We went to the fish fry at the nearby Catholic parish for us in Columbus. Typical of life in Columbus, we were talking with the couple in front of us and happened to mention being from Youngstown, and we hear a voice asking, “who’s from Youngstown?” Turns out he was Ursuline ’65 and when I mentioned Chaney, he knew we had great football teams during that time and immediately knew the name “Red” Angelo. This happens all the time.
Back to the fish fry. Though I did not grow up Catholic, so many of the people in our neighborhood did. Fridays during Lent were meatless for all of us. If there was fish on Fridays, I think many had it at home. What I recall was churches selling pierogi (pirohy) dinners, many for takeout on Fridays. My mother-in law used to be enlisted by the ladies in her church, who made pierogies all day. She would brag about hers not being rubbery.
I can’t recall many churches in that era having fish fries. I’d love to know from Youngstown readers if you knew of churches or church halls who had fish fries back when we were growing up. Our memory is more of pieogies, perhaps with haluski and boiled or sweet cabbage. We were talking with people at our table who literally did a circuit to different fish fries each Friday, comparing notes on which they thought best. I don’t recall anything like that in Youngstown.
Looking through old Vindicators from the 1974. I spotted ads for restaurants offering Friday fish specials, many under $2. For a real cheap dinner, you could get fish and chips from Arthur Treacher’s and Mr. Steak for $1.25. Morgan’s had filet of fish (all you could eat), fries, bread, and cole slaw for $1.49. The Cocoanut Grove’s fish fry included mac ‘n cheese as well as fish, cole slaw and fries for $1.25. Of course, the Boulevard Tavern was legendary for their fish fries.
For those still living in the Youngstown area, Mahoning Matters publishes a list of fish fries. Going rate these days is around $15, ten times what it cost 50 years ago. A Google search also turned up a number of parishes still selling pierogies (pirohy) as well.
I’d love to hear what you ate on meatless Fridays. Did mom make it, or did you get it from a church or restaurant? And do you still observe meatless Fridays and what do you like to eat these days? Meatless Fridays were the deal in my neighborhood–even at the school cafeteria. It was part of growing up in working class Youngstown.
To read other posts in the Growing Up in Working Class Youngstown series, just click “On Youngstown.” Enjoy!
Definitely pirohy from the local Polish church. I think that organizations, like the American Legion, had fish fries that we would frequent.
Growing up it was fish at home, often perch from Lake Erie! Now we make the rounds of Church dinners, although most are take out now, not dine in. I also am a “pierogi pincher” at out parish. Men and women volunteer Wednesday thru Friday to make, cook, and package 3 different kinds, some for local restaurants, most for individual orders. Last week we sold around 770 dozen! I would say meatless Fridays are still very much observed.
Though we observed meatless Fridays, both of our parents hated all varieties of seafood. The only “fish” I remember was Mrs. Paul’s Fish Sticks from the freezer section. I remember many toasted cheese sandwiches with Campbell’s Tomato Soup. Occasionally, there would be pierogis. My favorite Friday meal was Mom’s Pasta Fagiole.
Only Good Friday was “meatless”, but every Friday was fish dinner at either Boulevard or The Fireplace.
my first recollection of going for fish was going to King’s Restaurant at the state line!
Wednesdays and Fridays were originally observed by all Christians as fast days (Wednesday being the fourth day when Judas went to the Jewish elders and thus is the beginning of the Passion of Christ, with Friday its consummation).
In Youngstown, there were/are many of us Eastern Christians who also abstained from meat on Wednesdays during Lent.
Saint Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church on Bella Vista had a long running pirohi sales conducted by the men and women of the parish.
I don’t like fish and people would ask me: “I know you’re Catholic, what did you eat on Fridays?” And I would answer. “I ate a lot of Spaghetti!”
I just recently obtained a satisfying (to me) answer as to why fish is not considered meat: The rules were written in Latin, and the word used to describe what couldn’t be eaten was “carnis.” In English, had the word ‘meat’ been used, that would have referred to pretty much any flesh, but Latin is way more specific; the verbiage used refers specifically to birds and mammals (or land animals) only.
Growing up in Youngstown, Fridays in Lent produced many fond memories of the dinner table. Often, mom served up a giant platter of the best fried haddock you could imagine. My mouth still waters thinking about it 50 years later. Other Fridays, she made toasted cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. Occasionally, dad brought home pizza from Wedgewood, Cornersburg or The Elmton. Dinners in Lent were so tasty, they could hardly be considered a sacrifice. 😉 Thanks, mom.