Coal Region Guestbook Archive
June, 1998

Return to GuestBook Page


Name: Charlotte (Thompson) Hart Siswein
Website:
Referred by: Other 
From: Ringtown
Time: 1998-06-29 22:58:32
Comments: Born in Shenandoah, Grew up in Mahanoy City. Attended M.C.H.S. until 1940. Lived in Ringtown Valley since 1941.

Name: Jack and Joan Bolkovac
Website:
Referred by: Just Surfed On In!
From: New Springfield Ohio
Time: 1998-06-29 20:41:40
Comments: Our families were originally from the coal mining areas of western Pennsylvania and we were interested in some of the interesting items in your page, especially the Coal Speak which we could relate to from our early days. We also would add "yunz" to the different forms of you, and "going to the show"(movies).

Name: Jack and Joan Bolkovac
Website:
Referred by: Just Surfed On In!
From: New Springfield Ohio
Time: 1998-06-29 20:25:55
Comments: Our families were originally from the coal mining areas of western Pennsylvania and we were interested in some of the interesting items in your page, especially the Coal Speak which we could relate to from our early days.

Name: Myrna
Website:
Referred by: Just Surfed On In!
From: Pottsville
Time: 1998-06-29 08:07:26
Comments: Rob Miller of Mahanoy Plane, You have to be one of the CRUDEST people that I have heard. You probably don't know any better. Keep your language to yourself and off the internet. The internet gets a bad name from people like you. Had to say that!!! M.E.

Name: Robert Savidge
Website:
Referred by: Word of Mouth 
From: Mt Laurel NJ
Time: 1998-06-27 19:37:58
Comments: Born and raised in Shamokin and graduated from SHS in 1964. Went to college in Washington DC and haven't been back to Shamokin for than a week since. My father still lives in the same home and still loves Shamokin.

Name: Rob Miller
Website:
Referred by: Word of Mouth 
From: Mahanoy Plane AKA
Time: 1998-06-27 17:16:07
Comments: Great site. Proves how f***ed up the way we speak really is. You don't even realize how bad your engish is until you have a conversation from someone out side the "WONDERFUL" Coal Region. This site has me starvin for a SCREAMER. Great site ya'll. Keep up the good work "ya f***s ya's!". I'll tell all my peeps about this page. I promise. Peace out. Rob Miller

Name: Diane
Website:
Referred by: Word of Mouth 
From: puerto rico
Time: 1998-06-25 22:51:38
Comments: was sent here by a friend from the net to learn a little more about her area, originally from columbus, indiana

Name: Judith McDonald
Website:
Referred by: Word of Mouth 
From: Kingsville,Maryland
Time: 1998-06-23 14:33:52
Comments: My Dad was born and raised in Shenandoah (Walter J. Gregonis), and the memories we have spending the summers there will never be forgot. Blueberry picking, homemade raisin bread and swimming up in the heights as a kid was great fun! Time seems to stand still in Shenandoah.

Name: LILCAWTHON
Website:
Referred by: Word of Mouth 
From: Ashland.Pa.
Time: 1998-06-23 10:15:02
Comments: I LIVE in Ashland PA.i enjoyed your sight because i know where most of the town;s are I;lived in this area all my life.

Name: Chris Gresh
Website:
Referred by: Word of Mouth 
From: Boyertown PA
Time: 1998-06-23 10:00:59
Comments: My family is from Shickshinny and this made me laugh sooooo hard!! What a hoot! Keep up the good work.

Name: lauren
Website:
Referred by: Word of Mouth 
From: Baltimore, MD
Time: 1998-06-22 10:34:02
Comments: Greetings to my little buddies in Shenandoah!

Name: Sylvia Giordano (Law)
Website:
Referred by: Net Search 
From: Los Angeles
Time: 1998-06-20 17:58:03
Comments: Born in Pottsville. Just started research on my family. Law, Zemond, McGuiley. Great site. Love that Boilo!!!

Name: Tom Frendak
Website:
Referred by: Just Surfed On In!
From: Belair, MD
Time: 1998-06-20 17:35:25
Comments: How about adding the following to your COALSPEAK Smelt - (smelled) as in "Who farted I "smelt" it"?

Name: Kevin A. Collevechio
Website:
Referred by: Word of Mouth 
From: Lansford,Pa
Time: 1998-06-20 15:44:47
Comments: heard Of the site from friends at work.Great job.My twin daughters laughed so much because they said dad you talk like this. keep up the good work.This is something postive!

Name: Beth Steward
Website:
Referred by: Word of Mouth 
From: Marco Island, FL
Time: 1998-06-20 14:57:00
Comments: My parents, Walter L. Steward (b. 1914, lived on Walnut Street) and Louise Long Steward (b. 1922, bornin Shamokin but lived in Paxinos as well) were nativeCoal Crackers, but moved to Wash DC area during WWII.This is where I grew up. We visited my grandparents in Shamokin frequently and we have a cottage that we still use in Happy Valley, near Knoebel's. I loved reading this site (I still have a lot to read) because of all the familiar places and names and to remind me of all that great eating (Masser's, ConeyIsland, Mattucci's, etc.) and all that great fun(esp. Knoebel's). Even though I never really lived in the Coal Region, it lives in me.

Name: ben
Website: ben
Referred by: Just Surfed On In!
From: usa
Time: 1998-06-17 19:35:34
Comments: hi

Name: Kevin P
Website:
Referred by: Word of Mouth 
From: Shamokin
Time: 1998-06-17 10:56:16
Comments: I have lived in Shamokin for my entire life. I thought that your page was hilarious, keep up the great work.

Name: Lucy Claire Heenan Phillips
Website:
Referred by: Other 
From: Gaithersburg, MD
Time: 1998-06-16 21:23:50
Comments: My son told me about this. It is awesom. I feel like I never left. I graduated in the LAST CLASS of Gilberton High School in 1959. I lived in DA FOOT. I left in 1960 and moved to Allentown, since then I've lived in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. I moved to MD 14 years ago. My husband worked on power plants. I have 4 children and 4 grandchildren. I get up home once in awhile. Planning a trip to the Hecksersville Irish Festival in July. I hung in Giardville a lot at the rangers, morones, and centioles. Boy the memories. Keep this up. I can't believe it. It will talke awhile tp read about all who signed the guest book. Love to hear from anyone. These messages are great.

Name: Jack Whitcomb
Website: Jack's Place
Referred by: Just Surfed On In!
From: Waldorf, MD
Time: 1998-06-16 15:41:38
Comments: Formally from Mahanoy City, grad. MAHS 70'. Kings' College, 75'... Currently work in Wash. DC. Great site, made me feel like I was home again..

Name: Barbara Beagle
Website:
Referred by: Word of Mouth 
From: Delran, New Jersey
Time: 1998-06-16 07:55:59
Comments: My sister told me she had heard about this site! My mother is originally from Locust Gap and we were raised in Danville, PA, so we were never too far away. This is great!

Name: Linda Z.
Website: The Popcorn Press
Referred by: Word of Mouth 
From: D-Town
Time: 1998-06-14 21:23:36
Comments: You have a truly fun place to visit.... loved Coal Speak. Originally from Ashland, but always a Coal Cracker at heart, my grandfather worked the mines, our family is mainly from Locustdale. I graduated from North Schuylkill HS in 1972, went on to Bloomsburg then migrated to the suburbs of Philadelphia. Would love hearing from anyone from the area. Matucci's - I really miss it.... Lot's of memories!

Name: Robert M. Balcavage
Website:
Referred by: Word of Mouth 
From: Columbus, GA
Time: 1998-06-14 10:58:50
Comments: I am from Snyders, PA (although my mail address was New Ringgold). I went to high school in Tamaqua and graduated in '83. During my high school summers I used to work at the Bavarian summer festival in Barnesville, PA. My grandfather was a coal mine manager for much of his life and many of some of my more distant relatives were miners from Shenandoah and Minersville (I think). I have been in the military for over fifteen years, have been around the world, but still miss my home and 75 cent glasses of Yuengling, REAL pizza, and great restuarants like Matuccis. Great page - keep it up.

Name: Robert M. Balcavage
Website:
Referred by: Word of Mouth 
From: Columbus, GA
Time: 1998-06-14 10:42:29
Comments: I am from Snyders, PA (although my address was New Ringgold). I went to high school in Tamaqua. My granfather was a coal mine manager for much of his life and many of my relatives were miners from Shenandoah and Minersville.

Name: Mike and Mil Muskey
Website:
Referred by: Word of Mouth 
From: Lewisburg
Time: 1998-06-14 10:17:44
Comments: Where else would we be from? Disappointed that we didn't see a receipe for faggots. I sure miss a Ghezzi faggot with F/S beer. Who remembers bittersweet ice-cream from Martz? We're both Shamoikin High graduates classes '53 and '50.

Name: Sandra Murray
Website:
Referred by: Just Surfed On In!
From: Kaska Pa
Time: 1998-06-14 08:45:53
Comments: This site is sooooo much fun and soooooo true! I am from the coal region and I still live in the coal reagion! I will recommend this site to my friends, it is a thriller! Sandra Murray

Name: Pat Kilker
Website:
Referred by: Word of Mouth 
From: Redondo Beach,CA
Time: 1998-06-13 20:15:56
Comments: I was born and raised in G-ville, and graduated from Brennan in '73. I moved to California in '79. I try to get back as much as I can. Still have family and friends in the area. This page is great. It reminded me that even if you haven't lived in the area for a long time, you never really left. Once a coalcracker, always a coalcracker. It brings back some great memories of names and places I haven't thought of in years. Keep up the good work !

Name: Dan Polastre
Website:
Referred by: Word of Mouth 
From: Sacramento, CA
Time: 1998-06-13 18:50:21
Comments: Shamokin homeboy here, I'm coming back to see youze on the Fourth of July! I sure hope there'll be fireworks from on top of the culm bank! Keep the Ying Yang cold! This is a great page - thanks! Heard about it from my aunt & uncle in Lewisburg...

Name: Carrie (Chesney) Dressler
Website:
Referred by: Word of Mouth 
From: Nyack, NY
Time: 1998-06-12 16:47:28
Comments: Great page! The Coal Region will always be home, no matter where I go! My husband and I visit often, and we always make sure to come back to New York only after we have had our fill of Ring Bologna, Matucci's pizza, Coney Island burgers, and Middleswarth BBQ chips! :) We're both from Shamokin...

Name: Tamara
Website:
Referred by: Other 
From: Freeport IL.
Time: 1998-06-12 03:27:41
Comments: I am interested in information about family history and doing a family tree.My boyfriend's family is origially from Shamokin.I just wanted to say I was so happy to find your page and am looking forward to learning about the history.My family comes from a mining community in the Upper Pennisula of Michigan very similar to Shamokin.Even in the language.I had a more direct question for Dennis McFadden.I was wondering of his possible connections to my boyfriends family history.The name McFadden is Kevin's great great grandmothers maiden name.If you know anything about your family history please email me back.Thanks and I will be checking out your page again soon.Take care. Thanks . Tamara Gunta & Kevin Weimer

Name: Ted Scapeccia
Website:
Referred by: Word of Mouth 
From: Sonoma County, Ca.
Time: 1998-06-12 01:08:56
Comments: Great page! I'm originally from Plains (Wilkes Barre is near Plains), gradutated from PHS in '62. Went into the Air Force. After a tour in VietNam, I got out and stayed in CA. My wife (a CA girl) I get back every few years to visit my cousins in Wyoming. We have a great time! I have great memories of PA back in the 50's & 60's, Victory Pig pizza, trips to Harvey's Lake, Joe Nardone and the All Stars at San Souci. I'd love to hear from old friends from Wyoming Valley, Email me.

Name: MaryTherese (Kern) Bernadyn
Website:
Referred by: Just Surfed On In!
From: Frackville
Time: 1998-06-11 23:52:40
Comments: Hi Everyone! I just recently attended my 30th class reunion of good Old Mahanoy Area High School Class of "68" We had a great time; the classmates that didn't attend sure missed a great reunion; thank you Bonnie (Dennis) Keff for doing another wonderful job with our reunion! Some of your classmates sure do appreciate your hard work with your committee! Great time with our year book looking at the old high school which is now made into a beautiful park; at least its not an empty lot! I hope if any of our classmates read my message they try to attend our next reunion - it is very worthwhile!

Name: Diana Bashinsky
Website:
Referred by: JustSurfed On In!
From: Mahanoy Plane
Time: 1998-06-11 20:21:04
Comments: I'm from Mahanoy Plane.....better known as Da Foot. I graduated from Mahanoy Area in '97 and now attend college back here in da region. This site is great! Keep up the good work!

Name: WALTER STALLARD
Website:
Referred by: Word of Mouth 
From: CONROE, TEXAS
Time: 1998-06-11 11:38:14
Comments: FROM BLOOMSBURG. NOW LIVE IN TEXAS. WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM ANYONE WHO MIGHT REMEMBER ME FROM ABOUT A HUNDRED YEARS AGO. WITH "COALSPEAK", I'M JUST NOW BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND MY WIFE.

Name: Ashley Shamansky
Website:
Referred by: Net Search 
From: Mt. Carmel
Time: 1998-06-10 20:03:10
Comments: I think this is an awesome page for us ho butts!!!!!!!!

Name: Dave Zarko
Website:
Referred by: JustSurfed On In!
From: Cheyenne,Wy
Time: 1998-06-10 08:45:57
Comments: Great site brings back many memories......I am from Centralia...Graduated from NSHS in 68. Does anyone know if there is a reunion scheduled?

Name: Edward P Sidleck
Website:
Referred by: Word of Mouth 
From: Allentown, PA 18104
Time: 1998-06-09 22:07:29
Comments: Originally from Minersville, went to Nativity and graduated in 1959/60. Can also reach me on ICQ at 1369370@pager.mirabilis.com

Name: William R. Mosolino
Website:
Referred by: Word of Mouth 
From: Orwigsburg, Pa. 17961
Time: 1998-06-09 16:04:39
Comments: Born Pottsville, 9/14/33, here forever, now Orwigsburg. Will regularly visit site and bookmark it immediately. Although I'm an attorney for 36 years, I recall the frequent visits to my uncles' great horseroom in Pottsville as a child, where I could always get a nice 5 dollar bill smelling of Taboo. Early drinking spots were the U Bar and St. Clair Legion. Had to go to college to learn what "Last Call" meant. I, till then thought you were entitled to a drink anytime of the day you were thirsty.

Name: Mary Conrad
Website:
Referred by: NewspaperArticle 
From: Southern Nw Jersey
Time: 1998-06-09 12:10:49
Comments: Hi all you Coal Crackers: I was born and raised in Mahanoy City - graduate of MAHS Class of '62 "Hard as nails, full of brew; that's the Class of '62." (Unofficial motto) It's great to get up to the region and visit, especially during the summer bazaars. During my high school years, we had a great football and basketball team AND a fabulous band (under the direction of Bill Mitchell) - As a majorette, we traveled everywhere with the band and performed at Franklin Field for the Eagles (a big deal then) and paraded down the Atlantic City Boardwalk for the Miss America parade. After high school and a few years working, it was on to Penn State and the Nittany Lions! The coal region will be forever in my heart!

Name: Al Schoch
Website:
Referred by: Word of Mouth 
From: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Time: 1998-06-09 11:07:07
Comments: Native of Stroudsburg, PA. Mother and grandmother are natives of Nesquehoning, deep in the heart of Carbon County. I also lived in Nesquehoning for about a year while working at radio station WLSH in Lansford.

Name: Yvonne Eichenberg Murphy
Website:
Referred by: Word of Mouth 
From: Harrisburg, PA
Time: 1998-06-07 20:18:25
Comments: Born and raised in the village of Black Heath, Cass Twp. just outside of Minersville. Attended St. Vincent DePaul's school in Minersville and graduated from Cass Twp. Visit the area frequently and it will always be "up home" to me.

Name: Bob Devitz
Website:
Referred by: Word of Mouth 
From: Palm Harbor, Florida
Time: 1998-06-07 16:30:02
Comments: Originally from Ashland. 1973 graduate of NSHS. Return to the area about four times per year. Have our 25th Class Reunion over the Labor Day weekend. Enjoyed seeing message from Mattucci's, still my favorite restaurant. Also, the Frackville memories were great. Will respond to all messages. Hope to hear from some old acquaintances.

Name: charles+frances Kovalewski
Website:
Referred by: Word of Mouth 
From: Ringtown pa
Time: 1998-06-07 16:09:52
Comments: This is great.we loved it.some input.anthracite special-kelbo, chicken,meatballs,and stuffing.AT a wedin ya stiil git da same.kapoosta is cabbage.souse is made from the meat of the head of the pig. bopshee made this at butchering time.pickled pigs feet is made from pigs feet .I still make it.I dont make souse any more,but if any one wants to know how just e mail me.the only sulphur{sulfer}creek iknow of,is the big catawisa,outside of Ringtown.haleshkie is fried cabbage and onions {fried in butter}and home made egg noodles.now i know there is going to be some one to argue with me,but'if anyone on line has eaten the haluskie at the ringtown fiermans picnic,my wife and i make it.well thanks for reading this.

Name: Paul Pecunas Jr.
Website: Coonster's Info
Referred by: Word of Mouth 
From: Meadville, Pa.
Time: 1998-06-07 15:29:38
Comments: Heidi ho people in Chendo. Someday when I visit, I want to make you laugh

Name: Grace (Pieri) Mattucci
Website:
Referred by: Just Surfed On In!
From: Paxinos, Pa.
Time: 1998-06-07 01:17:23
Comments: I'm originally from Mt. Carmel, Pa. but I live in Paxinos, which is only about 10 miles away. We own a restaurant in Mt. Carmel that many people still visit whenever they're back in the coal region. If anyone is interested, Mattucci's is still going strong and still in the family for 63 years. Like to hear from some who still remember us. My parents were also business people in the area for many years. Business was called Pieri Beer Distributor.

Name: Anne Marie Brown
Website:
Referred by: Word of Mouth 
From: Philidelphia
Time: 1998-06-06 20:47:12
Comments: From Mahanoy City.I love this Coal Region Dictionary.I still talk like that after thirty years in da city.

Name: Theresa Faenza
Website:
Referred by: Word of Mouth 
From: Coaldale, PA
Time: 1998-06-06 17:50:34
Comments: I really enjoyed viewing coal speak. I'm originally from Nesquehoning, PA. I now live in Coaldale, PA very close to Lehigh Coal & Navigation. A few of my friends were over the other night and we never laughed so hard. They could not get over your dictionary. It brought back so many fond memories of when we were teenagers.

Name: Bill Butler
Website: B/B Butler
Referred by: Just Surfed On In!
From: Avon Lake, OH
Time: 1998-06-06 17:00:38
Comments: Really enjoyed COALSPEAK! My dad was a coal miner in central Illinois. Funny how "local languages" are much the same in various parts of the country. Many times I heard my parents and grandparents speak none too well about people on "relief." Oh, yeah, I imagine Grandma spoke of them while wearing her babushka!

Name: sharon ann (mucha) berkheiser
Website:
Referred by: Just Surfed On In!
From: gettysburg, pennsylvania
Time: 1998-06-06 14:53:49
Comments: From Frackville originally; NSHS class of '73, husband Glen, FHS class of '65. Remember Lykoffs' pizza place in the alley behind Molly Farnsworths' store? Somebody else mentioned Kline's store across from Memorial Park; WOW!!! Jeez, does that take me back! And I think I miss the New York Bakery most! I'd love to hear from anybody out there that might know my family (I'm daughter of Steve & Eva Mucha, sister to George (deceased) & Steve or my husbands' family, Glen is son of Neil & Aileen Berkheiser, brother to Dennis & Lisa Berkheiser-Bevan)

Name: Jack Edwards
Website:
Referred by: Just Surfed On In!
From: Houston
Time: 1998-06-06 11:54:10
Comments: Just mentioning Matucci's pizza makes the top of my mouth hurt. That hot melted cheese would just take the hide right off the top of your mouth, but the cheese would be there for days. On the way to Mt. Carmel coming up the mountain into Centralia, there was a dirt road on the right that would allow your car to coast backwards uphill! My grandfather first showed me that road in the 60's on the way to Matucci's. It was still there in 95 when I was last back. Wish I could say the same for Centralia.

Name: Jim & Christa (Plachko) Lilek
Website:
Referred by: Other 
From: Honolulu, Hawaii
Time: 1998-06-06 06:03:29
Comments: Just wanted to say hello to all the coal crackers out there. The first time I checked on this page there was only 143 people signed into the guestbook. I see a few familiar names. For anyone that may know me (PAHS 1986) or my wife, Christa (St. Clair H.S. 1986) gave birth to our first child, Hayden (7lbs 2oz. 19") on 28 Apr 98 at 2:51pm at Tripler Army Medical Center. Looking forward to visiting the Coal Region in Sept. for about two weeks. It will be the first time in three years that I have been back to PA. Keep up the great work with the page, how about some more recipes. Christa may be the only person in Hawaii that can make pierogies & halupkies!!! Hope to drink some quarts and go to the pigeon shoot in Hegins!

Name: Vito Mistretta
Website:
Referred by: Word of Mouth 
From: Kendall Park, NJ
Time: 1998-06-05 22:16:45
Comments: Great site!

Name: Mike McCarthy
Website:
Referred by: JustSurfed On In!
From: Mechanicsburg, PA
Time: 1998-06-05 21:03:32
Comments: Grew up in Mount Carmel and graduated there in 1968. I get back home a few times a year and always go for a Mattucci's pizza. Matlow's is still my favorite mens clothing store.

Name: CARL SANKUS
Website: more memories
Referred by: JustSurfed On In!
From: wilmington,de
Time: 1998-06-05 14:45:00
Comments: great coal region memories from Frackville. BERRY'S GROVE-KLINES STORE ACROSS FROM PARK-NIGHT FOOTBALL GAMES-LAKEWOOD PARK- BUDDIES-PAUL F.-BILLY C.-DENNIS C. AND THE LATE EDDY C.

Name: Mike Grabko
Website:
Referred by: Net Search 
From: Boston MA
Time: 1998-06-05 12:45:02
Comments: I'm from Plains (Wilkes Barre) and moved to Boston 20 years ago. I still miss Tasty Cakes, Middleswarth Potato chips and home. I manage to get to Knobels's most every year while visiting family. The coal region dialect section brought back some great memories.

Name: melanie benash
Website:
Referred by: Word of Mouth 
From: phoenix arizona
Time: 1998-06-05 02:13:44
Comments: grand daughter of Raymond Benash and great niece of anna Benash both from frackville. Doing some snooping on my family roots can ya help. Can't polka; love blinis; HAVE found perogies; and god help the tasty cake man.

Name: edith walker funicello
Website:
Referred by: Other 
From: new york mills, new york
Time: 1998-06-01 20:43:12
Comments: mahanoy city,pa.

Back to Top

Return to GuestBook Page