Kristen R.
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Title
Kristen R.
Description
Living in northeastern Pennsylvania, this family lived through the economic depression that swept the area in the 1970s (along with the destruction of Hurricane Agnes).
Creator
Kristen R.
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Text
Kristen *
Before I start my family’s short timeline of events I would like to explain some gaps, in
our family tree. I believe that this will give you better insight as to why I am choosing to write
about some key family members that although they have had a direct affect on my life, they
would not necessarily be seen as a direct linage (ei: my great uncle).
My mother and her siblings were separated when they were very young; my mother
was left in the care of her grandparents because of her tender age of nine months old. Her two
older siblings were said to be in care of my grandfather, an alcoholic, who later returned only to
leave the older two children in the care of my great grandmother. My maternal grandmother
was said to have had a mental break and after leaving my grandfather did not return or make
any further contact. So for the purposes of this report, please understand that those who have
information seem unwilling to diverge more than the fact that my grandfather James Pryce was
a vet of the Korean War and had an issue with alcohol. Though it may sound sad, it is what it is,
as they say.
Originally from the Wyoming Valley of Pennsylvania, both my maternal and paternal
sides have long and extensive roots in business and family. With both families immigrating pre‐
World War II the ability to track family members during this time was quite simple. I have only
one direct relative who was a participant in World War II that returned home to Wilkes‐Barre,
Pa. my grandfather Joseph *. He enlisted at the age of seventeen and was assigned as a cook
for a naval ship. Upon his return to Wilkes‐Barre, he opened his first restaurant with help from
a cousin. Coming from an Italian American family they worked off of general family receipts and
opened strictly for breakfast and lunch, providing a deli like environment for the department
stores and local companies of the main business square. In 1951 my grandfather married a first
generation Russian‐ American Sofia O*, together they would go on to open three restaurants
and have three children one of which is my father Richard *.
During this same time frame my maternal family, of Welsh decent, was making their pre
and post war contributions by working in the ever slowing coal mines of Northeastern
Pennsylvania. In the late 1800's and early 1900's thousands of immigrants relocated to the
region to work the anthracite coal mines. This transformed the Wyoming Valley from a small
farming area to a metropolis, but after the war, the industry slowed and many workers needed
to redirect their employment efforts. Bertram *, though not quite of retirement age was
relieved of his duties in the early 1950’s from the mines; from here I do not have an accurate
account of his working history. In 1970 he passed away of a heart attack in his sleep, leaving his
wife Loretta and oldest son Bertram Jr. to financial support the three young children. Bertram
was able to help support his mother with financial affairs by the running of a local gas station
which later purchased and ran for twenty years. My mother the youngest of the three children
would continue to have these two family members be her support system till she married.
On June 23, 1972, tropical storm Agnes swept through the area. In her path, the storm
left nothing but destruction. A total of eighteen inches of rain left 25,000 homes nearly
destroyed, and $1 billion in damages. The river rose to 40.9 feet, 18.9 feet above flood stage,
although 2,278 businesses in Wilkes‐Barre were damaged by the 9 feet of water that flooded
the square, may areas where able to rebound. Unfortunately the family’s restaurants were not
one of them. Without the proper insurance for the businesses the family had to start over. The
new concept was to keep things simple and The Hut was opened. This location catered to the
Wilkes and King’s College students providing burgers and light fare. This location later closed in
the late 1988, putting them out of the restaurant business again. On quite literally the other
side of town the * family worked at rebuilding their gas station. The building set slightly higher
and inland did not receive as much damage and was opened back to full capacity rather quickly.
My parents meet in the early 1980’s, my father became the owner and operator of the
Wyoming Valley’s first gym that later expanded to a fitness center and health club. With the
growing demand for a health country and awareness on the rise for health matters my father
had a very successful thirty‐one years in the industry before selling his establishment this year.
My mother left college at the age of twenty to pursue a family life, though she did not complete
her degree she made great advancements in the medical field.
I often think our lives on paper are quit boring. For me it is the makeup of our family
dynamic that must truly be seen in person that makes for the best stories. It is our dramas, our
ups and downs and personal hardships that just could not fit in the confines of a few pages. The
best I can give you here are the mile stones to which we reached, and our most notable
through our work ethic. I hope this provides you with some insight in to a family that stems
from a small area where most people have lived died and never really left.
Before I start my family’s short timeline of events I would like to explain some gaps, in
our family tree. I believe that this will give you better insight as to why I am choosing to write
about some key family members that although they have had a direct affect on my life, they
would not necessarily be seen as a direct linage (ei: my great uncle).
My mother and her siblings were separated when they were very young; my mother
was left in the care of her grandparents because of her tender age of nine months old. Her two
older siblings were said to be in care of my grandfather, an alcoholic, who later returned only to
leave the older two children in the care of my great grandmother. My maternal grandmother
was said to have had a mental break and after leaving my grandfather did not return or make
any further contact. So for the purposes of this report, please understand that those who have
information seem unwilling to diverge more than the fact that my grandfather James Pryce was
a vet of the Korean War and had an issue with alcohol. Though it may sound sad, it is what it is,
as they say.
Originally from the Wyoming Valley of Pennsylvania, both my maternal and paternal
sides have long and extensive roots in business and family. With both families immigrating pre‐
World War II the ability to track family members during this time was quite simple. I have only
one direct relative who was a participant in World War II that returned home to Wilkes‐Barre,
Pa. my grandfather Joseph *. He enlisted at the age of seventeen and was assigned as a cook
for a naval ship. Upon his return to Wilkes‐Barre, he opened his first restaurant with help from
a cousin. Coming from an Italian American family they worked off of general family receipts and
opened strictly for breakfast and lunch, providing a deli like environment for the department
stores and local companies of the main business square. In 1951 my grandfather married a first
generation Russian‐ American Sofia O*, together they would go on to open three restaurants
and have three children one of which is my father Richard *.
During this same time frame my maternal family, of Welsh decent, was making their pre
and post war contributions by working in the ever slowing coal mines of Northeastern
Pennsylvania. In the late 1800's and early 1900's thousands of immigrants relocated to the
region to work the anthracite coal mines. This transformed the Wyoming Valley from a small
farming area to a metropolis, but after the war, the industry slowed and many workers needed
to redirect their employment efforts. Bertram *, though not quite of retirement age was
relieved of his duties in the early 1950’s from the mines; from here I do not have an accurate
account of his working history. In 1970 he passed away of a heart attack in his sleep, leaving his
wife Loretta and oldest son Bertram Jr. to financial support the three young children. Bertram
was able to help support his mother with financial affairs by the running of a local gas station
which later purchased and ran for twenty years. My mother the youngest of the three children
would continue to have these two family members be her support system till she married.
On June 23, 1972, tropical storm Agnes swept through the area. In her path, the storm
left nothing but destruction. A total of eighteen inches of rain left 25,000 homes nearly
destroyed, and $1 billion in damages. The river rose to 40.9 feet, 18.9 feet above flood stage,
although 2,278 businesses in Wilkes‐Barre were damaged by the 9 feet of water that flooded
the square, may areas where able to rebound. Unfortunately the family’s restaurants were not
one of them. Without the proper insurance for the businesses the family had to start over. The
new concept was to keep things simple and The Hut was opened. This location catered to the
Wilkes and King’s College students providing burgers and light fare. This location later closed in
the late 1988, putting them out of the restaurant business again. On quite literally the other
side of town the * family worked at rebuilding their gas station. The building set slightly higher
and inland did not receive as much damage and was opened back to full capacity rather quickly.
My parents meet in the early 1980’s, my father became the owner and operator of the
Wyoming Valley’s first gym that later expanded to a fitness center and health club. With the
growing demand for a health country and awareness on the rise for health matters my father
had a very successful thirty‐one years in the industry before selling his establishment this year.
My mother left college at the age of twenty to pursue a family life, though she did not complete
her degree she made great advancements in the medical field.
I often think our lives on paper are quit boring. For me it is the makeup of our family
dynamic that must truly be seen in person that makes for the best stories. It is our dramas, our
ups and downs and personal hardships that just could not fit in the confines of a few pages. The
best I can give you here are the mile stones to which we reached, and our most notable
through our work ethic. I hope this provides you with some insight in to a family that stems
from a small area where most people have lived died and never really left.
Files
Citation
Kristen R., “Kristen R.,” Historical Memory:, accessed October 30, 2024, https://memory.ctevans.net/items/show/9.