PINEY FORK MEMORIES — Those who once lived in the small mining community of Piney Fork came together with a picnic and to talk over old times at the Smithfield Township Park. There were 33 in attendance, including, from left, kneeling, Dan Slivenski, Helen Benardo Hopkins, Pat Veltri, JoAnn Zampieri Whetsell, Marilyn Hruschak Pasco and Mary Frances Stratton; and back, Ed Krulcik, Ann Marie Krulcik Grayzar, John Borkowski, Leona Krulcik Zifzal, Jack Kornetti, Patty Krulcik Dawson, Joe Rudik, Pat Rensi, Logsdon, Ray Zifzal, Corrine Coke Rensi, Bob Sagrilla Vince Pastre, Bill Rensi and Alex Smith. -- Esther McCoy

PINEY FORK — There is no longer a post office to meet and chat with neighbors in Piney Fork anymore.

The last postmaster was Marian Pastre, who distributed mail for the remaining members of the community who worked in the Hanna Coal mining industry during many years. These were workers who had come to America through Ellis Island and migrated to the once booming-community.

Many moved away after graduating from Smithfield High School, where they traveled to get their seventh- through 12th-grades of learning. Some remained and have either aged or died.

Something that brings back those who have fond memories of the community where were two coal mines separated the area into Newell and Power House is a reunion that was held each year in July. In the area were two grocery stores, the one owned by Hanna Coal called the Company Store, or the New Cooperative Store after a time, and Zambone’s Grocery, six bars, a movie theater, four gas stations, a skating rink and Miner’s Hall, where weddings were celebrated with polka music. And nearly everyone played a musical instrument or played baseball. And there were all kinds of baseball teams. Chuck Walker even made it to the major league.

Almost 20 years ago, a group got together to see if they could bring together Piney Fork folks and just discuss the old days and tell what has happeed to those who moved away. Bill and Mary Frances Stratton Rensi, Tom Sutherland and Nedra Hartzell got their heads together to see what could be done. There were other past residents interested in helping and John Borkowski, Manuel (Butch) Garcia, Ann Marie Krulcik Grayzar, Mary Ann Sutherland Boyd, Ed and Nancy Pastre Wells, Keith and Pam Cichon Berry and Joe and Sandy Zifzal Homol joined forces.

The first year brought out about 200 from Cleveland, Cincinnati, Brookfield and other places. The next year, it was even bigger, nearly 300.

The third year had a production crew from a television station in New York do a preview on the event but it never played on television. Bill Rensi thinks that someone from Piney Fork has a copy of the film. As the years went by it was still popular but attendance started to slide.

Those who lived far away were either ill or too old to want to travel far and some have died. It continued with Ann Marie Grayzar putting up a photo display of Piney Fork people and interesting areas.

Several years ago, they wondered if it should still even continue but they tried it with those in attendance bringing their own picnic lunch. In the previous years, a hot lunch was prepared by Todd Piergallini, whose mother, Lucille Benardo Piergallini, was from the community. It was smaller but those who came enjoyed talking and eating together.

Joe Rudik put it in the right kind of thinking, “Even if only two are there together, they can still have a great time.” And so it is continuing.

The families from the Power House and Newell areas are the Krulcik gang, Rensi family and the families of Borkowski, Kornetti, Rudik, Veltri, Smith, Hruschak, Sagrilla and Zampieri.

Even if the 400 tiny homes that were utilized by the mining workers were burned down after the mining discontinued, the people of Piney Fork continue to go to the United Presbyterian Church.

The Catholic church is the Homol home now as the congregation now attends the Dillonvale Catholic Church. The stores are gone, along with the service stations, theater, skating rink and Miners Hall. But memories remain. And plans were made for another picnic next year.