane store. Typically, Roy B. plays a large part in the operations and promotions of the Kane Retail Merchants organization but in this year the Constable Store of Kane is represented by Roy M.

In December 1972 Charles W. Constable begins his career at the Johnsonburg store under his father’s tutelage. Pending his college graduation in June 1973, Neal Constable will be assigned to the Kane store.

Tragically, on April 18, 1973 Melvin R. Constable, manager of the Johnsonburg Store, expires suddenly at his home in Johnsonburg. Only 54, Melvin is an important part of the Johnsonburg store’s success and as Secretary/Treasurer of the Constable Stores of Kane and Johnsonburg he played a most integral part in their progress and success. An astute businessman, he was very outgoing and likeable and dedicated to his community; belonging to and involved with the Masons, Shriners, Elks, Rotary, Sportsman’s Clubs, the Johnsonburg Chamber of Commerce, and the Johnsonburg Businessman’s Association. He was survived by his wife, Margaret A. Parana, who he married in Wilcox in 1947, sons, Roy M., Neal, Charles, Michael, and daughter, Jaretta.

The death of Melvin R. Constable is an obvious serious blow to the Roy B. Constable Store company resulting in a void in leadership and financial acumen within the company structure. Luckily, Roy M. Constable is a quick learner as he succeeds his father as a director and Secretary-Treasurer, and assumes the responsibility of compiling the Store’s financial reports that were previously prepared by his father. Long-time employee, Jack Rosenhoover, steps up to manage the Johnsonburg store with Charlie Constable as his assistant. Margaret Constable assumes the 660 shares Class A voting stock previously owned by her deceased husband.

After his graduation from Penn State University in June 1973, Neal J. Constable finishes an extensive two-week course in resilient flooring at the Armstrong Cork Installation School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and shortly after leads and expands the floorcovering operation of the Roy B. Constable Furniture Stores, Inc.

Constable Stores in Johnsonburg begins major construction in June, 1974 with a new 50’ X 90’ addition with renovations to the front of the two existing buildings providing a handsome facade to tie in the three edifices as one unit. In December Constable’s hold a grand opening of their newly renovated store with over 30 door prizes over a three-day event. The new construction doubled the size of the prior store and showed that Constable’s was all in for Johnsonburg progress. At the time Roy B. Constable was the founder and President of the company and managed the Kane store, Jack Rosenhoover Vice-President and Manager of the Johnsonburg Store, Neal Constable, in charge of installation of carpet and linoleum at both stores, Charles Constable Assistant Manager of the Johnsonburg Store, Michael Constable at college, and Roy M. Constable secretary/treasurer, who worked with his grandfather in the Kane store.

Margaret Constable assumes the position of treasurer of the Roy B. Constables Stores in January 1975. Roy B. Constable celebrates his 78th birthday anniversary in May 1975 by showing off the new facade of his Kane store next to the main furniture business. Roy B. is proud that at 78 he is still on the job every day.

The years 1975-76 shows what great interest Constable Stores has in community affairs; Jack Rosenhoover is on the advisory board of the Warren National Bank of Johnsonburg and is on the Board of Trustees of the Elk County General Hospital, Roy M. is Vice-President of the Kane Chamber of Commerce and an Elks Club Exalted Ruler, and Charles Constable is named to the Johnsonburg Water Authority Board while also heading up the campaign for the Johnsonburg-Wilcox Welfare Fund. Constable Stores pledges support for the Elk County General Hospital.

A second flooring crew is hired in July 1976 and in Eldred in December 1976 Constable Stores installs carpeting in the Tower Super Market Store; the first grocery store with carpet. Also for 1976 it is announced in November that Santa will be back at the Constable Store in Kane on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, keeping up a long tradition. For the first time in corporate history a dividend is declared to be paid to all outstanding shares. A money “crunch” is experienced by the corporation in the fall of 1976 and in January 1977 the corporation moves its loan finances from the Warren National Bank of Johnsonburg to the Ridgway Savings and Loan. In December 1977 Neal Constable, manager of the carpet division of the corporation notes that a third flooring crew is being added. Michael R. Constable joins the Roy B. Constable Stores staff in 1975, and as timekeeper and financial officer in April 1977, he is an accounting graduate of Williamsport Community College. Regrettably, in April 1977 Mike becomes paralyzed from the waist down from an automobile accident. Mike serves Constable Stores until his retirement in 2019.

In 1978 Roy B. Constable remarried to Alice Williams in St. Marys, Pennsylvania. The marriage had little effect on store operations. The years 1978 through 1979 were good ones for the corporation but there is an emphasis on cost-cutting; employee insurance is becoming a much larger expense for the Corporation and less expensive insurance is researched, inventory control between the Kane and Johnsonburg stores is implemented more stringently, and further training is provided to sales employees to improve sales, especially on big ticket items. Due to cheaper imports Admiral Televisions go out of production and in January 1979 Constable Stores discontinue selling the brand and Philco Televisions now appear in the stores. In June a warehouse building on Center Steet is purchased from Quentin Smith. For the first time in Corporate history funds are borrowed against corporate certificates of deposit to help the December cash flow; inventory purchasing costs are increasingly greater in the months preceding the Christmas season. In a cost-cutting move Roy B. Constable states he will no longer accept an annual bonus as he is spending less time at the store. End of year bonuses are allotted to the Board of Directors and key employees.

In 1980 Dorothy Michaels and Gladys Noble. longtime integral employees of Constable Stores in Johnsonburg and Kane, are honored. Due to the 1980 recession and corresponding inflation, sales are flat and overhead costs for American companies are soaring. Like many other corporations of this era and after, Constable’s switches health insurance providers for better coverage and costs.

In the summer of 1980 Treasurer Margaret A. Constable gifts 20 shares each of Class A voting stock to her sons; Roy M., Neal J., Charles W., and Michael R.. Each year, up until 1988, Mrs. Constable will make the identical gifts until completely divesting herself of her Class A stock.

The 1980’s saw Roy B. Constable Stores flooring business expand to employing up to 12 men doing flooring installations. Constable Stores became one of Armstrong Flooring and Mohawk Carpets top accounts in western Pennsylvania. The stores were awarded by Armstrong to be named an Armstrong Floor Fashion Center. Mohawk Carpeting named the stores a Mohawk Color Center. Because the stores were doing a large volume of flooring sales with quality installations in the late 1980’s, Roy B. Constable Stores were asked to join Carpet One, an elite group of flooring retailers who at the time numbered only 700 across the United States. Today Carpet One members are in Canada, Europe, and even Asian countries.

The furniture side of the business continued to expand to employ four full-time delivery men, a warehouse manager, and two used 14-foot box trucks to make deliveries. Quality upholstery brands included House of Edinboro, T. R. Taylor, and Nelson and Sons, furniture that was made in Pennsylvania. National corporation products including Bassett, Broyhill, Cochrane, La-Z-Boy, Schwerger, Kincaid, Stanley, fill the showroom floor.

Due to the increasing complexity of the business corporation with Neal handling the ever-growing flooring section, Roy M. leading the Kane store, Charlie assisting Jack Rosenhoover with the Johnsonburg store, and Michael overseeing the bookkeeping, the Corporation looks into key-man insurance should a death result which may affect cash flow until the Corporation is reorganized. In June 1982 key-man insurance is taken out for Roy M, Neal, and Charlie. That year many repairs are necessary on the Kane and Johnsonburg buildings including roofing and boilers.

Late in 1983 Roy B. Constable gifts 20 shares of his Class A voting stock to his grandchildren; Roy M. Neal, Charlie, and Michael. These end-of-year Class A stock gifts will continue until 1986 at which time Roy B. Constable is divested of all his Class A stock.

Looking ahead to expansion of the Johnsonburg store, Constable Stores purchases the former Alltronics and Western Auto store at 406 Center Street in October 1984 from John Casilio. Corporate cash flow is becoming problematic as accounts receivable are not being turned over quickly enough. The Corporation initiates the Bencharge system of Beneficial Finance to enable more financing for customers at a lower cost.

In January 1985 Neal and Charlie Constable are added to the Board of Directors alongside Roy B., Roy M., and Jack Rosenhoover. The Corporation purchases the Alltronics TV repair business and former Altronics owner David Stritenberger will become an employee of the store heading up the electronics repair business. The following year Jack Rosenhoover announces he will resign as manager of Johnsonburg Store with Charlie Constable taking over. Mr. Rosenhoover is contracted for one year as Sales and Purchasing consultant, renewed in 1987 and 1988.

The founder of Constable Stores Roy B. Constable dies in St. Marys, Pennsylvania on June 1, 1987. Roy B. was laid to rest in Thayer Cemetery in Ridgway, Pennsylvania. He resided at 351 North St. Marys Street in St. Marys, Pennsylvania after living for many years on Centre Street in Johnsonburg. He was preceded in death by his first wife Blanche and a daughter, Jaretta, and a son Melvin. Surviving were his second wife Alice and daughters; Gloria, Phyllis, and Peggy Ann. Roy B., with the help of his son Melvin and four grandsons, oversaw the growth of a small furniture store into a two-store enterprise that grew into a corporation. With his passing the Corporation is reorganized with Jack Rosenhoover elected Chairman and Michael Constable added to the Board of Directors. The financial position of the corporation is declared sound by the Board.

In May 1988 a computer system is installed to better track the Corporate accounts receivables. By October the system is considered a success as automated monthly statements have decreased accounts receivable. A Constable Stores innovation -a tent sale- is a huge success in September. Also, a possible Market Street building project is discussed and a meeting set up with Richard Cherry, Marty Schuller, and Mike Imbrogno, owners of the property on each side of the Constable Market Street store.

In another Constable Stores sales innovation, Preferred Customer Letters are sent out in December 1988, a marketing campaign that would be successful for many years.

The year 1989 began as a time of nervous excitement for Constable Stores and ended with anxious anticipation. The existing buildings that had housed the Altronics and D & D Auto stores were demolished in April to make way for the expansion of the Center Street store in Johnsonburg. It was assumed the expansion would increase sales. The Grand Opening of the new building was held in September and was a huge success. However, the beginning of a United States economic recessionary period 1989-1991 caused by inflation, tight monetary controls by the Federal Reserve, a lack of consumer confidence, higher unemployment, and increasing oil prices due to the Gulf War, helped dampen the Constable Stores business outlook. Sales were lagging by mid-year and were off 5% from the year prior. Cost of hospitalization increased from $1,600 a month to $4,000 a month. Changes were made in the agreement with Beneficial Finance to finance customer purchases through them and offer credit cards and Dubois Deposit Bank offered alternate financing plans for merchandise; despite these revenue enhancing moves and cost cutting, sales were off in 1989 by $130,000.

Approaching the Constable Stores 50th Anniversary in May 1990 losses were piling up as the Board of Directors struggled to handle the worst economic adversity in Constable Stores history. William Chiesa, another grandson of Roy B. Constable, and a Constable employee, was added to the Board of Directors, but with no Class A voting stock. “Bill’s” input would be essential for the advancement of the store’s flooring section lead by Neal Constable. Hospitalization was changed to a different provider due to the high cost of the present insurance and inventory control continued to be a problem. The Board of Directors issued new guidelines on who can make merchandise purchases and how much. New advertising direction was deemed necessary. In the “better news” department the Cherry Square Mall was to become a reality as the old buildings were torn down and construction beginning. It was ascertained that the traffic flow to the new mall would increase Constable business across the street. Throughout early 1990 losses grew but by the end of the year the Corporation was in the black due to better inventory control, quicker turnover of accounts receivable, changes to direct mailing ads from newspaper circulars, lower profit margins on goods sold to better compete with increasing competition, and the Preferred Customer Letter sales innovation. However, cash flow continued to be problematic.

Sales are down in 1991 due to the Gulf War and recession but the Board of Directors were confident that the strong financial position of company would carry the Corporation through for several months. Inventory issues, increasing overhead costs including building and vehicle repairs, higher taxes, and high insurance costs, affected profitability negatively throughout the year. In addition, employee problems related to workplace injuries, resignations, and absenteeism, resulted in carpet installation delays, hurting business. Employee loyalty became an issue for the Board. The Kane store profitability was hard hit due to a downturn in that area’s industries and economy.

In January 1992 for first time in many years the Corporation does not pay annual dividend. The Board of Directors initiates a new store slogan “Our Name Can’t Begin to Tell You Everything We Do”. The Board struggles to address the business downturn and accompanying issues; furniture buying trips are curtailed, workman’s compensation costs are reviewed and employee safety programs are instituted to cut costs, advertising costs are up from $9,000 to $12,000, inventory control is still an issue, and David Stritenberger, long-time service employee resigns. On the bright side, floorcoverings are now a major part of Constable Stores revenue; a fifth flooring crew is added. Also, in St. Marys, Pennsylvania a third store is to be added to the corporation in 1993.

A new Constable Stores venture, Furniture Just For Kids opens in St. Marys at the Shawmut Square Mall in January 1993, the Grand Opening is excellent but continuing sales are disappointing. The owners of the mall do not promote the store as they promised and losses pile up at the new venture at $4,000 a quarter. The store is closed at the end of the year.

Losses continue to mount for Constable Stores. The Board of Directors discuss new lines of buying credit, reduction of employee wages and lay-offs, inventory control, high cost of insurance and workman’s compensation, and reaching out to state politicians for relief of state taxes. No new buying is allowed, except for special orders.

In April, Jack Rosenhoover, Chairman, suggests Constable’s approach the Willamette Paper Mill about buying the Johnsonburg buildings and moving the store to St Marys. When Roy B. Constable started the Johnsonburg store in 1940 the population of Johnsonburg was nearly 5,000 (this did not include Rolfe, an adjoining community, which was not incorporated into Johnsonburg until the mid-1950’s). Even though the store prospered into the late 1980’s the population of the Johnsonburg community declined to 3,350 by 1990 (now including Rolfe) and factually about 60 percent of Johnsonburg’s Constable Stores business at the time came from St. Marys, Pennsylvania, 12 miles down the road; so Mr. Rosenhoover’s suggestion was not out of line as the Johnsonburg population and consequently, community buying power, was slowly ebbing.

In an attempt to improve employee morale the Board began an “Employee of the Month” award of a $50 cash prize, but no wage increases were approved for 1994 and although bonuses were paid to employees, Roy, Neal, and Charlie did not accept bonuses due to poor financial conditions.

By 1994 Constable Stores were well into the expansion from a single storefront in Johnsonburg to two larger updated stores in Kane and Johnsonburg with a wide array of products for sale, residential delivery, electronics repair, and industrial and residential floorcovering installation. This long-time family-owned retail enterprise had evolved from a Father/Son operation into a much larger company now managed by four grandsons of the founder and guided by venerable employee, Jack Rosenhoover. However, the growth of the company was not without its growing pains. Inventory control, overhead cost control, employee turnover, vehicle repair and acquisition, product lines, employee safety, cash flow issues, borrowing costs, employee training, advertising strategy, employee benefits, computerization, and tools and storage were just some of the problems that arose in the transition from furniture, appliance, and bedding retail to the addition of five full-time flooring crews. In the short-term a safety committee was organized to reduce workman’s compensation costs and for the long-term the Board approved a $180,000 mortgage on the Johnsonburg building to satisfy the old mortgage and to purchase three new vehicles in 1995 and three more in 1996. The vehicles necessary for the booming flooring business.

George S. May Inc. was hired as a consultant in 1995 to analyze the business and hopefully resolve some of the growing pain issues. The Board expected an organizational plan, employee motivation and retention suggestions, and cost reduction ideas. The May Company report suggested the implementation of a five-year plan for the stores, a sixth carpet crew, tool inventory, employee evaluations, management training, better inventory control, advertising cutbacks, and deletions of low profit margin product items such as lawnmowers, paint, and small curios.

Although 1995 ended as a profitable year for the Corporation 1996 brought many changes to the stores; different sales promotions were tried to generate more sales for the Company’s advertising dollar, Mohawk, long-time supplier, was replaced by Carpet One, the Board officially declared the four brothers operating the stores to be equal partners, tool inventory was begun, the Board determined that the Company should concentrate on carpet and flooring sales as those had surpassed furniture sales, and due to competition from Walmart, small appliances, telephones, radios, boom boxes, and scanner inventory would be curtailed. The start of a five-year plan for the Corporation was undertaken with an emphasis on strategy, business lines, maintenance, capital improvements, management, employee relations, and marketing.

As was typical throughout Constable Stores history charitable donations were given freely, carpeting was donated to Camp Mountain Run Scout Camp and the Johnsonburg Knothole. It is pertinent to note that throughout the Constable Stores history the Corporation continually supported area non-profits with monetary donations, labor, advertising, and merchandise, well into thousands of dollars.

Despite a small profit in 1996 wages were frozen for the Company for 1997 as the financial position of the stores were considered by the Board to be poor. Tool inventory continued to be an issue due to its cluttered nature and management and employee laxity. Tax assessment increases on the Kane store resulted in greater overhead costs and increases in workman’s compensation insurance again remained a serious drain on Company finances. Then on November 12, 1997 Margaret Constable the Corporate Treasurer passed away. As an officer on the Board of Directors she was involved in consultations of business decisions concerning the future of Constable Stores.

Due to strong flooring sales a small profit was earned for 1997 but merchandise sales were weak. In August 1998 the Company purchased a Capital One cleaning franchise and changed its insurance, now going with Hartford. More employees were needed for the cleaning business and employee numbers increased. In 1998 the Company broke even.

For 1999 Oreck sweepers were added to the product line while cribs and juvenile furniture was discontinued, insurance costs increased 17 percent. In December of that year in Gaithersburg, Maryland Jack Rosenhoover, at the home of his daughter Kathy, died of liver cancer. Jack was instrumental in moving the Store’s forward, an excellent salesman who grew to know furniture and flooring. With the loss of Melvin, he was a mentor to Roy M., Neal, Charlie, and Mike.

In January 2000 Roy M. Constable was elected Chairman of the Board replacing Jack Rosenhoover. Neal was now Vice-President, Charlie, Secretary, and Mike, Treasurer. Insurance policies for key employees were changed to term insurance to reduce costs, the rear section of the Rose building in Kane was torn down, and a small profit was gleaned for the year.

In a continuing attempt to boost sales, television advertising began in January 2001. Carpet One closed its cleaning business franchise support in the same year, leaving Constable’s on their own to continue the carpet cleaning. Weak economic conditions persisted and monthly losses mounted; overhead, roof repair, repair work on Kane Rose building, and increased gas costs do not help the situation. No wage increases are granted for 2002 as 2001 ends with a serious loss. At the end of the year Constable Stores is recognized for the Corporation’s contributions to the new fire department building in Johnsonburg.

As 2002 begins Roy M. Constable is President of the Elk County Savings and Loan, where he has served as a director since 1986, and when the manager of that bank becomes ill Roy M. takes over operations at the bank; this situation will reduce the hours he can spend at the Kane store and his compensation is adjusted accordingly. In Kane, Tony Raymondo who owns his own clothing store, accepts the position at Constable’s as carpet cleaning manager. Despite weakened sales the Corporation donates $500 to the East End Playground in Johnsonburg. For the first time in Corporate history Christmas hours are not extended and the cost-cutting measure does not seem to hurt sales. The year ends with a small profit.

David Toth, a Kane store employee, is added to the Corporate Board of Directors in January 2003. Dave began as a delivery person, but fit in with the future plans of the store and his input on operations made him a desirable fit for the Corporation.

In another cost-cutting move the Company payroll is switched to a new provider and talk of discontinuing the sale of appliances and televisions is discussed by the Board; Big Box stores are too much competition. It is decided to discontinue the items in early 2004. The carpet cleaning truck, which had been leased from Capital One, is purchased and a website for the stores is contemplated but not acted on. A small loss is realized for the Corporation for the year.

The loss of the previous year weighs on the minds of the Board of Directors with rapidly increasing health costs and lingering sales a major concern. It is thought that the officers of the Corporation may have to cut salaries if sales do not improve and if costs are not brought into line. In June 2004 a new health insurance plan is in effect saving $30,000. In July a severe thunder storm in Johnsonburg threatens to flood the store but quick action by employees limits the damage. In July David Toth resigns as an employee and board member to follow other interests. Later in the year the appliance and television close out sale is consummated. Economic conditions are weak and a major loss is garnered for the year; no wage increases are approved. The Board of Directors are continually searching for ideas to increase profits and cut costs. Breakeven points have been difficult to ascertain in recent years.

In the beginning of 2005 the Board determines that charitable cash donations will have to be suspended due to the deficit financial position of the Corporation. A long-term advertising contract is discontinued to save money and after much consideration it is agreed heath insurance costs are greatly affecting the Corporate bottom line. New guidelines on employee coverage will be instituted: only employees not covered by other insurance will be covered, only employees will be covered, not their families, employees will be permitted to buy insurance for rest of family and current employee families will be covered until employees can find new insurance. In a further cost-cutting move cellphone service is changed to Verizon. A small profit is gained for the year and bonuses are paid but no wage increases are in order.

Despite cost reduction moves, constant sales promotions, attention to inventory purchases, and reduction of charitable contributions, the 2006 year ends with a substantial loss. The Board discusses the discontinuing of summer furniture and questions the balance between advertising and sales. Remodeling of the Kane building also affects bottom line.

A new Commonwealth law increasing employee minimum wage will increase employee wages in 2007 and beyond. New computers and new vehicles are purchased throughout the year. Corporation shows small profit for the year due to sell-down of inventory.

The new health insurance plan is implemented in September 2008. The Corporation continues to work on a website. Inventory control is a constant issue as purchases/sales fluctuate season to season and the Corporation struggles with how much product to buy to cover future sales. The loss for the year reaches $50,000.

2009 is a year of turmoil for Constable Stores. Wages remain the same and to stimulate business a 50% off Manufacture List Price is attempted at the Johnsonburg and Kane stores with some success but with a lower profit margin. Roy M., Neal, Charlie, and Bill Chiesa agree to accept a one-third pay cut. The Board sends employees notice that only one in the past five years has been profitable for the Company. Employee purchase and employee accounts receivables rules are tightened. The current recession is having a dramatic negative effect on Company finances, changes are made on customer credit and inventory control, no new vehicles are purchased and contribution and advertising requests are denied. The cost-cutting measures work and the profit for the year is $41,000. Advertising begins on the Company website but the future is suspect; flooring backlog, usually eight weeks, stands at four weeks. The Board also feels the new Johnsonburg bypass will affect Johnsonburg store sales negatively. Sadly, in June employee Kathy Stelene dies due to cancer complications after 25 years of Company service.

From 2010 to 2018 Constable Stores grapples with the same problems that have plagued its bottom line for more than the past decade; increasing insurance and employee costs, building maintenance and vehicle repair and replacement costs, weak inventory control, dismal economic conditions, supplier issues (Berkline Furniture Corporation folds in 2011), and uncertain cash flow requiring costly periodic borrowing against a line of credit. The carpet cleaning business is discontinued in 2015 due to retirement of key personnel and employee turnover remains an issue in regards to replacement and training costs. Changes are made to insurance, electric service, wages are frozen, and direct deposit of paychecks is introduced to reduce costs. Small profits are earned in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2014. Small losses are incurred in 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. Even catchy radio advertising and novel sales promotions like IRS- “Inventory Reduction Sale” cannot reverse the red ink.

In 2018 the Board seriously discusses selling the Kane and Johnsonburg businesses in two to four years but by 2019 it is clear that the reign of Constable Stores is coming to an end; sales are lower than can ever be remembered. In June Charlie Constable, manager of the Johnsonburg store undergoes four heart bypasses while being prepped for the repair of an old ankle injury. All attempts to sell the stores fall through and in January 2020 the Constable Stores Board of Directors approve to liquidate. In February the Board agrees to a $15,000 buyout of Michael Constable’s principal stock. To protect its employees during the coronavirus shutdown, in April 2020 the Roy B. Constable Stores Inc. takes out a $54,841 Payroll Protection Loan through Northwest Bank. As typical for the Company over the years the Small Business Administration reported in December 2020 that the loan was “Paid-in-Full.” In June 2020 Charlie Constable announces that after 80 years of continuous business Constable Stores was closing its business and liquidating its merchandise. After the liquidation the Kane buildings were sold in September 2020, the warehouse is sold in December, and the Johnsonburg building was sold at auction in October 2021.

SUMMARY

Most new businesses fold after two years but Constable Stores was able to transition from selling light home furnishings to appliances, to electronics, to whole home furniture, to complete floorcovering sales and installation, over an 80 year period. The resiliency of the Stores was remarkable to say the least; through three generations of leadership, recessions, floods, employee turnover, inflation, and periodic physical plant structural damages and upgrades, Constable Stores was able to struggle, make good decisions and thrive and prosper, from providing for one household to two households to eventually four extended families. Other than the Johnsonburg Paper Mill and the Johnsonburg Newsstand no other Johnsonburg business entity survived longer than Constable Stores, not the Johnsonburg National Bank, not Zierden’s, not G. C. Murphy, not the A & P or Market Basket, and certainly none under the same ownership. It is a business phenomenon Johnsonburg will likely never experience again. It is already sorely missed.

NOTES

In May 1988 Roy M., Neal, Charlie, and Michael Constable along with Richard Cherry, Michael Imbrogno, and Martin Schuller formed the Cherry Square Partnership and Corporation to build a mini-mall bordering Cobb, Market, and Centre Streets to be titled the Cherry Square Mall. A year later the Corporation purchased the former Knights of Columbus building from the Uni-Mart Corporation for $34,850 and proceeded to renovate the building into four two-bedroom apartments and retail space.

In March 1990 Kessel Construction was awarded the contract for the construction of the Cherry Square Mall for the bid price of $368,000. By June, the construction was well under way and 40% of the mall space had been rented out. By November the building was completed with the exception of inside work dependent on the incoming tenants. Penntech Credit Union was the first mall tenant with Harriet Stahli’s Hometown 5 & 10 following in April 1991. On December 1, 1991 the Cherry Square Mall was 100% occupied. The building was sold in October 2021 to Toth’s Dental.

In March 1992 all of the Knights of Columbus apartments were rented. However, the rental property was not successful as continual rent arrears and constant heating/cooling maintenance and physical asset repairs to the old building mounted. It was eventually sold to Elk Regional Professional Group (then part of St. Marys Hospital) in 2006 for $40,000.

As of 2023 the Constable Brothers, Roy M., Neal, and Charlie are all retired with the exception of Mike who died September 15, 2023.

Roy M. graduated from Gannon College (now Gannon University) in 1971 and upon graduation was commissioned Army 2nd Lieutenant serving nine years in the Army Reserve and commanding the unit still established in St. Marys, Pennsylvania. As director and President of the Elk County Savings and Loan he was instrumental in the merger with the Enclaire Corporation which is Farmer’s National Bank. A Kane Rotary Club member Roy is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, also a Past Exalted Ruler in the Elks, and served and belonged on many boards and clubs in Kane and Johnsonburg,

Roy married Rita Halloran and they have three daughters, Stacey Rippey, Tricia Schwabenbauer, and Julie Campione, and six grandchildren, Rayna, Reagan, Ryan Jr. (deceased), Mary, Calvin, and Louie.

Neal has been a Johnsonburg Volunteer Fire Department member since 1973 beginning with the East End Hose Company and is instrumental in combining the three former Johnsonburg Fire Departments into one building where he has served as President since 1997. He belongs and serves on many local clubs and boards.

Neal married Beth Wonderly in 1976, they have three children, Renee (deceased), Paula, and Andy and five grandchildren, David, Dan, Leaha, Collette, and Edwin.

Charlie has served on many boards and organizations. As President of the Johnsonburg Community Cable Company he was instrumental in the sale of the company to Zito Media.

Charlie married Jean Paladino in 1977 and they have two children, Victor and Kelsie, and two grandchildren, Lyle and Lenora.

Roy, Neal, and Charlie where partners in Conbros Farms where they raised beef cattle and horses. Now Neal and Charlie presently still farm the land and raise hay.

Many thanks to the Constable brothers for access to their Corporation minute books, other documentation, and supporting input.

Kevin “Reg” Barwin
2023

Kevin Barwin, a Johnsonburg native, who spent his youth peddling newspapers in Johnsonburg and reading the newsprint, while walking his routes, acquired a taste for the past.

THE PAPER BOY FROM THE PAPER CITY, More on his book: here



THE MYSTERY OF SOPHIE ROOD

AMERICAN LEGION SOPHIE ROOD, 2010

On one of my rounds as a paper carrier for the Johnsonburg Press I recall reading in that week’s edition an interesting tidbit likely under the title “60 years ago” which would have placed the time period around the beginning of the 20th century. The news item explained that the Johnsonburg Catholic Church, Holy Rosary, once stood at the corner of Spruce and Market Streets, not in its current location of Bridge and Penn Streets, and that the church rectory stood next door. The article went on to disclose that when the old church was torn down the rectory was sold to the Geary family and operated as a boarding house until the Sophie L. Rood American Legion Club #501 acquired the property in the mid 1940’s.

The opportunity to read the Press occurred usually between my stop at the Piano Box apartment house on Market Street and the Zilkofski home on East Center Street across from the Keystone Service Station; for there was about a quarter mile of dawdling between the two customers, giving me the chance to peruse the Press as I ambled toward the East End of town. The fact that the Catholic Church had been anywhere other than the corner of Bridge and Penn Streets astonished me, but I knew about the Geary establishment and the American Legion Club since my grandfather often spoke about the Geary’s and he was a member of the Sophie Rood #501 Post. With little thought I concluded that Sophie Rood, obviously a feminine sobriquet, must have been some sort of nurse who in the spirit of Florence Nightingale attended to our embattled soldiers in one of our world wars. Why else name a servicemen’s club after a female?

Jumping to conclusions often got me in hot water in elementary school and reflected on my grades, suffice to say that the French and Indian War was not fought between the French and the Indians, the spelling of Pharmacy did not begin with the letter “F”, 100 pounds of steel and 100 pounds of feathers do weigh the same, read (reed) and read (red) can have two different meanings, the teacher can sometimes be wrong (not), and so on and so on. I should have asked my grandfather about Sophie Rood, gramps was a World War I veteran, but I didn’t and many suns and moons later, after wiping the egg off my face, I found out that Sophie Rood was not a military nurse, a WAVE, or a WAC, but a Johnsonburg male casualty of World War I. So who was Sophie Rood and why did American Legion Post #501 of Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania honor him by giving the Post his name?

John and Catherine Rood settled in Cochecton and Fremont, New York, and Herrick and Starrucca, Wayne County, Pennsylvania between 1856-1900. John worked as a teamster and Catherine labored as a homemaker. They raised six children; Mary (1856), Ellen (1860), Edward (1865), John (1868), Sophia (1870), and Frank (1879). John and Catherine resided in Starrucca well into their seventies.

Edward, the eldest son, married in 1890 to Jane E. (maiden name unknown but could be McKinley, McKenny, or Kinley) and they may have lived in Johnsonburg in the mid 1890’s but by 1900 they were back in Starrucca. In the 1900 Federal Census Edward is 34, but his birth year is listed as 1856 and Jane E. is 24, her birth year listed as 1876. It could be that Ed’s birth year is transposed which would make his age correct. From the other available census, 1870, 1880, 1910 and 1920 Edward is born in 1865.

Edward works as a laborer and Jane a homemaker and the 1900 Federal Census reveals five children; Pearl (1890), Edward Jr. (1891), Frank (1892), Richard (1898), and a baby boy one month old (May 1900, no name). It is important to note that Richard’s marriage record shows him born in 1896 to Edward Rood and one Louise Kinley in Johnsonburg. The plot thickens. Who was Louise Kinley? Who was Jane E.? On the census it is noted that Jane E. has birthed five children and they are all alive. Is Sophie Rood the baby born in May?

In 1910 Edward Rood Sr. is living on First Avenue in Johnsonburg and working for the local paper mill. He has a live-in servant, Florence Bayley (married with one child, although neither the child nor her husband is listed as residing at the Rood residence), son Frank is 16 and also works at the mill, the other children, Richard (14) and Sophie (11) are in school and Wilferd (2) is home, likely under the care of Florence. They are all sons; no wife is listed although Edward Sr. is noted as being married. Compared to the 1900 Census Frank’s and Richard’s ages are 2 years out of whack, Sophie should have appeared on the 1900 census, but doesn’t, unless he is the baby boy and then his age would be one year off. Who is the mother of Wilferd?

Pearl, the oldest child of Edward Sr. and Jane E., has married Albert Gelatt and they reside with Joseph and Vesta Paugh in Deposit, New York. Edward Jr., a cripple, lives with them, but is listed as a nephew. That would only make sense if Vesta was his aunt and his mother’s sister. Vesta’s maiden name is listed in various documents as Kenny, McKenny, or McKinley. She does not have a sister named Jane, but does have a younger sister, Louise. Is this Louise, Richard’s mother? Is she the mother of any other Edward Rood children? So many unanswered questions.

Edward Sr. gave one son his namesake, and Frank and Sophie he named after a brother and sister. We do not know if Sophie resented his feminine name but we do know that he spent some early years of his life in Erie, Pennsylvania (with his mother?), was working at the paper mill at age 16 in the machine room, and quietly left Johnsonburg to enlist in the regular army of the United States on September 22, 1916 at Columbus, Ohio. He fibbed about his age and name to get in, enlisting as Sofey L. Rood, born May 25, 1898. Apparently, he was musically inclined as he became an army bugler, serving for a time along the Texas border, and then in the summer of 1917 at Syracuse, New York where the 9 th Infantry camped on the State Fair grounds. There he met and became a close friend of Dexter Wright, a Syracuse native, who was also assigned to Company L Headquarters with Sofey. Sophie, now going by his proper name, told Syracuse folks he came from Illinois and that both his parents were deceased. Sophie became very popular in Syracuse.

In 1915 with war raging in Europe and America attempting to stay neutral a German U-Boat sank the British ocean liner Lusitania with hundreds of Americans on board. This event and continued German sinking of United States merchant vessels caused President Woodrow Wilson to ask Congress to declare war on Germany in March 1917. On July 3, 1917 Wilson called for troops and America mobilized for the war effort.

On September 17, 1917 Sofey L. Rood and his bunkmate, Dexter Wright, sailed for France aboard the Carmania with Company L, 9 th Infantry, arriving in Europe on September 22 nd . The Company was organized under the 3 rd Infantry of the Second Division. Their insignia was an Indian head on a star. During the war they would be known as the “Fighting Ninth” or “Indianheads.” While most of the soldiers on the Carmania transport manifest listed a wife, mother, or father as the person to contact in the case of injury or death, Sofey L. Rood listed Elizabeth Katz of Johnsonburg as a “friend.”

Elizabeth Ruth Schwartz Katz was born in Clarion County in 1858. She married Winfield Scot Katz in Jefferson County about 1878 and after their three children reached adulthood she and Winfield divorced. By 1910 Elizabeth was living in Johnsonburg as a neighbor to the Edward Rood family taking in washing to earn her livelihood. She must have developed an emotional attachment to Sophie Rood for him to identify her as the person to contact in case of his demise.

Upon arriving in France the Second Division continued training at Bourmont, France. On March 16, 1918 the Division moved to a relatively quiet part of the front line between Verdun and Saint- Mihiel; the Toulon, Troyon sectors. The troops mingled with the French troops and were involved in several minor operations. On the night of April 13-14 the 9 th Infantry repulsed a strong and unusually large German attack. Communications in World War I were crude compared to later military conflicts and buglers were important in sounding out various commands to control troop movements, especially at night; the bugler had to stand tall and prominent in order to be heard above the din of machine gun fire and shelling. Opponents attempted to curtail or hinder troop movements by strategically targeting the enemy’s buglers. Sofey L. Rood, performing his duty on that night was hit by enemy fire, removed from the field, he received medical attention, but succumbed to his wounds. He was a little more than a month shy of his 18 th birthday, although the Army assumed he was two years older. He was the first Johnsonburg soldier to die in World War I.

Back in Johnsonburg, on Friday, April 11 1917, about a year before Sophie’s untimely death, 50 elementary and high school boys walk out of school because the American Flag was not displayed on top of Johnsonburg School Buildings. The boys paraded around town holding indignation meetings and handing out handbills on which was penciled a brief statement of their grievances. In the afternoon, a number of girls, who seemed sympathetic with their co-eds, also retired from school. A flag of ordinary dimensions had been displayed in front of the First Avenue and High School building for several days but the boys wanted Old Glory displayed from the flag staffs at the top of the buildings. The walkouts caused much consternation among school officials. Over the weekend it is agreed that appropriate flags would be purchased and placed atop the buildings. American spirit was running high.

At the time of Sophie’s death the policy of the United States Government was to bury its soldiers on foreign soil with full military honors and religious ceremony and to pay to bring the remains back to the United States after the conflict. Sofey L. Rood is buried in Cemetery Plot B, Row 7, Grave 7 in the Saint-Mihiel American Cemetery in Thiaucourt, France. After the war no family member requested the return of Sophie’s remains to the United States.

On April 24 th , 1918 Mrs. Elizabeth Katz of Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania received the following Western Union Telegram from Washington, D.C. “Deeply regret to inform you that it is officially reported that Bugler Sofey L. Rood, infantry, died 4/14 of wounds received in action. McLain, Adjutant General.”

The Johnsonburg Press wrote: “The above message to a soldier’s foster mother Lila. This story of a Johnsonburg boy to give his life in France for the honor of the U.S.A. and to help make the world a safe place to live in. Strangely enough, there were few people in Johnsonburg who knew the town was represented by him in the service so quietly and ostensibly had he slipped away from here to enlist for Freedom under the Stars and Stripes. Sofey L. Rood was the son of Edward Rood of this place, was born in Strucka, Wayne County, this State May 16, 1900….The last letter his father received from his son was on June 14 of last year. He was stationed in Syracuse. No word had been received that he was in France….With moistened eye, with faltering click, we silently pay our honor and respect to the Paper City boy who gave his life in a foreign country.”

After the Armistice was declared on November 11, 1918 the many Johnsonburg boys who had enlisted or were drafted into the armed forces came straggling home. Johnsonburg rejoiced in the Armistice within the week by having the biggest parade celebration the Paper City had ever seen. No World War I soldiers had yet to return, but Veterans of the Civil War and Spanish American War marched in the parade. Overall, there were 2,715 participants in the line of march. There never was a formal parade for the doughboys of Johnsonburg when they all returned. Johnsonburg celebrated the Armistice without its military participants.

However, in the Spring of 1919 20 Johnsonburg World War I veterans came together at the I.O.O.F. meeting hall to organize a group that would perpetuate the spirit of good fellowship, promote social activity, and organize themselves that their interest could flourish. The new nationwide American Legion Club effort was referenced.

Another meeting was held on May 23, 1919 and it was determined that the organization would meet every Sunday. On January 18, 1920 the organization formally organized at City Hall under the American Legion. On Friday, January 23, 1920 126 members of the Johnsonburg American Legion Post met and formally named their club after Sophie L. Rood, the first Johnsonburg serviceman to die in World War I. A benefit show at the end of the month was held to honor and raise funds for the new organization.

For the next several years the American Legion Club meets at various other club and municipal buildings around Johnsonburg. Then, in 1923 the Paper Mill decided to tear down its wood- washing building and offered the lumber to the American Legion. The veterans took up the gift and by January 1926 the American Legion Sophie L. Rood Post clubhouse stood in the East End of Johnsonburg on Paper Mill property aside Powers Run. (Near the old water dam).

In the 1920 Federal Census Elizabeth Katz lived on Short Street in Johnsonburg as the head of the family with Edward Rood Sr. and Edward Rood Jr. as boarders. Edward Sr. still worked at the paper mill. Sometime before 1930 Ed and Elizabeth married and moved to the Ridgway Road area. Elizabeth died on January 11, 1934 and is buried in Sigel, Pennsylvania next to her first husband and their daughter.

Edward Rood Sr applied for his son Sophie’s World War I compensation in March 1934. He received $200. On the application he did not know Sophie’s birthdate. Edward Sr. died in the Warren State Hospital of senility and heart disease on November 18, 1935. He had been at the hospital for four months. Edward Rood Sr. is buried in the Wardvale United Methodist Cemetery in Johnsonburg.

Sophie’s actual birthdate, who his mother was, how he spent his early years, where he learned to bugle, and if his family relations were strained, are mysteries we may never know. But we do know that Sophie went off to war, did his duty, and died so that others could live free. He and other Johnsonburg veterans of all wars make Johnsonburg proud and it is fitting that the Johnsonburg American Legion Post honors his name.

POSTSCRIPT

In researching the Sophie L. Rood mystery I was certainly surprised to find a fine article about Sophie in the Syracuse, New York newspaper. The article regrets that Sophie had been reported killed in action and that he was a fine young man who made quite a favorable impression during his encampment in that city.

Dexter Harvey Wright, Sophie’s friend from Syracuse and bunkmate, took over for Sophie as Company L. bugler after Sophie’s death. Dexter was wounded, gassed, and captured for a time during the war but survived to become a schoolteacher in the Syracuse area. On his return from the war he spoke to the Oswego Daily News and mentioned his pal Sophie Rood. Dexter died in 1971.

Florence Bayley, Rood’s servant in 1910, was married to William Bayley and they had one daughter, Bertha. William worked for the Bell Telephone Company. They moved to Warren, Pennsylvania after living in Johnsonburg for a time. It is possible that the youngest brother of Sophie, Wilfred, was the son of Edward Sr. and Florence Bayley, although there is no known direct evidence of that.

Horace Alvin Decker of Johnsonburg enlisted in the United States Army even earlier than Sophie Rood; on June 2, 1916 in Erie, Pennsylvania. He was 18 years old. Alvin, as he was more commonly known, rose to the rank of Sergeant. Sergeant Decker may have been the last Johnsonburg boy to give his life for his country in WWI; he died in France on October 4, 1918 from wounds received the day before at Le Chev Tondu. His parents, Arthur and Julia Decker, erected a monument to honor Alvin on Route 219 in the East End of Johnsonburg. His remains were returned home and Alvin was buried on October 18, 1921 in the Wardvale United Methodist Cemetery in Johnsonburg. Alvin always had a little wanderlust in his veins, at age 12, not wanting to return to school, he made his way to Philadelphia to see the sights and make his way in the world. Late one night a Pennsylvania Railroad policeman found young Alvin asleep on a bench in a railroad station; Alvin had worked all day at his restaurant job and had no place to sleep. Authorities held him until his parents arrived to return him home. Several months later his parents held a large 13th birthday party for him and gave him a gold ring for his present.

Pearl Rood Gelatt died in 1923 in Deposit, New York, Delaware County, shortly after giving birth to a daughter Bertha. Pearl was 15 years old when she married.

The last known address of Edward Jr. (Eddie) is the Delaware County Home where he was a inmate in 1925. County homes were popular up until the 1960’s. They housed and fed the aged, poor, and indigent who had no one else able to care for them. There is no record of his death at this time.

Frank Rood, just like his brother Sophie, was working in the paper mill at age 16. The last mention of Frank is of a trip he took with his father in 1914 to Susquehanna, Pennsylvania. His whereabouts after that and death are unknown at this time.

Richard Rood left school after the fourth grade and eventually joined the Poole traveling carnival out of North Chicago, Illinois where he married Minnie Henderson in 1916. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in July 1918 at Camp Custer, Michigan but was mustered out the same month on a Surgeon Certificate of Disability. Richard later married Ada Gilman (1922) and spent the remainder of his lifetime working as a pipefitter in a Kalamazoo, Michigan paper mill. He died in 1969. Kalamazoo, which also is known as the “Paper City”, had 10 paper mills at one time in the early 1900’s!

The only mention of Wilferd Rood is of a two year old in the 1910 Federal Census.

After WW II Johnsonburg citizens collected money for a new clubhouse for the American Legion. About $5,000 was accumulated and used to purchase the Geary residence on Market Street. This became the new and current club of the American Legion. The old clubhouse near Powers Run was sold by bid to Allan Fitch, who tore it down and used the lumber to build his house in Terra Cotta.

AFTERWORD

It is highly doubtful that Sophie Rood ever thought that his hometown would honor him in any way. Apparently, he found a family in the U.S. Army, and his story, although a sad one, has now been told. Maybe it would have caused him to smile if he knew that his death has touched so many through the Sophie L. Rood American Legion Post # 510 in Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania.

Kevin “Reg” Barwin

2024

Kevin Barwin, a Johnsonburg native, who spent his youth peddling newspapers in Johnsonburg and reading the newsprint, while walking his routes, acquired a taste for the past.

THE PAPER BOY FROM THE PAPER CITY, More on his book: here

Uniting the Past and Present: Johnsonburg Community Trust's Story

papers and letters from 1997, 1998 and 2000

A passionate group of individuals started meeting midsummer 1996 to brainstorm on how to bring back Johnsonburg. They were from organizations, businesses, local government, the borough and also, private individuals. All with a deep connection to the town and were, honestly, movers and shakers. Starting simply with the creation of, what was called, the Downtown Committee, the precursor to what would be the Johnsonburg Community Trust, they formed a plan. Members of this original group were Chris Bressler, Charlie Constable, Dan Freeburg, Ron King, Joyce Maletto, Cathy Mehalko, Mary Polaski, Harriet Stahli and Steve Vallone. These pioneers started making phone calls, establishing funds then ultimately hiring a consulting service out of Brookville, Taylor & Taylor Associates. The Johnsonburg Community Trust (JCT) was formed in 1997. From here, the JCT directors began the process of becoming a non-profit - they were incorporated in the fall of 1998, bylaws were adopted, their mission statement was written and thus began the laborious process of applying for the historic section of downtown to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places, received September 27, 1999. This designation, the name Commercial Historic District, was extremely important to the growth of downtown..

As written in the National Register of Historic Places, 1999, Section 7 page 1:

The Johnsonburg Commercial Historic District is a 6-acre district which contains the extant historic buildings of the central business district of the Borough of Johnsonburg, located in Elk County, in north-central Pennsylvania. The community is small and rural in character, although heavily industrialized, and lies at the confluence of two branches of the Clarion River, nine miles north of Ridgway, the county seat. The buildings within the district date from between 1890 and the late 1930s, are primarily of brick, and are of two and three stories in height. The architectural styles evident within the district include Italianate, Colonial and Neo-Classical Revivals, and Art Deco; some buildings are built without reference to any academic style. The district includes portions of Center Street (U. S. Route 219) and Market Streets, which run roughly parallel to each other, and Bridge Street, which connects the two streets at right angles near the south boundary of the district. Just outside the district, at the north end of Market Street, the Williamette Paper Mill physically dominates the skyline of the northern terminus of the district. Thirty-eight individual resources are in the district, of which thirty-three (85%) contribute to the character of the district and five (15%) are non contributing. Of the thirty-eight resources in the district, thirty-seven are buildings and one—a piece of religious statuary—is a contributing object. Approximately 20% of the buildings in the district were built between c. 1890 and 1900, about 70% between 1900 and 1945 and approximately 10% after World War II. The district contains one residential building, one industrial building, and three institutional buildings; the remainder are primarily commercial.

United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Registration Form

JCT’s mission statement:

The Mission of the Johnsonburg Community Trust is to promote, obtain and administer revitalization projects for the Borough of Johnsonburg in order to attract new retail businesses and improve the business opportunities for existing retailers, in a way that:

1. Creates an appealing shopping environment by enhancing our existing building structures and architecture designs.

2. Utilizes and takes advantage of our region's rich natural resources and history to promote tourism and related businesses.

3. Includes ideas and input from all sectors of our population, both business and residential.

4. To improve the quality of life of the community of Johnsonburg by educating the general public as to the heritage of the community, by historic preservation, by aesthetic improvement and by the development of the arts.

In 1997 the JCT committees were formed including the Preservation/Design Committee, Arts Committee, Nominating Committee and Finance Committee. Public meetings were scheduled, a Central Business District Assessment was complete and streetscape contractors were invited to place bids and grants written to begin a facade program. In 2000, the Hamer Center for Community Design Assistance, which is an outreach unit from the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture at Penn State University developed an action plan. The recommendations of their Mobile Studio team represents four areas of action which include Community Entrances, Downtown Streetscapes, Community Greenways and Community Building and Networking.

Many of these strategic projects were implemented throughout town including tree plantings, commercial building facades, signage and more. Business owners were often contacted about how they could be a part of downtown revitalizations and grants were written.

The 2008 Our Town Johnsonburg at WPSU studio’s in St. College. Volunteers from Johnsonburg answering phones and raising money.

As the years went by the JCT took part in two WPSU Our Town series, one in 2008 and the other 2016. Funding for murals painted by the talented artist Tom Copella took place in 2014 and 2015 and, in 2019, the Johnsonburg Community Center had an overhaul of its playground.

Come June 2020, a first happened for this non-profit - the purchase of a 45,000 sq ft Armstrong Real Estate and Improvement Company's Brick Block building. This 1890’s brick structure holds great importantance architecturally, for it occupies ¼ of the downtown’s Commercial Historic District. Up to that point the JCT had never owned property but, if the 12 bay structure were to be demolished a huge portion of the district would not exist. The group became obsessed with saving the Brick Block with its multiple storefronts, recessed arcade, and lively profile. For months volunteers removed tons of debris and also made this 130 year old building weathertight and as structurally sound as the times permitted.

A Rehabilitation Plan was created/implemented for the Brick Block (BB), volunteers continued working hard to save the BB, all while the directors held events, fundraisers and completed other community projects. Starting in 2021, plans were made to build out a Heritage Education & Welcome Center in the first unit of the BB, located on the corner of Bridge and Market Street. This essential build-out would become a place for historical displays, classes & educational workshops, the JCT office, events, retail space for local artisans and an umbrella for other non-profits, welcome center, etc.

Coming into 2022/2023, the JCT is continuing to work with the borough on greenspaces through town as well as other upcoming projects throughout 2024.. Many, many exciting ventures are continuing to unfold including a Community Economic Development Coordinator being hired that the borough will share, 20 hrs in Johnsonburg and 20 hrs in Ridgway. We also partnered with Leadership Elk & Cameron on the Together We can Make a Difference survey in 2022. A very successful New Year’s Eve Party had its inaugural event 2023, Illuminate the Memories in its forth year, Casino Night now in its second year, as well as the Alumni & Friends Reunion Event now celebrating 20 years for 2024.

JCT directors at the Johnsonburg Community Center, at January 2024, meeting looking at donated original maps of a section of Johnsonburg, then Rolfe.
directors: Stephanie Distler, Arianne Iorfido, Harv Davison, Lauren Pura, Dawn Karellas, Kyle Paget, Andrew Mohney and Christina Tigani, present. Missing: Shannon Gitterman and Becky Durian

Look for more information coming out on the Johnsonburg Community Trust’s Heritage Education & Welcome Center, upcoming events, how to volunteer and also, support our mission through the website www.johnsonburgcommunitytrust.com and on Facebook or Instagram.

by Stephanie Distler
5th generation JBG native
JCT, president




Bank On It!

The sole purpose of delivering Sunday newspapers in the East End of Johnsonburg in 1962 was to earn money to buy baseball cards and to play the pinball machines at Stelene’s Restaurant. I delivered about 70 papers and made two cents profit on the Pittsburgh papers and three cents on the Philadelphia editions, plus tips. The papers were a quarter and tips, generally a nickel, although not every household tipped. Baseball cards were five cents a pack and the pinball machine a nickel a play. What money I had left over at the end of the week went into my secret hiding place to accumulate with birthday gifts and odd jobs cash (no allowance, that was something that was only mentioned on TV shows). Eventually, my grandfather strongly suggested that I put those funds in the bank to earn interest and off to the Johnsonburg National Bank we went, laden down with a pile of bills and a bag full of various coins.

Image taken from a JCT past blog post, To a Kid this is a Castle .

Mrs. Sallack or maybe Ms. Florin helped me open up my savings account (no checking) and I received a little black bank book with the amount of my deposit written in and the date of deposit stamped next to it. I did not receive a monthly statement. With every deposit the teller would open up an accounting book, check my account, and add a little interest to my book. Very archaic compared to the slick bank books nowadays with their computerized printing.

The Johnsonburg National Bank was an imposing structure for an eleven year old; steep concrete steps going up to the doors between two massive pillars, it was a monumental stone edifice built grandly and solidly to give one the impression all monies were safe and secure in this rock solid garrison. Even the windows had bars and etched in stone above the entrance was the profound identification, B A N K.

Inside I recall the teller’s windows to the left and a large writing table along the wall to the right, at the time I was so short I could barely see into the teller’s opening or rest my elbows on the table. Straight to the back I remember a caged area that I understood contained the bank vault. Inside the front door an elderly gray-haired lady stood in uniform with a tambourine collecting donations for the Salvation Army. Whether or not she was there everyday I do not know but she always seemed to be there whenever I arrived.

The Johnsonburg National Bank charter was filed on October 30, 1890 and the building of the castle-like structure was begun around that time. Like the “Brick Block” the bank was designed by architect P. A. Welsh of Philadelphia. It was built under the direction of stonemason Gustav Florin and possibly stonemason Lars Johnson for $20,000.

Gustav Larsson Florin immigrated to the United States from Sweden in 1889 with his wife Ingrid and two children and settled in Johnsonburg, and his erstwhile friend and future partner in business, Lars Mangus Johnson, came from Sweden in 1879, married his wife Ida in Daguscahonda, Pennsylvania in 1882 and came to Johnsonburg around 1889. Both Gust and Lars were journeymen masons and particularly adept at stone cutting. They came to Johnsonburg at the bequest of the Armstrong brothers, helped build the brick paper mill and also the Brick Block. Gus and Lars built the Florin-Johnson structure which for many years housed Bosler’s Drug Store, the Corner Restaurant, John Mann’s Cigar Store, Jenks lady clothing and accessories store, and many other shops along Cobb Street until it was torn down in 1970 to make room for the improving(?) of Route 219. In 1903 they both partnered to open a plumbing store in the Brick Block and they both are responsible for erecting the many brick and stone chemical plants in the area. In April 1909 Gust and L.M. build a brick storage building in Spring Creek, Warren County for $25,000. The building stored eggs, butter, and poultry from the area and was cooled by machinery; a very modern enterprise in the days of ice box deliveries. Gust Florin also built the Elk County Home in St, Marys, Pennsylvania.

The Johnsonburg National Bank opened on April 6, 1891 with $50,000 working capital and a surplus fund of the same amount. E.O. Aldrich is the cashier and paper mill owner Meylert M. Armstrong is President. With a National Bank designation the bank was permitted to print its own United States currency. You can find examples of these interesting bank notes online by googling “Johnsonburg Bank Notes.”

On July 8, 1893 E.O. Aldrich, well-respected cashier of the Johnsonburg National Bank, is asked to help adjust matters at the defunct Ridgway Bank. J. H. Peoples will act in the capacity of cashier in his place and Peoples’ place as teller will be filled by Frank O’Connell, both men of sterling integrity. On October 18, 1894 the receivers of the defunct Ridgway National Bank which closed its doors on June 23, 1893 announced that they will pay a 20% dividend through the Johnsonburg National Bank.

A little over a month later on November 23, 1894 Harry Peoples, 24, bank clerk, was found dead in his room over the Johnsonburg National Bank. Two bullet holes in his head and a .32 caliber revolver is by his side. Harry had no bad habits and his death is a large mystery. A coroner’ inquest failed to shed any light on the tragedy. He left no note or other evidence of premeditated suicide. He was engaged to be married to popular young Miss Inez Hyatt, a Johnsonburg school teacher, who is nearly distracted over the shocking death of her betrothed. Peoples was in good spirits when last seen alive. (You can read the whole story in the book “The Paperboy from the Paper City'').

In the early days the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania often invested its treasury’s money in Pennsylvania banks. For example, on May 31, 1911 the State reported that $20,000 in taxpayer dollars was on deposit at the Johnsonburg National Bank.

In July, 1913 a new safe was installed at the Johnsonburg National Bank. The new vault is constructed of reinforced concrete lined with steel. The door weighs five tons and opens on a timer and combination lock. The manganese safe inside the vault is only opened by a combination lock. Safety deposit boxes inside the vault are now available. The old 3,600 pound safe from the bank is moved to the New Clarion Hotel on Centre Street. While transferring the safe the workers dropped it, making a great impression on the sidewalk!

On November 3, 1920 around 8:00 a.m. Dr. William Palmer and Gust Florin, the Johnsonburg National Bank’s builder and now wealthy contractor, are traveling to Ridgway where Dr. Palmer of Johnsonburg is chief surgeon. The new road to Ridgway had just been completed and Dr. Palmer and Mr. Florin were the first to motor the freshly concreted highway. Two miles from the center of town with Dr. Palmer driving, the car skidded into a ditch and turned over. Both men were seriously injured with Dr. Palmer expiring upon arrival at the Ridgway Hospital. Gust Florin was not expected to live but miraculously survived.

Frank O’Donnell, longtime bank employee, is the head cashier and a bank director in the 1920’s. His untimely death of a heart attack at age 58 results in Alvin A. Johnson of Rolfe, Pennsylvania taking over as head cashier.

April 28, 1929- The Johnsonburg National Bank is closed for remodeling. A new vault and an updated lobby is being constructed. All banking transactions and other business is to be done at the Johnsonburg Community Building until further notice.

January 1937-V. M. Slouck, an upper management employee of the New York and Pennsylvania Company, is named President of the Johnsonburg National Bank. Mr. Slouck resides in Lock Haven. Bank employees of the time are; cashier A. A. Johnson, assistant cashiers, N.R. Gardner and J.J. Bliskey. A year later Alvin A. Johnson succumbs to pneumonia at age 50 and Norman Randall Gardner is promoted to head cashier.

In November 1951 the Johnsonburg National Bank announced it would pay out in a few weeks over $75,000 in Christmas savings. It is the largest Christmas fund in Elk County.

On February 15, 1952 two masked gunmen held up the Johnsonburg National Bank of over $7,000. They will eventually be caught and a bank robbery conspiracy involving local residents will unravel. (You can read the whole story in the book “The Paperboy From the Paper City”).

November 25, 1957-Over $96,000 paid out in Christmas savings from Johnsonburg National Bank, largest in Elk County.

The Warren National Bank, capitalized at $53.2 million, merged with the Johnsonburg National Bank, capitalized at $5.1 million, on November 22, 1963. This will supposedly for all intent and purposes end the control of the Johnsonburg National Bank by the New York and Pennsylvania Company. The Company had always been placed on the bank’s Board of Directors management from the New York and Pennsylvania Company. The Johnsonburg National Bank and the Johnsonburg community had grown substantially together from their mutual inception.

In the mid-1960’s N.R. Gardner retires and Norman Jerry Nelson takes over as bank manager. The bank undergoes some major changes. An outside, walkup bank window is installed on the Bridge Street side of the edifice, the front entrance is remodeled with a two-stair approach, and a snow-melting system is placed under the front concrete sidewalk.

1-17-1968- N.R. Gardner is placed on the board of directors. Local advisory board is N.R. Gardner, George Mosebarger, H. H. Bell, V. M. Stouck, H. L. Wallis, R. K. Guinard, F. W. Crowe, N. J. Nelson, bank manager. Although the merger of 1963 was to remove New York and Pennsylvania Company control of the bank you can read by the board of directors that many upper management of the Company remain on the board. Stouck, Wallis, Guinard, and Crowe all work for the paper mill.

On June 30, 1982 the Warren National Bank was taken over by Marine Bank of Erie, Pennsylvania making the Johnsonburg bank part of the Marine Bank system.

In September 1996 Marine Bank was merged with PNC Bank. Three years later the Johnsonburg PNC Bank was taken over by County National Bank of Clearfield, Pennsylvania.

Norman Jerry Nelson retired as bank manager in 1999.

On February 2, 2008, for the second time in its 118 year history the Johnsonburg bank was robbed. A Wilcox, Pennsylvania resident robs the Johnsonburg County Bank of $21,000 with a toy gun. He came into the bank by the side door, ordered two tellers to get on the floor, and escaped in a car parked in the alley between Market and Penn Street. The car was described as a Suzuki Vitara. The perpetrator was apprehended by the St. Marys Borough Police at the Straub Brewery in St. Marys.

On January 8, 2013 the Johnsonburg CNB bank was robbed again, this time by a Ridgway resident.

In 2015 CNB closed the Johnsonburg branch and in 2016 the Johnsonburg Water Authority took over the old bank building for their offices.

For many years the castle-like structure provided a safe haven for deposits and valuables and granted loans and mortgages that enabled Johnsonburg to grow and prosper through its “heyday” years. Northwest Bank has taken over that service for current Johnsonburg citizens but the ancient stone fortress on the corner of Market and Bridge Streets still stands today as a solid symbol of Johnsonburg strength and fortitude.

Kevin “Reg” Barwin

2023

Kevin Barwin, a Johnsonburg native, who spent his youth peddling newspapers in Johnsonburg and reading the newsprint, while walking his routes, acquired a taste for the past.

THE PAPER BOY FROM THE PAPER CITY, More on his book: here





Commercial Historic District Structures and Stories- LAWRENCE BUILDING

Charles August Lawrence, born in Germany in 1868, came to America in 1881 with his parents Frederick and Theresa Wickert Lawrence, his sisters, Lizzie, Theresa, Anna, and Emile, and his brother, Ernest. The family settled on Cobb Street in Johnsonburg when the town was in its infancy. Charles went to work as a clerk in Bogart’s and McGeehan’s general store (later Bauer’s Fashions) in 1889 at the corner of Bridge Street and Centre Street, where he mostly sold shoes. After several years Charles moved on as head shoe salesman in W.E. Zierden’s new store on Market Street. After nine years at Zierden’s, around 1906, Charles A. Lawrence opened his own boot and shoe store on Cobb Street in a rented storefront next to the corner drug store (later Corner Restaurant). By this time he had married (1893) Anna Beadle of Ridgway and they had two daughters, Ethel and Martha. A son, Fred, will follow in 1904, another daughter, Clarice, will be born in 1913.

With many years of experience in the shoe and boot business and a loyal customer base Charles was quite successful and on May 11, 1914 he purchased a lot at the corner of Spruce and Market Streets and had a two-story vernacular brick building erected (501 Market Street). The grand opening of the New Lawrence Shoe Store took place on November 3, 1914. J. A. McFadden, Pennsylvania Railroad agent, is the first renter in the building’s second floor apartment. The Lawrence family at the time lived in Clarion Heights. Charles’ father, Frederick, will help out his son, working as a cobbler in the store.

Tragedy struck the Lawrence family on July 5, 1920 when Mrs. Theresa Lawrence, 78, while walking slightly ahead of her husband, Frederick, was struck by a Pennsylvania Railroad train at the Grant Street crossing. She was thrown 12 feet and death soon followed. Frederick Lawrence would pass two years later at age 88.

Charles moves his family to First Avenue to be closer to his store and the store prospers through World War I and the roaring twenties. Frederick William Lawrence goes to work at the shoe store after graduating from high school and in 1929 he purchases the store from his father, Charles. Anna Lawrence passes in 1939 and Charles A. follows her to the grave in 1947.

Frederick W. Lawrence married Dorothy Clare Forster in 1934. They will have three daughters, Nancy, Barbara, and Martha, and a son Charles. At first they resided on Bridge Street and then above the shoe store before settling on Penn Street in the 1950’s. Frederick operated the shoe business successfully until going out of business in January 1963 due to health problems. Frederick and Dorothy retire to St. Petersburg, Florida where they finish out their lives, Frederick (1971), Dorothy (2003).

Richard Anderson runs a shoe store in the building in the 1960’s. In March 1971 Victor Chirillo, well-known Johnsonburg tailor, purchases the building and opens Chirillo’s Men’s Store and Tailoring. The New Chirillo’s Men’s Store operates at the location (1984-1989), Victor Chirillo and Joel Parana, proprietors. Raymondo’s Clothing and Dry Cleaning follows around 1993. By 2014 the building housed the Johnsonburg VFW Club and in that year Ridgway, Pennsylvania artist Thomas Copella paints a beautiful mural on the building’s south side honoring veterans. In 2017 Michael Votano buys the property and opens the Paper City Laundromat.

The Lawrence family is another Johnsonburg success story and for their legacy they left a fine functional brick building which has weathered its over 109 years very well.

Kevin “Reg” Barwin

2023

Kevin Barwin, a Johnsonburg native, who spent his youth peddling newspapers in Johnsonburg and reading the newsprint, while walking his routes, acquired a taste for the past.

THE PAPER BOY FROM THE PAPER CITY, More on his book: here

Commercial Historic District Structures and Stories- 514 Market Street

There is a lot of activity in and out around 514 Market Street, Johnsonburg these days with the opening of several new businesses in the former Masonic building. The Boutique, the Rosebud Lounge, A Touch of Life Massage, Glow Airbrush Tanning, and Revolution Cheer fill up the slate of pleasant experiences one can find there.

It is great to see that old building renovated and put to such good use. Research shows that the structure was built in 1891 (Johnsonburg Sanborn Maps) but who built it is a small mystery. John W. Houser, a carpenter by trade who assisted in helping build the paper mill, built the Kendrig building (D. E. Kendrig, owner) next door in 1890 so maybe he also erected the edifice at 204 Market Street (address in 1891). Houser came to Johnsonburg in its pioneer days from Flemington, Pennsylvania with Martha Bullock who he married in 1880. They resided in Johnsonburg at least until 1914 but by 1920 John was operating a grocery store in Erie, PA and living with his daughter’s family. Besides being a carpenter and storekeeper he also was a bartender and innkeeper in his lifetime.

The place was designated as a saloon in 1898 (Johnsonburg Sanborn Maps) and further documentation shows George Spuller ran the Market Street Restaurant there for sure 1900-1903. It is noted in the July 21, 1891 edition of the Bradford Era that Mr. Spuller is having the finishing touches put on his two-story building which has an iron front (as described in the Johnsonburg Sanborn Maps). By 1905 he and family were in Niagara Falls, NY. In 1904 it is a saloon and in 1909 a saloon/restaurant and in 1916 and 1919 its designation was “office space.” (Johnsonburg Sanborn Maps). Research shows Martin McAllen, who would run the City Hotel on Centre Street, also occupied the building at one time and that Alva H. Gregory, publisher of the Johnsonburg Press, had a what-not shop in the structure at some time.

In June 1913 the rooms above the Johnsonburg Opera House were renovated for the Freemasons. The Elks Club had recently occupied the space. On November 10, 1913 the James W. Brown #675 Free and Accepted Masonic Lodge is constituted with 80 members. James W. Brown of Pittsburgh, who died in 1909, was President of Colonial Steel, a congressman (1903-1905) and a Right Worshipful Past Grand Master of the Masons. It is assumed the lodge is named in his honor.

Sometime prior to his death in 1910 Meylert M. Armstrong, paper mill owner, purchased the 514 Market Street property. It is he who likely turned the premises into office space as the Armstrong’s were known to be anti-alcohol and did not allow it on the Brick Block, which they owned through the Armstrong Realty and Land Company. In 1920 the James W. Brown Masonic Lodge bought the building from the estate of Meylert M. Armstrong but they did not occupy the premises until 1928! The building was commonly called the Acacia Club in those early days.

The Acacia tree or Acacia sprig is a symbol in Freemasonry designating “immortality of the soul.” In 1904 Freemason students at the University of Michigan organized the Acacia Fraternity for Master Masons of high moral character. This “men only” fraternal organization was apparently adopted by many Masonic Lodges across the United States. Being a Master Mason is no longer a prerequisite.

Freemasons are not a “secret society, but a society of secrets”, they have many rituals, symbols, and orders that are only known to its members. A Mason was once popularly known as a “Traveling Man,” because in ancient Europe only a Mason was permitted to travel freely from town to town, going to and from worksites. Today, the “Traveling Man” connotation means a Mason’s journey from darkness to light.

The Order of the Eastern Star Chapter #36 was constituted in Johnsonburg on June 20, 1905. The ladies’ meetings were held twice a month, first on the third floor of the W.S. Service Hardware Store (at the site of the current Cherry Square Mall), then at the Odd Fellows building (current Senior Center), after that at the Moose Club, and eventually, once the Freemasons opened up the lodge, at 514 Market Street.

The Order used the top floor and the basement kitchen extensively in the Acacia Club until 1985 when due to financial difficulties of the Masons the top floor was renovated for their meeting purposes and the first floor space rented out. Three new platforms for the Mason’s work were installed and new carpeting and paint added.

Many factors caused the demise of membership and eventual sale of the James W. Brown Masonic Building, the major reason being that Fraternal organizations no longer have the draw they once did, society has changed, the Internet, television, streaming, cell phones etc. have replaced the social interaction people once only satisfied themselves with at a club. Fraternal organizations, by their strict membership requirements, ostracized many portions of the population; America is more diverse, co-mingled, educated, and mobile than it was in the late 1800’s and 1900’s. Joining a club no longer provides the upward social mobility or comradery it once did.

It is wonderful to see 514 Market Street come to life and many thanks to the new owners and entrepreneurs for making it so, from “saloon to salon” in over 130 years, what a historical difference a simple “o” makes.

Kevin “Reg” Barwin
2023

Kevin Barwin, a Johnsonburg native, who spent his youth peddling newspapers in Johnsonburg and reading the newsprint, while walking his routes, acquired a taste for the past.

THE PAPER BOY FROM THE PAPER CITY, More on his book: here



Designated Johnsonburg's Commercial Historic District in 1999

September 27, 1999 is when the Johnsonburg Commercial Historic District was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the Johnsonburg Community Trust.

Follow the link below to learn more on the history and importance of Johnsonburg's architectural history as well as the historic buildings listed in the Commercial Historic District.

The Johnsonburg Commercial Historic District is a 6-acre district which contains the historic buildings of the central business district of the Borough of Johnsonburg, located in Elk County, in north-central Pennsylvania.

The community is small and rural in character, although heavily industrialized, and lies at the confluence of two branches of the

Clarion River, nine miles north of Ridgway, the county seat. The buildings within the district date from between 1890 and the late 1930s, are primarily of brick, and are of two and three stories in height.

The architectural styles evident within the district include Italianate, Colonial and Neo-Classical Revivals, and Art Deco; some buildings are built without reference to academic style. The district includes portions of Center Street (U. S. Route 219) and Market Streets, which run roughly parallel to each other, and Bridge Street, which connects the two streets at right angles near the south boundary of the district. Just outside the district at the north end of Market Street, the Williamette Paper Mill physically dominates the skyline of the northern terminus of the district.

Thirty-eight individual resources are in the district, of which thirty-three (85%) contribute to the character of the district and five (15%) are noncontributing. Of the thirty-eight resources in the district, thirty-seven are buildings and one—a piece of religious statuary—is a contributing object. Approximately 20% of the buildings in the

district were built between c. 1890 and 1900, about 70% between 1900 and 1945 and approximately 10% after World War II.

-to download the pdf

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/71995980

#historicpreservation #johnsonburgPA #historyandheritage #nationalregisterofhistoricplaces #pawilds #communitysupport #savingplaces

JEWISH CONNECTION

Curiously, this story begins with baseball, a radio station, a transistor radio, a commercial, a Johnsonburg Press news item, and idle conversation.

Rooting for the New York Yankees baseball team in my youth, likely because my grandfather liked Casey Stengel and my neighborhood pal Tommy Bouse liked Mickey Mantle, I often listened to the radio station WKBI in St. Marys, Pennsylvania who in those days carried New York Yankee baseball. (Later they switched to the Pittsburgh Pirates). The Major Leagues played many late afternoon games at that time and while delivering my newspapers during baseball season I would sometimes listen to the New York Yankees broadcast on my transistor radio. Between innings, the Jack Gross Men’s Shop of St. Marys (along with Straub Brewery and Berman’s) would air their commercials. Coincidentally, after reading a small blip in the Johnsonburg Press Year’s Ago column noting Gross’ Clothing Store on Market Street, Johnsonburg, I often wondered if there was any connection. Many decades later when speaking to my friend Joe Scida, who for many years operated the great Patsy’s Clothing emporium in Johnsonburg, I mentioned to Joe about the possible Gross connection and that led to us talking of Friedman’s clothing store and his Jewish roots and the Kay/Racusin store and that led me to wonder if Friedman was a Jewish anomaly in Johnsonburg or a part of something bigger. What I found should pique your interest.

In 1890 the Russian Government decided to enforce the applications of the Russian edict of 1882 against its Jewish citizens. It stated that Jews must live in certain towns, they cannot own land or rent it for agricultural purposes, they are not permitted to own mines or work in them, they are not allowed to enter the army or practice law or medicine or work as engineers. They are disbarred from holding any government posts. The reasoning behind the draconian measures is that the Russian Jewish population is expanding so rapidly that soon the country will be made up of more Jews than Russian Orthodox and the Czar does not want to govern a supposedly foreign people, therefore over 1,000,000 Jews must be deported. Thus began a mass exodus of Russian Jews to Europe and North and South America. For various political reasons Jews from Poland and parts of Austria were also among the exiled. The great movement brought on an epidemic of cholera which hastened the exodus.

Baron Maurice de Hirsch, a Jewish German financier of enormous wealth, devoted much of his prosperity to settle the disenfranchised Jews to other parts of the world; he arranged for agricultural settlements in Argentina, Canada, Palestine, and eventually the United States. In the United States he established benevolent trusts to aid Jewish immigrants with grants and subsidies to establish Jewish communities. Millions upon millions of the Baron’s dollars went to education, health care, and farms for the Jewish exiles. One of his funds, the Jewish Colonization Association, gave loans and grants to Russian Jews that had relocated to crowded east coast cities to resettle in small United States towns. Thus, 70 Russians Jews came to Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania in January 1892.

They were not met with brass bands or parades. The Elk County Democrat newspaper announced that Johnsonburg residents should be cautious because the Jews were carpenters, masons, bricklayers, and other skilled workers who would take their jobs. However, it was found that most were not skilled labor but farmers who needed employment. They were put to work digging ditches for the new Borough’s drainage and sewage systems. Within a month they went on strike for higher wages.

The Bradford Era newspaper reported that some Johnsonburg people did not regard the Baron Hirsch project favorably and attempted to throw cold water on the effort but the Era chastised the Paper Town folks;

“…Johnsonburg is making a mistake. If a colony of Jews can be settled on the hills of Johnsonburg to open up farms, it will be the best accession to her industries that Johnsonburg can get. There is an objection to Jews in some circles, and some of the Jews themselves are responsible for such feelings. But some Jews are not all Jews. Some Jews are foxy in trade and some gentiles are worse. That does not condemn either race. It is a well-known fact that Jews are industrious and thrifty, and they comprise a large portion of the business population of larger towns and cities…..If Johnsonburg does not want the colony let her send them to the Bradford Board of Trade.”

Eventually, the strike was resolved and slowly the Russian Jews began to assimilate into the Johnsonburg environs. No separate colony was ever established but the Russian, and soon Polish, and Austrian Jews went to work in the tannery, the woods, the sawmill, the paper mill, and into business. Before long, other Jewish families followed. It is almost impossible to trace the Jewish migration to and from Johnsonburg but it is possible to identify some of the Jewish businessmen and to elaborate through them Johnsonburg’s Jewish connection.

ISAAC EPSTEIN

Likely, the earliest Johnsonburg Jewish merchant, Isaac Epstein came with his newly-wed wife to the United States in 1870. Born in Wilkowischki, Russia on October 16, 1853 he soon settled in Corry, Pennsylvania where he labored as a peddler. Eventually, he moved the family to Cherry Grove in Warren County, Pennsylvania and then on to Wilcox, Pennsylvania where he opened a clothing enterprise. In 1887 Isaac became a naturalized citizen and about 1888 he established a dry goods and clothing emporium in Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania on Centre Street (101). The family, now numbering seven children, lived above the store. Of the eight children that were born to Isaac and Ida; Ella, Sarah, Louis, Lilian, Minnie, Dora, Julia, and Freda, all married spouses that sold clothing or they themselves sold apparel, the apples didn’t fall far from the tree.

Lili Epstein was one of six members of Johnsonburg High School’s first graduating class in 1896. Minnie, Dora, and Julia also graduated from Johnsonburg High in an era when very few students completed high school.

Isaac was an astute businessman who stocked men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing, shoes, dry goods, and furnishings. He often undersold his competition and offered customers promotions based upon the money they spent at the store.

In 1906 Isaac’s son Lou had a photo of the Epstein’s storefront window display published in the national “Men’s Wear” trade magazine along with a corresponding narrative describing the straw hat display and an advertising poem posted in the window to encourage hat sales.

Louis Epstein tragically died in February 1909. In the want ads of the September 4, 1909 “Dry Goods Economist,” a national trade magazine, Isaac placed an ad for the sale of his Johnsonburg store:

“FOR SALE-Clothing, furnishings, shoes, dry goods, and ready-to-wear business; 21 years established. A fine manufacturing town in Northwestern Pennsylvania; store for rent; very best location. Must sell quickly; reasons for selling on account of the loss of my son and manager.”

By the end of 1910 Isaac had sold his clothing business in Johnsonburg and retired. Sometime before 1915 Isaac and Ida moved to Rochester, New York where two of his daughters resided and where Isaac and Ida lived out the remainder of their lives. Interestingly, as a widower in 1930 and at age 77, Isaac went back to work as a real estate broker.

Between 1820 and 1870 only 7,550 Russians immigrated to the United States; Isaac and Ida were of that number. Russian immigrants came only for political or economic reasons during that time period. In 1870 there was little political upheaval so they likely came to America for economic reasons or a sense of adventure. They were definitely an American success story of which Johnsonburg played a large part.

ELKAN DEICHES

Elkan Deiches, born in Austria in 1862, immigrated to the United States in 1881 and became a naturalized citizen in New York City in 1886. Although he grew up in Austria his native tongue was Polish, so he apparently was a Polish Jew living in occupied territory (Krakow).

Elkan established his first dry goods and clothing store in Austin, Pennsylvania around 1888. The same year he married Cecilia Tigner of Manhattan so he probably knew her before coming to Austin. In actuality, Elkan probably worked for his brother Saul Deiches, who had entered the United States from Krakow, Austria (Poland) in 1879 and had already established the Buffalo Hardware Store in Austin. Saul also owned clothing stores in Chatham and Olean, New York. Saul had his office in New York City.

Elkan opened his first independent store on Centre Street in Johnsonburg in 1889 as Paper City was beginning to boom. His haberdasher enterprise sold men’s hats, shirts, collars, ties, socks, and other related small wares. He called his establishment the “Boston Clothing Store'' but eventually, the Johnsonburg store became the E. Deiches Clothing Store, selling men’s and women's clothing. Naftali (Ali) Lax (Lachs), married to Elkan’s sister, Regina, managed the Johnsonburg store as well as the Olean store. He was assisted in Johnsonburg by Elkan’s half-brother, Maurice Deiches, David Schaule, and Julius Weinstein. Only Maurice Deiches can be confirmed as having lived for a time in Johnsonburg. Later on Jacob Weiss became the manager of the Johnsonburg store. He resided in Johnsonburg.

In 1890, realizing that Kane, Pennsylvania was also beginning to grow substantially due to its hardwoods logging businesses and chemical factories, Elkan began a successful clothing store there called E. Deiches Clothing Store, naturally. Similar stores in Glen Hazel, Mt. Jewett and St. Marys, Pennsylvania, Wellsville, New York, and Perth Amboy, New Jersey followed. It is difficult to say how many stores Elkan Deiches owned outright or operated with partners. He may have owned a store in Ridgway, Pennsylvania and there is evidence Elkan and his Johnsonburg store manager started a store in Wilcox, Pennsylvania called Deiches & Weiss. Elkan, his nephew Maurice Deiches, and Robert Oppenhein took over the S. Deiches Department Store in Philadelphia, capitalized at $92,000, in 1912 upon the death of Elkan’s brother Saul.

Elkan Deiches never resided in Johnsonburg but he did spend a lot of time there and so it appeared to many that he had a home there. However, his home was on the plush Riverside Drive in New York and the E. Deiches main offices were at 43 West 24th Street in Manhattan. Elkan and Cecilia had five children; Rebecca, Julia, Edythe, Estelle, and Seymour.

Elkan Deiches was a prolific supporter of Johnsonburg sports teams, especially baseball. Roy B. Constable, future owner of Johnsonburg and Kane’s Roy B. Constable Stores, also worked at the E. Deiches store for a time as did Alex Kay, who would later own the Ladies Bazaar clothing store in Johnsonburg.

The Deiches Store in Johnsonburg was managed for many years by Jacob Weiss. In August 1924 E. Deiches and Weiss announced that they were building a new store next to the current store on Centre Street. The new two-story store had a larger layout to display wares, a cozy apartment above for the Weiss family and the old store was to be used for storage. It was expected to be completed by Christmas but did not open for business until the spring of 1925.

The E. Deiches store burnt on January 15, 1929 at a loss of $45,000; frigid weather, frozen water supply, and snowy conditions hampered firefighting. The store was situated on the site of the current Roy B. Constable Store. The fire started between the old Deiches store and a neighboring store, with most of the damage done to the old facility. Fire doors were automatically closed in the new store but many goods were smoke-damaged and the E. Deiches Store would not reopen under that name. Jacob Weiss opened his own store there shortly after several fire sales of the Deiches goods. E. Deiches was a step above a store with much high class merchandise of good quality, especially men’s suits.

The last remaining E. Deiches Clothing Store existed in Kane. Emryed Swanson went to work full-time in the store in 1918 and ran it for 58 years before Anthony Raymondo purchased it in 1976. I believe he changed the name from E. Deiches to Raymondo’s. The store’s slogan was “Everything for the lad and his dad.”

One of E. Deiches’ more interesting promotions in Johnsonburg was that of winning a regular piano or a player piano, held in 1913-14. Customers needed to sign up for the contest which was to last six months. For every cent spent by a customer or in the customer’s name at the store a customer would get a “vote.” Whoever had the most votes at the end of the contest would win the piano, second prize was the player piano. Prizes 3-12 were deep discounts on either a regular or a player piano purchased through the store. Also, weekly, 240 pieces of silverware would be given out to eight contestants who got the most weekly votes. Votes, or coupons, needed to be turned in every month as the votes changed colors from month to month. Votes were transferable so you could help a friend or a society if you wished. The advertising company that developed the promotion guaranteed a certain increase in store profits. The upfront cost to E. Deiches was $1,000. The advertising company was responsible for all advertising and coupons for the contest. Whether or not the contest worked to the benefit of Elkan Deiches is lost to the ages, but he did get cold feet and attempted to get out of the deal.

Before the pianos were delivered, the E. Deiches Company was to begin payment in $150 increments. One piano was shipped but payment was not made and the advertising company sued to get immediate full payment plus $26 interest as per the contract. In New York City Court Elkan Deiches testified that he had not signed the contract, that it had been signed by his store manager, Jacob Weiss, and that Jacob Weiss did not have the authority to indebt the E. Deiches Company. Elkan lost the case, appealed, and lost again in the New York Supreme Court. He could not convince the jury or the judges that Mr. Weiss was not permitted to sign contracts and Elkan would not testify so under oath. Conveniently or not, Jacob Weiss could not come to New York to testify because he was ill. No deposition of Mr. Weiss was brought to the court by the defendant’s lawyers.

I have not been able to locate the customer who won the piano.

Elkan Deiches died in New York City on March 5, 1930. While Elkan and his brother Saul did not come to the United States after Russia enforced its 1882 edict, they did arrive just prior to 1882 as discrimination and Jewish bias was becoming overbearing in various parts of Europe.

JACOB WEISS

Jacob Weiss, born in Austria-Hungary in 1867, arrived in America in 1886. At the time of his marriage in January 1894 to Augusta Hornung (a sister to Elkan Deiches) he was clerking in Johnsonburg, likely at the E. Deiches clothing store. Shortly after, he moved to Kane, Pennsylvania where he also probably worked for the E. Deiches clothing store at that location. In December of 1895 Jacob went out on his own and opened a clothes cleaning and repair service in Warren, Pennsylvania. By 1900 he and Augusta, along with offspring Edward, had moved on to Dunkirk, New York where he listed his occupation as a clothing merchant. Jacob became an American citizen in 1891.

In the early 1900’s Jacob went back to work for Elkan Deiches at the Johnsonburg store. Tragedy struck on February 21, 1903 when Jacob, racing to catch the train, slipped and fell under a passenger car, severing his right arm at the shoulder. This did not seem to hold him back as he accepted his handicap and was a faithful employee of E. Deiches until he opened his own clothing business in Johnsonburg in 1929; “Jacob Weiss, The Reliable Clothier.” Augusta and sons Edward, Marshall, and Norman assisted at the store. Marshall and Norman graduated from Johnsonburg High School.

In the late 1930’s the Weiss family retired from the clothing business and moved to Port Allegany, Pennsylvania to be nearer Augusta’s family. They often wintered in Florida and spent the summers traveling. In 1943 Jacob and Augusta settled in Philadelphia to be near their sons who had settled there. The eldest son, Dr. Edward Weiss, became a famous doctor and instructor at Temple University specializing in psychosomatic medicine, Marshall followed in his father’s footsteps and mended clothing, while Norman was involved in real estate. Augusta died in 1965, but Jacob’s death date is unknown; he was alive into the 1950’s.

The Weiss family moved around a bit until they got a foothold in Johnsonburg and the family clothing establishment was quite successful considering the number of years in business and the number of competitors. There is scant evidence that Elkan Deiches and Jacob Weiss were partners in a clothing store in Wilcox, Pennsylvania.

LOUIS AND REBECCA GROSS

Louis and Rebecca Gross arrived in the United States from Austria-Hungary in 1890 with their three children, John, Jacob, and Rose. They spent some time in Philadelphia and Shamokin, Pennsylvania before settling in Johnsonburg about 1894. In Johnsonburg they opened a clothing store and eventually also a shoe store in the Arcade Building (Brick Block). By this time two other sons had been born, Harry and Mendel. The family initially resides above the store before moving to Third Avenue and then to Bridge Street. Son John follows in his parents footsteps, becoming a salesman at the store at age 15 in 1900 before opening a clothing store in partnership with his father on Erie Avenue in St. Marys, Pennsylvania in July 1910. The Gross Clothing Store in St. Marys will soon become the Jack Gross Men’s Shop which John (Jack) will operate until his death in 1966. His daughter Irene Gross Walter will take over at that time.

Both the clothing and shoe stores flourish in Johnsonburg with Harry and Mendel clerking at the stores when they come of age. Louis Gross becomes a prominent businessman in Johnsonburg but despite the family’s success there are some serious disruptions. On February 9, 1915 Harry Gross robbed the Straessley Hotel at gunpoint and then proceeded to march up to Market Street and shoot three bullets through his father’s clothing store door just missing his father. Harry is arrested without difficulty and is placed in the State Mental Hospital in Warren, Pennsylvania. Mendel Gross served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War I, 1917-1918. Harry is unable to serve due to his hospitalization.

In 1920 both Mendel and Harry are back at the Johnsonburg store operating the clothing section while their father runs the shoe retail. In 1926 Louis Gross died in the Kane, Pennsylvania Hospital, he was 61. Mendel and his mother Rebecca take over the shoe store. Rebecca Gross passed away in Johnsonburg in 1935. Harry Gross, who has become a traveling shoe salesman, dies under mysterious circumstances in Philadelphia in 1939. Mendel Gross was an inmate of the Veteran’s Hospital in Bath, New York in 1940 and beyond. On April 22, 1949 in Johnson City, Tennessee Mendel hung himself in the Hotel Windsor. He had been a patient for one day at the Veterans Administration Mountain Home in Johnson City. His occupation is listed as salesman for the General Shoe Corporation out of Nashville, Tennessee. Mendel leaves several notes; one asking that his death be reported to Mrs. Ellen Seips of Keyport, New Jersey and another willing $5,000 and some diamonds he has in a safe deposit box to his sister, Rose Brandman.

Rose Gross Brandman also worked in the family stores until marrying Edward Brandman, a traveling shoe salesman from New York City, sometime prior to 1918. Rose and Edward made their home in Manhattan, New York until returning to the Gross family homestead on Bridge Street in 1938. They may have taken over the shoe store from Mendel at that time. Edward died in Johnsonburg in 1943 and Rose followed him to the grave in 1955. Both are buried in the Beth Israel Cemetery in Bradford, Pennsylvania along with her parents. Jacob Gross, son and brother, died as a youngster sometime between 1900-1910 in Johnsonburg.

John (Jack), Harry, and Rose were all graduates of Johnsonburg High.

What year the Gross clothing and shoe business ceased operations is uncertain. However, it is certain that they were established as a successful business in Johnsonburg for over 40 years. To my knowledge Mendel and Harry never married and Rose Brandman had no children. Jack Gross continued his father’s success with his store in St. Marys.

I could find no tie-in as to why Mendel Gross wanted Mrs. Ellen Seips informed of his death.

HARRY HALBERSTAM (HALBERSTEIN)

Harry Halberstein arrived in the United States from Austria in 1892. He married Sarah Horowitz in Philadelphia in 1894 and they had two sons Maurice (Morris) (1895) and Charles (1896) in Mt. Carmel, Pennsylvania before settling in Johnsonburg just prior to 1900. Harry established a gentleman’s furnishing’s store on Centre Street that he successfully operated until moving to Springfield, Massachusetts just before 1920 where he became owner of a lumber company. Sometime between 1900 and 1910 the Halberstein’s Americanized their surname to Halberstam. Five other children were born to Harry and Sarah in Johnsonburg; Bessie (Betty), Eugene, Bertha, Lillian, and Laura. Both the younger girls married after their father’s death, Lillian in 1950 and Laura in 1946. The older girls never married. Morris, despite missing two fingers on his right hand, Charles, and Eugene all served in World War I while the family lived in Johnsonburg. Morris worked as a machinist for the Savage Arms Company in Sharon, PA before the conflict, Charles was a medical student, and Eugene worked as a repairman for the Highland Paper Mill.

By 1930 Harry Halberstam had retired and moved to Torrington, Connecticut where he lived out his life before passing in 1945. All his daughter’s lived with him and worked as stenographers or salesladies until his death. His wife Sarah followed him to the grave in 1949.

Morris lived most of his married life in New York City selling baby carriages and automobiles. He died in 1963. Eugene took on a career as an insurance agent for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. While married in 1926 and working for Metropolitan he contracted tuberculosis. In 1910, the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company established a sanatorium in Saratoga, New York for their employees who had contracted the disease. Eugene spent time there in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s. Metropolitan paid their employees’ medical expenses, room and board, and a partial salary to take care of the patient’s family while they were hospitalized. Tuberculosis was an epidemic in the early 1900’s killing over 100,000 Americans a year. Eugene died in Tucson, Arizona in 1977. Charles Halberstam became a doctor of medicine and fathered two sons, Michael, also a medical doctor, and the famous journalist, David Halberstam. David Halberstam, a Pulitzer Prize winning reporter for his coverage in the Vietnam War also wrote many best sellers including The Best and the Brightest, The Powers That Be, and The Next Century. Later, he turned to sports and penned October 64, The Breaks of the Game, The Teammates, Playing for Keeps, and the Summer of 49, all top shelf books. He mentioned his ancestors came from Johnsonburg in one of his books; Our America. David Halberstam died in a car accident in 2007. His father, Charles died in 1950.

Bessie died in 1974, Bertha in 1965. Lillian Hirschberg died in 1978 and Laura Rubin in 2006.

Both Charles and Bessie graduated from Johnsonburg High.

While not much is written about Harry Halberstein’s gentleman’s furnishing store in the various annuls of Johnsonburg history, he was in business in the community for about 20 years and he was the grandfather of one of the finest political and sports writers of our times. I find that very interesting.

ISRAEL RICH

Israel Rich became a Johnsonburg citizen in a roundabout way succeeding at a business in which he had no prior experience but setting the stage or should I say, location, for one of Johnsonburg’s most iconic retail establishments; the Johnsonburg Newsstand.

Israel arrived in America from Germany at age 17 in 1867, likely drawn to the United States due to the manpower shortage caused by Civil War casualties and injuries. He settled in Oil City, a booming little oil gushing city in Venango County, Pennsylvania and in 1877 he married Rachel Strauss of nearby Titusville. Moving to Titusville to be near Rachel’s family I am sure, the newlywed established a boots and shoe shop, partnering with Rachel’s 17 year-old brother Benjamin. The partners agreed to disband in 1879 with Benjamin taking responsibility for all accounts receivable and payable. Benjamin could only keep the store open another year, quit the business, and took a position as a clerk in a local liquor store. Meanwhile, Israel and Rachel opened up a new boots and shoe store in Bradford, Pennsylvania. David W. Robinson and his wife Hannah boarded at the Rich’s and David clerked at the store.

Within 10 years David had bought into the business and it was known in 1890 as the Rich & Robinson Boots and Shoe Company. However, the partners moved on to Buffalo in 1892 and partnered with David Sklarsky, an up and coming used iron recycler, to form the D.W.R.D. Sklarsky Co. Sklarsky soon transferred to New York City, where he made a fortune in metal sales and eventually changed his name to Saks (no relation to Saks Fifth Avenue Stores). Israel and David also split up, with Israel remaining in the old metal recycling business and David starting a junk dealer business, mostly rag collecting. Lest you think that Rich and Robinson had come down in the world from boots and shoes to junk, junk dealers were a very profitable enterprise in Buffalo and across the United States at the turn of the twentieth century.

In 1903 Israel and Rachel pulled up stakes and Israel started a junk dealer business in Jamestown, New York, possibly drawn there by Rachel’s brother and Israel’s ex-partner, Benjamin, who now owned his own liquor store there. Jamestown was home to the Rich family until 1906-1907 when Israel and Rachel came to Johnsonburg and opened a newsstand at 547 Market Street. Why Johnsonburg? Why a newsstand?

The first question can be answered rather easily, the second is just an educated guess. Rachel’s sister, Lena, had married Maurice Deiches, a half-brother to and manager of, Elkan Deiches of the well-established E. Deiches clothing store in Johnsonburg. With Israel getting on in years and the junk business being somewhat physical, why not settle in with a newspaper and stationery business. Johnsonburg was booming, people had money to spend on writing materials, postcards, books, cigars, toiletries, magazines, and newspapers; just sit behind the counter and collect the money. So Israel entered into a new venture and kept it prosperous for about ten years, then he sold out and moved to Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania.

Cambridge Springs was well known at the time for its mineral springs and possibly Israel had some aging affliction that made him want to take advantage of the baths. But, whatever the reason, Israel’s time there was not long; Israel died on April 27, 1918. His remains were removed to Titusville and he is buried at the B’nai Zion Cemetery. A contingent of Johnsonburg friends attended the final services led by Alex Kay and Max Racusin, Johnsonburg businessmen.

Shortly afterward, Rachel Strauss Rich moved to Omaha, Nebraska to be near her other younger sister, Sarah Strauss, who had married Maurice Deiches after his first wife, Lena Strauss, their sister, had died. Rachel passed away in Omaha in 1920.

To tie up loose ends, David W. Robinson, who was 11 years older than Israel, died in Buffalo in 1907. Benjamin Strauss, Israel’s brother-in-law and first partner, died in 1925.

Israel and Rachel started the Johnsonburg Newsstand and the “News Agency”, later operated by George Beaver and Josephine, Evelyn and “Chick” Menniti was a Johnsonburg institution on Market Street into the 1990’s.

WOLF(E) STEIN

One of Johnsonburg’s more mysterious Jewish businessmen was Wolfe Stein; his early years are generally unaccounted for, his name might not have been Wolfe Stein, and his origins are murky, at best.

Some source documents have Wolf born in Reading, Pennsylvania or Lebanon, Pennsylvania while other sources have him born in Germany or Prussia, his date of birth listed as 9-20-1879 or 6-25-1879. So far there are no Federal or state census for Wolf for 1880, 1890, or 1900. The names of his parents are not known and whether or not he had any siblings is unknown. The earliest firm evidence of his life is his marriage to Rebecca Rosette in Philadelphia in 1902.

Rebecca Rosette immigrated to the United States from Russia in 1889. According to the 1900 Federal Census she was living with her mother and brother in Philadelphia at that time and was overseeing a cigar manufacturing company. Quite a challenge for a nineteen year-old girl!

In any case, in July 1909 the Stein’s purchased a “racket store,” in Johnsonburg, a sort of early “five and dime,” from C.W. Richardson on Market Street next to the Post Office. They brought with them two children, Harold and Herman. Both would graduate from Johnsonburg High School. Another son, Rosman (Russell) was born in Johnsonburg in 1916.

The store flourished and with Rebecca’s help Wolf eventually moved the store and purchased a large building at 426 Center Street. He rented the upstairs of the building to tenants and half of the two storefronts to other businessmen. It is often mentioned as the “Stein Building” or the “Stein Block.” In years to come the building would house the Center Street Market Basket grocery company.

The Stein’s made a small fortune during their 15 years in Johnsonburg and in November 1924 Wolf rented his store to Simon Friedman, formerly of Ridgway, Pennsylvania and relocated to Atlantic City, New Jersey to open a ladies clothing store there. Friedman would sell shirts, ties, hosiery, and hats, but be out of business by 1926. The other side of the building in Johnsonburg at the time of the Stein’s departure from Johnsonburg was occupied by Albert Minnick, operating the “Prosperity Grocery Store.”

In January 1926 A.M. Anderson and Fred Carlson purchased the Stein Building from Wolf Stein. The Prosperity Grocery still occupied part of the first floor.

The Stein’s operated their store in Atlantic City well into the 1940’s. Wolf died in New Jersey in 1960. Rebecca died in New Jersey in 1956.

DAVID FRIEDMAN

David Friedman was born in Russia in April 1888 and immigrated to the United States in 1904. His brother Simon had previously immigrated and owned a clothing store in Ridgway, Pennsylvania. David helped his brother and learned the business through 1910 and in 1914 he opened his own store in Johnsonburg at 404 Center Street. When “old-timers” from Johnsonburg used to talk about Johnsonburg businesses of the past they consistently brought up “Friedman’s.” Friedman advertised his enterprise as the “workingman’s store” selling everyday quality items at easy on the wallet prices. If there was a stereotypical “jew” businessman in Johnsonburg, the old-timers would say it was Friedman, shrewd with the dollar and with a reputation of being clever in buying, selling, promotions, and dealing. There is no doubt that Friedman, having been in business in Johnsonburg for over 25 years, was an excellent businessman. One of his simple, but effective selling ploys, was to hire Italian, Polish, or Swedish help; salespeople who could speak a foreign language in addition to English. These assistants would make Johnsonburg’s melting pot of different nationalities comfortable conversing in their native tongue, especially when their English was not as fluent. This of course increased sales.

The great Johnsonburg flood of 1942 wiped out Friedman’s store on Center Street, damaging most of his goods. At first he said he would re-stock but then he thought the better of it and sold the store to pharmacist Harry Bosler who vacated his store across the street and moved his drugstore into Friedman’s. Austin Duffee, of Ridgway, opened the Corner Restaurant where Bosler’s was, and that building, the Florin and Johnson Block, was torn down in 1970 to make way for the new Route 219 expansion. Friedman’s building is still standing as of 2020.

David Friedman married Minnie Feinburg of Altoona, Pennsylvania in 1913. They lived at 510 Penn Street and had two children; Joseph, and Betty Friedman Silverstein. Joseph suffered from infantile paralysis of his left leg and became a podiatrist.

Although David Friedman could see well enough to transact business, he was legally blind in his later years. The family moved to Bradford after selling the store and Friedman died there in February 1948. His wife Minnie, moved to Johnstown, Pennsylvania to be near her son and died there in 1959.

MAX RACUSIN AND ALEX KAY

Max arrived in the United States from Russia as a nine-year-old in 1891 settling in Philadelphia with his three brothers, William, Samuel, Maurice, and three sisters, Belle, Fannie, and Sarah. The youngest child Rebecca came along in 1894. Their father ran a dry goods store in the great City of Brotherly Love.

Max, now living in Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania and working in his brother William’s women’s clothing store called the “Leader” married Carla Zirndorfer in Philadelphia in August 1914. The newlyweds returned to Mt. Pleasant after the nuptials. William would operate the Leader for 65 years until retiring in 1964. He died in 1969.

Within a year of their marriage Max and Carla opened a ladies fashion shop on Centre Street in Johnsonburg under the name “Ladies Bazaar.” Two sons were born to them, Benjamin (1915) and Norman (1920). The family lived initially upstairs at 442 Centre Street and then at 618 First Avenue. The store was successful, but tragically Max succumbed to colon cancer in January 1923. He is buried in the Tree of Life Cemetery in Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania where his brother William was on the congregation board.

Carla, now a young 29-year-old widow with two small boys and a clothing store, soon married Alexander Kay (Alexander Keh). Alex had arrived in America from Tuchow, Austria in 1911. Alex, related to Elkan Deiches’ sister, Charlotte Deiches Hornung, (Alex’s grandmother) went to work for the E. Deiches Clothing Store in Johnsonburg, and listed himself as manager of the store on his 1918 WWI registration. Alex and Max and Carla Racusin were friends and Alex and Max often went on inventory buying trips together.

A son, Herbert, was born to Alex and Carla in March 1924. On April 4, 1928 a large fire swept through Centre Street and destroyed the stock of the Ladies Bazaar. The building, owned by Joseph Malfara, although having a brick veneer, received serious smoke and fire damage to the interior. The loss to the Kay’s was either $10,000 or $40,000 depending on which newspaper account was true. They had no insurance but were back in business within the year.

Alex and Carla operated the Ladies Bazaar in Johnsonburg at 442 Centre Street until 1939 when they moved the store to Ridgway, Pennsylvania. They still maintained their 618 First Avenue residence in Johnsonburg. By 1950 they had settled in Emporium, Pennsylvania where they had established a Ladies Bazaar shop in the mid 1940’s. Alex operated the Ridgway store and Carla ran the Emporium enterprise.

In 1953 they retired to Sarasota, Florida. Alexander died there in 1961, Carla followed him to the grave in 1970.

Their three offspring were quite successful. Benjamin graduated from Johnsonburg High School and Alfred University and became a teacher in Oswego, New York. During WWII he served as an intelligence officer and after the war he and his wife, Helen Schuler, a former army officer, were CIA operatives working out of Shanghai, China. In 1967, while on vacation, Ben and Helen bought some land on an obscure island in South Carolina named Hilton Head. When they retired in 1971 they built a home there and Ben became Hilton Head’s first mayor. The resort destination has grown considerably since.

Norman Racusin graduated from Johnsonburg High School and Penn State University where he was class valedictorian and star basketball player. He served in the Pacific Theatre in WWII, receiving a Bronze Star, and after the conflict he graduated from Harvard Business School and went to work for RCA in accounting. He became President of RCA Records and pioneered the eight-track tape music system. In 1970 he left RCA and became CEO of Reader’s Digest. Later, he worked for E.F. Hutton.

Herbert Kay, the youngest of the Racusin/Kay family, graduated from Johnsonburg High School and Penn State University and served as an officer in the U.S. Navy in WWII. After the war he completed his Master’s Degree in chemical engineering and eventually went to work for the American Metal Climax, Inc. company where he rose to the position of senior vice-president before retiring.

As an interesting side note, Maurice (Morris) Jay Racusin, younger brother of William and Max Racusin, worked for the New York Times, New York Tribune, and New York Herald. He had attended University of Pennsylvania law school and used what he learned about the legal field to do some astounding work as an undercover reporter revealing widespread fraud in police departments, government, and prohibition enforcement. His first claim to fame as a cub reporter was to get an interview with J.P. Morgan. His editor, as was routine with rookie reporters, assigned young Racusin to the interview, which no-one had ever been able to get due to Morgan’s disdain of the press, and off went young Maurice with senior reporters snickering behind his back. Racusin was gone several days and his workmates thought he had gone on a bender, but the youngster was at the library reading about his interviewee. Racusin had learned that J.P. had concerns about the United States debt caused by the recent WWI conflict. Approaching Morgan’s office with the request to talk with the great financier about the Country’s financial stability, Racusin was immediately given an audience. Several hours later, after he had J.P. Morgan sign his notes, Maurice returned to his editor with an interview and a story. The editor did not believe Racusin and took the notes and story to the finance reporters at the New York Herald and the scribes were suspect. The story was sold to a Chicago paper that printed it and got the scoop when J.P. confirmed his remarks. The story was sold back to the Herald for printing and young Maurice was established. He wrote under the byline M. Jay Racusin for 44 years until his death in New York in 1962. He was affectionately known as the New York Herald’s “ fraud ferret.”

Carla Zirndorfer Racusin/Kay had several sisters, a couple of whom operated stores in Emporium with their husbands.

JOSEPH AND CLARA KOHN

Joseph Kohn was born in Bavaria in 1870 and immigrated to the United States in 1889. Joseph settled in Houtzdale, Pennsylvania and then Morrisdale, Pennsylvania before moving to Johnsonburg around 1905 where he and his new bride, Clara Barman, opened a one price clothing store near Larson’s Hardware. Later that year they moved the store to the brick block. Joseph and Clara sold Clothes, shoes, pants, and white goods. The couple raised four children in Elk County; Celo (1907), Leonard (1909), Irvin (1916), Lester (1919). Around 1915 the family moved their clothing store to St. Marys, Pennsylvania. Joseph died suddenly in 1927 and Clara and son Celo continued to run the clothing store. Sometime after 1930 but before 1935 Clara sold the store and she and her boys Celo, Irvin, and Lester moved to Central Park West, New York City and joined Leonard who worked in New York as a paper salesman. Celo worked as a hotel decorator, Irvin as a teacher, and Lester in the meat-packing business. Clara died in 1972.

SUMMARY

There were many other Jewish merchants established in the early days of Johnsonburg; Alex Steinfeld, B. Rothstein, Penny Rothstein, Joseph Kaplan, Jacob Koblenz, Strauss, David Schaule, Julius Weinstein, and Simon Friedman to name a few. For various reasons they did not stay any substantial length of time.

Most of the original Russian Jews did not stay in Johnsonburg but moved on to Bradford, Titusville, or other communities that had Jewish temples and large Hebrew congregations. No Jewish synagogue was ever established in Johnsonburg. Jewish families in Johnsonburg, including the businessmen noted above, traveled to Bradford or Dubois, stayed with friends or relatives, and worshiped their Sabbath, which was Saturday, at those locations. In those days, Johnsonburg stores were only open a half-day on Saturday and not at all on Sunday.

While there was always antisemitism in the United States, just as there was discrimination throughout the decades against Irish, Chinese, Polish, and Italian immigrants, in the 1920’s with the Ku Klux Klan’s rise in popularity, antisemitism and anticatholic feelings grew in intensity and newspapers like Henry Ford’s Dearborn Independent and the pamphlet The Protocols of the Elders of Zion blamed Jews for any and all social ills and promoted a hoax that International Jews had a plan for world dominance. This antisemitic sentiment grew larger during the depression of the 1930’s when Father Charles Coughlin, a Catholic Priest, with a radio show that reached millions of listeners, began expressing sympathy for fascist policies, blaming the depression on Jewish bankers.

Johnsonburg was likely not oblivious to this antisemitism and we can see through the thinning out of the Johnsonburg Jewish businessmen throughout the 1930’s that not only the lack of business caused by the depression but also the antisemitism in the community caused the Jewish businessmen to close their stores and move away.

Not all Jewish persons who came to Johnsonburg left, some stayed. Of those that remained, some modified their names, married into other faiths, integrated into the community, or just went about earning a livelihood.

There is a debt of respect owed to the Jewish businessmen who came to Johnsonburg in those early days; they saw opportunity in a small developing mill town in the hinterlands of Northwest Pennsylvania, took the risk, were in the most part successful, and provided badly needed commerce and business expertise in the early days of “Burg.” They took part in the community, supporting civic functions, sports teams, schools, and other business enterprises. Their children went to our schools, played on our sports teams, participated in plays and social groups. While they were there the families gave Johnsonburg’s melting pot of nationalities another important ingredient; the determination to succeed.

Kevin “Reg” Barwin

Author: Kevin “Reg” Barwin

Kevin Barwin, a Johnsonburg native, who spent his youth peddling newspapers in Johnsonburg and reading the newsprint, while walking his routes, acquired a taste for the past.

THE PAPER BOY FROM THE PAPER CITY, More on his book: here