January 31, 2010
Reminiscing On A Shamokin Childhood
As co-author of this blog I need to make it known to our readers that we never meant to—or mean to—disparage the city of Shamokin with our articles. We’re merely here to inject a bit of satire into what can sometimes be a gloomy communal outlook.
In all honesty, I think there’s a chance for Shamokin to thrive once again. Bring down the cost of commercial rentals in downtown Shamokin just as a START. Encourage new businesses to move in.
That’s one of the ultimate purposes of this blog—why I chose .biz instead of .com—to help bring new business to Shamokin. To bring new business opportunities to the town I grew up in and currently live in.
How will we do that? I’m working on it, let’s say. The details are still a bit sketchy.
How many empty storefronts do you see on Independence Street? When I was a kid they were all filled, and living in Shamokin wasn’t quite as Twilight-Zonish as it is now. I have many fond memories of my childhood in this town.
The Victoria Theater, or “The Vicky”
I saw countless movies there as a child and then a teen. It was a former fun and clean date spot to take your girlfriend, or maybe even meet someone. Nowadays you gotta do that in one of Shamokin’s ubiquitous bars.
I remember getting kicked out of the Vicky a few times as a kid, for throwing Ju Ju Beans (what were they called?) at the screen or other people. I was actually a good kid who made friends with some interesting characters, who made life in Shamokin tolerable—I can look back now and say that.
When they tore down the Vicky years ago a piece of Shamokin died with it. But hey, now we have dozens of extra parking spots that nobody ever seems to use. Someone had a great idea there.
“We pave paradise / And put up a parking lot” – remember the song? Counting Crows did a half-decent remake of it with Michelle Branch (I believe) backing up Adam Duritz on vocals.
Or was it Fiona Apple. Damn I don’t remember. I could just Google it but I’m feeling lazy right now, sorry.
Playing Stickball, Baseball, Basketball, Tennis
Back in the day (a Tuesday, as Dane Cook says), all the playgrounds and ball fields were taken care of in Shamokin. All the basketball rims had nets, and so did all the tennis courts.
Playground equipments was regularly painted and fixed, beautiful green grass and shady trees. No one yelled at you if you threw a ball against a wall with a chalked on strikezone to your buddy who was batting. People seemed to CARE about this town, especially the younger kids.
Today, of course, there is a new generation of “younger kids” in Shamokin and I don’t think they care so much. Just my opinion, based on the vandalism and littering and loitering. Always loitering. DO SOMETHING!
Safe To Be On The Street
No one ever worried about their kids wandering around at night in Shamokin 20-3o years ago. Things were fairly wholesome in this town. Today people always lock their doors and many live in fear because the world has certainly changed around them.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen 8-9-10 year-olds walking down the middle of the street cursing “F this” and “F that” around where I live. “Where were the parents?” Eminem would say, and I would say, “probably divorced.”
See A.K.A.’s post on this subject called When Coal Region Marriages Go Sour.
Now, I’m not saying you kids cursing is turning this town to shit. It’s just a small example of the little things that have changed around here. So many little things that they are simply overshadowed by what people perceive to be the big change—a major economic and social downturn.
End of Part One
I’m going to have to split this post up into a few more articles because there’s a lot that’s crossed my mind since I started thinking about this subject.
I’d love to hear YOUR STORIES about growing up in or around Shamokin, so please leave us a comment below! Part Two coming up.
Tell us what you think! Please leave a comment below. We LOVE comments!
Written by: William S.
Filed Under: Coal Dirt, Featured, History, Reminiscings
Tags: good old days, growing up in Shamokin PA, second street playground, Shamokin history, stickball, victoria theater
Trackback URL: http://shamokin.biz/reminiscing-on-a-shamokin-childhood/trackback/
KG
February 1, 2010 at 10:46 am
Good article. I also have a rosier outlook of Shamokin as a kid but often wondered if it was because Shamokin was thriving or if I was just little and didn’t know any better as to how shitty it was. I tend to think the former.
The one thing I do notice whenever I come back is that there are no kids out playing. I remember not thinking twice about shooting hoops in 30 degree weather this time of year as a kid. I barely even see kids out in the summer when I come home.
As far as the downtown goes, it definitely had a lot more character back then. Some, but not all of the blame, should be put upon a certain big-box department store that moved in and crushed all of the local competition with their wholesale buying advantage. The extra few nickels saved shopping there really takes a toll in chipping away the character of the Coal Region Main Street community.
William S.
February 1, 2010 at 11:39 pm
Thanks kindly. Your description of visiting Shamokin is sad but true. There are young kids living on all sides of me and I hardly ever hear them outside playing. It’s crazy.
We used to stay out until my mom would yell for me to get home and I’d take my 3rd shower of the day from sweating so much. There was Atari, there was Intellivision, but being outside with my buddies was the best thing ever.
Now, all my friends are online…
jjspook
February 1, 2010 at 1:36 pm
A few fond memories from my childhood in Shamokin:
Buying flip-flops at Jupies (Jupiter)
Playing Hide-and-go-seek in the cemetery.
Butt sliding down the spill-banks. (mom loved doing the wash afterward)
Kickball in the school yard. (Tharptown Elementary)
Seeing how fast I could go on my bike down Pine and Mulberry streets
jjspook
February 1, 2010 at 1:38 pm
BTW….That’s one freaky lookin snowman.
William S.
February 1, 2010 at 11:41 pm
Just the carrot nose is enough to make one stop and think this guy could be evil. I mean, I’m moving away from him in the picture so either he was creepy or he had bad booze breath.
A.K.A.
February 1, 2010 at 11:45 pm
Wow, great freakin’ pic!!! The song you were speaking of IS done by both the Counting Crows AND Amy Grant (how I know this, I am not proud of.)
The Vicky is a fond memory of mine. I saw “Ghost” there (3 times when I was 13) and also “Flatliners” at the same age, BEFORE they checked ID’s!!!
Also, we always would hang out at either the Arch Street playground or the 2nd street one. We’d just chill, play ball, or talk while on the swings or see-saws, even though we were “technically” too old to play on them. All innocence. I miss that.
KG
February 2, 2010 at 9:46 am
The Empire Strikes Back at the Vicky was like the biggest thing ever in the summer of 1980…well at least for us kids. I still can remember the line on opening night (at the Vicky this was unfortunately about a month in a half after it opened in all first run theaters) stretching around at least two blocks.
beth
May 21, 2010 at 2:00 pm
Ahhh memories of Shamokin. My son still says ‘were going home” when we visit family…..and he only lived there till he was 7 and we moved away. I was born and raised there. When ever anyone asks me where I am from, and I say Shamokin..it is amazing how many people know where it is..and HOW NICE THE PEOPLE ARE, dirty town..but super nice people. I ma proud ot be from Sahmokin.
Knowing the “big box” store took business isn’t quite entirely true….as a friend who tried to rent down town space to open a new business….and the rent and ‘restrciitons’…I was amazed that she could rent for less…up and across from that BIG BOX store. Those store fronts were long empty before WAL*MART came to town.REALLY??? Are we looking into attracting business into the area.
Last note….13 years after moving…I still own a home in Coal Township. Cheapest real estate taxes around… in possibly the US, or the world. Route 61…that 80% of people passing through ….who pass Dunkin Doughnuts…and porches falling down, rainspouting twisted…its deplorable. This is what is the impression of Shamokin. Get on these people to pay taxes. if not…Tear them down. Either way, your not getting tax revenue from these properties. they are an eye sore.Plant some trees and call it a day. When I hit the lottery ( it could happen!) its on my bucket list. Make it attractive, and it will invite the RIGHT type of citizans to call “Shamokinites” once again.
Taht is just my very own, long winded opinion. Tahnk you for reading my novel.