OldAstonTownship.com
"Seven Stars Hotel", Village Green, Pa
 |
Click here for another picture and information on Seven Stars Hotel.
Please send your contributions to
What better place than the "crossroads" of Old Aston Township,
then "The Seven Stars Hotel”, Concord & Pennell Roads, to designate as a gathering place
for current as well as former Astonites and others with an interest in the history of Aston Township, Pa!
Let's use this space as a "Community Bulletin Board".
Share your past recollections about Aston Township.
We will record your recollections and items of interest about life in Aston Township as you remember the olden days
If you're doing genealogy, we will post the surnames you're working on. Another visitor might just have some information to share!
Of course, we'd also like to know what you think about our web site. Please send your comment to us for inclusion in this public forum so we can share your thoughts with other visitors.
Add Your Comments to our "Aston Community Bulletin Board" by emailing Jack@oldastontownship.com
Be sure to include your name and your email address so that others can get in touch with you!
* * * *
Hi, Jack.
I believe the priest's name was actually Degnan. You can see his name on the building behind the school. It was named for him. And I think there was a Father Dougherty before him. I will check my report card. He always signed them.
Across the street from the church in what is now a sign store? but used to be a sporting goods store owned by a Mr. Ford, there used to be a grocery store named Aston Market. (on Concord Road next to the old Green Ridge School ( I think it's a library now.)
Aston Pharmacy started out across from Finigan's Real Estate, which has been there since the early 50's, where John's Foodarama is now. In the shopping center was The Village Cobbler Shop owned by a Mr. DiCamillo. And there also used to be Pat's Steaks which was sold to Mike's Steaks in Chester . We all remember "Tiger Lil" who worked there then opened her
own shop on Concord road across from Village Green Farms next to what is now Ironworker's. Lil made the best darned steak sandwich in the county bar none.
We moved to Aston in 1950. There were no shopping centers at that time. We had to drive to Brookhaven Food Fair for groceries. The first shopping center was on Concord Rd. where Smiley's was located.. It contained an A& P Food Store and a Delaware County National Bank (later be Southeast National, then Fidelity, then First Union), a State store was there since the beginning. Smiley's Furniture was there early on if not from the beginning store named Helen Jay's ladies dresses, Gourdier Shoes, Mr. Jay's, a men's store opened by Helen Jay's, and there was Canuso's Deli and the Village Green Pharmacy with a soda fountain,
Johnny's Barbershop was in that center, then a dry cleaner and Hoy's 5 &10. Aston Travel started here , too and for awhile there was a jeweler by the name of Holland (around 1974).
In the next strip up where Venuti's Hardware is was Boulevard Bakery, (everyone went there after church on Sunday) Venuti's and various pizza joints over the years.
Taverns:
The Ivy Room Tavern owned by Joe Di Angelo was on Concord Road.
The Ski Bar, owned by Siwarski's - also on Concord Road.
The Golden Slipper was at Dutton Mill and Pennell Road.
The Seven Gables? was another tavern at 5 points.
In the Ridge, when you turn into the "Island" there was a sandwich shop where everyone hung out, a barber shop, a grocery store, can't remember the name and across the street on the other side of the island was a dance studio called "The Stars of Tomorrow". Then I think another pharmacy.
Keilley's Market was on Dutton Mill Road where Aston Glass is now.
Before Sun Valley was built kids went to Eddystone High.
The Short Line Bus ran into Chester, where you would get a bus to 69th Street and then the subway into the city.
* was on Pennell Road, later to become White Sands in the 60's. owned by the Holefelder family.
St. Joseph's Church had a very active CYO youth group that had dances on Sunday evenings and meetings with dances afterwards on Tuesday evenings. They also gave variety shows once a year.
There were 4 H Clubs in the summer time run by Mary Miller on Dutton Mill Road.
1960 Woodbrook (Dutton Mill and Pennell Roads) was built. The homes sold for $20,000.
Aston Manor homes were built in the early 50's followed by Valley View in the late 50's early 60's. Hidden Valley homes were built around 1965.
Dr. Walachuck had an office across from the A & P shopping center.
Fisher's Garage was at Fisher's corner owned by Merle Fisher. Across the street his brother had a lawn more shop. It's now Ryan's Deli.
Carol Kane
* * * *
Special thanks to Helen M. (Webber) Imburgia for supplying a list she compiled on Research Rsources available for those doing genealogy and other research. If you click here or on the Research Information link on the Links Page you will be taken to the page with this information.
* * * *
Name: Paul D. Crowther
Email: pcrowther4@cogeco.ca
Date: 1/6/2002
Comments: Wow! The Golden Slipper! What a blast from the past as they say! Went there many times in the early 60's. It was owned by a guy named Bill. Did know his last but forget it. The place was huge. Had a big fireplace . Bill maintained the decor from the 30's. At one time it attracted many big name entertainers. Rudy Vallee played there. Even though there were few customers, Bill would have each table set up with tablecloths, cutlery, etc. as though he expected a full house as it was in years gone by. [Bill was a little eccentric]! They also had motel rooms. On a big night there could be as many as 8 customers. It could seat about 80!
* * * *
Home page Links Page
If you have any information and or pictures that you would like to contribute about the history of Aston Township, please forward it to wm@oldastontownship.com