Birthday bash to celebrate Sharpsville's 150th anniversary

Apr. 12—SHARPSVILLE — The Sharpsville 150th Celebration Birthday Bash party will be a dress-up affair — or dress down, if you prefer — with attendees encouraged to pick their favorite time periods from the 1950s to the present and dress the part. And there'll be some local cuisine served that will rekindle memories.

Historical clothing is not limited to the likes of prom dresses. The options include the hippie days of the '70s to the greasers of the '50s, said Rita Sloan, who serves on the 150th celebration committee. And there'll be prizes for the best-attired.

The bash will be May 4 at St. Bartholomew Social Hall, 321 W. Ridge Ave., Sharpsville. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

"It's not just for people from Sharpsville — anyone from the whole valley can come," Sloan said.

Proceeds from the event will support the Sharpsville 150th anniversary celebration, which will be observed on June 22 with a parade and other festivities.

Some of those involved in the birthday bash, including local residents Brian Foltz and his mother Lucia Pompa, will not just be providing some of the food — Italian sausage — but they'll be continuing a family tradition that has become part of Sharpsville's history.

The Pompa family's story begins with Foltz's grandfather Sam Pompa, who immigrated to the United States from Italy. Sam originally lived in Cleveland, for a time, cleaning windows with vinegar and newspapers.

Sam was soon followed by his wife Caroline and daughter, Lucia — Foltz's mother — and began working at Valley Mold in Sharpsville in the late 1940s, Lucia said.

Sam and his family became lifelong members of the Sharpsville community, with Sam often preparing the family's Italian cuisine for special occasions, Lucia said.

When the annual Sharpsville Boosters carnival was held along Walnut Street, Sam sold meatball and sausage sandwiches. Later around the holidays, he would prepare five pounds of sausage for each of the family's friends and relatives, Foltz said.

"Since I was the grandson, I had to help deliver it, so for Christmas we would load up the car with 30 to 40 pounds of sausage and I'd ride along to carry it to people's houses," Foltz said.

Sam and Caroline have since passed away, and some things have fallen to the wayside over the years, from the Sharpsville carnival along Walnut Street to other landmarks that were once connected to the Pompa family, such as the former Mamma Mia's grocery store owned by Sophia Massaro.

However, some connections still remain, including the Susis, the DeJulias, the Massaros and the Bonaquists, whom Lucia said are related to the Pompa family.

While Lucia and Foltz will be sharing some of their family's history at the event, Sloan said anyone who attends the birthday bash is encouraged bring any local history artifacts they'd like to share.

"We'll have a table set up with some historical items, so if you have something like an old school yearbook you'd like to share, bring it," Sloan said.

There will also be a table where memorabilia related to Sharpsville's 150th anniversary, such as specially-designed mugs, will be displayed for sale.

For musical entertainment, the event will feature the band 2nd Avenue Project, with music from the 1950s to the present, including Motown, Chicago, Adele, Tina Turner and Santana.

Food for the evening will include the Pompa family sausage at the Italian station, as well as a Mexican station, seafood station and a cookie and dessert table. Drinks will be provided, although alcohol will be strictly BYOB.

Tickets cost $30 per person, or a table of eight for $200. Tickets will be sold at the door and in advance by calling 724-813-9199 or from the anniversary committee's members and at the Sharpsville Borough Building, Joni Delfratte Beauty Salon, Lori Rollinson Beauty Shop and the Sharpsville VFW.

Anyone interested in supporting the 150th celebration, whether through donations or by volunteering, can call that same number.

Further updates will be shared via the "Sharpsville's 150th Birthday Celebration" Facebook page.

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Like David L. Dye on Facebook or email him at ddye@sharonherald.com.