In this second column, I am speaking to Mr. Kevin Reichel, Northampton Funeral Home owner, about his family's roots in an area of Nazareth called Phoenix. Named after the Phoenix Portland Cement Company, it was the home to many ethnic cement workers. Joining in the interview were two Nazareth men with Phoenix connections, Mr. Dale Kocher and Ron Keppel.

They recalled that Wood Street was kind of a dividing line between Nazareth and Phoenix. Many years ago, they said, the police rarely came to Phoenix. They left the people settle their own issues.

I asked were there any taverns, years ago they were called "tap rooms." When did you last hear that term?

They described some interesting locations. One interesting venue was the "Irish Club" but it was devoid of any Irishmen. It officially was called the "Young Men's Club."

It was unique, to say the least. One room was rented in a home. There were three tables which were the scene of lively card games. They had a state liquor license and operated on the honor system.

The club eventually had a membership of 50. There were no regular hours. You walked in when you wanted to. There was a cash register, you paid for your beer or liquor using the honor system. Can you imagine that today? The cash drawer would always be empty!

Finally, the liquor control board suspended their license until they purchased a new cash register and introduced a bookkeeping system and the club was back in business. On a humorous note, on occasions they would receive phone calls for the YMCA in Nazareth, asking when their gym would be open.

Behind the club, a game of Bocce ball was played by Italian men.

Women were denied membership but could be found at party events. The Young Men's Club aged with time. By 1990, membership had declined to four. The 70-year-old club ceased operation when the building was sold.

Another well-known club was the Holy Family Club. It was organized by many Phoenix residents who helped construct the club.

When these local fraternal clubs were formed, dues-paying members were eligible for various insurance programs. Many of these fraternal clubs have closed their doors, but Northampton and Coplay still have a number of thriving organizations.

Holy Family is very popular. This writer has attended numerous functions there and was very impressed with the facilities. The membership at one time exceeded 2,000 which is probably the case today. The club will observe its 100th anniversary this year, quite an achievement. Many of our local residents have spent enjoyable times at Holy Family.

Two other taverns that served Phoenix residents were Ambrose Fischl's Blue Moon and Joe Ferraro's tap room.

The era of the mom and pop stores saw Santos Market, Deutsch's Market, Bruno's and Ed and Alex Bajan who were noted for fresh meat as they operated their own slaughter house.

Credit was the order of the day. While plastic cards did not exist, the owner wrote the amount you paid in a "book." At the end of the month, the Phoenix and local cement workers cashed their checks and paid in cash.

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In two weeks, we'll be back in Phoenix.