The Phillips Street School building, where almost all of Coaldale's older residents learned their three R's, now houses the retail store of EMCO Supply Company.

EMCO was incorporated in 1945. It located in the Lansford Shop area where the former LNC foundry was converted into a warehouse.

EMCO dealt primarily in mill, hardware, mine supplies , electrical supplies, tires, and batteries. In May 1951, EMCO opened a display room on Third Street, Coaldale, moving their warehouse to the East Ward School building during January of this year, 1952.

Renovators took charge at that time and former class rooms on the first floor of the southern part of the building were converted into a beautiful T.V., radio and electrical appliance display room. An EMCO neon sign, illuminates the center of the builing and the complete transformation of class rooms into a business center astounded thousands of vistors to the EMCO retail store when its doors were thrown open to the public Thursday, May 22, 1952.

EXCLUSIVE DEALERS

EMCO holds exclusive dealer rights for Sylvania TV, for Nesquehoning, Lansford, Summit Hill, Tamaqua and Coaldale.

They also hold exclusive territorial right over the same five towns for Crosley TV and Crosley electrical appliances.

EMCO is also exclusive dealer for Sherwin-Williams paints for the five town Panther Valley Area, together with being the largest Goodyear tire dealer in the valley.