Memories

John P. Manning:

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     "The first clambake was held in the parking lot of St. Edwards. Msgr. William Nash was our pastor at the time and Fr. Delbert Cook was the assistant. S. Renner and four sons (Bill, Bob, John and Art) supplied all the beer free of charge. The price of this first clambake was $3.00 and more than 400 were in attendance. In fact, we ran out of clams! Fr. Cook made the clam juice, and we scrubbed the clams for 2 days.

     Clams were cooked in a small room with no ventilation. Chuck Haggerty and I cooked the clams. I lost 15 pounds that day!

     John Chaffee, Jack Fitzgerald, Dr. Bill Flynn and many others helped on the clambake.

     The entertainment was Mr. Waldman who was a magician, and he was good.

     Tony O’Horo was always a major sponsor of clambake.

     First was the clam juice, next clams, chicken, sweet potatoes, and corn with plenty of beer and pop.

After clambake, many stayed to play cards and poker til midnight.

     The clambake was held each year on the third Thursday in August.

     Clambake was held in 1938, ’39,’40,’41. I do not know if it was held during the years ’42-45 because I was in the service.

     Ticket sellers were John Hughes, and Tony O’Horo. Tony bought most of the tickets.

     Msgr. Nash would give all the proceeds to new parishes starting out.

     Msgr. John Daum, who started the Kent State Newman Center, received all the proceeds for five years and he helped all those five years.

     Each new parish that started up would receive the proceeds for that year.

     Other ticket sellers were Ralph and Carmen Naples of the Golden Dawn Restaurant.

     Fr. Nash didn’t believe in meetings so I’m sure I missed a lot of the ticket sellers.

     I was away at Ohio University for three years (1946-1949). I had 181 semester hours when I graduated. I assume they had clambake those 3 years."

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Moon Barrett:

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     “Clambake 1952 was second one for my dad and me. Renner Brewery would back their semi up to back door. It would be loaded with Renner Golden Amber beer and Renner Old Oxford Ale. Card games upstairs. The kids would bring cases of beer to the players. A lot of heavy hitters from the Valley—company owners, union leaders and philanthropists—supported the event through the years.” Names mentioned: Tony O’Horo, John Caffee, Jack Fitzgerald, Dr. Bill Flynn, Ralph and Carmen Naples, Charles Cushwa, John Coakley, John Powers, and Jim Griffin.

     The clambake moved from the parking lot to the former church school, House of Valley in Hubbard, then Mahoning Country Club, finally to Mt. Carmel Hall."