Amelia behind Shenasky Grocery counter; with husand Bruce; today



Let’s cardbomb Amelia!

Mary Kitty Ahouse Morrison, Class of 1968, who lives on Lyndon Avenue in Monongah when she’s not traveling, is trying to drum up as many Easter cards as possible for Amelia Shenasky Zentz, who is bearing down on reaching a century of life and who lives on appropriately named Shenasky Lane in Monongah.

Kitty wrote:

“Amelia Zentz loves to get cards from all her family and friends. Let’s see how many Easter cards she can receive between now and Easter.”

Address the cards to:

Amelia Zentz

PO Box 9005

Monongah, WV 26554

I remember Amelia as this vivacious blonde who got my teen testosterone kicked into high gear when she worked behind the counter of the P.P. Shenasky Grocery owned by her parents, Pete and Nell Shenasky.

In 1968, after she married the late Bruce Zentz, they built and opened up the Dairy Kone, which still exists today but has passed through a string of owners.

George Shaw built the Dairy Kone where the Joe Hanus service station used to, after Joe switched venues from the building across from Thoburn school that housed the Hanus Garage, the PNA Tavern run by the Brzuzy family and the Hanus Grocery run by Joe’s parents.

After 18 years, Bruce and Amelia – married for 55 years -- sold the Dairy Kone to Chris Martin, Monongah’s #1 photographer, who had worked for the Zentz couple for a few years.

Later owners were Patty McCombs, Milton Hurley, Larry and Donna Anderson, Gary and Diane Masters and Lloyd and Sandra Parrish.

Pete and Nell bought the Shenasky building from Mr. Martin in 1921. John Boggess, son of Evelyn Kasper Boggess, Class of 1953, and retired coal miner Okey Boggess, owns the building today.

I have phoned Amelia several times at her Shenasky Lane home where she grew up and still lives at the age of 98.

 

Her voice still sparkles. Amelia golfed, bowled and danced. Oh, how she danced! Good enough to be invited to New York City to perform.

Personnel administrative assistant Susan Staron Sanders, Class of 1971, the angel of Thomas Street who led the Charge of the Lights Brigade that put 21 Christmas street lights in Monongah, visits Amelia often, with Kitty at her side.

So, how about it? Why not send an Easter card to a Monongah legend?

Again, the address is:

Amelia Zentz

PO Box 9005

Monongah, WV 26554

You’ll make a lady who brought a lot of joy to a lot of coal miners’ children (remember the candy Amelia and Nell handed out to us when our parents shopped there?) very happy.

And feel damn good about yourself when you do.

I’m working on my legendary hand-made card (thanks to computer technology) already.

Make sure YOUR card is in the pile!