Series Part 23 – Extracts from Dickeyville Days Memoirs

By Lane Harding Psotto, Lisa Zavadil Hennigan & Philip Sleck

Memories from Lane Harding Psotto

I am Lane Harding Psotto. 2505 Pickwick Road.  I remember how much fun to go trick or treating at Hallowen.  My memories of Chris and Nancy Taylor. The Lovelace family. Althea Lovelace would baby sit me. My mom Agnes Harding went to high school with Tricia Colgan’s mom Elaine. The best of my childhood is Dickeyville.  Time does fly when we get older. Dickeyville gave all of us the best time to grow up. lhp

Memories from Lisa Zavadil Hennigan

I lived at 2311 Pickwick from 1963-1970. It was a magical time. Though I was very young, I can imagine the fun you all had as teenagers running around the neighborhood. I was friendly with DeAnne Miller, Patricia Henry, Nancy Little, Billy Bartlett, Richie Shell.  I thoroughly enjoy all the stories! I only wish I was able to have stayed in Dickeyville to enjoy the childhood fun! We lived across from the Crosbys on Pickwick (2311) and moved to Pittsburgh around 1970. Billy [Bartlett]- my parents told stories, for years, about how I chased you around the neighborhood screeching your name. I certainly hope I didn’t traumatize you in anyway :-))  lzh

Memories from Philip Sieck

A Dickeyville Fourth of July

The little village of Dickeyville had a unique Fourth of July celebration tradition, of course with variations from time to time.  On the evening of July 3rd Pickwick Road would be blocked off and a sheet of linoleum would be rolled out on the street in front of the IOOF/store building.  Many villagers would dance, watch and visit.  The natives would be up early on July 4th to prepare for the parade having created floats (some on Radio Flyer wagons), decorated cars, bikes, dogs, etc. for the 10:00 a.m. event.  US flags were prominent and military uniforms were evident.  Prizes were given at the conclusion of the parade around the Methodist Church triangle at the center of the village.  One car that stood out for me was the Stissel’s VW beetle with its hood up decorated as a shark, or fish, very creative.

The Fourth celebration would continue down by the stream and dam with a big picnic lunch, including hard crabs in later years.  The year my dad, Luther, was Mayor (President of the Dickeyville Association) his very brief speech included advice that most of the houses and buildings on the East coast should have wheels installed so that they could be moved more readily and also the land paved over entirely for expansion of the ever increasing roads.  I believe he didn’t get re-elected.

During the pastorate of Tom Spears at Dickey Memorial Presbyterian Church, we were grown up and back for a visit over a fourth when a new element was added to the parade.  Tom and some of his friends from the village formed and performed as the Dickeyville Long Distance Precision Marching Lawn Mower Team!  It was hilarious to watch as they zigged and zagged with their push mowers across each other’s’ paths as they trooped down the street.  I believe that was 2000, the year the village thoughtfully celebrated my parents as they were leaving Dickeyville to move to Mercy Ridge.   ps