Here's the latest addition to the ville's floodwall murals. For most it doesn't need any explanation. If you were in the ville any time in the last 54 years you have to know about Nick's and have probably tasted some of his pizza. I know a guy from Chicago that gets to town every four or five years and one of his first stops is at the shop on Main Street.
Pictured in the mural is Nick Checkler with the cap and his grandson Patrick in the door. Walking down the street is Nick's daughter "Pinky" and his wife Gwen. This mural covers a few years in order to get all the family included. Patrick is Pinky's son and he wasn't even thought of back in '54. Pinky was still learning how to write her name in grade school at that point in time.
Nick was one of the Checkler brothers inducted into the Wellsville Legends this summer. I'm not sure but I think his shop was one of the first pizza shops in town. It's been at the same location at 349 Main Street since he opened in 1954. I can still remember filling up on those 10 cent slices of pizza and it was usually just out of the oven. It was a very popular spot and you usually had to wait in line to order. Then you had to wait for it to come out of the oven. It was worth the wait.
Once again artist Gina Hampson has done an outstanding job. From what I read in the MJ yesterday her next one will be WHS Class of '58. Don't know the details for that one and I'm not even sure she'll be able to do it this season. We'll just have to wait and see.
Thanks to the Revitalization Committee for brightening up the scenery. You all do nice work.
Who can tell me what Pinky's given name is?
ole nib
29 comments:
nancy
Her given name is Nancy, but never call her that.
Nancy
The guy from Chicago wants 4 pieces, corners and crust please.
Ted
Nancy - Class of 1964
I forgot to add- Nick's pizza is still the very BEST !!!
Nancy is her name. I've known her son Patrick for many years. What a sad loss.
Nib, Pinky's given name is Nancy. She is my aunt, and I had to call my brother to ask what her "real" name was, cause I never knew myself till now!
Pinky's given name is Nancy.
I have really enjoyed this site for several months....thanks!!
Pinkys real name is Nancy
nancy checkler
HMM...Never knew that. Wonder if she was named after her uncle Nance Checkler?
nice mural and a great piece of wellsville history. I like having such a variety of historic things to look at. Thanks Gina, thanks wellsville committee.
Nancy Ann Checkler. Her mother (aunt gwendola to me) was a girlhood friend of my mother Myrtle Rhodes Hardman in W.VA. Gwen was living with my mother on Riverside Ave when she met and married Nick. I rember so well the first night it opened. My family really enjoyed the taste as I did until I moved west in 1958. When I visit Wellsville I still do
Ok folks & Pinkdot it's been determined that Pinky's given name is Nancy. For some reason I was thinking it was Margret. Must be cranial cob webs. I've known Pinky since grade school days.
Can anyone tell me if it was the first pizza shop in town. As far as I can remember it was but in the course of Wellsville history I'm just a youngster.
nib
It was the first one.My uncle Mona Corbisello (friend of Nick's) told me it was a receipe from Nicks mother. I also was told that from my teacher Al Checkler.
All I can say is, it was the best pizza in town back then, and it is the best now.
If memory serves me, the place where Dalonzos is now use to be a pizza shop. Cant think of the name or time frame. That building was the host of a lot of businesses.
Thanks Dot. I thought it was the first. That fact about the sauce recipe makes it even more special.
That place where Nick Dalonzo is in now use to be a bank way back when. It's engraved in the stone between the 1st & 2nd floor. When I was a youngster it was the Post Office. There was a dentist office on the 2nd floor. I think I was told at one time they use to have dances regularly on the 3rd floor. It could have been a pizza shop at one time or another. I just don't remember it. Of course in more recent history it was Russell's Mini Mart before they relocated on 2nd St.
nib
I believe it was called Marios and was owned by the Logans.Dont remember who worked there or how long it lasted.
When was growing up there was a drugstore where rusells had their store I belive owned by one of the Adams family also at that time they also had a food market up on main st.near 4th. The adams family lived on riverside near ninth street,The 700 block of riverside was Cataldo family-Lawson sisters (2 elderly unmarried) of the Lawson dimestore family then the Culps (culp Drug store on main). Corner of 7th & riverside Dr Neitz (home & office) next Hardmans (My Family) next Mrs Calhoun (School Nurse ). Nib, you are correct the post office was there next to the drug store. They did have dancing up stairs.
What is hard to believe is that in all of these years noboby has even come close to beating Nick's Pizza. It will always be the best in the Ville.
I love when you post the pictures for the flood wall. It is our pride and joy. Thanks to Gina and the members of the committee. They have done us proud. The murals make everyone feel good. It is almost like you can walk into them and go back in time. I also like the variety. I'm an old timer who remembers everything up there. Keep up the good work. My favorite is the football field. It is hard to pick a favorite. Can
any of you.
nice to remember.. your right, it is hard to pick a favorite. I guess I would pick the Delta Queen. She may not be able to come up the Ohio anymore, so at least we will have this great picture.
I love the Liberty Theatre. I remember when it really looked like that. My sister and I went to the movies there. What a shame it looks like it does now. But like you said, at least we have a great picture of it. My next favorite is the tribute to the Veterans. How does she do it? She has quite the eye for detail. I dont think there is anything that young lady couldnt paint. Keep up the good work.
The place where DaLonzo's is now was called Mario's Pizza at one time. I actually loved their pizza, but no one rivals Nick Checkler! Also, Nick's was "officially" opened in 1954, when he got his seller's permit, but he acutally opened the year before, in 1953, without a permit. I get this straight from Nancy . . . . . ooops . . .Pinky!!!
My favorite mural has to be the roadside park. I wish it was still there. So called, progress has taken alot away from the Ville.
We would be better off if we still had the things on that wall. Thinks about it.
Nick's is the absolute greatest and only PIZZA, that Wellsville has ever produced, besides maybe Foxes Pizza which was good too!
The pizza shop opened in 1954 and(my dad) Nick got the sellers permit in 1955. It was the first Pizza shop in Wellsville. He learned the pizza business from his friend Primo DeCarlo, but did not want the same taste so he changed the recipe to a combination of his mothers and the one DeCarlo used. Also I would like to thank everyone for all your support and patronage over the years. I am very proud to be from the Ville. Love Pinky
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