Charles August Lawrence, born in Germany in 1868, came to America in 1881 with his parents Frederick and Theresa Wickert Lawrence, his sisters, Lizzie, Theresa, Anna, and Emile, and his brother, Ernest. The family settled on Cobb Street in Johnsonburg when the town was in its infancy. Charles went to work as a clerk in Bogart’s and McGeehan’s general store (later Bauer’s Fashions) in 1889 at the corner of Bridge Street and Centre Street, where he mostly sold shoes. After several years Charles moved on as head shoe salesman in W.E. Zierden’s new store on Market Street. After nine years at Zierden’s, around 1906, Charles A. Lawrence opened his own boot and shoe store on Cobb Street in a rented storefront next to the corner drug store (later Corner Restaurant). By this time he had married (1893) Anna Beadle of Ridgway and they had two daughters, Ethel and Martha. A son, Fred, will follow in 1904, another daughter, Clarice, will be born in 1913.

With many years of experience in the shoe and boot business and a loyal customer base Charles was quite successful and on May 11, 1914 he purchased a lot at the corner of Spruce and Market Streets and had a two-story vernacular brick building erected (501 Market Street). The grand opening of the New Lawrence Shoe Store took place on November 3, 1914. J. A. McFadden, Pennsylvania Railroad agent, is the first renter in the building’s second floor apartment. The Lawrence family at the time lived in Clarion Heights. Charles’ father, Frederick, will help out his son, working as a cobbler in the store.

Tragedy struck the Lawrence family on July 5, 1920 when Mrs. Theresa Lawrence, 78, while walking slightly ahead of her husband, Frederick, was struck by a Pennsylvania Railroad train at the Grant Street crossing. She was thrown 12 feet and death soon followed. Frederick Lawrence would pass two years later at age 88.

Charles moves his family to First Avenue to be closer to his store and the store prospers through World War I and the roaring twenties. Frederick William Lawrence goes to work at the shoe store after graduating from high school and in 1929 he purchases the store from his father, Charles. Anna Lawrence passes in 1939 and Charles A. follows her to the grave in 1947.

Frederick W. Lawrence married Dorothy Clare Forster in 1934. They will have three daughters, Nancy, Barbara, and Martha, and a son Charles. At first they resided on Bridge Street and then above the shoe store before settling on Penn Street in the 1950’s. Frederick operated the shoe business successfully until going out of business in January 1963 due to health problems. Frederick and Dorothy retire to St. Petersburg, Florida where they finish out their lives, Frederick (1971), Dorothy (2003).

Richard Anderson runs a shoe store in the building in the 1960’s. In March 1971 Victor Chirillo, well-known Johnsonburg tailor, purchases the building and opens Chirillo’s Men’s Store and Tailoring. The New Chirillo’s Men’s Store operates at the location (1984-1989), Victor Chirillo and Joel Parana, proprietors. Raymondo’s Clothing and Dry Cleaning follows around 1993. By 2014 the building housed the Johnsonburg VFW Club and in that year Ridgway, Pennsylvania artist Thomas Copella paints a beautiful mural on the building’s south side honoring veterans. In 2017 Michael Votano buys the property and opens the Paper City Laundromat.

The Lawrence family is another Johnsonburg success story and for their legacy they left a fine functional brick building which has weathered its over 109 years very well.

Kevin “Reg” Barwin

2023

Kevin Barwin, a Johnsonburg native, who spent his youth peddling newspapers in Johnsonburg and reading the newsprint, while walking his routes, acquired a taste for the past.

THE PAPER BOY FROM THE PAPER CITY, More on his book: here