Probably one of the most important things I’ve read in a good while. My Moms family is from Bridgeport. Spent every summer of my youth there. I remember everyone talking about that closing down. My grandfather worked there right after WWI! (He was 13 years old). I read somewhere that if we only used American products in construction it would make a huge impact on the entire country. I’m all for tariffs, and the liberals should be too if they want to keep up the welfare state and high minimum wage requirements.
My brother Steve works for WaWa. Despite making decent money and loving Bridgeport, he is still living in a apartment because he cannot afford to buy a house in Bridgeport.
And a few months ago I went back for my 50th Archbishop Kennedy High School reunion. When I left Kennedy, Conshohocken was destroyed by the closing of Alan Wood. Now, it is incredible gentrified and expensive.
Wow man! Thanks! I’m in Philly a lot for work. Not sure if you remember Bake Miester tomato pies from back in the day but they were awesome. Closest I found was a little Italian bakery in a row home in Conchy. I make the pilgrimage to Corpolese bakery in Norristown for a cheesesteak or an Italian pork sandwich. They used to have an Italian festive in Bridgeport for the 4th of July. Me and my cousins would walk up the hill from King Manor (small part of King of Prussia and buy pork sandwiches to bring back to my Grandfather. We’d also buy beer form the Barbone beer truck. I have a cousin who still works at Little Sicily by the train station in KoP right where it turns into Bridgeport. My grandfather built half that town I think. Vagnoni family. Very cool memories and I’ll be there next weekend!
We moved from West Oak Lane after the neighborhood changed to Ambler. We were the only Irish Catholics in a town that was 98% Italian, and I got to eat great Italian food there. My dad worked at Tastykake all his life, drove a beer truck for Gallagher Brothers in Germantown on Saturday and caddied at Ceaderbrook Country Club on Sunday to feed 8 kids. I went to Penn, then Johns Hopkins SAIS, then USAF. After that, I ended up inspecting emergency operations centers and met my wife who was my travel agent. Her family has an orchard in WV and my son and his boys live in Harpers Ferry, so we moved to Martinsburg, WV, halfway between both. It is the state with the most Vets per ratio in the nation. It is also 2A. We got away from the crime and corruption in MD 3 years ago. I’m working from home on cyber these days. I love it here. All my family is still in and around Philly, so I get back for weddings and funerals which are our family reunions.
Wow! Small world. My family settled Cecil County MD in the late 1600s. I’m on the board of directors for the 101st ABN DIV Association. Great history there. Went to war with them 3 times. Once as an infantryman and twice as a pilot. Are you the Navy guy in that pic?
Oh I’m very familiar with the Filthy Thirteen. Jake McNiece “McNasty” is a f-ing legend in the paratrooper community. If I could go back and history and be an infantryman in WWII I would want to be him.
Probably one of the most important things I’ve read in a good while. My Moms family is from Bridgeport. Spent every summer of my youth there. I remember everyone talking about that closing down. My grandfather worked there right after WWI! (He was 13 years old). I read somewhere that if we only used American products in construction it would make a huge impact on the entire country. I’m all for tariffs, and the liberals should be too if they want to keep up the welfare state and high minimum wage requirements.
Have you read this account of Alan Wood Steel Company? If not, it will provide some good history about what your grandfather did. https://www.kophistory.org/archive/files/MANUSCRIPT/AlanWoodSteelStory.pdf
My brother Steve works for WaWa. Despite making decent money and loving Bridgeport, he is still living in a apartment because he cannot afford to buy a house in Bridgeport.
And a few months ago I went back for my 50th Archbishop Kennedy High School reunion. When I left Kennedy, Conshohocken was destroyed by the closing of Alan Wood. Now, it is incredible gentrified and expensive.
Wow man! Thanks! I’m in Philly a lot for work. Not sure if you remember Bake Miester tomato pies from back in the day but they were awesome. Closest I found was a little Italian bakery in a row home in Conchy. I make the pilgrimage to Corpolese bakery in Norristown for a cheesesteak or an Italian pork sandwich. They used to have an Italian festive in Bridgeport for the 4th of July. Me and my cousins would walk up the hill from King Manor (small part of King of Prussia and buy pork sandwiches to bring back to my Grandfather. We’d also buy beer form the Barbone beer truck. I have a cousin who still works at Little Sicily by the train station in KoP right where it turns into Bridgeport. My grandfather built half that town I think. Vagnoni family. Very cool memories and I’ll be there next weekend!
We moved from West Oak Lane after the neighborhood changed to Ambler. We were the only Irish Catholics in a town that was 98% Italian, and I got to eat great Italian food there. My dad worked at Tastykake all his life, drove a beer truck for Gallagher Brothers in Germantown on Saturday and caddied at Ceaderbrook Country Club on Sunday to feed 8 kids. I went to Penn, then Johns Hopkins SAIS, then USAF. After that, I ended up inspecting emergency operations centers and met my wife who was my travel agent. Her family has an orchard in WV and my son and his boys live in Harpers Ferry, so we moved to Martinsburg, WV, halfway between both. It is the state with the most Vets per ratio in the nation. It is also 2A. We got away from the crime and corruption in MD 3 years ago. I’m working from home on cyber these days. I love it here. All my family is still in and around Philly, so I get back for weddings and funerals which are our family reunions.
Very cool brother!
We moved to Florida when I was young. My grandparents would send tastycakes and sticky buns all the time.
Absafrickinlootly.
Give you Screaming Eagle, you might enjoy these.
https://poetslife.blogspot.com/2012/05/click-any-photo-to-enlarge-it.html
https://poetslife.blogspot.com/2005/12/frank-j-curley-mia-usaaf-in-memoriam.html
Wow! Small world. My family settled Cecil County MD in the late 1600s. I’m on the board of directors for the 101st ABN DIV Association. Great history there. Went to war with them 3 times. Once as an infantryman and twice as a pilot. Are you the Navy guy in that pic?
My brother-in-law, SSgt Kenny Ruggles, Jr. was Delta Force 21 years. You might find his story of interest. I miss him terribly.
https://poetslife.blogspot.com/2012/11/ruggles-orchard.html
No. He is described in the story, Jack Womer, who wrote The Filthy Thirteen from 90 to 95 years old. Hopefully you have read it. Remarkable story.
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Jake+McNiece&t=iphone&iax=videos&ia=videos&iai=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DucJDzgc8_cI
Oh I’m very familiar with the Filthy Thirteen. Jake McNiece “McNasty” is a f-ing legend in the paratrooper community. If I could go back and history and be an infantryman in WWII I would want to be him.
If it’s you sounds like you worked for Jocko!!!