Bill Gillett Remembers His Union City
Bill Gillett Sr. and his wife Margaret examined one of the scrap books that he kept about Union City History. He and Margaret lived at 29 First Avenue.
(Remember Bill talking about Coleman's Band? He was one of the people who worked in the Communications Center in the old City Building in the late 1960s, early 1970s. He fit the job well, because he was a great communicator! The Union City Times of October 1972 printed these memories by Bill.
Kathy Warnes)
South Main Street
William Gillett Sr.
I was sorry to hear about my old friend, Frank Jones, passing on. He is the last of the Jones boys. I can remember Walt Jones and his striking machine and how he traveled around with Tom Cooper at the fairs. Frank used to help Walt out a lot. And there was Bert Jones who for years worked as foreman in the assembly department at the old Novelty Wood Works for Will Fuller, Guy Elder, and Fred Moore.
When I was a young fellow, George Fuller and I worked for Bert Jones on assembly on Chautauqua Black Boards and Music Cabinets. Ernie Oakes was finishing man and used to dip everything in varnish tanks. We could stand Ernie’s overalls up straight when he took them off. Oh Boy! How he could splash around in the varnish.
The Thomas twins also worked at the Novelty. I never could tell them apart. The one that worked with us we called him “Felix.”
Harry Hunter drove Will Fuller’s big black team of horses and did hauling for the Novelty. Nellie Sherwood, Hazel Aikens and a few other women did a good striping and decorating job.
The old Novelty was quite a place, but Will Fuller, Guy Eldred, and Fred Moore have passed on and the Novelty torn down never to return. Such nice people and a lovely business place does sadden one when I remember those good old days.
Also, Margaret and I extend our sympathy to the Frank Jones family.
Sittin’ up here in the communication room at the City Hall I can remember when Comer Fuller had a grocery store where Smith’s Furniture store is now with Mabel Spoon and Elmer Hunter working for him. Then Charles Graves Meat market with Hanford White as meat cutter. Charlie Olds out to Dan Toner and then my old friend Tracy Montague from Wattsburg bought in with Dan. There have been quite a few stores and bakeries in where the Shreve News is today. Dallas McClintock built the building where the Jones wallpaper and paint store is today
Dallas McClintock built the building where the Jones Wallpaper and Paint Store is today. Also the public library was upstairs for years. Dr. Stem built where the Union City Cleaners is located and had his office there for y ears. Attorney Francis McClintock built the building now housing the Crandall Agency. Attorney McClintock maintained his office there for a number of years. Then Ben Hess owned and operated a grocery store where the Gabbel Key Shop is today. Ben had Terry Burgess and Carl Pieper working for him delivering groceries. Bernard Wellmon operated a barber shop in the store room just south of the key shop where Fuller’s Barber Shop is today.
In the store room next to the barber shop was a restaurant grocery store, pool room, and barber shop and shoe store. Next door (south) Clem Weller operated a grocery store where the Salvation Army store is now located. Weller sold out to Earl Gates who employed his son Ray to work in the store and take care of deliveries.
Dr. Rockwell built the Rockwell Building and at that time maintained offices on the first floor, north side of the building. Later my old friend Dr. Luther Hatch had his offices there. The Quality Cash Grocery occupied the south side of the building on the first floor and Bell Telephone Co. had offices on the second floor. Dr. Harwood lived upstairs and maintained his optical office there.
The American Legion had their rooms in the basement of the Rockwell building.
Just south of the Rockwell Building was a large three story wooden building and on the top floor was a large meeting room where the I.O.O.F. started. On the west side of this hall, Frank Waters painted a large “eye” and it was a real good job for the Odd Fellows. My grandfather Abraham Gillett was a charter member of the I.O.O.F. when they were in this building. Milton Shreve had a hardware store where Schlak’s Furniture is. Shreve sold out to Charley Hayes who operated one of the best hardware stores in Erie County.
Prohibition Picnic
By William Gillett Sr.
Do you remember the Prohibition Picnic we used to have every year at Dick’s Grove up the Murray Road?
It was something like the Willis Grove Picnic. The farmers would come in their surries and with feed bags for their horses. Bring their lunch and Henry and Harry Dick had picnic tables and a huge platform for speakers. I remember one years when Jess Olds, our florist in town, was running for assemblyman on the Prohibition Ticket. I can see him yet with his white suit and straw hat up on the platform reading his poems and electioneering. Jesse was a real poet and was always willing to donate his poems for printing in the Union City Times.
Charles R. Davis was always one of the speakers. The ministers in town gave some real interesting talks.
Coleman’s Band would always be there with a concert. Perry Dick ran the Livery Stables on West High Street where Lucky Dollar is now in a large barn that came right out on the street.
Harry had a big carry all that he ran all day, back and forth, from town to the picnic grounds. Also, John Steves who had a livery stable in the alley back of the Johnson House (Rice Hotel) would donate all his services.
Jesse didn’t make assemblyman, but he gave the Republicans and Democrats a real race that year.
The band rooms for Coleman’s Band were in a building on the lot where the M.F.G. Boat Company is now. We had the second floor and the city jail or lockup was downstairs. Later it became the second ward voting place. The city had four cells in the lockup and I have seen them all full a good many Saturday nights.
My great grandfather, William A. Gillett, Jack Skivington, Charlie Coyle, Ebenezer Mackey, and John McIntyre, used to be the law those days.
(Remember Bill talking about Coleman's Band? He was one of the people who worked in the Communications Center in the old City Building in the late 1960s, early 1970s. He fit the job well, because he was a great communicator! The Union City Times of October 1972 printed these memories by Bill.
Kathy Warnes)
South Main Street
William Gillett Sr.
I was sorry to hear about my old friend, Frank Jones, passing on. He is the last of the Jones boys. I can remember Walt Jones and his striking machine and how he traveled around with Tom Cooper at the fairs. Frank used to help Walt out a lot. And there was Bert Jones who for years worked as foreman in the assembly department at the old Novelty Wood Works for Will Fuller, Guy Elder, and Fred Moore.
When I was a young fellow, George Fuller and I worked for Bert Jones on assembly on Chautauqua Black Boards and Music Cabinets. Ernie Oakes was finishing man and used to dip everything in varnish tanks. We could stand Ernie’s overalls up straight when he took them off. Oh Boy! How he could splash around in the varnish.
The Thomas twins also worked at the Novelty. I never could tell them apart. The one that worked with us we called him “Felix.”
Harry Hunter drove Will Fuller’s big black team of horses and did hauling for the Novelty. Nellie Sherwood, Hazel Aikens and a few other women did a good striping and decorating job.
The old Novelty was quite a place, but Will Fuller, Guy Eldred, and Fred Moore have passed on and the Novelty torn down never to return. Such nice people and a lovely business place does sadden one when I remember those good old days.
Also, Margaret and I extend our sympathy to the Frank Jones family.
Sittin’ up here in the communication room at the City Hall I can remember when Comer Fuller had a grocery store where Smith’s Furniture store is now with Mabel Spoon and Elmer Hunter working for him. Then Charles Graves Meat market with Hanford White as meat cutter. Charlie Olds out to Dan Toner and then my old friend Tracy Montague from Wattsburg bought in with Dan. There have been quite a few stores and bakeries in where the Shreve News is today. Dallas McClintock built the building where the Jones wallpaper and paint store is today
Dallas McClintock built the building where the Jones Wallpaper and Paint Store is today. Also the public library was upstairs for years. Dr. Stem built where the Union City Cleaners is located and had his office there for y ears. Attorney Francis McClintock built the building now housing the Crandall Agency. Attorney McClintock maintained his office there for a number of years. Then Ben Hess owned and operated a grocery store where the Gabbel Key Shop is today. Ben had Terry Burgess and Carl Pieper working for him delivering groceries. Bernard Wellmon operated a barber shop in the store room just south of the key shop where Fuller’s Barber Shop is today.
In the store room next to the barber shop was a restaurant grocery store, pool room, and barber shop and shoe store. Next door (south) Clem Weller operated a grocery store where the Salvation Army store is now located. Weller sold out to Earl Gates who employed his son Ray to work in the store and take care of deliveries.
Dr. Rockwell built the Rockwell Building and at that time maintained offices on the first floor, north side of the building. Later my old friend Dr. Luther Hatch had his offices there. The Quality Cash Grocery occupied the south side of the building on the first floor and Bell Telephone Co. had offices on the second floor. Dr. Harwood lived upstairs and maintained his optical office there.
The American Legion had their rooms in the basement of the Rockwell building.
Just south of the Rockwell Building was a large three story wooden building and on the top floor was a large meeting room where the I.O.O.F. started. On the west side of this hall, Frank Waters painted a large “eye” and it was a real good job for the Odd Fellows. My grandfather Abraham Gillett was a charter member of the I.O.O.F. when they were in this building. Milton Shreve had a hardware store where Schlak’s Furniture is. Shreve sold out to Charley Hayes who operated one of the best hardware stores in Erie County.
Prohibition Picnic
By William Gillett Sr.
Do you remember the Prohibition Picnic we used to have every year at Dick’s Grove up the Murray Road?
It was something like the Willis Grove Picnic. The farmers would come in their surries and with feed bags for their horses. Bring their lunch and Henry and Harry Dick had picnic tables and a huge platform for speakers. I remember one years when Jess Olds, our florist in town, was running for assemblyman on the Prohibition Ticket. I can see him yet with his white suit and straw hat up on the platform reading his poems and electioneering. Jesse was a real poet and was always willing to donate his poems for printing in the Union City Times.
Charles R. Davis was always one of the speakers. The ministers in town gave some real interesting talks.
Coleman’s Band would always be there with a concert. Perry Dick ran the Livery Stables on West High Street where Lucky Dollar is now in a large barn that came right out on the street.
Harry had a big carry all that he ran all day, back and forth, from town to the picnic grounds. Also, John Steves who had a livery stable in the alley back of the Johnson House (Rice Hotel) would donate all his services.
Jesse didn’t make assemblyman, but he gave the Republicans and Democrats a real race that year.
The band rooms for Coleman’s Band were in a building on the lot where the M.F.G. Boat Company is now. We had the second floor and the city jail or lockup was downstairs. Later it became the second ward voting place. The city had four cells in the lockup and I have seen them all full a good many Saturday nights.
My great grandfather, William A. Gillett, Jack Skivington, Charlie Coyle, Ebenezer Mackey, and John McIntyre, used to be the law those days.