Book One · The Sugarfoot Stories
In the decades that followed World War 2, money was scarce and times were hard in eastern Pennsylvania. Some survivors were just not willing to settle for next to nothing. Folks had dreams in their hearts and dug in their heels. They kept right on believing that they had what it took to get out of the big city, build a home, have kids and raise them with values. But being hardworking and honest — was that enough?
With their enterprising ways, they used self-taught skills, a zest for life, strong work ethics, a healthy sense of humor, faith in a higher power and guardian angels, love for their family and a desire to do right by their kids. What they did have going for them was their strong work ethics, a healthy sense of humor, faith in a higher power and His Guardian Angels, love for their family and a desire to do right by their kids. Would it be enough? Would it last?
Jump into The Sugarfoot Stories through Margie's eyes to find out what folks were up against. Discover what it was like to be raised as one of four adventurous kids on a working man's salary. First of The Sugarfoot Stories, Thick as Thieves: Angels on Willow Street will take you through wild adventures and the impact on one family's life.
Behind the pages
A look at the real family and places behind Thick as Thieves — labeled by chapter, from the Wiesner family album.
Our Childhood Home
(Left to right) Bobby, Pauly, Lainie — Summer circa 1949.
Our Childhood Home
The Wiesner House (we built); 4407 Willow Street, Oakford, PA (lived in from 1947 to 1961) — circa fall of 1957.
Then I Came Along
(Left to right) Pauly with cat Lady, Lainie, cousin Mary Frances with Tabby cat and Bobby — circa August 1951. Mary Frances came to help with the three oldest when Margie was born.
Then I Came Along
(Left to right) Pauly, Bobby, Margie & Lainie in wheelbarrow — circa spring of 1952.
Then I Came Along
(Left to right) Margie, Lainie, Bobby & Pauly, "The Little Rascals" with cement mixer — circa spring of 1952.
Then I Came Along
(Left to right) Godmother Mary Witzel, Marguerite Theresa Wiesner, Godfather Hugh "Reds" Gallagher — Oakford, PA, circa August 1951.
First Adventure
The picture that was in our home growing up on Willow Street — The Guardian by H. Zabateri, circa 1918. It reminds Margie of her precious "Little Laddie" and his sister.
First Adventure
Bobby Wiesner, second grade, Trevose Elementary School — circa 1954.
Hurricane Hazel
Lainie Wiesner, 10 years old, Oakford, PA — circa Spring 1954.
Hurricane Hazel
Pauly, age 8 (left), and Bobby Wiesner, age 7 (right) — Oakford, PA, circa Spring of 1954.
Hurricane Hazel
Margie Wiesner, 3 years old, Oakford, PA — circa Spring of 1954.
Broken Arms & Hearts & Dreams
Lainie Wiesner, third grade — her left arm was broken jumping out of the cherry tree at our cousins' house.
The Trouble Bush
Margie, age seven, second grade, Trevose Elementary — circa 1959.
The Trouble Bush
Bobby — circa 1959.
The Trouble Bush
Pauly — circa 1959.
The Trouble Bush
Lainie — circa 1959.
Summer Camp
Pauly Wiesner at Camp Kingston, front row, far right in sweater — circa summer about 1955.
Holidays Among The Willows
(Left to right) Pauly, Lainie, Margie, Bobby w/his loose tooth — Christmas, circa 1953.
Holidays Among The Willows
(Left to right) Margie, Pauly, Lainie, Bobby — Christmas, circa 1952.
Holidays Among The Willows
(Left to right) Bobby, Lainie, Margie, Pauly — Easter, circa 1955.
Fourth Grade With Mr. Henry Moser
(Left to right) Margie, Bobby, Lainie, Pauly — 50 years later at Neshaminy Falls (where we used to fish and swim), circa 10/10/11.
Fourth Grade With Mr. Henry Moser
(Left to right) Bobby, Margie, Lainie, Pauly — 50 years later on the steps of Trevose School, repurposed but the same building we loved, circa 10/10/2011.
My Tree of Comfort
Lainie & Larry Patullo, circa 1962. The shadow Bobby made Mom was on the wall behind him. Larry is standing in front of the ceramic dog Margie gave her.
My Tree of Comfort
Larry Patullo and Lainie — circa 1962, her first year of college.
Our Roots
(Left to right) Grandmom and Grandpop Wiesner with their oldest son Fred and his wife Verla, in front of Grandmom and Grandpop's house in Titusville, FL — circa 1960s.
Our Roots
Eleanore and her first child, Lainie — Fall, circa 1945.
Our Roots
Francis Aloysius "Grandpop" Gallagher, photo on the Henry Avenue Bridge, taken and hand-painted by Hank Gallagher — Philadelphia, PA, circa 1942.
Our Roots
(Left to right) Grandmom Mary Bridgeman, Grandpop Frank Gallagher, and Aunt Butch (Anna Mae) and Joseph Gallagher — in Philadelphia, PA, circa 1950s.
Our Roots
Bobby Wiesner, 9 weeks old, with Mom Eleanore — Philadelphia, PA, circa Easter Sunday, 1947.
Our Roots
(Left to right) William & Eleanore Wiesner, Grandpop Frank Gallagher, (Dolly) Mary McKenzie & Hugh "Uncle Reds" Gallagher — double wedding in Philadelphia, PA, circa August 28, 1943.
Our Roots
(Left to right) Bobby, Margie, Lainie and Pauly Wiesner — Family Reunion, Star Mountain, PA, circa 1997.
Our Roots
Lainie, 1960–61 — she graduated a year early from academy.
Fourth Grade With Mr. Henry Moser
Pauly, circa 1960–61, 10th grade.
Fourth Grade With Mr. Henry Moser
Bobby, circa 1960–61, 9th grade.
Fourth Grade With Mr. Henry Moser
Margie, circa 1960–61.
Pick up your copy of Thick as Thieves: Angels on Willow Street today.
