Rambling Rose

Monday, February 22, 2016

Hostess Club - The Harriet Taylor Upton Association. Seated - President Marti Flint, Carol Olson and Darlyn Gardiner. Standing (l-r) Dorothy Sideropolis, Barbara Rosier-Tryon, Sandy Mahaffey, Margaret Petrosky, Sandy Sarsany, Esther Gartland, Eddie Wolcott and Laura Boich. — with Dorothy Sideropolis, Barbara Rosier-Tryon,Sandy Mahaffey, Esther Dennis Gartland andEdwina Wolcott

The Niles Tornado of 1985 as submitted to Tribune at http://www.trumbullmemory.org/items/show/114
Submitted: May 26, 2005
Roselyn Gadd
Girard, Ohio

My family in Niles was involved with the tornado. My mother was trying to get in touch with my uncle whose house was surrounded by National Guard. Everything in that area was secured by the NG because possessions were scattered everywhere and looters were anxious to take advantage.
My uncle was trapped under his porch with most of his home blown away.
I was so concerned to see my family and friends in turmoil, that I volunteered at the tornado center that was set up at Niles McKinley High School.
The Red Cross had set up a shelter and I worked a reception desk and talked to many tornado victims. I have many stories to share
1. A mother who said she saw her baby beig picked up off the floor by the wind. She grabbed her baby and saved her life.
2. A resident who had his entire home blown away with nothing left but a coffee table and a lace cloth still remaining.
3. A friend of mine from college who was driving in the car with her husband and was killed by the tornado.
4. A man driving a car and had all off the paint pulled off of his car while his father ( a passenger ) accused his son of speeding.
5. My uncle who lost so many belongings , had his wallet returned to him by a telephone repair man who found all the contents in tact atop a phone pole.

Summertime in Niles 1928-2007
by Roselyn Simini Gadd

Second in a series of four articles by Rosalyn Simini Gadd, this appeared in theAugust 2007 Niles Historical Newsletter, The Niles Register, published six times yearly. If you would like to reieve the newsletter and help preserve and share Niles history, call:330.544.2143

Lifelong residents in Niles agree that they enjoyed the simple pleasures of summer in Niles. Ice cream sundaes, splashing in Central Park’s pool, ten-cent swimming at Waddell, grand openings, parades and festivals are a few of these fond memories.

Patty Crish Egner recalls visiting her grandmother Mary Guarnieri and Aunt Viola at the Guarnieri Confectionary Shop. Patty’s favorite summer treat was an ice cream soda in a special size for a pre-schooler’s enjoyment. Guarnieri confectionary was located in the 100 block of E. State Street, near Fran’s Hair Station but the original building has been torn down. The Guarnieri’s ran a full service soda fountain from 1950-55 and Niles residents recall visiting the shop for meals or for a quick treat of Cracker Jacks and gumballs.

After visiting Guarnieri’s, Patty and her mother, Mary Crish, liked to walk over to Central Park where Patty would sit on the edge of the wading pool in her new sun suit. In the wading pool, children under eight years of age could splash around or sit on the edge and dangle their feet in the
water. This pool was 50 feet in diameter and the depth of the water increased from 3 inches near the rim to 14 inches near the center. The distinctive feature of the park was a 2-tier fountain in the center this 50-foot wading pool. The fountain was adorned with a statue called “The Spirit of
Education” and was donated by Mrs. T.E. Thomas. Park benches, under shade trees, surrounded the pool. There was an area for horseshoes and softball. The pool was available all day until 8 P.M. and closed on Sunday.

In July 1928, The Thomas sisters: Mrs. Jacob(Mary) Waddell and Mrs. T.O. (Margaretta) Clingan , donate money to Central Park to construct the Thomas Pavilion, a red tapestry brick structure with a red tile roof. There were restrooms and a storage room in the basement and the upper level held tables for picnics. The tables could be removed and that same level used for band concerts. The Rotary, Kiwanis and Exchange Clubs each donated a bed of variegated flowers, in which the name of their organization was designed. The Daughters of Veterans furnished a flagpole and the Women’s Relief Corps provided a flag. The widow of WWI veteran, Mrs. Wm Russell, donated a silver maple in memory of her husband. High School boys in manual training class (shop) built a wren house to look like the old Central School that once stood on the property. The wren house was made of wood and painted red to look like the brick used on the school building.

Central park was located on the site of the first high school, Central School. The site is now occupied by Central Park Apartments. Central Park was a Niles landmark and was the subject of many watercolor picture postcards.

Waddell Park continues to make enjoyable summer memories. In 1928, the city acquired the land for Waddell Park when J.D. Waddell donated 75 acres of property for a city park. Waddell Park was dedicated in 1930 with picnic grounds, shelters, baseball fields and tennis courts. The municipal swimming pool was built later with money from the federal government. Swimmers at Waddell paid a ten-cent admission fee to the pool. This was during the Depression Era and many residents could not afford the admission fee, so they opted for a dip in the Mahoning River.

Summers were a time for grand openings, and the grand opening of the McKinley Heights Plaza featured a fashion show. On June 2, 1953, The McKinley Heights Merchants presented a fashion show outdoors, in front of the Kresge Company Store. Four-year-old Roselyn Simini Gadd modeled a one-piece cotton suit complete with rubber shoes and rubber bathing cap. Fifteenyear-old Judy Takacs who wore a beach ensemble of a one-piece suit with flounce skirt.

Niles residents agree that the simple summer pleasures provide the greatest memories. Food seems to be a priority on everyone’s memory list and skyscraper rainbow cones from Isaly Dairy were always popular. Visitors can still visit Niles in the summer and find parades, festivals, swimming at Waddell Pool and great food!

Photograph 1: Mary Guarnieri and Aunt Viola at the Guarnieri Confectionary Shop.
Photograph 2: Central Park Pavillion and wading pool.
Photograph 3: Four-year-old Roselyn Simini Gadd and Fifteen year-old Judy Takacs.

Time for Baseball in Niles 1893-2007 By Roselyn Simini.
Last in a series of four articles that appeared in the 2007 Niles Historical Society newsletter. To join and help preserve and promote Niles History, call: 330544.2143

There was always time for baseball in our family. In 1939,my father, Rocco Simini, played for Rossi Undertaker National League Championship team. Whether playing on the fields in Niles or watching games, one thing is certain…there’s always time for baseball in Niles!

The team sponsor was Joseph Rossi and his son James was the batboy. Members of the team included:Andy Dorchalk, Jerome Cody, John Halko,Joseph Halko, Dom Lucarelli, Phil Butto, Guy Marino, Clem Flarey, Nick Flarey, Steve Gyonzois, Frank Martinko and Rocco Simini.

The 1962 Red Dragons qualified for State of Ohio Baseball Championship Game. The Red Dragonsinclude:Jim Berline, Jim Gatta, Frank Fuda,E. Harshman,Drake Markley, Carmen Vivolo, Tom

James, Ray Shoup, Bo Rein, Jim Seiber, B. Reynolds, Norm Coupland, Bill Gales, Rod Waddell, B. were State Runnerups with the final score North Bend Taylor -7, Niles -2. Members of this team Shively, Joe DeChristofaro, and David Allen. The 1962 diamondmen played a grinding, 31 game schedule in the Mahoning Valley Baseball League . Team members Ray Shoup and Bo Rein
moved on to play college baseball for the Ohio State Buckeyes.

In 1967, Shoup was named First Team All-America Outfielder at the college level. Robert “Bo “ Rein found time to play both baseball and football at Ohio State. He helped the Buckeyes win their only
NCAA title in 1966. After college, the Cleveland Indians drafted Rein. He was playing for the Portland Beavers, the Indians’ Triple-A farm team, when Achilles tendon and
hamstring problems ended his baseball career.

Famous Buckeye Coach Woody Hayes spoke at a Red Dragon football banquet and talked about baseball in Niles. Hayes praised Bo Rein as a football player, baseball player and college coach,
and he credited Mrs. Rein for finding time to play backyard baseball with Bo.

For one hundred years Niles has been the place to play baseball. In the early 1900’s, Charles Crow moved here from Coal Center, Pennsylvania to pitch and manage a baseball team. He was so popular as a pitcher and manager that people elected him Mayor of Niles. He was mayor from 1914-1924.

1917 was the first time that a Niles native was chosen to play baseball professionally for the American League. George Henry Burns, known as Tioga George and played for the pros from 1917-1929.

My father played baseball at Waddell Park , coached Burger King Little League and watched son
and grandson play there. Now, there is a bench overlooking the Waddell baseball fields with Rocco
Simini’s name on it.

Burger King Little League 1972. Coach Rocco Simini on the
far right. Team includes: Curtis Rein, Matt & John
Vulanich, Mark Powers, J. Brandt, Steven Latil. Assistant
coach: Ralph Dublikar

FEBRUARY --LET'S MEET THE PRESIDENTS

PRESIDENT GRANT-portrayed by Donald Brown
more info We Made History -living historians Lincoln, Garfield, Grant,T. Roosevelt, E. Roosevelt, G. Washington and Taft 440-257-1255 or www.wemadehistory.com