James A. Conelos
Files
Dublin Core
Title
James A. Conelos
Subject
Conelos, James A. (1896-1984)
Description
James A. Conelos, seated, and wearing a checkered long-sleeved shirt with cuffs.
James A. Conelos was born in Laconia, Greece, in January 1896, to Antonio Conelos and Helen Chapatraris. As a teenager, he emigrated with family to New York City around 1910.
Records show he worked as a seaman before WWI, appearing on crew manifests for vessels sailing to or from Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, and New York. He was described as being about 5’5” tall with a scar on his chin. In 1917, he registered for the WWI draft in New York City but asked to be excluded from service because he was supporting “3 younger brothers and an older brother”.
By the 1930 census, James had given up the life of a sailor and had settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There, he was a 32-year old single man working as a salesman.
James landed in Strasburg sometime in the 1930’s. We do not know why he ended up in the Shenandoah Valley. The 1940 census found him lodging on East Washington Street, Strasburg, in Casper and Pearl Yates’ household. He had been living there for the previous 5 years and his occupation was “Proprietor” of a “lunch room”.
“Jimmy the Greek’s” was the nickname affectionately given to James’ popular lunch room on King Street, Strasburg, in the 1940’s. His small restaurant was located beside the Town Run where the Dollar Store stands today. James made a lasting impression on the people of Strasburg and provided years of memorable burgers and hot dogs at his modest eatery.
James married Katherine Woodrow Sine (1918-1961) in August 1941 in Strasburg. She was born in Wardensville, West Virginia, to James Walter and Blanche (Strosnider) Sine, and was a generation younger than her new husband.
The 1950 census found the two of them had moved to Hardy County, West Virginia, where James worked as a truck driver for a dry-cleaning establishment. His wife became ill with breast cancer during that time and died in June 1961.
James lived another 20 years or so and apparently stayed in the Wardensville area of West Virginia. Both he and his wife are buried in Wardensville Cemetery. They did not have children.
The words, "Jimmy the Greek" appear to be written on the glass plate of this image.
James A. Conelos was born in Laconia, Greece, in January 1896, to Antonio Conelos and Helen Chapatraris. As a teenager, he emigrated with family to New York City around 1910.
Records show he worked as a seaman before WWI, appearing on crew manifests for vessels sailing to or from Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, and New York. He was described as being about 5’5” tall with a scar on his chin. In 1917, he registered for the WWI draft in New York City but asked to be excluded from service because he was supporting “3 younger brothers and an older brother”.
By the 1930 census, James had given up the life of a sailor and had settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There, he was a 32-year old single man working as a salesman.
James landed in Strasburg sometime in the 1930’s. We do not know why he ended up in the Shenandoah Valley. The 1940 census found him lodging on East Washington Street, Strasburg, in Casper and Pearl Yates’ household. He had been living there for the previous 5 years and his occupation was “Proprietor” of a “lunch room”.
“Jimmy the Greek’s” was the nickname affectionately given to James’ popular lunch room on King Street, Strasburg, in the 1940’s. His small restaurant was located beside the Town Run where the Dollar Store stands today. James made a lasting impression on the people of Strasburg and provided years of memorable burgers and hot dogs at his modest eatery.
James married Katherine Woodrow Sine (1918-1961) in August 1941 in Strasburg. She was born in Wardensville, West Virginia, to James Walter and Blanche (Strosnider) Sine, and was a generation younger than her new husband.
The 1950 census found the two of them had moved to Hardy County, West Virginia, where James worked as a truck driver for a dry-cleaning establishment. His wife became ill with breast cancer during that time and died in June 1961.
James lived another 20 years or so and apparently stayed in the Wardensville area of West Virginia. Both he and his wife are buried in Wardensville Cemetery. They did not have children.
The words, "Jimmy the Greek" appear to be written on the glass plate of this image.
Creator
Morrison Studio
Source
Morrison Studio Collection - Shenandoah County Historical Society
Publisher
Shenandoah County Library
Date
The glass plate negative of this image was stored in a box labeled "Dec 1938".
Contributor
Identified in 2010 by Graham Conner who remembered Mr. Conelos rented a room with his family when he first came to Strasburg.
Graham Conner also remembered that for 10 cents, Mr. Conelos would turn his peanut roaster for two hours.
Additional biographical information was compiled from public records.
Rights
IN COPYRIGHT - NON-COMMERCIAL USE PERMITTED
Identifier
019438
Still Image Item Type Metadata
Original Format
Glass Negative
Collection
Citation
Morrison Studio, “James A. Conelos ,” Shenandoah County Library Archives, accessed December 18, 2024, https://archives.countylib.org/items/show/49518.
Comments