In response to oldguy's message:

RE: So.Cville murder
Yes, there was a murder and it was Poke Jaynes that murdered his wife. They lived in a little house near where the sewage plant is today. It was on the left going down the road to the dam, just before the dump for the Capstan Plant. Seems to me it was in the later 40's, maybe 48?? The house was then empty for several years and subsequently torn down.

John Poke Jaynes, a retired constable, shot and killed his wife Dec 15, 1946 at about 11 am in the morning. She died about 7 pm that night. He was tried and acquitted in June of 1946. He married Mona Rheba, who had been married to his brother Wade, after Wade died. He was 60 and she was 28. She had 2 children Wade Lewis and Pearl.

In response to Incognito's message:

RE: South Connellsville Beach...
Yep, there are people there still throughout the summer. I doubt its as popular as it once was though, but a few die hards remain. A few summers ago some out area teenager(s) drowned at Turtle rock, and made the Pittsburgh news. A good many people have drowned there over the years, the rivers calm at the surface hides a mean current below.

i am 18 me and all my buddies go down still there are still many older people in there sixtys or so who go down also its still the place to be

In response to oldguy's message:

RE: So.Cville murder
Yes, there was a murder and it was Poke Jaynes that murdered his wife. They lived in a little house near where the sewage plant is today. It was on the left going down the road to the dam, just before the dump for the Capstan Plant. Seems to me it was in the later 40's, maybe 48?? The house was then empty for several years and subsequently torn down.

I remember one of the Stoner boys shooting Bob Rahl many years ago, must have been in the early to mid 1970's. They lived at the time out towards the "end of the line" on Pittsburgh Street. I went to school with his daughter Robin. A sweet family that tragedy touched.

In response to Helms's message:

So.Cville murder
"Poke" Janes murdered his wife in So. Cville in the late 40"s ,,,46? anyone remember?

Yes, there was a murder and it was Poke Jaynes that murdered his wife. They lived in a little house near where the sewage plant is today. It was on the left going down the road to the dam, just before the dump for the Capstan Plant. Seems to me it was in the later 40's, maybe 48?? The house was then empty for several years and subsequently torn down.

In response to memories's message:

RE: MEMORIES
i just read your not was your father Charlie He worked on the rail road and passed away a good many years ago My husband worked with Cjarlie and i met all of you Your mother was barbie and she was a tiny featured lady nice talking

Yes that was my dad....And yes my mom was Barbie...although I always knew her as mom...lol.... Wow, wasn't expecting anyone to remember...I mean..Mom and us kids moved away in 1983....to NC... How did you know my parent? WHen did you meet us? I mean would I remember you? WOuld my mom?

In response to Sandee's message:

RE: Hello South Connellsville
My grandmother lived in the house to the left. I think they moved there in the early -mid '60s

Hello I grew up in S. Connellsville. On vine st ( Behind the church ). My Stepfather was a Flynn. I rember the circus & the elephant. Did alot of swiming at the river. Alot of time at the caves also. Lived there from 1974 till 1989. I still visit some times. Last time Pete Casini and the Police chased me out of caspairs. O'well still like the town. The rock in the middle of the river ( Turtle Rock )

In response to xriverrat's message:

Hello South Connellsville
I grew up in S. Connellsville and I do not think there is a batter place to be from.There may be a place as good but not batter.If you look at the S.Connellsville pictures the one titled (spring blossoms in S. connellsville)the house in the middle is one I grew up in.With the playground right be hind are house I spent alot of time there. And yes I remember the fireman's fair all of are friends would be there.Does anyone remember the time the circus come to S. Connellsville .I will never forget it I woke up that morning and looked out the window and saw a elephant.And the best of all was the river. That is where I would be all summer.I don't know about today but the years that I was going to the S.Connellsville beach no one drown there.I don't know how many trained lifeguards were there,but there was alot of us at the S. connellsville beach.WE all had alot of fun doing different things at the beach .But there was one thing that most of us would do together .Does anyone remember playing king of middle rock.

My grandmother lived in the house to the left. I think they moved there in the early -mid '60s

Having grown up in South Connellsville in the 40's and 50's a flood of memories come back to me. Living at the end of the "carline" meant going to beach on a regular basis, riding the street car to town, sled riding on the sloped streets, walking to Gibson School, going to the Firemans Fair, going to East Park to ice skate, going to East Park for the Recreation Thursday night programs, playing pickup baseball in***an"s cow pasture, tossing crab apples at the workers going to Anchor Hocking, bringing in the coal for our furnace, letting the Jello cool on the front porch, cutting grass with a push mower for 50 cents, Sunday School picnics at Shady Grove Park. I can go on and on with plenty more of the memories that made me who I am today. This part of life can not be duplicated anywhere. I am thankful to have lived the formative years in such an environment with friends and their parents to help keep us on the right track. Thank you!!!! ....South Connellsville.

In response to Helms's message:

So.Cville murder
"Poke" Janes murdered his wife in So. Cville in the late 40"s ,,,46? anyone remember?

I would need full (birth) name of Murder or Murdered to follow lead. A few murders in the 30's-40's in South Connellsville so give better info to close in on which one. Sincerely CWR

Its amazing how time flies, you close your eyes and decades flash by. I remember my time as a child, a child growing up a the end of the line. A new kid on the block living in a trailer got my family much scoff. The woods surrounded our hubble home with sounds new to a boy out of his realm. As the nation pulled itself from uncertain doom this town did all it could to protect its own. I seen in it something I’ve never seen before a community bonded no matter your views. I moved from the city to this small country town, lonely was I until I found my life long friend. He and I explored its reaches and taunted those easy of nerves as we flung rock filled socks up high on the power lines I can just picture it now. A tight nit family town with nothing to hide, proudly they display those that stood to defend our nation .Losses were great through out the years, but South Connelsville is still standing here. Thing’s haven’t changed much for our little piece of land other then a few new houses, and a few new faces nothing more grand. The mountains, the river the green green grass are still there, only a cynic would disagree . I’ve tracked this nation and the world discovering many things , however one place was always on my mind Home South Connellsville Pa.. Sincerely CWR

"Poke" Janes murdered his wife in So. Cville in the late 40"s ,,,46? anyone remember?

In response to Elizabeth Flow's message:

MEMORIES
I too was raised in Connellsville and through a twist of fate was moved south and I miss home...I miss the Freedom Festival and East Park....I remember field trips to the Dairy Queen in Kindergarten with Miss Natalie walking all of us kids down the street....And we learned MORE in a half day of kindergarten then my kids learned in a full day in North Carolina Schools and my experiences at Zach Connell in the late 70's and early 80's is just one of the many reasons I am 8 classes away from my own teaching degree...Anyone remember the Livingston girls...Barbie, Betty and Carol...WELL I'm little Betty all grown up to Elizabeth....

i just read your not was your father Charlie He worked on the rail road and passed away a good many years ago My husband worked with Cjarlie and i met all of you Your mother was barbie and she was a tiny featured lady nice talking

I grew up in S. Connellsville and I do not think there is a batter place to be from.There may be a place as good but not batter.If you look at the S.Connellsville pictures the one titled (spring blossoms in S. connellsville)the house in the middle is one I grew up in.With the playground right be hind are house I spent alot of time there. And yes I remember the fireman's fair all of are friends would be there.Does anyone remember the time the circus come to S. Connellsville .I will never forget it I woke up that morning and looked out the window and saw a elephant.And the best of all was the river. That is where I would be all summer.I don't know about today but the years that I was going to the S.Connellsville beach no one drown there.I don't know how many trained lifeguards were there,but there was alot of us at the S. connellsville beach.WE all had alot of fun doing different things at the beach .But there was one thing that most of us would do together .Does anyone remember playing king of middle rock.

I too was raised in Connellsville and through a twist of fate was moved south and I miss home...I miss the Freedom Festival and East Park....I remember field trips to the Dairy Queen in Kindergarten with Miss Natalie walking all of us kids down the street....And we learned MORE in a half day of kindergarten then my kids learned in a full day in North Carolina Schools and my experiences at Zach Connell in the late 70's and early 80's is just one of the many reasons I am 8 classes away from my own teaching degree...Anyone remember the Livingston girls...Barbie, Betty and Carol...WELL I'm little Betty all grown up to Elizabeth....

In response to Chris's message:

Fond memories ....
I grew up in so. connellsville and have many fond memories there. Our family moved west when I was 17 to exciting california but looking back I had more fun back there then in california. Let's see some things that were fun: quad riding up in the mountains and out to the casparis caves. Picking blackberries out past the rod in gun club. fishing in the yough and near the dam. the christmas lights on pittsburgh street that were lit up on thanksgiving. shooting at the rod in gun club, my dad was a member. cray fishing along the crick. swimming the yough near turtle rock and diving from rocks across the river. Quad riding over to Indian creek where the perfect swimming hole was that was like a party many days in the summer. hunting up near casparis after thanksgiving.

I remember the excitement of the south connellsville firemans fair that would transform the ballpark and playground into an amusement park. Half of the park would be filled with rides, trailers for games, and good food. The best food was always at the little wooden building across the road that would only be used during the carnival or fair. for whatever reason I can only recall being there at night with all the rides lit up. It would have been the late 70s and early to mid 80s... After that my family too moved away (though not to california!!) I still have a stuffed animal my uncle won me at one of the games.

I grew up in so. connellsville and have many fond memories there. Our family moved west when I was 17 to exciting california but looking back I had more fun back there then in california. Let's see some things that were fun: quad riding up in the mountains and out to the casparis caves. Picking blackberries out past the rod in gun club. fishing in the yough and near the dam. the christmas lights on pittsburgh street that were lit up on thanksgiving. shooting at the rod in gun club, my dad was a member. cray fishing along the crick. swimming the yough near turtle rock and diving from rocks across the river. Quad riding over to Indian creek where the perfect swimming hole was that was like a party many days in the summer. hunting up near casparis after thanksgiving.

In response to A.M.'s message:

South Connellsville Beach...
My fondest memories of growing up were at the south connellsville beach.. We spent many a summer there back in the 70s.. I wonder if it still is used?? nowadays probably everyone has swimming pools and probably don't swim in a rive, but it was the place to be back in the old days.

Yep, there are people there still throughout the summer. I doubt its as popular as it once was though, but a few die hards remain. A few summers ago some out area teenager(s) drowned at Turtle rock, and made the Pittsburgh news. A good many people have drowned there over the years, the rivers calm at the surface hides a mean current below.

My fondest memories of growing up were at the south connellsville beach.. We spent many a summer there back in the 70s.. I wonder if it still is used?? nowadays probably everyone has swimming pools and probably don't swim in a rive, but it was the place to be back in the old days.