Browse our Oral Histories – Page 4

Gus Krebs

Still living in a third-generation house on Stanton Street, Gus talks about playing in East Falls with his friends in the late 1940s – with some mischief involved, schooling at St. Bridget, and, later, volunteering for the church and the Franciscans.

Freda Gowling

Freda, who moved from England to East Falls as a child, shares her memories of the neighborhood, especially focusing on her involvement with both Old Academy Players and Redeemer Lutheran Church.

Tony DiStefano

 In this interview, Tony DiStefano, a lifetime Fallser, describes growing up at the “Lower End” of East Falls on Allegheny Avenue, with his memories of St. Bridget School and Church highlighted. 

Inez Ierardi Fletcher

Inez was raised on Calumet Street, where her father owned a grocery  store.  Delight in Inez’s memories of Mifflin School, Falls Library,  sledding down Calumet, hucksters, Halloween, meeting Bessie Dobson, and  singing with Eddie Fisher! 

Ed Rendell

Gov. Ed Rendell (1944 – ) talks about his almost 50 years living in East Falls – how he happened to come here, his impressions of the neighborhood and of the three streets he lived on (Warden Drive, Midvale, Netherfield), walking his dog, local restaurants, and his reflections on his career. 

Frances Foley Jueds

    Growing up on Warden Drive in the 1940s and 1950s, with World War II as a backdrop, Frankie, daughter of a metallurgist at Midvale Steel, recalls the social culture of East Falls at that time – the library, Alden, “the gang” and her return, 40 years later, to West Coulter Street.

Angela Berry

Moving to East Falls at age 12, Angela remembers her schooling at St. Bridget and Ravenhill, working at Penn Reels, and living in four East Falls homes, the last being a house built on the former tennis court of the Kelly house.

Theresa (Terri) Tarpy

Meet Terri, born in 1938, who worked at 3 local institutions: College of Textiles, Ravenhill, and MCP.  Enjoy her memories of these, along with her recollections of St. Bridget School and Church, tea at Mrs. Kelly’s house, and raising children here.

Sandy Molnar

Sandy tells of her 24 year career at Pep Boys, from the perspective of their first female Buyer and Director of Inventory, focusing on working conditions, personnel, products, advent of computers, and anecdotal history in this local industrial workplace.

Another Oral History soon!

Another Oral History soon!

Another Oral History soon!