The Palmerton Press Volume 38

Founded December 17,1912 Ceased Publication Thursday February 1, 1951

Book 1 Volume 38

Original Volume 38 republished using KompoZer

Our Butternut

The masthead appearing above is not an accident nor is it meant to be a gimmick. My dad, George R. Elliston was the owner, founder, editor, and publisher of the Palmerton Press. I am trying in my own way to keep that banner visible to the world.

Below is the actual lead slug that was the masthead of the Palmerton Press in it’s days of operation. It now resides with son George R. Elliston 2nd.

At this time I want to acknowledge the deep debt of gratitude to all those who have supported me in this endeavor. My wife, Queen is my inspiration and greatly augments my efforts. I realize that I sometimes must drive her nuts with my ravings and antics. However, her support has been an indispensable lifesaver.

My son George, grandsons; Andy, and Jason, have been instrumental in making these things appear at all. They supply the technical expertise to put and keep it on line.

I am particularly interested in reaching former Palmerton residents who may still find the old town a source of comfort and the remembrances of happy days. If a reader knows of someone from their own address book who you think might be interested in receiving this, please forward it to them. It is free and worth every cent. Ha!!!

Thank God, my mentors all suffer an old 77 year old fool, well. My thanks to them all. I also deeply appreciate the responses from my readers who seem to enjoy our view of life, dull as it may be, as well as the pictures of our town and home. I regret that some still have problems opening the pictures. At least, these pages don’t have to stand on their literary merit alone. Ha!! Thank God!

Saturday, August 07, 2004 9:04 AM 57 deg at LVIA and 59.1 in the bus stop

I have been informed by George Ashman, my unofficial error checker that Bobby that “goofed” again.
“ Bob - The photographer of Jittery Joints was Ed Kosky, not Hedges.” <Sigh>

It is a cloudy cool morning with no sunshine at all. Today daughter Belva, Fritz, and our granddaughter Julie and Ken Mintz along with our great grand children will be coming to Palmerton primarily for a visit to the pool and will stop by here later in the evening. It doesn’t appear too promising a day for swimming. Even though they are open this morning, Bobby is staying home.

This morning the blood glucose was 136 and I forgot to weigh myself. I was up in the park bench tent this morning shelling the lima beans that we got yesterday from Zimmerman’s Farms at the Mahoning Farmer’s Market. They were full and well shaped pods.

George and Kathy will be leaving “Paradise” for Delaware after lunch. He got a lot done on this last trip. We were invited down there last evening for supper. He showed us the new Pella replacement windows that he installed all over the house. They really are nice.

As I looked up close at the mountain from in front of George’s home you can readily see that it is coming back. Slowly but definitely great progress has been made. It no longer looks like Death Valley.

It is amazing to see the myriad of roads they cut into the mountain to re vegetate it.
mountain2

It is teeming with wildlife.
mountain3

Someone said that there are over 20 miles of roads cut into it leading to the top.
george

A man’s home is his castle!!

This afternoon about 3:30 I went to the pool. There were two cars in the parking lot, Fritz’s car and Ken and Julie’s truck. They too had just arrived. They were just walking down the pathway to the water as I entered the pool area.

With the chilly weather and cloudy conditions I promised Queen that I would only swim 10 laps. The water wasn’t bad at all but the wind and air temperature was no great joy.

Of course I took pictures. After all it isn’t every day I get to see my great granddaughters. Golly, but they are growing. Kayla is as tall as Queen and Maria is almost a teenager!! When I see Maria, that little bundle of energy and chatter, it is difficult to realize that she weighed less than a pound a birth. She is truly a miracle child.

Kayla jumping Maria and Kayla Maria off the slide

Kayla

The water rats

Later they went for pizza and had it here while we had a chicken dinner with rice and green beans. There was cake for all. They had planned to picnic at the pool but the chill air precluded that.
We all sat about around the table after dinner talking. It was wonderful have them here today.
After dinner Fritz showed and told his illustrated children’s stories. He draws them freehand on large artist’s parchment in pastels. They are all excellent and done with kids in mind. They all have a moral message. The other week he made a videotape of them. I suspect he wants to publicize them eventually. They are of excellent quality. It was amazing watching his Granddaughter’s mesmerized by the stories. Everyone understands them very well however they are all done primarily for kids. His voice presentation makes all the difference because he talks to them at a “Kids” level.

Then about 8:30 everyone left to go back to the Harrisburg area. According to them the traffic in and around the Harrisburg area is one horrendous mess. One accident in the right place will tie up the entire area for miles and miles around. Complete gridlock ensues. Ken and Julie live in Palmyra but Belva and Fritz live across the Susquehanna River and there is no way around it.

Belva and daughter Julie Maria, Fritz, Kayla, Ken and Belva

tommy and Queen

Tommy and Queen Queen, Belva and Kayla

Gang2

Tommy our busboy

Sunday, August 08, 2004 7:07 AM It is 54 degrees at LVIA and 51.8 in the bus stop.
It is a lovely clear but cool morning today. Queen and I went for a great walk this morning. It is perfect walking weather.
Today my blood glucose is 117 and my weight 197.

This afternoon about 3PM, Queen and I went to “Old Timer’s day” at PMPA. It was not very crowded and I was able to secure a parking spot down at the "Handicapped" area near the entrance to the pool. As we entered we were asked to enter the raffle for door prizes. We went on over to the shady side of the pool where George Ashman and Doctor Howard Cyr were conversing. We joined them for quite awhile. I decided I had better get in my swim. Just as I jumped in the pool they started the drawing for door prizes. I had put in my earplugs when they started to announce the winners. Low and behold the first name drawn was Bob Elliston. I got out and went over and had my choice of a small electric fan, a folding chair, and a certificate for $10 for dinner at either Burt’s Steak house or the Bowmanstown diner. I chose the latter. As usual I took a bunch of pictures. Once again as Mark Twain said.” The trouble with youth is that it is wasted on the young”. Amen to that!!!

Some of the young daredevils

The life guard going off duty and Howard and Tommy conversing.


Linda Browne's Mother                        Queen, Linda Browne and her Mother

Monday, August 09, 2004 7:10 AM 57 deg at LVIA and 55.9 in the bus stop
It is a cool clear morning today with rising temperatures and humidity predicted. My blood glucose is 123 and my weight 198.
This is from Bob Green:

WHY GOD CREATED CHILDREN (AND IN THE PROCESS GRANDCHILDREN) To those of us who have children in our lives, whether they are our own, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or students, here is something to make you chuckle. Whenever your children are out of control, you can take comfort from the thought that even God's omnipotence did not extend to His own children. After creating heaven and earth, God created Adam and Eve. And the first thing he said was "DON'T!"
"Don't what?" Adam replied.
"Don't eat the forbidden fruit," God said.
"Forbidden fruit? We have forbidden fruit? Hey, Eve, we have forbidden fruit!!!!!"
"No Way!"
"Yes way!"
"Do NOT eat the fruit!" said God.
"Why?"
"Because I am your Father and I said so!" God replied, wondering why he hadn't stopped creation after making the elephants. A few minutes later, God saw His children having an apple break and He was ticked!
"Didn't I tell you not to eat the fruit?" God asked.
"Uh-huh," Adam replied.
"Then, why did you?" said the Father.
"I don't know," said Eve.
"She started it!" Adam said.
"Did not!"
"Did, too!"
"DID NOT!"
Having had it with the two of them, God's punishment was that Adam and Eve should have children of their own.
Thus the pattern was set and it has never changed.
BUT THERE IS REASSURANCE IN THE STORY! If you have persistently and lovingly tried to give children wisdom and they haven't taken it, don't be hard on yourself. If God had trouble raising children, what makes you think it would be a piece of cake for you? THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:
1. You spend the first two years of their life teaching them to walk and talk. Then you spend the next sixteen telling them to sit down and shut up.
2. Grandchildren are God's reward for not killing your own children.
3. Mothers of teens now know why some animals eat their young.
4. Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn't have said.
5. The main purpose of holding children's parties is to remind yourself that there are children more awful than your own.
6. We childproofed our homes, but they are still getting in.
ADVICE FOR THE DAY: Be nice to your kids. They will choose your nursing home one day.
AND FINALLY, IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF TENSION AND YOU GET A HEADACHE, DO WHAT IT SAYS ON THE ASPIRIN BOTTLE: "TAKE TWO ASPIRIN" AND "KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN."

I was up in the tent earlier with my coffee. We don’t plan to “jitter” this morning. Queen is not feeling up to the peak of her powers today. In fact she has an appointment with Dr. Nicholson this morning.

I have received this picture from several folks. Its title is, "Don’t complain about your job".
Golly, I never did like high places.

<Later> We were over and back. He gave her some medication and a prescription to alleviate her problems. After I got back from this afternoon’s swim I got our prescriptions at Rite-Aid. Here is another one from Bob Green:

GREAT PUNS
A backward poet writes inverse.
A man's home is his castle, in a manor of speaking.
Dijon vu -- the same mustard as before.
Practice safe eating - always use condiments.
Shotgun wedding: A case of wife or death.
A man needs a mistress just to break the monogamy.
A hangover is the wrath of grapes.
Sea captains don't like crew cuts.
When two egotists meet, it's an I for an I.
A bicycle can't stand on its own because it is two tired.
What's the definition of a will? It's a dead giveaway.
A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.
If you don't pay your exorcist, you get repossessed.
When a clock is hungry, it goes back four seconds.
The man who fell into the upholstery machine is fully recovered.
A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum Blownapart.
You feel stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.
Local Area Network in Australia: the LAN down under.
Every calendar's days are numbered.
A lot of money is tainted; it taint yours and it taint mine.
A boiled egg in the morning is hard to beat.
He had a photographic memory that was never developed.
Those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in the end.
Once you've seen one shopping center, you've seen a mall.
Those who jump off a Paris bridge are in Seine.
When an actress saw her first strands of gray hair, she thought she'd dye.
Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead-to-know basis.
Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses.
Acupuncture is a jab well done.
Corduroy pillows are making headlines.

Tonight we are dining in God’s restaurant with Queen’s homemade spaghetti. As usual it was superb.
This is from Tommy:

While walking down the street one day a US senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

"Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."

"No problem, just let me in," says the man.

"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."

"Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the senator.

"I'm sorry but we have our rules." And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him. Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne. Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy and who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a great time that before he realizes it, it is time to go. Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises...

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him. "Now it's time to visit heaven." So, 24 hours pass with the Senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity."

The senator reflects for a minute, then answers: "Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell."

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above. The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder.

"I don't understand," stammers the senator. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now all there is a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"

The devil looks at him, smiles and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning...... Today you voted!"

sep

Tuesday, August 10, 2004 7:12 AM 63 deg at LVIA and 60.6 in the bus stop

It is a great morning here today. Up in the “Park bench” tent it is very comfortable sitting there with my 8 O’clock coffee watching the world go by.

This morning the blood glucose is 128 and the weight 198.

I hope to go to the pool this morning while the Jittery Joints are still in action. Friday is the last day for it. This morning Queen and I went for a shortened walk. One can feel the humidity returning. As we walked up Columbia Avenue to 1st Street we saw a big PPL flat bed trailer with a big crane attached dropping off a pole at the “Duris” lot site.

As we continued and were returning home we saw Gail Nonamaker, her dog and Shirley Neff coming up the street. As they neared our place they caught up with us. Of course I had to take their pictures.

Gail

After our walk and breakfast I went to the pool for my 20 laps. The attendance today was not too great. However it was quite comfortable swimming.

Low and behold as I was coming up the steps after my swim, I saw this forlorn volunteer wave petunia.

They have a very spirited class

This morning after my swim we went downtown to the store. We stopped in at the Times News office for a quick visit. Joel was out but Linda, Sharon and Pattie were there. We conversed with all of them. Everyone is so nice.

Today I got e-mail from Dave Engler regarding the chain link bridge that was used to cross the Lehigh River years ago. It was quite a feat as I recall. I remember my Mom driving the old Packard over it to go to Allentown. If it was torn down in 1933 I was seven years old. I also remember the river dredges, canal boats and the mules.

http://www.structurae.net/en/structures/ftype/index.cfm

Tonight for supper, Queen had cooked carrots, cottage cheese, the last of the Kielbasa, and I made succotash and we finished with fresh coffee and a shared ice cream bar.

Wednesday, August 11, 2004 7:06 AM 72 deg at LVIA and 71.6 in the bus stop.

This morning my glucose level is 128 and the weight is 195.

It is a warm muggy morning today. I didn’t see a soul while sitting with my coffee up in the “park bench tent” this morning.
We went for a short walk. Also we shortened it this morning because of the oppressive humidity. I took this picture at 1^st Street and Columbia Avenues. I saw that the Village At Palmerton assisted living center is open for business and it looks quite attractive. It must have a tremendous view through the gap.

During Construction Now

We only walked a short distance past George Ashman’s house crossed over to Charles Street and came back home. It is not good weather for walking. This morning we saw Sharon Minnich who passed us as we were walking.

Queen wanted to go to Spillane’s store this morning to avail herself of some of the bargains they had in their special advertisement. I got some more candles for our “dinner hour” and some stick cinnamon to make my mandatory green tea at least palatable.

We stopped in at the T.N. to leave off some recipes for Sharon Then we made a quick trip to IGA and home. It is trying to rain a bit. It might as well because it is sticky enough!

After viewing the day so far I think I had best get my swim in at 12 noon. The weather looks as though it is going to pot fast.

About 11:45 I called the pool and asked about swimming. Larry said they planned to open but it was thundering and he could not promise when anyone could enter. I figured I can sit up there and enjoy the scenery as well as sit here. After about a half an hour wait I got my laps in. There wasn’t another swimmer in the pool when I left. Now at 4:00 PM the sun is out and presumably they are open.

Tonight for supper we had salmon with mushrooms, 1/2 a yam each, corn on the cob, green beans, cottage cheese, and a sliced tomato from our garden. Then we had coffee and ice cream for dessert. We had our dessert up in the tent tonight. Then we just sat and talked together for over an hour. Queen is a good conversationalist and it is a joy to be with her.

I came upon this old postcard of the NJZ East plant

Thursday, August 12, 2004 7:10 AM 72 deg at LVIA and 70.3 in the bus stop
Rain heavy at times is predicted for the next few days! I am wondering about “Jittery joints” this morning. I hope I can swim my laps. This morning the blood glucose is 126 and the weight 194.

While sitting up in the tent with my coffee I decided this was as good a time as any to cut the grass. I got finished and had breakfast. I didn’t have time to use the weed whacker on the edges and long stuff.

Then a bit later I went up to the pool for my swim while the rest exercised. Man it looked as though it could pour at any moment. After I returned Queen and I went downtown to the stores and we decided to finish our shopping after lunch.

Just before we left we had a Hell of a crack of thunder. Queen disconnected the TVs and I shutdown the computer system even though it was running fine. I completely disconnected it. Upon my return I reconnected everything and immediately got a crack and a puff of smoke from the computer that my experts had just repaired. Smoke is not a good sign coming from the power supply. So, I am back to no reserve help. <Sigh>

We went to Aldi’s as well as Giant. It was raining quite hard so I was able to back into the little portico area of Aldi’s and open the trunk and load it all inside with no problem. Then it was over to Giant where we were fortunate enough to get a parking spot close to the door. The rain had stopped when we came out.

Tonight for supper Queen had a new version of her turkey burgers. She uses celery and celery leaves as well as onion in them. They were very good. She also had stewed potatoes, green beans, cottage cheese, and corn on the cob. We had coffee and she had an ice cream bar and I had a few cookies.

sep

Friday, August 13, 2004 7:54 AM 70 deg at LVIA and 69.4 in the bus stop
Sheez. It must have really rained last night. This morning we went for a short walk and there is debris everywhere. On the way I yelled into Tommy’s open front door to ask what happened. He said about 3:30AM it rained about as hard as it could rain. Columbia Avenue was like a river. Fortunately I took my camera and have just a bit of the mess but I bet it was a lot worse downtown.

Looking up Columbia from our house Walking down past the hospital The mess from construction
rain4

Mud, pebbles and stones even a brick

It is simply a mess

Then on our way we met Marlene and Lee Bollinger on their walk. Marlene was not enjoying the humidity any more than we were.

I went down town and it wasn’t too bad. There was a lot of debris over the grate at Bob’s Flower Shop. In general things looked pretty good. I stopped at the park and took some pictures of the rushing water there.

Apparently Queen and I slept through the whole thing. Later we went to Walmart and the Farmer’s Market. I got some more lima beans and some string beans
Queen suggested that I take some more pictures of Doc Cyr’s work site at Harvard Court before he is completely finished.

Below are pictures I used earlier and now the job as it appears on August 10, 2004.

Pictures taken earlier in the project.

site4 site5

site6 site7

Here it is as of today

site7 site8

It is time to send this to my sterling proofreader, Queen. Then God willing I will put it on line!!
Please love one another, Mom and Bob [Queen and Bobby]

Kompozer