CHAMBERSBURG – Winifred Ross was a Chambersburg woman ahead of her time. Ms. Ross, or Winnie for short, graduated from Chambersburg High School in 1944 and went on to study piano at Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, Md. Upon completing her degree, Winnie taught piano lessons out of her 327 E. Washington Street studio for 50 years. She was also a longtime pianist & organist at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church.
Winnie, born October 19, 1926 in her parents’ home on East Washington Street, recalls as a young girl taking walks around Chambersburg with her grandfather. At age 5 or 6 she remembers taking a walk up the street and watching the construction of the Chambersburg High School (Central). She would also walk to meet her other grandfather who lived on West King Street, passing by the A&P on the corner of Main Street & King Street where her father was a manager.
Winnie would drive from Chambersburg to Baltimore weekly to continue her piano education taking lessons with one of her professors. He lived in the city and she “remember[s] going down with strawberries one year…and he was so tickled to death because in the city they couldn’t get fresh fruit.” Occasionally she would take her mother along and they would visit department stores near the harbor. Growing up and working in Chambersburg, Winnie says she appreciated living in a smaller area and valued its proximity to larger cities, like Baltimore, and the opportunities this presented.
An auction featuring Ms. Ross’ personal belongings will take place October 23rd starting at 10 a.m. at Gateway Gallery Auction. Ms. Ross’s items consist of multi-generation antiques & collectibles including a cast iron penny bank, a Mochaware worm pattern bowl, beaded purses, dolls, toys, sterling, early flatware (from approx. 1790-1830) & more.
Gateway Gallery Auction, 643 Kriner Road, is a full service auction facility providing a state-of-the-art showroom atmosphere for competitive, fair market exchanges between buyers and sellers. Gateway is committed to helping others through the transitions of life with its experience, knowledge and honesty. Gateway values its consignors and works hard to deliver results. Member of Pennsylvania Auctioneers Association and National Auctioneers Association.
