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Clothing, grooming, wearables, variety stores
Additions from the 1940 Federal Census come to us courtesy of Ed Merrick. In some instances, it's not clear whether the individual is the owner/proprietor of the store or an employee, but we'll list them here. Some of the addresses from the 1940 Census might be home addresses rather than business addresses. He adds: The handwriting was hard to decipher in many instances, and so corrections are welcome. Many of the businesses have been in the same family for years, and so the first names may differ in earlier or later years.
CLOTHING STORES
[Thanks to Aileen Mattavi Evans, Emily Pecora, Ed Merrick, Pat Ferko Miller, Mike Bobby, Nancy Remak Penn for additions and corrections.]
Alice's Hat Shop - Centre St., between Front & Main Streets
Army-Navy Store
- 616 Centre St., between Main & Front StreetsMax Besbris Clothing - Centre St., between Main & Front Streets
Miss Carpenter's Ladies' Lingerie - 629 Centre St. (Lavina Carpenter, proprietor) merchant, dress shop, gifts, lingerie (age 45 in 1940 Census)
Charlie's Men's and Boys' Clothing Store -
623 Centre St. (Charlie Coxe, proprietor, with son Dick Coxe) ('51
Minamek)Chenetz Men's Store - 529 Centre St. (Morris Chenetz, proprietor) merchant, men's clothing store (age 55 in 1940 Census)
Patrick Corrigan - 612 Front St., agent, dry cleaning (age 50 in 1940 Census)
Emil Deddy's Men's Shop - 513 Centre St. (Emil Deddy, proprietor; tailoring and men's wear) (from 1986 St. Casimir's booklet via Ed Merrick)
Delvecchio's Tailor Shop - 505 Centre St. (Matthew Delvecchio, proprietor) tailor, tailor shop (age 47 in 1940 Census)
Designs Unlimited - 359 Centre St. (Barbara Haraschak, proprietor) Clothing design, construction, alterations; custom tailoring, bridal parties, semiformals, tuxedos, costumes ...
Dominick Dinovic Work Clothes - 616 Centre St.
Dominic's Children's Clothing - Centre St., between Main & Front Streets
Nathan Gladstein's Clothing - 600 Centre St. (From Nancy Remak Penn: In 1937 there was a business at 600 Centre Street operated by Nathan Gladstien [Gladstein? - CT] that sold women's apparel. This was noted on a 1937 application for life insurance that my mother had filled out - she was working there at the time.)
Goldstein's Clothing - Centre St., between Main & Front Streets
Helen Kletchko's Dress Shop - Centre St., between Front & Walnut Streets
Hyman Kline - 458 Centre St. (Hyman Kline, proprietor) merchant, clothier, clothing store (age 50 in 1940 Census) (CT: listed there as early as 1921)
Morris Levin - 346 Centre St., merchant, clothing store (age 53 in 1940 Census)
Lina Lloyd's, Milliners - 721 Centre St. (From Ed Merrick:
This store was across Centre Street from Fairchild's News Store between
Front and Walnut. Two elderly sisters were the proprietors, Lina and
____)Mary's Shoppe - 727 Walnut St. (Mary Johnson, proprietor; millinery/women's hats)
Mazziota's Tailor Shop - 822 South St. (Girard Mazziota, proprietor) tailor shop (age 54 in 1940 Census)
Nassan's - 507 Centre St. (Louis Nassan Men's Clothing and Shoes, corner of Centre and South streets ('51 Minamek, from Ed Merrick))
J. J. Newberry's - 532 Centre St. (clothing, toys, household goods) (site of current Videomania)
Novelty Dress Store - 531 Centre St. (Lucy Forte, proprietor or manager) merchant, dress shop (age 45 in 1940 Census)
Pecora's Tailor Shop - Centre St., next to Pitman's
Furniture Pin Cushion Bridals - 637 Centre Street (Bernadette DeMelfi and Eleanor Banja, proprietors) (from 1986 St. Casimir's booklet via Ed Merrick)
Joe Quinn's Dress Shop - Centre St., between Front & Main Streets
Racussin's - 521 Centre St., (Myer Racusin, proprietor) (Ladies' & Children's Wear ('52 Minamek))
Rosenthal's - 462 Centre St. (Samuel Rosenthal, proprietor) clothier, clothing store (age 48 in 1940 Census)
Shane's Sporting Goods Store - 727 Front St. ('53 Minamek)
W. T. Grant's (women's clothing, fabric, home goods) - 520 Centre St.
Veraldi's Tailor Shop - 511 Centre St. (James Veraldi, proprietor and tailor) tailor shop (age 58 in 1940 Census)
SHOE STORES
[Thanks to Ed
Merrick for additions and corrections.]Allen's Shoe Store - 601 Centre St.
Belezza's Shoes - 619 Centre St., between Front & Main Streets (From Ed Merrick: Belezza's Shoe Store, "56 years of faithful service." - '51 Minamek. Helen, Nicholas, John, Anna, Katherine, and Della Belezza, owners and operators)
SHOEMAKERS / SHOE REPAIR SHOPS
[Thanks to Eddie Barna, Hank Bartol, Tom Lavinka, Lisa Alzo for additions and corrections.]
Bartol's - 973 Chestnut St. (Henry Bartol, proprietor) ; earlier location was 164 Main St. in Eckley, but shoemaker was listed in census as Ludwick Bartol, shoemaker, shoe repair shop (1940 Census) (From Hank Bartol in 2005: My father operated a shoe repair shop on Chestnut Street (the building in the back yard is still there) from when we moved there from Eckley in 1942. He repaired shoes in the business his father had started in Eckley in the 1930's. He sold the equipment and left when the coal mining slowed so much that he lost his job in 1954 after 29 years. The Freeland shop was at the rear of the side-yard (building still there last month) 973 Chestnut Street. In Eckley it was the first building across the street from the Company Store. Grandfather lost his leg in a mine accident, and the only compensation was to allow him to rent the company house and act as a watchman at the breaker for the coal company.)
DeMelfi's - 446 Centre St. (Joseph DeMelfi, proprietor) shoemaker (1940 Census) (CT: Joseph DeMelfi also listed in city directory; however, I remember Jerry DeMelfi here, and Jerry but not Joseph is listed at this address in the 1958 phone book - ?)
Dinovic's - 605 Centre St. (John Dinovic, shoemaker, leather and Anthony Dinovic, shoe repair, leather) home 636 Ridge St. (ages 62 and 35 in 1940 Census)
Fenscak's - location unknown (From Lisa Alzo: My great-grandparents Mihaly and Ilona (Helen) Lesko Fenscak/Fencak (father's side) settled there in 1893 and one of my grandmother's sisters was born there and baptized at St. Mary's Byzantine Church. They only stayed there a couple of years and then returned to Slovakia. My great-grandfather was a bootmaker by trade.)
Ferrari's - Centre St., between Luzerne & South Streets (?)
Guerriere's - 730 Centre St. (Louis Guerriere, employer, shoemaker) (age 55 in 1940 Census) ; he and Leon are listed in city directory as both living at 723 Main St. (725 in Census and 1941 phonebook), with Leon having the shop (CT: I originally got this name verbally from someone who pronounced it Greary's, and so that's what I had posted here for a long time until Ed Merrick figured it out and gave me the scoop!)
Lutz's - 428 Centre St. (Rocco Lutz, proprietor)
Ravina's - 428 Centre St. (Leo Ravina, proprietor) (From Eddie Barna: My wife Maria's grandfather Leo Ravina and his wife Theresa ran the shoe repair shop at 428 Centre, and when he bought the bar at 449 Ridge Street, Maria's parents, Rocco and Katherine moved to 428 Centre Street and Rocco ran the shoe repair shop until the mid sixties.)
Sabella's - 238 Ridge St. (Matthew Sabella, shoemaker) shoemaker shop (age 26 in 1940 Census)
Williams's - 333 Centre St. (John Williams, proprietor)
JEWELLERS
[Thanks to Mike Bobby, Gene Abel, Nancy Miller Paskin for additions and corrections.]
Bachman's - 625 Centre St. (William Bachman, jeweler, employer) (age 65 in 1940 Census)
Bertha's Drapery Shop (jewelry, fabric, draperies) - Centre & Main Streets
Chaskin Jewelers - 418 Centre St. (William Chaskin, jeweler) store (age 31 in 1940 Census) (later moved to Hazleton; had the clock that lit up at night???)
Giovannuci's (costume jewelry and knick-knacks) - Centre St., between Carbon & Luzerne Streets
Keiper's - 727 Front St. (From Gene Abel: My grandfather William L. Keiper, from Boden Boden, Germany, owned and operated a hotel, and I believe also a saloon, in Freeland. He died in 1916 at his hotel. Prior to running the hotel he was had a jewelry and watch-repair business in Freeland. He was also part owner of a marble yard (tomb stones) in Hazelton. William lived at 727 Front Street at the time of his death and I think he lived at the hotel. The Keipers had a large victorian home on west Diamond St. I do not know if that was William's home or his father Philip's home. He lived in Freeland from about 1903 until his death 26 Feb 1916.)
Oliver Miller - Centre St. (Jewelry and
watches, sales and repair; photo from Nancy Miller Paskin.) (From Nancy
Miller Paskin: My father, who just turned 90, remembers coming every
year to Freeland and to the Valley, as his mother's family were farmers
in and around Drums and Dorrance. As a boy he and his brothers were
sent back to PA to help the older family members with their farms and
any chores that needed to be done....like painting buildings or
carpentry, etc. He said that his grandfather, Oliver, always wore a
suit, hat and had a big beard. He said that Oliver's jewelry store
later became the location of the post office. Oliver died in 1922. … My
grandfather, Benjamin Miller, went to The Woodmen of the World" school
in Freeland and became a machinest. … Two other Millers were relatives
and also tradesmen, one a blacksmith and one a gunsmith...both in
Freeland.) (From Bob Zimmerman: One of my great uncles was Francis
Miller who was either a brother or son of Oliver Miller and whom we
visited in Detroit. He still repaired watches in the early 50s.)
VARIETY STORES[Thanks to Pat Ferko Miller, Ed Merrick for additions and corrections.]
J. J. Newberry's - 532 Centre St. (clothing, toys, household goods) (site of current Videomania)
Nocchi's Variety Store - Centre & South Streets. Also see the page about Nocchi's Variety Store.
BARBERS
[Thanks to Ed Cheppa, Sr., Ed Merrick, Mike Bobby, George Feussner, John Pollack for additions and corrections.]
Ralph Barrett - 717 South St.
Frank Battaro - 631 Front St.
Nealy Carey - Centre St., between Front & Walnut Streets
Peter J. Carey - 518 Centre St. (home 605 Front St.), barber, employer (age 50 in 1940 Census)
Joseph Cherone - 830 Front St., barber (age 28 in 1940 Census)
Joseph Corazza - 414 Washington St., barber, own shop (age 32 in 1940 Census)
Amico Della Croce - 445 Centre St., barber, own shop (age 60 in 1940 Census)
Gennaro Della Croce - 445 Centre St., proprietor and barber, own shop (age 27 in 1940 Census)
Rocco Della Croce - 413 Centre St., proprietor and barber, own shop (age 58 in 1940 Census)
Pat Delregno - Luzerne St., between Vine & Fern Streets ; previous location 240 Centre St.
George Evans - 1117 Cunnius St., barber, own shop (age 25 in 1940 Census) (CT: I had "Squint Evans," bottom of Birkbeck St. posted here before; are George and Squint the same person?)
Charles Fetzer - 354 Centre St., barber, barber shop (age 62 in 1940 Census)
Gallagher's - 713 Main St. (Ed and Pete Gallagher, proprietors) (later taken over by Joseph Rish) (From Ed Merrick)
Gordie Moore - 350 Roberts St., formerly at 409 Centre St. (John Pollack writes: ... my father, John, operated the 409 Center Street shop briefly after my grandfather retired. My grandmother then rented the shop for many years to Gordie Moore before he moved to 350 Roberts Street. After Gordie moved out the shop was occupied by a beautician. Her name does not come readily to mind, but Michelle seems to rattle around. Her tenancy was after I left town.) (... to which I add, does anyone out there know the name of the beautician whose business occupied this spot after Gordie Moore's? -- C.T.)
Joseph Rish - 715 Centre St. in 1940 (Joseph Rish, proprietor) (From Ed Merrick and Mike Bobby)
Phil Petrilli - 509 Centre St.
Salvatore Petrilli - 509 Centre St.
Vince Petrilli (and before him, his father) - Centre St., between Carbon & Luzerne Streets
Mike
Pollack's - Originally at 820 South St., then at 409 Centre St.
(Photo courtesy of John Zubach; it originally appeared in the October
1964 Freeland PennySaver on
the front page with this caption: Michael Pollack’s Barber Shop, with
Mike, John, Andrew and customers, 1918. The year is 1918 and it is the
year of the 25 cent haircut, the 15 cent shave, and the 15 cent
tonic. Massages were 50 cents. Pictured is Michael Pollack's
Barber Shop on South St., Freeland, across from the old Rialto theatre.
Standing under the sign is Mike, to the left is his brother John, and
on the extreme right, Andrew Pollack. The shop was open five and a half
days a week. Mugs, brushes, and razors on the shelf belonged to
customers. Pictured are Freeland's first electric razors, motor on post
drove cutters with a cable, like a car speedometer. Like to know more?
Stop in at Pollack's for a haircut and let him tell you. He's still in
business at 409 Centre St.) (CT: I had mistakenly posted this photo
next to Andy Prokopovich's information, below, and am grateful to John
Pollack for the correction. He writes: If it is the photo Paula and I
remember, it is of our grandfather's shop when it was located on South
Street (c1930s). The shop moved to the 409 Center Street location (and
the family lived above and behind the shop) after the Silvasi's butcher
shop closed. The South Street shop was either at the rear of what is
currently the Sorrento's building on the alley side or in the house
across the alley. I know they lived in the house west side of the alley
but I have a vague memory that the shop was on the east side. In more
barber trivia my father, John, operated the 409 Center Street shop
briefly after my grandfather retired. My grandmother then rented the
shop for many years to Gordie Moore before he moved to 350 Roberts
Street. After Gordie moved out the shop was occupied by a beautician.
Her name does not come readily to mind, but Michelle seems to rattle
around. Her tenancy was after I left town.) (... to which I add, does
anyone out there know the name of the beautician whose business
occupied this spot after Gordie Moore's? -- C.T.)Andy Prokopovich - Centre St., between Luzerne & South Streets
John Wursta - 825 Main St., barber, barber shop (age 26 in 1940 Census)
BEAUTY SALONS (there were many more than these few I'm remembering)
[Thanks to Ed Merrick, Pat Ferko Miller, Marie Chuckra Payne, John N. for additions and corrections.]
Bonevich's - 623 Vine St.
Nan Brogan's Beauty Shoppe - 200 block of Washington Street
Anna Kraynock - 306 Centre St., beautician, beauty shop (age 30 in 1940 Census)
Michele Mahovich - Centre St., next to the Borough Building and across the street from St. Ann's
Leona Mattis - Centre & Luzerne Streets, above and behind her husband Jakie's bar
Matilda Merola - 242 Centre St., beautician, beauty shop (age 19 in 1940 Census)
Leona Nagy's Beauty Shop - 704 Birkbeck Street
Mary Ann Nowak Beauty Salon - 511 Centre Street (from 1986 St. Casimir's booklet via Ed Merrick)
Sue Pelot - Carbon St., between Centre & Washington Streets
Elsie Peterson - 706 Main Street
Mary Sarna - 621 Main St., beautician, employer (age 43 in 1940 Census)
Edna Van Horn - 1028 Birkbeck St., beautician, own shop (age 25 in 1940 Census)
Wilkinson's Salon of Beauty and Electrolysis - 833 South St. (Jean, hairstylist; Kimberly, stylist) (from 1986 St. Casimir's booklet via Ed Merrick)
Violet Williams - 923 Birkbeck St., beautician, own place (age 33 in 1940 Census)