521-531 North 19th Street, Bessemer, AL 35020
This structure was constructed by the Schilleci brothers for their ice cream company in 1926. The trucks used the bottom floor for loading by entering the bay door on 6th Avenue and exiting through the bay door on 19th Street. The building also housed the Diana Bicycle Shop. The upper floor was once used as a ballroom and nightclub in the 1920s and later as a hall for civic and school dances. During World War II it was known as "Teen Town," a center for youth activities.
4 comments:
I believe this information is incorrect. My father, Joe Monzella, operated the Goodyear Shoe Shop at 527 N. 19th Street in the building identified here as the original building housing Superior Ice Cream Co. To my knowledge, Superior Ice Cream Co. never had an ice cream manufacturing operation in this building, known as the Diana Hall. My father said the Schilleci brothers built the space he occupied specifically for his shoe repair business. There was also a barber shop, Diana Bicycle and a restaurant on the first floor. Drennen Cars (located across 19th Street) used the L-shaped area for making auto repairs and storing used cars (new cars were displayed in Drennen's main building). As long as I can remember, Superior Ice Cream Co. was located on 2nd Avenue between 18th and 19th Streets. My father drove a truck for Superior Ice Cream Co. before 1920 because he was delivering ice cream to what was then the high school on Arlington Ave. when he met the woman he married in 1920.
One of the grandsons of the founding Schilleci brothers, Billy Schilleci, has confirmed that, as far as he knows, Superior Ice Cream Co. never operated its business in the Diana Hall building between 5th and 6th avenues on 19th street. It always produced its ice cream in the factory on 2nd avenue between 18th and 19th streets, he says.
Charlie M. you are correct per my mother Lucille La Salle class of 53 Bessemer High
Her father Ben, had a pool hall on 1st Ave. Jacky Boy had a she shine also on 1st Ave. Frolic Theatre was there too. Mr Raine owned the property for all.
Little Susie, I remember the pool hall and the movie theater on 1st Avenue.I also remember the name Sam Raine. I was in the Class of ’49 at BHS.
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