Prayer thoughts
Saturday, January 16, 2010
By BOB URBAN rurban@tnonline.com
I had to laugh out loud when a reader sent me an email (KIDS IN CHURCH, which I'll share with you below). It's funny, but it also reminded me of a time when I was young an aspiring altar boy at St. Mary of the Assumption church in Coaldale.

While the good sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary were teaching us the proper way to serve God as altar boys, they were also teaching us Latin, so that we all knew the proper responses to make at various periods of the Mass. Come to think of it, the nuns weren't exactly teaching us Latin (because we never were taught the meanings of the Latin phrases), they were only making sure we always delivered the right response at the right time.

Each of us had our own way of coping with the Latin language. Some just mumbled under their breath because they couldn't remember the proper phases. I always tried to think of an English phase that closely resembled the Latin I was instructed to say.

One particular phase has stuck in my mind all these years, a response from a 40-Hours procession, that sounded something like this "Oh, wrap your nose up". Of course, that's not what the Latin phrase meant, but as a 9-year-old that's what it sure sounded like to me.

I'm happy to report that kids haven't changed. Mass is no longer delivered in Latin, which must be a joy to this generation of altar boys and girls (they didn't have altar girls when I was young), but youngsters still can come up with their own interpretations of how a prayer should be delivered.

For instance, here's some examples of KIDS IN CHURCH:

3-year-old Reese:

'Our Father, Who does art in heaven, Harold is His name. Amen.'

A little boy was overheard praying: 'Lord, if you can't make me a better boy, don't worry about it.
I'm having a real good time like I am.'

After the christening of his baby brother in church, Jason sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car. His father asked him three times what was wrong. Finally, the boy replied, 'That preacher said he wanted us brought up in a Christian home, and I wanted to stay with you guys.'

One particular four-year-old prayed, 'And forgive us our trash baskets as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets.'

A Sunday school teacher asked her children as they were on the way to church service, 'And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?' One bright little girl replied, 'Because people are sleeping.'

A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin 5, and Ryan 3. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson. 'If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, 'Let my brother have the first pancake, I can wait.' Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, ' Ryan, you be Jesus!'

A father was at the beach with his children when the four-year-old son ran up to him, grabbed his hand, and led him to the shore
where a seagull lay dead in the sand. 'Daddy, what happened to him?' the son asked. 'He died and went to Heaven,' the Dad replied. The boy thought a moment and then said, 'Did God throw him back down?'

A wife invited some people to dinner. At the table, she turned to their six-year-old daughter and said, 'Would you like to say the blessing?' 'I wouldn't know what to say,' the girl replied. 'Just say what you hear Mommy say,' the wife answered. The daughter bowed her head and said, 'Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner ?'
SOURCE: History of Coaldale - Re-printed from Joseph H. Zerbey History of Pottsville and Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. As published in Full in “Pottsville Republican” and “Pottsville Morning Paper,” 1934, J.H. Zerbey Newspapers Inc., Print, Pottsville, Pa.

NOTE: “The Senior Class, 1934, of the Coaldale High School, gathered this material under the direction of Wilbur E. Berger, of the Social Science Department. It was written by the same students as an English project under the direction of Oscar S. Keebler, head of the English Department. Committees were appointed to do the research work, and the students responsible for each particular phase of the borough’s history will be noted as the matter is printed.”

COALDALE - POST-OFFICES

(Committee: John Sofsky, Mike Bench)

The first post-master was Charley Gosliey. Charley had been previously a clerk at the Lansford Supply Store, one of the Valley’s first business places. On becoming postmaster, Gosliey opened a small store in Coaldale, corner of First and Water Sts. where J.M. Pislak now resides. This served as the first post-office; here the mail was received from the stage coach. Gosliey held the postmastership for two terms.

The second postmaster, Rev. D.E. Hughes, was the preacher of the First Welsh Church in Coaldale (located at the northeast corner of Third and Ridge Sts.), and was also the first squire of Coaldale. When postmaster Hughes took office, he lived at the S.W. corner of First and Water Sts. (across the street from the first post-office) and here, in addition to the usual small store, he conducted the activities of postmaster, squire, and preacher. The stage coach carried the mail during the first two years of his term, after which it was supplanted by the first railroad. Just before his term was over Postmaster Hughes moved the post-office to its original location across the street.

Tom Bradbury, the third postmaster, moved his post-office (and incidentally a cigar store) to the center of the town, then about what is now 126 E. Ruddle St., a gesture of convenience to the townsfolks. The post-office-store was later moved to the property of Patrick Bonner, near the present site of 104 E. Ruddle St. Postmaster Bradbury served two terms.

The fourth postmaster was Captain Winlock. He retained office at the Bonner’s residence for a short time, but later moved it to the Peter O’Donnell property at 148 E. Ruddle St. Here at first he also had a small grocery store, but, as the postal business increased, he dropped the latter. Postaster Winlock served two terms.

Succeeding Captain Winlock was Frank Barrett. Mr. Barrett retained his office at the O’Donnell residence for a short time, butthisproved inadequate and in the second year as postmaster he established an office for the mail only. This was located at what is now 40 E. Ruddle St. Mr. Barrett installed mail boxes and made many improvements which helped the post-office secure a good rating amongthe third class offices of Penna. Mr. Barrett was postmaster for eleven years.

Then came the terms of Edward Cavanaugh. He at first had his office at the John R. Boyle property, at 116 E. Ridge St., but, after a few years here he moved it to where he now lives, near the corner of Second and Phillips Sts. Here he made improvements, installing new, improved mail boxes and securing free delivery. The first mail carriers were Leonard Melley, and Paul Ryan, both appointed in 1921. Postmaster Cavanaugh served two terms.

The seventh Postmaster is Daniel Jones. For his first term he kept his office at the Cavanaugh residence. At the beginning of his second term, however, he moved it to where it now stands, 124 E. Ruddle St. During Mr. Jones’ second term another mail carrier was added, this making a total of three. Mr. Jones is now serving his third term.

SOURCE: History of Coaldale - Re-printed from Joseph H. Zerbey History of Pottsville and Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. As published in Full in “Pottsville Republican” and “Pottsville Morning Paper,” 1934, J.H. Zerbey Newspapers Inc., Print, Pottsville, Pa.

NOTE: “The Senior Class, 1934, of the Coaldale High School, gathered this material under the direction of Wilbur E. Berger, of the Social Science Department. It was written by the same students as an English project under the direction of Oscar S. Keebler, head of the English Department. Committees were appointed to do the research work, and the students responsible for each particular phase of the borough's history will be noted as the matter is printed.”


COALDALE - EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS

(Committee: Boris Kudrikoff, John Bench)


PHYSICAL EDUCATION

In 1920, Physical Education was added to the High School curriculum. A.C. Kalen was appointed to be Physical Director.


Health Education was introduced in 1930. T.P. Raymer was appointed Health Director.

The library was first started in Coaldale High School during the scholastic year1918. The books were purchased from the Davis Pharmacy. Half the funds were donated by the School Board, the other half raised by the Student Body. At its beginning it had approximately 100 books and from that time until the present the number has increased to 1800 books.


ATHLETICS - BASKETBALL


Basketball was organized in the Coaldale High School in 1921, under Coach Chas. Sharpe. All the games were played in the Burns’s Hall which is at present a recreation parlor on First St. Each member of the basketball team bought his own equipment and each night of practice or a game each member of the team paid a fee of ten cents for the rental of the hall. The following year this same group of boys organized another basketball team and became a chartered member of the Carbon-Schuylkill League with Summit Hill, Shenandoah, Inter-Chunk, Nesquehoning, Schuylkill Haven, Pottsville and Lehighton. The Coaldale team was composed of the following members: Andrew Kalen, Nelson Jones, Marvin Evans, Harold Yemm, Richard Evans, Anthony Oswald, and William Skinkis.

They were a group of boys who loved basketball and as a result won the first championship in the Carbon-Schuylkill League. Each year the Coaldale High School basketball team has given other members ofthe Carbon-Schuylkill League a hard battle for championship honors. In the year 1929 they again won the championship of the Carbon-Schuylkill League


FOOTBALL

In the year 1921 the first football team was organized under Coach Irvin Murphy. Through the cooperaation of the school board and citizens of Coaldale these boys managed to buy the necessary equipment to play their first game of football in Coaldale against Hazle Township High School. High School football had to be good to interest the spectators of Coaldale during thisyear because they were used to seeing the best brand of football with the Coaldale Big Green. In 1922 this team completed the schedule undefeated. Coaldale High School football teams have always played the best high school football teams in this region.


TRACK

The first Coaldale High School track team was organized in 1919 by A.C. Moser. They participated in the Penn Relays and a few local track meets. Track teams continued on a small scale until 1923-24, when the first annual Coaldale High School Track Meet was held on the Coaldale High Schoo Athletic Field. Since this time Coaldale has developed some very fine track teams that participated in the most prominent track meets in the East.


BASEBALL

Coaldale boasted of a popular baseball team in the early days preceding the advent of football in that town. The first baseball team was organized in 1875. Members of the team were: Tom Barrett, Joe McHugh, Wm. McElroy, Thos. Mitchell, Rube Shellhammer, J. O’Donnell, John McLane, John Holmes and Geo. Aiken.



SOURCE: History of Coaldale - Re-printed from Joseph H. Zerbey History of Pottsville and Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. As published in Full in “Pottsville Republican” and “Pottsville Morning Paper,” 1934, J.H. Zerbey Newspapers Inc., Print, Pottsville, Pa.

NOTE: “The Senior Class, 1934, of the Coaldale High School, gathered this material under the direction of Wilbur E. Berger, of the Social Science Department. It was written by the same students as an English project under the direction of Oscar S. Keebler, head of the English Department. Committees were appointed to do the research work, and the students responsible for each particular phase of the borough’s history will be noted as the matter is printed.”


COALDALE - POST-OFFICES


(Committee: John Sofsky, Mike Bench)


The first post-master was Charley Gosliey. Charley had been previously a clerk at the Lansford Supply Store, one of the Valley’s first business places. On becoming postmaster, Gosliey opened a small store in Coaldale, corner of First and Water Sts. where J.M. Pislak now resides. This served as the first post-office; here the mail was received from the stage coach. Gosliey held the postmastership for two terms.


The second postmaster, Rev. D.E. Hughes, was the preacher of the First Welsh Church in Coaldale (located at the northeast corner of Third and Ridge Sts.), and was also the first squire of Coaldale. When postmaster Hughes took office, he lived at the S.W. corner of First and Water Sts. (across the street from the first post-office) and here, in addition to the usual small store, he conducted the activities of postmaster, squire, and preacher. The stage coach carried the mail during the first two years of his term, after which it was supplanted by the first railroad. Just before his term was over Postmaster Hughes moved the post-office to its original location across the street.


Tom Bradbury, the third postmaster, moved his post-office (and incidentally a cigar store) to the center of the town, then about what is now 126 E. Ruddle St., a gesture of convenience to the townsfolks. The post-office-store was later moved to the property of Patrick Bonner, near the present site of 104 E. Ruddle St. Postmaster Bradbury served two terms.


The fourth postmaster was Captain Winlock. He retained office at the Bonner’s residence for a short time, but later moved it to the Peter O’Donnell property at 148 E. Ruddle St. Here at first he also had a small grocery store, but, as the postal business increased, he dropped the latter. Postaster Winlock served two terms.


Succeeding Captain Winlock was Frank Barrett. Mr. Barrett retained his office at the O’Donnell residence for a short time, butthisproved inadequate and in the second year as postmaster he established an office for the mail only. This was located at what is now 40 E. Ruddle St. Mr. Barrett installed mail boxes and made many improvements which helped the post-office secure a good rating amongthe third class offices of Penna. Mr. Barrett was postmaster for eleven years.


Then came the terms of Edward Cavanaugh. He at first had his office at the John R. Boyle property, at 116 E. Ridge St., but, after a few years here he moved it to where he now lives, near the corner of Second and Phillips Sts. Here he made improvements, installing new, improved mail boxes and securing free delivery. The first mail carriers were Leonard Melley, and Paul Ryan, both appointed in 1921. Postmaster Cavanaugh served two terms.


The seventh Postmaster is Daniel Jones. For his first term he kept his office at the Cavanaugh residence. At the beginning of his second term, however, he moved it to where it now stands, 124 E. Ruddle St. During Mr. Jones’ second term another mail carrier was added, this making a total of three. Mr. Jones is now serving his third term.