In the Day: Western PA roots can't be trimmed for Conn. library leader

ELLWOOD CITY – In 1960, Wayne Campbell left Ellwood City for college, a career and a full and rewarding life in Darien, Conn., but he has never forgotten Ellwood City.

His parents were Wayne and Clara Yeykal Campbell.

"I liked the ethnic sound of the name Yeykal; it is Czechoslovakian and I like that," Campbell said recently.

The family lived in Lundgren Apartments at 715 Crescent Ave. and Campbell describes his childhood growing up in Ellwood City as a happy time. His memories include the great snows when people shoveled out tunnels so they could get around.

"I remember looking out the window one day and all I could see was this hat moving above the snow," Campbell said.

In the day, coal furnaces were the major source of heating, and at the Lundgren Apartments Campbell recalled the coat truck would come, lower a chute into the cellar and empty the coal down into the coal storage bin.

"I remember looking into the glowing coals of the furnace and feeling the heat," he said.

Campbell walked the few blocks to the West End School and remembered the principal, Ida Cooper.

"There was a girl in our class, who was a displaced person and didn't speak English. Her first name was Edith, but I don't know her last name for sure," he said. "Some kids made fun of her and the way she dressed. I was always glad that I befriended her."

At Christmas, all the elementary schools went for treats to the Shelby, the social club of the Tube Mill, at 310 First St.

"We walked there. We saw a movie and we got a brown paper bag with fruit and candy and Santa Claus was there," Campbell said.

"The West End School playground was a busy place for the children and it was next to an asbestos plant," he said.

In 2006, The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a federal public health agency, came to town and held a community meeting to gather information from residents regarding a former play area near the W.R. Grace/Zonolite facility in Ellwood City that may have been contaminated with asbestos.

"I remember the clothing stores, Oswald's, Keller's and Belloff's. I liked Oswald's best. That's where we got our snazzy clothes," Campbell said.

"When I went to Frank Port's store I remember it always seemed dark in there and he would be sitting in the back," he said.

Campbell also recalls the Century Market and an Italian Deli on Eighth Street.

"I've been gone from Ellwood for a long time but I remember the good times and neighborhood feel. We knew all our neighbors and I miss that," he said.

As a youngster, Campbell frequented the Ellwood City Public Library that was on Crescent Avenue and always found books he liked. It was the inspiration for a career as a librarian.

After graduating from Lincoln High School in 1960 Campbell attended Washington Jefferson College and, in 1963, he graduated from Penn State University and got his masters in library science from the Pratt Institute, a private university in Brooklyn, N.Y.

His life journey has included working as a reporter for a year at the Times Herald-Record newspaper in Middletown, N.Y.

With his focus on being a librarian, Campbell's first library job was as a trainee with the New York Public Library system in New York City, the second largest public library in the United States.

"I worked at three branches and then I worked at the Library of Performing Arts at Lincoln Center. I enjoyed movies and they had a large movie library," he said.

At his job, he met many movie stars and show business people including Frank McHugh, a well-known star at that time who had appeared in more than 150 films and television productions and worked with almost every star at Warner Bros. A close friend of James Cagney, he appeared in more Cagney movies than any other actor, 11 films between 1932 and 1953. Their friendship lasted until Cagney's death in 1986.

While they were talking, McHugh asked Campbell where he was from and when he responded, "Ellwood City," McHugh said he knew right where it was because he was born and raised in Homestead.

Campbell also got to know Frank Taylor, book publisher and Hollywood producer known for many films including "The Misfits."

After working at the New York Public Library he worked at the Greenwich, Conn., Library for 50 years starting in 1969.

"I am enjoying retirement," Campbell said.

Campbell keeps in touch with friends in the Ellwood City area on the internet. In Connecticut, Campbell is friends with Richard Simon, who had family in Ellwood City and Wampum.

"Our western PA roots were the basis for our connecting and celebrating/commiserating over the Steelers and the Pittsburgh scene for over 30 years," Simon said. "Wayne is a Greenwich 'institution' for his community service, and he was the host for Friday night films at the Greenwich library for over 46 years."

Campbell said he would give a brief talk about the film and in the beginning, the movies attracted more than 200 people, but as more people had entertainment in their homes it dwindled.

Campbell has been living in Connecticut with his wife, Wendy, since 1970. They have two adult sons, Craig, who is a computer programmer in New York, and Dan, who works for Pixar in California.

This article originally appeared on Ellwood City Ledger: In the Day: Even after 60 years, Wayne Campbell attached to Ellwood City