Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Pennsylvanian, the strange language

I'm proud to come from a long line of Pennsyltukians.
The family tree is very straight!
We only got out of the hills for WWII.
LOL

Lots of ethnic influences on "PA-speak". Anything from eastern Europeans, to da Amish. Some of it blended together over many generations. Been exposed to most of them.

Once worked for Bethlehem Steel in Steelton (near Harrisburg). Most of the ethnic groups "stuck together" at meal time, but I often bounced around, ate with most of them while working there.

That little town had just about every European ethnic group represented and at one time, each group had its own Catholic church and social club. The Diocese long ago consolidated most of the churches, but the clubs remain. And as noted previously above, most belonged to more than one ethnic social club and attended all the picnics. Beer, good eats, polkas and more beer.

Noticed years ago, that much of northern Indiana, Wisconsin, western NY and northcentral PA, have similar accents. Was in Elkhart, IN once and thought I was back in northcentral PA, where my dad is from and where I still hunt. Most pronounce "on" as "ahn", fog as fahg, etc.

'Course my maternal Granny always had her a "flahr" garden out back.

You really haven't missed anything! lol

My grandmother "warshed" her laundry

Pa at one time possibly could have laid claim to the poaching capital of the U.S.
Then again we had more than alot of Deer at one time. Growing up it was nothing to count over a hundred a day in the mountain counties. Herds of 40 and 50 where a common sight and in the fields you could often spotlight hundreds in a single evening.

Haven't heard that term used for a while. Had an acquaintance who was the friend of a cousin and his rifle looked more than beat up and I asked him about it. His reply was; "If you had been thrown out of a car as many times as that rifle has, you wouldn't look all that great either."

Addition: 10 plus years ago the head of the GC was booted out.
The reason? Poaching Deer, among others.

http://pgchallofshame.com/news/news6.htm

I think the PA term that always got the biggest WTF from people was when I asked for a gum band.

Didja PennDOT's having a big lay-off? Seems some Chinese guy invented a shovel that stands up by itself.

I just had the honor and priviledge of interviewing a gentleman that was a tail gunner who flew 35 missions with the 8th Air Force.

Instead of a typical back and forth Q&A interview, I just led with "Harry, tell me a little bit about what you did back then." And that was pretty much all I said for the next hour. He just wanted to talk, and tell his story, on his own. His wife, daughter-in-law, and grandson were there as well. We all just sat and listened. What a fantastic experience...

Pop = soda

Having grown up in Youngstown Ohio I recognize many of the phrases that crossed the state line. Lots of other fond memories of Pa.
I saw Emerson,Lake and Palmer's first US show at Thiel College in Greenville, the prettiest girl I didn't marry was from New Brighton
in the heart of the "Beaver Valley". We liked to go to "Frenchy's" restaurant in Pittsburgh.
Anybody remember the "Garden Gate Restaurant" on 224 west of Butler? best buffet ever at the time.

they finally put another business in there and took down the 85 cent gas sign. it was there for many years though and i'm sure made a few folks jump. i hear the only cop in jennerstown is also the night manager at that filthy burger king.

I ate at the Garden Gate when I was a kid. I'd forgotten all about that place. Wasn't it on 422 though, not 224?

Dale

Yep, it is 422.

224 is over near Youngstown however, so maybe that's the thing that caused the little hiccup in memory.

I use to own land near Tionesta on Iran Furnace road.

My Dad, and his buds had a camp near Hearts Content. High school pal of mine's family's camp was near McGee Run. Fond memories of both places. My buddy wound up moving up to the Warren area. Married a local gal, and is still there. I really liked the Emporium area. One of my Dad's co-workers at West Penn Power, transferred up there, and we visited and hunted up there a bit. They're all gone to the Happy Hunting Grounds now.

Jeff

Dont forget the rad-o-light.

dave

Hearts Content is a cool place. Love looking at all the old growth timber there.



These threads do stir up old memories.

That it is. The view from the Fire Tower (pronounced fire tire in PA speak!) was really something. Wonder if it's still there? If it is, I doubt a kid is allowed to climb it to take a look.

There used to be a bunch of guys who would pitch a big Army tent on a bed of straw near there, and spend the entire deer season there.

Jeff

About five years ago I did a "Route 6 trip" with a buddy of mine. We left his place in Centre County, drove up to the Drake Oil Well, spent the night in Erie and then took a couple of days to drive across the northern tier. We had to cut the trip short at Tunkhannock, and then came back through Hughesville to Centre County.
I really liked Warren and the Kinzua Dam area and also like the towns of Coudersport and Galeton, along with Emporium, which isn't on Route 6.

You're correct, it was 422. I just remember the managers name was Shirley, and she was an incredible lady.
I had to go back and look at a map 224 and 422 converged in New Castle, speaking of New Castle is PO Lunch still in business?