NE PA & The Poconos Stories (Philadelphia, Lincoln: dorm, deed, wages)

[SanyBelle]

I lived and grew up in Central PA. In the mid-70's during college, I worked in a resort called Fernwood as a waitress. I worked there for 5 summers from the summer after I graduated high school until after I graduated from college. We would work breakfast and dinner and serve the guests who stayed there and had their meals included in their room rate. Fernwood and other resorts used to hire kids from Europe to work there also, we'd all get free room and board. What a party time that was, but I also made enough money to put myself through college!

Any locals work there at that time? Do the resorts still do that? Is Fernwood still open?

[Gerania]

When I was in 5th, 6th grade and junior high school, my best friend lived in Trailwood about a mile from the Turnpike entrance on Rt. 115. She and I loved to play in the woods and camp in the yard. Her older brother loved to scare the daylights out of us and tell the story of the bearman. I can't relate that story because it changed every time he told it. He tried his best to scare us.

I wonder where or when he got the idea that there had ever been a bearman.

[cremebrulee]

Originally Posted by SanyBelle

I lived and grew up in Central PA. In the mid-70's during college, I worked in a resort called Fernwood as a waitress. I worked there for 5 summers from the summer after I graduated high school until after I graduated from college. We would work breakfast and dinner and serve the guests who stayed there and had their meals included in their room rate. Fernwood and other resorts used to hire kids from Europe to work there also, we'd all get free room and board. What a party time that was, but I also made enough money to put myself through college!

Any locals work there at that time? Do the resorts still do that? Is Fernwood still open?

I cannot answer your questions, but remember Fernwood well....

I worked Construction in the summer months and waited tables in winter, and worked at a lot of local diners/restaurants there.

Saylorsburg Inn, Saylorsburg Diner, worked at one of the resorts, but not long, didn't care for it...and I forget which one....(please excuse me, but my memory is not so good, I have MS)

Anyway, also drove down to Hotel Bethlehem and worked there...which I enjoyed...

SanyBelle, I'm very proud of you, that you put yourself thru college... way to go!

[cremebrulee]

Originally Posted by gerania

when i was in 5th, 6th grade and junior high school, my best friend lived in trailwood about a mile from the turnpike entrance on rt. 115. She and i loved to play in the woods and camp in the yard. Her older brother loved to scare the daylights out of us and tell the story of the bearman. I can't relate that story because it changed every time he told it. He tried his best to scare us.

I wonder where or when he got the idea that there had ever been a bearman.

lol....

[fisheye]

Originally Posted by cremebrulee

I cannot answer your questions, but remember Fernwood well....

I worked Construction in the summer months and waited tables in winter, and worked at a lot of local diners/restaurants there.

Saylorsburg Inn, Saylorsburg Diner, worked at one of the resorts, but not long, didn't care for it...and I forget which one....(please excuse me, but my memory is not so good, I have MS)

Anyway, also drove down to Hotel Bethlehem and worked there...which I enjoyed...

SanyBelle, I'm very proud of you, that you put yourself thru college... way to go!

I used to chase around the waitresses when I was younger (before I met my wife). The one thing that did bother me is that some resorts, like Buck Hill Falls Inn, would subtract everything from their pay at the end of their stay. Many, especially underprivileged young men and women, would be bussed in from our metropolitan areas (NYC and Philadelphia) for the busy summer tourist months. After all of the pay deductions for meals, lodging, etc. they would go home almost as broke as the way they came.

[cremebrulee]

Originally Posted by fisheye

I used to chase around the waitresses when I was younger (before I met my wife). The one thing that did bother me is that some resorts, like Buck Hill Falls Inn, would subtract everything from their pay at the end of their stay. Many, especially underprivileged young men and women, would be bussed in from our metropolitan areas (NYC and Philadelphia) for the busy summer tourist months. After all of the pay deductions for meals, lodging, etc. they would go home almost as broke as the way they came.

Not surprised Fisheye, heard some pretty unsavvy things about those resorts...I cannot speak for them now, but had heard at one time, they were all owned by the same people.

[Gerania]

Originally Posted by fisheye

I used to chase around the waitresses when I was younger (before I met my wife). The one thing that did bother me is that some resorts, like Buck Hill Falls Inn, would subtract everything from their pay at the end of their stay. Many, especially underprivileged young men and women, would be bussed in from our metropolitan areas (NYC and Philadelphia) for the busy summer tourist months. After all of the pay deductions for meals, lodging, etc. they would go home almost as broke as the way they came.

I hope the people in the kitchen were giving away (for a small price maybe) the food that was going to be thrown out. Restaurants throw out a lot of food.

[fisheye]

Originally Posted by Gerania

I hope the people in the kitchen were giving away (for a small price maybe) the food that was going to be thrown out. Restaurants throw out a lot of food.

Back then most of the food went to the pigs (literally). Pig farmers would pick up the 'edible' garbage and feed it to the swine. Then our State changed the rules and required the farmers to 'cook' the garbage before it was fed and eventually they stopped the practice.

[mr.magoo]

Originally Posted by Gerania

When I was in 5th, 6th grade and junior high school, my best friend lived in Trailwood about a mile from the Turnpike entrance on Rt. 115. She and I loved to play in the woods and camp in the yard. Her older brother loved to scare the daylights out of us and tell the story of the bearman. I can't relate that story because it changed every time he told it. He tried his best to scare us.

I wonder where or when he got the idea that there had ever been a bearman.

Bearman...that's a new one for me..but at that age..I'm sure it was scary..no matter how many times/way he told it..

We had the man with the hook for an arm..ALWAYs scared the putty out of me..no matter how many times , or different version I heard.

Mr. Wussy here..:-)

After I saw Rosemary's Baby at the RKO Lincoln in Trenton NJ ..I had to sleep with the desk light on for 2 weeks.

call me Mr. Pitiful.

[mr.magoo]

Originally Posted by fisheye

I used to chase around the waitresses when I was younger (before I met my wife). The one thing that did bother me is that some resorts, like Buck Hill Falls Inn, would subtract everything from their pay at the end of their stay. Many, especially underprivileged young men and women, would be bussed in from our metropolitan areas (NYC and Philadelphia) for the busy summer tourist months. After all of the pay deductions for meals, lodging, etc. they would go home almost as broke as the way they came.

That's sad Fisheye..
I worked as a Busboy at two different restaurants in Trenton..and I have to say..the only minorities at the time were Blacks..and the only Latinos were Puerto Ricans..

The PR guys worked their butts off, at reduced wages...

but they perservered....no one would hire PR women at that time..I was only 16..
Me and my white homies looked after the Puerto Rican dudes...we played music together after shifts and got invited out to the Mill Hill section of Trenton where most of them lived at the time for parties and jam sessions.

I was a Busboy and a dishwasher..it's were I learned my life long hobby of cooking.

I was rail thin and tall..the cooks like it that I loved their food and always wanted to learn how they put it all
together.
I scored some great meals and more to take home after my shift...me and my Homies

Gerania..no wasted food as long as magoo was 'in the house'