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FAMILIAR SAYINGS HAUNT ALTOONANS
by Bets Lastort
Back in the end of 1982, I ran a series of columns entitled "Real
Altoonans". The series was a compilation of sayings and behavioral
Patterns of area folk; much of it submitted by mail after the first column
appeared.
I hadn't thought about "Real Altoonans" in years. That was quite a few
columns ago. Readers, however, never forget. And some have asked that some of
the material be reprinted. So... here goes!
"Real Altoonans..." my comments - do you guys remember any of this????
Read the "Meer." several people call it that
Remember listening to the telephone poles to find out if a street car was
coming.
Recall getting cinders in their eyes when they crossed the bridges.
Know where you mean when you say "up the mountain".
Call Conrail "that railroad company" and refer to everything from Juniata to
East Altoona as "the shops." yep
Have to be reminded that Juniata and Lakemont are part of Altoona.
Still can’t remember?
Call Prince Gallitzin State Park "Glendale".
Still know how Cricket Field Plaza got its name. ????
Swear the words "y'ins or "you'ins" are in the dictionary. ‘They are!!’
Leave the "9" and the "4" off their phone number when they give them to
you.
Know where "Driving Park" and "Mud Town" are. ‘no idea!’
Go to the "liberry".
Eat "samiches".
Say "garsh" instead of gosh; "warsh" instead of wash.
‘never, but still do’
Always watched the "Atlantic Weatherman".
Drink their beer out of "alunimum" cans. ‘aluminum is a tricky word’
Have friends who are "Eyetalian".
Refer to Altoona Area High School as "the" high school and to Bishop
Guilfoyle High School as "Catholic High".
Wash their "head", not their hair.
Fish in a "crick". A crick is a smaller creek - isn't it?
Know Santa comes down the "chimbley" or "chimley
Refer to businesses as "outfits" - as in "that outfit over on Broad
Avenue."
Carry things in a "poke" or a "sack". sounds like hillbillies
Remember when hiking up "the Kettle" was a favorite pastime.
or ‘Greg hiked the Horse-Shoe.’
Call closets "cupboards" or "clothes presses".
Know why people go "up Wopsy". ????
Truly believe the legend of the "White Lady" and that Baker Mansion is really
haunted. ‘its not!’
"Lift supper", then "red" the table.
‘Lifted super from the stove to the table then red up the table.
Know the "Hills" - Red Hill, Dutch Hill, Gospel Hill, Jew Hill, Gamble Hill,
Ant Hill and the almost forgotten Golf Hill.
‘no idea where Ant and Golf are....
Search their "coop-ee" holes in their attics to find lost treasures. So
what's wrong with coop-ee holes (what else would you call them?)
Remember playing at Cricket Field and headed home when the shop whistle blew.
to young
Buried their "Misters" in the suits they were married in. .............
Know what the terms "two times out" and "deadhead" mean.
sisters asked mother-in-law, said railroad terms, 2nd to go and returned home
w/o working.
Go for a "drive", not a ride, "over" to State College. still say it Still
refer to TV-10 as "Gables's" or "WFBG-TV".