Scene on the Road

I came from Mahaonoy City a thriving city in the 40s &50s. It is close to Hometown on Rt.54. We had two amusement parks Lakewood & Lakeside near Hometown. We had all the big bands of day,like the Dorsey Bros.who came from Shenandoah. My wife and I saw and danced to every big band in the business at the time. We saw Frank Sinatra when he was with the Tommy Dorsey band. Harry James, Glen Miller just to name a few. My parents are buried in Hometown. The Diner at the corner of 309 & Rt54 was a great place to go after the dances. I just wanted to let you know that Hometown was a great little town.

Tom, You could have tried Media, Pa. whose slogan is (or was) "Everybody's Hometown."

Recently (2007) they've been pushing "America's First Fair Trade Town," so I don't know if they've retired the earlier slogan.

Bill Jameson
Upper Providence Township

I read your article in today's newspaper with particular interest, because I grew up in Hometown, PA When you asked the one gentleman what people say when they learn he is from Hometown, he told you he really lived in Tamaqua! Therefore, I'm dropping a line to tell you what people say, when you tell them "I grew up in Hometown, PA."

The most common: "Oh? and what exactly was the name of your hometown?" which then leads to a sort of "who's on first?" repartee.
The second most common: "You mean I am looking at the original 'hometown girl?' "
Or, "Gee you look/don't look like a hometown girl!"

Anyway, the name "'Hometown," is a conversation starter and an ice-breaker, so I have never shied away from the question, "..and have you always lived in Bucks County?"

Doris Brown
Quakertown, PA

Doris, I wish I'd run into YOU when I was in Hometown. I asked a number of people in town, hoping for an interesting story or anecdote, but nobody had one to offer. A "Who's on First?" repartee was exactly what I was looking for.

Unfortunately, most didn't even think it was unusual to say my hometown is Hometown.

By the way, do you know how the name Hometown came to be? I also asked people in town there, and nobody could tell me.

I don't know if this is true, but growing up I was taught that the name "Hometown" came about because it was originally a Native American settlement (during the 17th century). The Indians (I think they were Tuscaroras) considered the area their "home base," and had built several hogans there. They came to these hogans in the late fall and stayed there throughout the winter. During the summers, they traveled to hunt & fish and visit with other tribes. I think they were part of the Iroquois nation, but I really am not sure about that! In any case, rather than refer to the place as "Hogantown," Tamaquans referred to it as "Hometown."

If you think about it, the story does make sociological sense. Tamaqua is two miles to the South, where three small rivers converge. This gave the white settlers a bit of distance (though not much) from the Indians, and plenty of water. It also gave the Indians access to water, without having to travel to Tamaqua where the settlers were, because the Schuylkill River runs through Hometown. So everyone's needs were met without infringing on the others' rights.

There is another interesting story about Hometown that no one probably told you. At one time, the building at the corner of the old Hazleton highway and Marinier Avenue used to be a sort of hotel with a bar. It was called the Amber Lantern and during prohibition, it was a speakeasy. One morning some laborers were working on the highway, when shots rang out. In just a few minutes, a man came crawling towards them. They ran to him, but he died of gunshot wounds before they could get his name. They were afraid to go to the Amber Lantern, because of the gunshots, but when the constable finally got there, the place was empty. Both the identity of the man and the identity of the shooter continue to be a mystery to this day.

Thank you for your article on my hometown, Hometown, PA.

You actually missed a few things in Hometown that might have made your trip more exciting. You didn't see the Hometown School which is about to be torn down. It was a one-room school house for grades one to four. I'm very proud to tell people I went to a one-room school house from 1st to 4th grades. A short distance from the school is a sign to show the location of a massacre that took place at a saloon called The Amber Lantern. That happened in either the late 30's or early 40"s. The little house across the street from the school had a tea room and one of the victims came into the tea room but before he could give any information he died. Hometown is also very close to Lake Hauto.

At the main intersection in Hometown where there is now a MacDonald's, there was a hotel called Scrafford's. Each summer we saw from my back yard many famous movie stars who did summer stock at the Lakewood Playhouse.

Also, as a child it was a fun outing to go to the High Bridge. The High Bridge is the highest or one of the highest railroad bridges in PA. During WWII my father guarded the bridge. Now it is used as a tourist attraction for short train trips from Jim Thorpe, PA.

Don't underestimate that little hometown. Hometown raised good citizens who are very active politically. They get involved in elections and lend major support to Schuylkill County. My mother, Nellie Purnell Scutzlas was on the State Board of Republican Women and made sure every voter had a ride to the polls in every election.

Nellie A. Purnell Mathias