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Erie
A Guide to the City and County
American Guide Series
LAKE ERIE
PENINSULA
3 miles
Mouth of the Harbour
2 Miles
Heigh Land
Presque isle Fort
Swamp
Le Beauf
A'Mingo Cabin
CASES
-CREEK
Mingo Cabbins
Custologa's Town
French Creek
Sugar Creek
cheny River
8 Miles
Isthmus
30 yards
Jovens
Rocky Creek
AMERICAN GUIDE PENNSYLVANIA
Branch of Deyer Creek
RIVER
Tobbys Creek
Licking Town
Branch of Bever Creek
Allegheny®
- Kiskeminclas Creek
VENANGO TRAIL
Charlie's Towne
Old Sewickly's Town
Jo Miles
20
Oma-&
FORT PITT
A SCALE for the Roads Hills, Runs and Creeks . but not the Lakes
From the collection of the
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ERIE
A GUIDE TO THE
CITY AND COUNTY
-
General Anthony Wayne
-
AMERICAN GUIDE SERIES
ERIE
A GUIDE TO THE CITY AND COUNTY
Written and compiled by the Erie County Unit of the Federal Writers' Project of the Works Progress Administration for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
SPONSORED BY CHARLIE R. BARBER MAYOR OF ERIE
Published by The WILLIAM PENN ASSOCIATION of PHILADELPHIA, Inc. 1938
First Edition
WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION
HARRY L. HOPKINS, Administrator
ELLEN S. WOODWARD, Assistant Administrator HENRY G. ALSBERG, Director of Federal Writers' Project
COPYRIGHT 1938, BY CHARLIE R. BARBER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF ERIE
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO REPRODUCE THIS BOOK OR PARTS THEREOF IN ANY FORM
TELEGRAPH PRESS
HARRISBURG. PA.
FOREWORD
This is one of the local guides of the American Guide Series, which, when complete, will cover the forty-eight states, several hundred com- munities, as well as Alaska, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii.
Erie has a dramatic past, and, because of her strategic position on the Great Lakes, the promise of an increasingly important future. This book outlines that past, and, by means of tours through the city's industrial sections and the county's rich farm lands, it offers a glimpse at its present economic life. No guide to Erie would be complete without a section devoted to Presque Isle Peninsula State Park, a public recreational center with few equals in the middle west.
Erie: A Guide to the City and County is a book about Erie written by Erie citizens. As such, it holds the mirror to still another section of present day America.
HARRY L. HOPKINS Administrator
Erie has long needed a compact, comprehensive guide book that would not only be of assistance to the thousands of annual tourists, but also of value to residents desirous of knowing more about their city and county. This need has been fulfilled in the past by voluminous works, too bulky for easy reference, or by brief booklets that often raised more ques- tions than they answered.
It is with considerable satisfaction that the Mayor and the City Coun- cil-Harry J. Klebes, Joseph Martin, Paul F. Watson, and Gale Ross- have sponsored the publication of Erie: A Guide to the City and County, prepared by the Federal Writers' Project.
The book contains a wealth of information on various aspects of Erie's growth and development, and it is simply and tersely written. As Mayor of Erie, I am pleased that this publication is being made available to the public.
CHARLIE R. BARBER
Mayor
PREFACE
Erie: A Guide to the City and County presents the people, history, legends, institutions, and industry of Pennsylvania's only lake port, as well as the detailed descriptions of points of interest usually to be found in a guidebook.
The members of the Erie unit of the Federal Writers' Project in Penn- sylvania are grateful for the assistance which many Erie citizens have given them. The project is particularly indebted to the Henry Mayer estate for providing office space during the early stages of the book, and to Dana E. Jones, James K. Shields, Prof. John C. Diehl, Miss Alice E. Jones, John J. Burgoyne, W. L. Lewis, Rev. Hugh B. Speer, Rev. Alfred M. Watson, Walter T. Monahan, Karl E. Morrison, S. P. Bossart, P. J. Grant, Ross Pier Wright, Dr. W. W. D. Sones, J. Herman Gross, Miss Charlotte M. Evans, and many others for their aid and advice as con- sultants.
Acknowledgment is also due the Public Library for the use of its files; to Jacob Bashioum, for aerial pictures; to the Kelly and Green Studios, the Schauble Photo Studios, and Walter Jack of the Erie Times, for several photographs. Except for these pictures the photographs were taken by Frederick Ritter and Chester Brown, staff photographers. Art work was done by Herbert Palmer and Edward Giordano. The maps were drawn by Henrietta Haines, Edward Migliaccio and Harry Nassau under the supervision of William Hagerty of the State Staff. Wavil H. See, Zeno N. Tuttler and Forrest J. Alward of the Erie unit were responsible for the writing and compilation.
The volume was produced under the editorial supervision of George B. Reeves, Assistant State Director.
The Federal Writers' Project is part of the Women's and Professional Division, Anna M. Lebengood, Director, of the Works Progress Admin- istration, under J. Banks Hudson, State Administrator.
PAUL COMLY FRENCH
Harrisburg, Penna. August 25, 1938.
State Director
Table of Contents
FOREWORD
Page
TRANSPORTATION 40
Early Modes of Travel 41
Lake Navigation 43
Canals
44
Railroads
45
by Charlie R. Barber, Mayor of Erie VI
PREFACE
RELIGION 48
by Paul Comly French, State Director, Federal Writers' Project VII
CITY TOUR I
59
GENERAL INFORMATION
I
CHURCH GUIDE
5
OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST
81
GOVERNMENT 9
ANNUAL EVENTS IO
CONTEMPORARY ERIE COUNTY Government
87
ERIE: AN IMPRESSION
II
ERIE COUNTY TOUR I 88
97
HISTORY
17
The French
17
The British
20
COUNTY TOUR 5 108
The Americans
22
COUNTY TOUR 6 115
Growth and Development
24
COUNTY TOUR 7 119
TALES AND LEGENDS
30 COUNTY TOUR 8 122
NATIONALITY GROUPS
34 CHRONOLOGY 125
INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE
37
BIBLIOGRAPHY I28
Wholesale and Retail Trade 39 INDEX 129
Page
by Harry L. Hopkins, Ad- ministrator, Works Prog- ress Administration V
NOTE
Local and Interurban Trans- portation 47
ARCHITECTURE 52
EDUCATION 56
CITY TOUR 2
67
CITY TOUR 3
73
84
THE CITY AND ITS SETTING
14
COUNTY TOUR 2
COUNTY TOUR 3 100
COUNTY TOUR 4 104
List of Illustrations
GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE
Frontispiece
From a painting in the Public Library, Erie, Pa. Photographs facing page 1
WATERFORD ACADEMY Ritter
OLD CUSTOM HOUSE Ritter MAJ. GEN. WILLIAM IRVINE Courtesy, Frontier Forts & Trails Proj- ect (W.P.A.)
MAJ. ANDREW ELLICOTT
Courtesy, Frontier Forts & Trails Proj- ect (W.P.A.)
Photographs between pages 16 and 17
COMMODORE PERRY'S RESIDENCE Brown THE PENNSYLVANIA SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' HOME Ritter SITE OF FORT LEBOEUF Courtesy, Frontier Forts & Trails Proj- ect (W.P.A.)
NIAGARA Brown
Photographs between pages
32 and 33
WOOD STORAGE Brown
GRAIN ELEVATOR Brown
UNLOADING ORE Brown Photographs between pages 48 and 49
FARM SCENE Brown
GRAPE RAISING Brown
ODIN STOVE MANUFACTURING CO. Schauble Studios, 2101 Peach St., Erie, Pa.
BURKE ELECTRIC CO.
Schauble Studios, 2101 Peach St., Erie Pa. Photographs between pages 64 and 65
ICE BOATING Ritter
FISHING THROUGH THE ICE Ritter BEACH SCENE Photographs between pages 80 and 81
A LAGOON Brown MALLARD DUCKS Brown PRESQUE ISLE LIGHTHOUSE Ritter THE LAND LIGHTHOUSE Ritter Photographs between pages 96 and 97
FISH NETS DRYING Brown A CATCH OF PIKE Brown
DOORWAY, CHURCH OF COVENANT Ritter Photographs between pages 112 and 113 RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH Ritter ST. LUKE'S EVANGELICAL CHURCH Ritter
WINTERGREEN GORGE Brown
PERRY SQUARE Brown Photographs between pages 128 and 129
THE PENINSULA J. C. Bashioum, Erie, Pa. KETTLE Ritter
Waterford Academy, Waterford
The Old Customs House, pres- ent home of the Erie County Historical Society
Maj. Gen. William Irvine, one of the three Pennsyl- vania commissioners
Maj. Andrew Ellicott, who surveyed the site of Erie in 1795
GENERAL INFORMATION
Location: On southern shore of Lake Erie; 100 m. east of Cleveland and 93 m. west of Buffalo; longitude 80° 5' W .; latitude 42° 7' N.
Population: 115,967, 1930; largest 3rd class city in Pennsylvania.
Railroad Stations: 121 W. 12th St. for Bessemer and Lake Erie R. R .; Union Station, W. 14th and Peach Sts. for New York Central R. R. and Pennsyl- vania R. R .; 211 E. 19th St. for Nickel Plate R. R.
Bus Stations: 12 N. Perry Sq. for Greyhound Lines, and West Ridge Transportation Co.
Airports: Port Erie: 7 m. W. on State 5, municipally owned. Erie County Airport, 12 m. W. on US 20, privately owned.
Ferries and Motor Launches: Ferries from the Public Steamboat Landing, foot of State St., to Waterworks Park on the Peninsula (round trip 25¢); during summer months launches may be rented by the hour for tours and fishing in Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie.
Taxis: Yellow Cab, W. 14th and Peach Sts., (30¢ 1st m., 5¢ each additional 1/3 m .; hourly rate $1.50); Checker Cab, 316 E. 7th St., (30¢ ist m., 5¢ each additional 1/3 m .; hourly rate $2.00).
Intracity Bus Line: Erie Coach Co. coaches operate to all points in the city; fare 10¢; transfers without additional charge.
Traffic Regulations: Maximum speed 20 m. per hour between intersections; 10 m. per hour at intersections, and 15 m. per hour in school zones. Right and left turns permitted on green light; no turns on red.
Street Order and Numbering: From the bay front, the northern boundary of the city, streets are numbered from First in consecutive order. Even numbers are on west side of streets; odd numbers on the east side. House numbers in each block begin with a new hundred series. House number-
ERIE: A GUIDE TO THE CITY AND COUNTY
ing on east and west streets begins at State St. Even numbers are used on the north side of streets; odd numbers on the south side.
Accommodations: Hotels, inns, boarding houses, and tourist homes are available throughout the city. Lawrence Hotel, W. Ioth and Peach Sts., 400 rooms; restaurant, cafeteria, cocktail lounge, bar, ballroom, and ban- quet room. Ford Hotel, State St. and N. Perry Sq., 400 rooms; restaurant, and bar. Wayne Hotel, 12 W. 12th St., 54 rooms; restaurant. Milner Hotel, W. 8th and Peach Sts., 40 rooms; Y. M. C. A., W. 10th and Peach Sts.
Tourist Camps: Available on all main highways near Erie.
Shopping: Erie's shopping district is centered at 10th and State Sts., and extends north to 7th St., south to 14th St., one block west to Peach St., and one block east to French St.
Theatres and Motion Picture Houses: The Community Playhouse, 128 W. 7th St. Plays with amateur casts and professional direction during winter season. Six motion picture theatres in business section, with 7 others throughout the city.
Information Service: Travelers' Aid Society, Union Station, W. 14th and Peach Sts .; Y.W.C.A., 130 W. 8th St., Erie Chamber of Commerce, 801 State St .; Erie Motor Club (AAA), Lawrence Hotel, W. 10th and Peach Sts .; Erie Manufacturers Association, Ariel Bldg., 8th and State Sts., Y. M. C. A., W. 10th and Peach Sts.
Restaurants and Bars: Restaurants and night clubs are numerous in busi- ness section. Several of the restaurants specialize in fresh water sea foods. Most of the hotels have bars. Many of the night clubs offer floor shows, but much of the night life occurs in private clubs, to which admission may be gained through members.
Radio Station: WLEU, Commerce Bldg., 12th and State Sts.
Libraries and Exhibits: Public Library, S. Park Row and French Sts. (open 9-9 daily, 2-5 legal holidays; reading room 2-5 on Sundays); Art Gallery, second floor of Library building, (usually open Saturday, Sunday, and Monday afternoons, closed to the public during July and August; free); Erie Public Library Museum, library building basement, (open 9-5 daily; free). Fish Hatchery and Aquarium, foot of Chestnut St., (open 9-4 daily; free); Glenwood Park Zoo, ( open daily 9-5; feeding time 5; free). Hospitals: Hamot Hospital, 2nd and State Sts .; St. Vincent's Hospital, W. 24th and Sassafras Sts .; Lake View Hospital, 136 East Ave .; Zem Zem Hospital, 1501 W. 9th St.
2
GENERAL INFORMATION
Recreation Facilities: Presque Isle Peninsula State Park, 4.5 m. W. on State 832; 3200 acres of woodland, lagoons, and picnic grounds, with 7 miles of guarded bathing beaches with bathhouses; wild life, skating, iceboating and hockey (see COUNTY TOUR 1).
Glenwood Park, Shunpike Rd. and Glenwood Drive; 115 acres, munici- pally owned, with a 9-hole golf course, tennis courts and baseball field; modern zoo building with many animals, and picnic grounds.
Waldameer Park, 4 m. W. on State 5 and 832; a commercial amusement park, bathing beach, ballroom, concessions, amusement devices, restaurant offering music, dancing, floor show, and refreshments.
Athletic Fields: Erie Stadium, 26th and State Sts .; major athletic events with flood lights for night contests; ice skating in winter.
Roosevelt Field, W. 23rd and Cranberry Sts .; scholastic baseball, foot- ball, tennis.
Glenwood field, Glenwood Park; baseball field, tennis courts, golf course.
1
Strong Vincent High School Athletic field, W. 8th and Washington Sts.
General Electric Field, Lawrence Park; baseball, soft ball, and amateur boxing.
Swimming: Presque Isle Peninsula State Park beaches, 4.5 m. W. on State 832.
Waterworks Park, maintained on the Peninsula by the Erie Waterworks Dept. Only locker and checking service on the Peninsula. Pay station telephone.
Shorewood Beach, 10 m. E. on State 5; cottages.
Manchester-on-the-Lake Beach, 8 m. W. on State 5.
Waterworks Pool, at City Filtration Plant, foot of Chestnut St.
Not far from Erie are other swimming places, such as Lake LeBoeuf at Waterford, Conneaut Lake at Edinboro, and Eagley's Grove on Lake Erie I m. north of North Girard. These resorts also afford boating and fishing.
Hunting and Fishing: For rules and regulations governing hunting and fishing in Erie County, apply to Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Board of Game Commissioners, and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Board of Fish Commissioners respectively. Small game abounds; rabbit, squirrel, pheasant, duck, and geese. Streams of the county are stocked with game fish. Lake waters abound in pike, perch, and game fish. Hunting license costs $2.00 for residents, non-residents are charged the same amount as Pennsylvanians are charged in the non-resident's home State. Fishing li- cense costs $1.50, plus collector's fee of 10 cents. Non-residents are charged in the same manner as non-resident hunting license applicants. Licenses are procurable at the County Treasurer's office, Erie County Courthouse.
3
ERIE: A GUIDE TO THE CITY AND COUNTY
Golf Courses: Glenwood, Glenwood Park, intersection State 505 and State 99; a 9-hole municipal golf course (daily fee 35¢ for 9 holes; so¢ for all day ).
Erie Golf Course, 6 m. S. on State 99; an 18-hole municipal golf course (75¢ all day; $16 for season; a fee of $17 entitles a member to play on both Glenwood and Erie Golf Courses).
Lake Shore Golf Club, 8 m. W. on State 5; 18 holes; members and guests only.
Lawrence Park Golf Club, Lawrence Park on State 5, 9 holes (green fee 75¢).
Kahkwa Golf Club, 5 m. W. on US 20; 18 holes; members only.
Tennis Courts: Erie Tennis and Country Club, Willis Rd. near State 97; members and guests only.
Lake Shore Golf Club tennis court, Hardscrabble Blvd., State 5 (small fee).
Free Courts:
Glenwood Park.
Academy High School, 28th and State Sts.
Strong Vincent High School, 1330 W. 8th St.
East High School, 1151 Atkins St.
Technical High School, W. Ioth and Sassafras Sts.
McKinley Park, 23rd St. and East Ave.
Riding: Algeria Riding Academy, 4.5 m. W. on State 5, saddle horses for riding on Peninsula bridle trails ($1 per hr.).
4
CHURCH GUIDE
Adventist
Seventh Day Adventist, 245 E. 10th St.
African Methodist Episcopal St. James, 242 E. 7th St.
Baptist
Bethel Temple, SW cor. Wayne & E. 26th Sts.
Central, NE cor. W. 20th & Sassafras Sts.
Delaware Avenue, Delaware Ave. & W. 9th St.
First, 125 W. 10th St.
Immanuel, SW cor. W. 28th & Plum Sts.
Russian, 262 E. 4th St.
Shiloh, 901 E. 5th St. Swedish, SE cor. E. 7th & Holland Sts.
Wayne Park Temple, 923 E. 6th St.
Wesleyville, 2027 Center St., Wesleyville
Christian and Missionary Alliance
Gospel Tabernacle, 145-47 W. 11th St.
Christian Science
First Church of Christ Scientist, Sassafras St., bet. W. 6th & 7th Sts. Episcopal Cathedral of St. Paul, 131-43 W. 6th St. St. John's Memorial, SE cor. Walnut and W. 31st Sts. St. Mark's, NW cor. E. Ioth & French Sts. St. Mary's, 672 Silliman Ave., Lawrence Park
Trinity Memorial, 916 Liberty St.
Evangelical
Christ United, Sassafras bet. W. 16th & 17th Sts. St. Paul's United, 1022 Peach St. Salem, NE cor. W. 11th & Myrtle Sts. Swedish Mission, 301 E. 10th St. St. Luke's, 120 W. 9th St.
5
ERIE: A GUIDE TO THE CITY AND COUNTY
Evangelical Lutheran
Grace, 802 E. 10th St. St. John's, NW cor. Peach & W. 23rd Sts. St. Matthew's, NE cor. Cascade & W. 7th Sts.
St. Stephen's, 940 E. 22nd St.
Trinity, 328 W. 11th St.
Free Methodist
Free Methodist, 125 W. 17th St.
Greek Catholic
Church of the Nativity, 351 E. Front St. St. George Roumanian Greek Catholic, 1711 Plum St.
SS. Peter & Paul, 321 E. 23rd St.
Hebrew
Anshe Hesed Congregation, NW cor. W. 10th & Liberty Sts. Brith Sholom Congregation, 721 French St. Congregation Ohle Jacob, 126 E. 17th St.
Lutheran
Christ, 859 Silliman Ave., Lawrence Park Luther Memorial, 225 W. 10th St. Messiah, NE cor. Easter & Gray Aves., Wesleyville
Mt. Calvary, SW cor. Greengarden Rd. & W. 29th St.
Bethany Swedish Evangelical, 264 E. 10th St. Zion, SE cor. Brown's Ave. & Liberty Sts. Trinity Italian Lutheran, 635 W. 17th St.
Methodist-Methodist Episcopal
Asbury M. E., SW cor. US 20 & Asbury Rd. Cascade M. E., SW cor. W. 2 Ist & Cascade Sts. First M. E., SE cor. W. 7th & Sassafras Sts. Henderson M. E., 2006 Camphausen Ave.
Kingsley M. E., NE cor. W. 9th & Cranberry Sts.
Lawrence Park M. E., Cor. Niagara & Rankin Sts., Lawrence Park Simpson Methodist, SE cor. W. 2 Ist & Sassafras Sts. Tenth St. M. E., 538 E. 10th St.
Wayne St. M. E., NW cor. E. 23rd & Wayne Sts.
Wesley M. E., 3618 South St., Wesleyville
Wesleyan Methodist, 2900 Liberty St.
South Harborcreek Methodist, Harborcreek
Orthodox
Hellenic Orthodox, 214 W. 8th St.
6
CHURCH GUIDE
Russian Orthodox, 251 E. Front St. St. John's Roumanian Orthodox, 1125 Penna. Ave.
Presbyterian
Chestnut Street, 1701 Chestnut St.
Church of the Covenant, W. 7th St. bet. Sassafras & Myrtle Sts. Eastminster, 503 Lighthouse St.
Emmanuel, NE cor. E. 28th & Perry Sts.
First, III W. 5th St.
Sarah Hearn Memorial, 949 W. 9th St.
Perkins, 5501 Peach St., Kearsarge
Westminster, W. Ridge Rd., nr. Powell Ave., Westminster
Roman Catholic
Holy Family, 1147 E. 9th St.
Holy Rosary, NE cor. E. 28th St. & East Ave.
Holy Trinity, 645 E. 22nd St.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, 26th bet. Liberty & Plum Sts.
St. Andrew's, NW cor. W. 7th & Raspberry Sts.
St. Ann's, NE cor. E. 10th & East Ave.
St. Casimir's, Hess Ave. & Atkins St.
St. George's, Peach & Bryant Sts., Kearsarge
St. Hedwig's, SE cor. E. 3rd & Wallace Sts.
St. James, Bird Drive, Wesleyville
St. John's, SE cor. E. 26th & Wallace Sts.
St. Joseph's, SE cor. W. 24th & Sassafras Sts.
St. Mary's, 317 E. 9th St.
St. Michael's, 619 W. 17th St.
St. Patrick's, 140 E. 4th St.
St. Paul's Italian, 455 W. 16th St.
St. Peter's Cathedral, NW cor. Sassafras & W. 10th Sts.
St. Stanislaus, NE cor. E. 13th & Wallace Sts.
St. Stephen's Hungarian, 1247 W. 2Ist St. Unitarian
First, 149 W. 9th St.
United Brethren
Glenwood, 3125 Peach St.
United Presbyterian
Brown's Avenue, SE cor. Brown's Ave. & W. 22nd St. First, 115-25 E. 8th St.
Miscellaneous
Assemblia Christiana, 1706 Poplar St.
Bayview Chapel, NW cor. E. 38th & Burton Sts.
7
ERIE: A GUIDE TO THE CITY AND COUNTY
Bethel Tabernacle, 1525 Peach St.
Brethren Tabernacle, Arena Bldg., E. 26th & French Sts.
Church of Apostolic Faith, 1719 Sassafras St. Church of Christ (Disciples), NE cor. W. 9th & Cherry Sts. Church of God in Christ, 1615 Holland St.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 124 E. 18th St. Church of the Nazarene, Wesleyville City Rescue Mission, 1117 Peach St. Erie Terrace Chapel, 3503 Taylor Ave. First Church of God, 2902 Parade St. Samaritan A. M. E. Zion, 1115 Walnut St.
Gospel Assembly Hall, 2810 East Ave. John Huss Center Presbyterian, 922 E. 9th St. Lawrence Park Mission, 4020 Main St., Lawrence Park Pentecostal, 22 N. Perry Square St. Mary's Polish National, SW cor. E. 21st & Wallace Sts. Salvation Army, 202 E. 11th St. Salvation Army, 245 E. 8th St. Salvation Army, 1071 Rankin Ave., Lawrence Park
Volunteers of America, 1305 Parade St.
Primitive Wesleyan, 11 E. 2 Ist St.
Convents
Felician Sisters Home, 641 E. 22nd St. Sacred Heart Convent, 2512 Plum St. St. Benedict's Convent, 327 E. 9th St. St. Joseph's Convent, 146 W. 25th St. St. Michael's Convent, 611 W. 17th St. Sisters of St. Francis Home, 1151 E. 9th St.
Sisters of St. Joseph Home, 1926 W. 6th St. Sisters of St. Joseph Home, Villa Maria, 829 W. 8th St. Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth Home, 517 E. 12th St. Sisters of Mercy, 501 E. 38th St.
8
GOVERNMENT
Erie, the largest third class city in Pennsylvania, operates under the commission form of government. It was laid out in 1795, became a bor- ough in 1805, and was granted a city charter in 1851. The village of South Erie was incorporated as a borough in 1866, and was consolidated with Erie in 1870.
The City Council is composed of four members, each of whom is in charge of one or more city departments. Councilmen are elected for four year terms. Councilmanic elections are held every two years, two mem- bers being elected with the mayor and two at the next councilmanic election. The mayor, elected every four years, is the chief executive of the city and is head of the Department of Public Affairs.
One member of city council acts as director of the Department of Finance and as vice-president of Council. The city controller, city treas- urer, city solicitor, city assessor, and the bureau of assessments and tax revision operate under this department.
Another member heads the Department of Public Safety, which includes the fire department, boiler inspection, smoke abatement, building inspec- tion, city electrician, and health department.
A third councilman acts as director of the Department of Streets and Public Improvements. The fourth serves as director of the Department of Parks and Public Property.
There are two other elective officers: a city treasurer, and a city con- troller. The city treasurer collects city taxes, serves as custodian of funds and issues licenses and permits. The city controller controls the expendi- tures of the city. The city treasurer and the city controller are elected at the same time as the mayor.
Erie is divided into six wards, each of which elects an alderman who serves as a justice of the peace, magistrate, and notary. Under each alder- man is an elected constable. The constable serves warrants and legal docu- ments issued by aldermen and the county courts.
Police and fire department personnel are under civil service, as are employes of the bureau of health, city engineer's office, and the building and boiler inspection service. The civil service board consists of four
9
ERIE: A GUIDE TO THE CITY AND COUNTY
members. One handles police department personnel and another fire de- partment examinations. The mayor's clerk, who is also a member, acts as secretary. Clerks, stenographers, typists, and special technicians are hired without civil service tests. Many skilled persons are employed by council; other workers are appointed by the elected official under whom they function.
ANNUAL EVENTS
Dates in some of the following events vary annually. Events lacking definite dates are listed in the week in which they usually occur or are marked "nfd." (no fixed date) and take place in the month under which they are listed.
April- Easter Sunday-
June- nfd-
July I-
July- Last Saturday-
August- Ist week-
Crossingville Picnic 26.5 m. S. of Erie on State 98.
August- Ist week-
August- nfd-
August- nfd-
August- nfd-
Sept .- Labor Day-
Albion Ox roast and carnival; 26 m. S. of Erie on State 18.
Sept.
10- Sept .- nfd-
Perry Day.
North East Fair and Grape Carnival, held in col- laboration with street carnival of Lake Shore Post No. 105, American Legion. 16 m. E. of Erie; US 20.
Sept .- Week ending Labor Wattsburg Fair, held during week preceding Labor Day; 20 m. SE. of Erie on State 8.
Day-
Sept .- nfd-
Sunrise service. The Peninsula; under auspices of Erie Inter-Church Federation.
Booster Cruises; exact dates designated annually by Erie Chamber of Commerce (5 to 7 days).
Erie Yacht Regatta on Lake Erie in collaboration with Dominion Day in Canada.
Waterford Homecoming Day and annual dance of high school alumni; 16 m. S. of Erie; US 19 and State 97.
. German Day, Waldameer Park. Irish Day, Waldameer Park.
Polish Day, Waldameer Park.
Italian Day, Waldameer Park.
Edinboro Community Fair; 20 m. S. of Erie on State 99.
10
ERIE: AN IMPRESSION
ER "RIE, in the far northwest corner on the tiny strip of Pennsylvania's lake shore line, has developed from a trading post fort to a ranking industrial and recreational center largely because of three great physical attributes: Lake Erie with its shipping facilities and moderating effect upon the local climate; Presque Isle Bay with its landlocked harbor affording safe anchorage for shipping; and, more recently, Presque Isle Peninsula State Park with its seven miles of sandy beaches and hun- dreds of tree-shaded picnic areas offering a cool, breeze-swept recreation spot for western Pennsylvania.
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