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Photographers and photography services
What's on this page:
- 20th-century photographers and camera/photo shops
- Photography clubs in local high schools
- Photographers and frame sellers listed in directories, 1900-1940
Top left corner: The film envelope from Steward's Studio was scanned at the Y in 2007 and is reproduced courtesy of the late Tom Landers, Joe Flanagan and the Freeland Historical Society.
Here are film developing envelopes from the 1960s from Cosgrove's, Bond Cleaners and Woodie's.
I have more information about these and a few other photo processors to add in the near future. If you have information to add or correct, please send it! Thanks to Ed Merrick, Charlie Gallagher, Frank Balon and Tom Laputka for these expansions and corrections.
Ben Abboud Studio - 542 Centre
street - worked in Freeland and the Hazleton region
(1949 ad from Ed Merrick) (corner of mat framing from the 1940s or
early 1950s showing Abboud business signing from Roxanne Abrams, who
noted that the building was later occupied by Famalette's Pizza and
Bertha's Draperies)Cosgrove's Studio and Camera Shop - 633 Centre St. (Max Cosgrove, proprietor, '54 Minamek, from Ed Merrick)
Mac's
Studio and Camera Shop - 633 Center Street (John "Mac"
McMenamin, proprietor) Previously Cosgroves, see Charlie Gallagher note
below and also in the information about the MMI Camera Club further
below - Notice Mac's great logo at the bottom of this 1955 ad from Ed
MerrickFrom Charlie Gallagher: Mac's Studio and Camera Shop (previously Cosgrove's), 633 Center Street - from 1956 into the '60's; proprietor was John "Mac" McMenamin; after Mac closed, the space was then occupied by Danko Electric, run by Eldora Danko. Right across the street from Woodie's; McMenamin was also advisor for the MMI Camera Club in the mid-1950s.
From Ed Merrick: The 1954 Minamek has this ad: "Cosgrove's Studio and Camera Shop, 'Where the students get a break'. 633 Centre Street, Freeland, Phone 253, Your 1954 Minamek Photographer." But 10 years later the 1964 Minamek has this ad: "Cosgrove Studio & Camera Shop, 'If you can't find it at Cosgrove's, stop looking', 27 West Broad Street, Hazleton, Pa." I was at Lehigh from 1954 to 1959 and in the Army from 1959 to 1961, and when I got back home John McMenamin had a photo store in that location. He was a friendly sort, and I was interested in photography because I doubled as a reporter-photographer at the Standard-Speaker, and so I and my friends often made our way across the street from Woodie's and hung out with Mac, as we called him. ... I am guessing that McMenamin took over from Cosgrove's when I was away.
Steward's
Studio - 717 Centre St. (Jonas D. Steward,
proprietor - rightmost building in the photo) "Art goods and picture
framing. Amateur finishing and enlarging.
Birthday cards and booklets" (Source: Catholic Reference Book and
Parish Register, circa 1924, from Ed Merrick) (in 1940 Census -
photographer, gifts, own
shop, home 213 Adams St., age 54, from Ed Merrick) The film
envelope from Steward's Studio shown here and at top left of the page
was scanned at the Y
in 2007 and is reproduced courtesy of the late Tom Landers, Joe
Flanagan and the Freeland Historical Society.Photography clubs in local high schools
MMI Camera Club
From Charlie Gallagher relaying a 1955 newspaper article: Raymond A. Eder, junior student at the Mining and Mechanical Institute, was named "Photographer of the Year" of the MMI Camera Club. Presentation of the 1960 trophy to Eder in the name of Mrs. Lillian I. McMenamin, wife of. John McMenamin, camera club advisor, was made at the annual program held this week.
A photo showed Michael Uricheck, freshman student at MMI, as he receives the MMI Camera Club "Photographer of the Year" trophy from Mrs. John McMenamin, wife of the local camera shop operator and club advisor. The presentation was made at a banquet in Woodie's Restaurant. At left is Henry Anderson, of the MMI faculty, and on the right is John Shelby of the Hazleton Camera Club.
A special award was presented to Joe Berger, also an MMI fresh man, for his attainment in winning an award in the national contest sponsored by the Eastman Kodak Comnany. Berber was presented with a check, a certificate of merit I and a gold ribbon prize in the 1955 high school division of the national contest. Edward Biasi, who leaves the MMI at the end of this semester, was given a farewell gift. Remarks on the program were by Henry Anderson of the MMI faculty, who complimented the camera club members as being one of the most active groups in the school, and by John Mlasgar, of Cosgrove's Studio staff, Hazleton, who gave interesting information on his long experience in photography. Mr. McManamin, club adviser expressed his thanks to the judges for their work, and to all who made the past year another successful one for the club. The banquet meal featuring roast turkey was prepared by Mrs. S. (Mom) Deiterich and served by Carmelita Ricotta of the restaurant staff. Camera Club committee members for the year were as follows: Sam Price, Jr., program chairman; George Dornblaser and William Shergalis.
Photographer of the Year award will be held on Wednesday right at 7:30 o'clock, at the MMI school building. The panel of judges is Lambert E. Broad, MMI president; John H. Yeager, H. F. Grebey Junior High; and James Sterling, of D. A. Harman Junior High. Final arrangements for the banquet at which the "Photographer of the Year" award will be made were completed at a meeting of the camera club last week. The banquet will take place on May 26 in Woodie's Restaurant, The final meeting of the club for this year will be held this Friday afternoon in Mac's Camera Shop. At the coming meeting, plans will be discussed for next year's activities, which will include the granting of a photography scholarship rather than presentation of a trophy for the outstanding cameraman of the year. The basis of the proposed scholarship award and details will be explained by John McMenamin, local camera hop owner and club adviser.
Freeland High School Ecology Club
From Frank Balon: "The ecology club was in existence at FHS in the 1970's thru the 1980's. Faculty advisor was Mr. Eugene Lutz. Among projects was the ongoing collection of aluminum cans. At least some of the proceeds from the can collections went towards the photography and darkroom club, which was also advised by Mr. Lutz and was a sub-group of the ecology club. The club literally took thousands of pictures over the years, with many of the photos appearing in the FHS Yearbooks thru this time period. I was a member from 1975-1978. Any yearbooks from the period will show the many members."
From Tom Laputka: Gene Lutz ran the Ecology club. It was an offshoot of a senior Ecology course. The Ecology club basically had 2 branches, aluminum can collection and photography. The can collection generated revenue back then. The photography branch did mostly all of the black and white photography for the yearbook which was very common in yearbooks as far back as 1975. I’ll give memory a workout here. I apologize in advance if I forget anyone. Photography-Larry Nelson, Gerry Brogan, Chet Soroko, Bud Jastremsky, Tom Laputka. Can collection- Bill Jeffries, Ed Shupp, Barry Zahay. I know I may have missed a few people, sorry! I hope this helps.
Photographers and frame sellers listed in directories, 1900-1940
1900-1901 city directory
In business listings:
Birkbeck, Joseph, hardware, stoves, tinware, picture frames, sporting goods, wall paper, etc.
Herbst, R. H., photographer, Centre
Ward, J., photographer, South
1917 telephone directory
In general listings:
Steward's Studio, photographer, 717 Centre
1921-1922 city directoryIn business listings:
Dusseau, Louis, photographer, 442 Centre
Steward, Jonas D., picture frames, 717 Centre [not listed under Photography]
Not listed in these directories:
Prakaytis Studio is only known to me from a name and address on a photo mat, with the same address used by photographer Louis Dusseau in the early 1920s, and from information stamped on the back of a postcard saying Prakyatis Studio - Freeland Pa. - McAdoo Pa.
1928-1929 city directory
In business listings:
Steward’s Studio & Gift Shoppe, photographer (and photographic services), picture framing, 717 Centre
1940 city directory
In business listings:
[Note: Steward, Jonas D. - 717 Centre is listed under Gifts but not Photography.]