Updated November 29, 2005.
This is an attempt to chronicle historical information about the Grassy Island section of the Borough of Olyphant, PA. It is based on information that was told to me as a child, as well as observations that I have made personally. Every attempt has been made to make the information as accurate as possible.
Grassy Island is more often referred to as “Grassy”, and much less often referred to as “Grassy Island Heights.” It is part of the 3rd Ward of Olyphant. Grassy is separated from the rest of Olyphant, and blends into Jessup Borough. No one in Grassy has a next door neighbor in a different ward in Olyphant, but there are people in Grassy who have next door neighbors that live in Jessup.
The name for Lemko Ave. was suggested by John Klapatch. Lemko is one of the four major groups of Ukrainian people. The other three being the Boykos, the Hutsuls and the Rusyns. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemko)
School St. was once know as Academy St. As recently as the 1970’s, Olyphant Borough Electric Bills (often referred to as “Light Bills”) sent to School St. residents indicated “Academy St.” There was a public elementary school on School St. Story goes is that the street was originally named Academy St. because of the school, but the residents had trouble spelling “Academy”, so they changed the name to School St.
Kimberly Circle was built to accommodate the Grassy Housing Projects. The housing projects were built in 1966. Kimberly Circle was named after a child that longtime 3rd Ward councilman Joseph Sanko and his wife Verna was caring for.
There was a playground on Lemko Ave. just north of West School St. The playground was there before West School St. was built. Sometime in the late 1970’s or early 1980’s, two houses were built on the land where the playground once was.
In the early 1970’s, the Mid-Valley School District had a program where college students majoring in Education worked at the Olyphant Playgrounds as instructors. This was for six weeks in the summer (3rd week of July through the week before school started). The instructors organized volleyball games, baseball games, checkers, Monopoly, etc.
Friday afternoons there were movies in Mid-Valley High School/Olyphant Elementary School Auditorium. The playground instructors would supervise a walk from the playground to the school. Then a walk back from the school to the playground after the movies were over. As during the school year, James Liparulo (6th grade teacher/head-teacher/acting principal) ran the projector.
The name “Liberty Hose Company” was suggested by John Klapatch when they were writing the charter for the organization.
Liberty Hose Co. had its trademark white fire truck.
Before Christmas, on a Sunday afternoon, Santa Claus would ride the fire truck through Grassy. This is a common practice anywhere in America where there are volunteer firemen. What was different about Grassy, is that the neighborhood kids would converge on the hose house, and line up for Santa. Santa would give each kid a bag of candy. Then the kids got on the back of the fire truck for a ride around Grassy.
Between Grassy and Fern Hill was a tall manmade hill that was composed on mining byproducts. This hill was called the “Red Rooster”, or the “Rogg Dump”. The Grassy side was steep, but the Fern Hill side had a slope that could easily be climbed. There was a great view from the top of the Red Rooster. The material in which the Red Rooster was composed at one time was not useable. Later with improved furnaces and processing, the Red Rooster was taken down, and the material was processed and burned.
I heard it said that there was a cemetery on the ground where the material was dumped to make the Red Rooster.
Max’s Store - A small neighborhood grocery store owned and operated by Morris Enrich (probably misspelled). His mother “Fanny” ran the store before he took over. The family that owned the store did not live in Grassy. They lived in the Miles Plot section of Dickson City. In the 1970’s it wasn’t a place where you can buy an whole grocery order. Besides the limited selection, it would be expensive. It was a place where you could buy a loaf of bread or a bottle of ketchup in a pinch.
Coal Mine Restaurant - After the Max’s went out of business, Steve Youshock operated a restaurant/gathering place called the Coal Mine. It was intended to be a place for teens and preteens. The menu included soda, pizza, and pierogi.
Marko’s Candy Store - Operated by John Klapatch. People called it Marko’s after Marko Klapatch (the father of John Klapatch, and my great-grandfather). The store carried candy bars, penny candy, and Crystal Club Soda (7 oz. and 32 oz. returnable bottles). I remember loose unwrapped Twizzlers were sold there, but they were always referred to as “licorice.” Whether they were licorice flavored, or cherry flavored, or strawberry flavored they were called “licorice.” Chocolate flavored Twizzlers were “chocolate licorice.”
Sanko’s Bar - Bar on the corner of North Valley Ave, and Moosic St. It’s a Grassy landmark. When you give someone directions to your house, you always include “take a left at Sanko’s” in your directions.
Dubas’s Heavy Equipment Operations - Al Dubas had lots of heavy equipment on his property behind his residence on Palm St. He was contracted for refuse collection in Olyphant, and the garbage trucks were parked behind his residence. He also had some dump trucks and bulldozers. Amongst the heavy equipment was exotic and barnyard animals. There were goats and pheasants. At one time he had a horse. The animals were intermingled with the heavy equipment. The pheasants were next to a garbage truck.
Gerald Lenahan’s Sunoco Gas Station - There was a little building with an office. Outdoors was a lift for repairing cars. I’m not sure if car repairs were done there, or if you were able to pay to use the lift and do your own repairs.
Reid’s Service Station - Gerald Lenahan’s old building was razed and a new building was built, complete with bays for car repairs. This garage was equipped for most car repairs before the age when cars stated having computers.
Bar on N. Valley Ave. that changed ownership often - In the early 1970’s it was Heally’s. Then it was the Pair of Jacks Saloon. I remember in the late 1980’s it was the Quick Silver Saloon. In the 1990’s it was Tomcho’s Cricket Inn.
Posted November 29, 2005.
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