Downtown
Years ago there was only one place to go if you wanted to buy anything – downtown. It was truly a marvelous place that displayed all the latest wares. The only way people had to see what was available besides the newspaper was to go downtown and see it for themselves.
This was before the days of television and the internet. The only alternative the populace had was the Sears & Roebuck catalogue. This was commonly called the “wish book”, especially around Christmas.
But there was nothing like going downtown where the actual merchandise was on display. The big shopping night was Saturday night. Since almost everybody in town knew everybody else, getting dressed up was the order of the day. It was as much a social occasion as a shopping trip. There was the Ulman Theater, the New Theater and the Wicomico Theater. Some shoppers strolled Main St. before going to the movies.
We had three 5 & 10’s - Woolworths, J.J. McCrory and Newbury’s.
It seemed like every department in every store had a different sales person behind the counter and they knew the merchandise well. Most of the stores had wooden floors and had no air conditioning for the hot summer nights.
Main St. was open to traffic, but you had to get there early to get a parking place. There were no “municipal lots” in those days.
R. E. Powell & Co. had the only elevator that was used by the general public. There was even an elevator operator. I remember the dual system of closing doors that the operator would open and close with great fanfare.
There were no charge cards, but a few stores had what were known as store accounts. The Montgomery Wards store on Main St. had some kind of device that sent messages or anything else up to the office by way of cables that ran overhead. This was a great source of amazement to us younger kids.
There were certain things on Main St. that you will never see again. Things like the “Big Shoe” in front of Homer White’s shoe store. Before that there was the roasted peanut contraption ran by Tom Cinno. He had a confectionary on the West end of Main St. and hooked up the peanut roaster to a gas pipe that extended out from the front of his building. Since he was directly opposite the Ulman Theater, many a patron got their fresh-roasted peanuts before going to the movies. If it was cold, some of his customers purchase two bags – one for each coat pocket to keep their hands warm.
Those gentle evenings of shopping and strolling are now only a memory. The slow pace of a Saturday night spent on Main St. has given way to the fast pace of life in the 21st Century.
This was before the days of television and the internet. The only alternative the populace had was the Sears & Roebuck catalogue. This was commonly called the “wish book”, especially around Christmas.
But there was nothing like going downtown where the actual merchandise was on display. The big shopping night was Saturday night. Since almost everybody in town knew everybody else, getting dressed up was the order of the day. It was as much a social occasion as a shopping trip. There was the Ulman Theater, the New Theater and the Wicomico Theater. Some shoppers strolled Main St. before going to the movies.
We had three 5 & 10’s - Woolworths, J.J. McCrory and Newbury’s.
It seemed like every department in every store had a different sales person behind the counter and they knew the merchandise well. Most of the stores had wooden floors and had no air conditioning for the hot summer nights.
Main St. was open to traffic, but you had to get there early to get a parking place. There were no “municipal lots” in those days.
R. E. Powell & Co. had the only elevator that was used by the general public. There was even an elevator operator. I remember the dual system of closing doors that the operator would open and close with great fanfare.
There were no charge cards, but a few stores had what were known as store accounts. The Montgomery Wards store on Main St. had some kind of device that sent messages or anything else up to the office by way of cables that ran overhead. This was a great source of amazement to us younger kids.
There were certain things on Main St. that you will never see again. Things like the “Big Shoe” in front of Homer White’s shoe store. Before that there was the roasted peanut contraption ran by Tom Cinno. He had a confectionary on the West end of Main St. and hooked up the peanut roaster to a gas pipe that extended out from the front of his building. Since he was directly opposite the Ulman Theater, many a patron got their fresh-roasted peanuts before going to the movies. If it was cold, some of his customers purchase two bags – one for each coat pocket to keep their hands warm.
Those gentle evenings of shopping and strolling are now only a memory. The slow pace of a Saturday night spent on Main St. has given way to the fast pace of life in the 21st Century.
18 comments:
Wasn't there an elevator in Benjamin's, also?
We of a generation or three are left, in diminishing numbers, to recall these moments in time. Pity that the subsequent generations couldn't and won't experience them or anything like them.
Truly a great post George,as long as we all realize that barring a miracle none of this can ever happen again.I am app 10 years younger than you,but I recall everything except for the Newberry's and the New Theater.Maybe that later became the Boulevard? An 85 year old woman who lives near me thinks that "The Yearling" was the first movie that ever played in the Boulevard,but I have been unable to confirm that.The book "Great Theaters of Maryland" mentions the Boulevard & it's history.
I am so glad that I had the opportunity to grow up in this time period and feel sorry to for the young people of today. All they know now are hand outs, the "artsy" way of life, instant gratification, etc etc etc.
go there now and u better b packin some heat
Somehow, despite all that we now have, life seemed fuller back then.
I'll bet that peanut guy made a fortune on parade day.I can recall standing along that street freezing to death.The wind channeled down Main Street like a funnel.A hot bag of peanuts would have been worth it's weight in gold.
You forgot Reads Drug Store and Shore Maids Ice Cream behind it where the parking lot is now. And remember that Central Drugs on the corner of Main and Division had a lunch counter as well.
Super post that brought back many memories of a good era. In later years R. E. Powell also had the system that processed all transactions at an upstairs office. If I remember correctly the clerk downstairs placed the money and paperwork in a canister type holder and it was transported upstairs via a cable system of some sort. Like the article I was totally amazed at the system and how it worked. Thanks for the memories.
My first 'paycheck job' was part time junior lifeguard at Canal Park. My second was nights n weekends "elevator boy" at R E Powell's.
I have one of those huge ceiling fans from Montgomery wards.
I'd like to get it fixed so I can use it.
For what it's worth George did not forget to mention any of the businesses.There were simply too many to mention them all.
Was Canal Park even built back when R.E. Powell was around?
my mother worked at R.E. Powell's for many years. she managed and was the buyer for the fashion department. when i would go in on saturdays she would put me to work doing "inventory" and the older black gentleman who operated the elevator at that time would allow me to operate it while he took a break or went to lunch. i was around 8-10 years old at this time. the downtown christmas parades we fabulous and it seemed everyone came out to watch this parade.
those years were so wonderful. and continue to give me great memories.
1:46-When the elevator operator returned from lunch was the elevator still in one piece? When I was 8 I was like an 8 year old Mr Bean.You must have been a responsible child.
Thank you George, you brought back so many happy memories. The Christmas Parades were the best. They were right out of "The Christmas Story" movie with Ralphie!
I remember the elevator at Benjamins. There were two sets of doors. One set looked gold color and was like a fencing type on hinges, the other was the steel doors. Benjamins also had a system of tubes that sent charges, etc. up to the office something like banks use today. They also had their special boxes pink top, black bottom. All the sale clerks were so friendly and remembered you and knew your sizes.
A previous poster mentioned all the stores that were opened everyday for business. There was never a problem or shortage of stores opening up and merchandise to buy.
Life was sooooooooo good back then. People were kind, courteous, and genuinely interested in others.
My how I loved to save my allowance and go to Woolworth's for their cheeseburger patty melts. They were great!
These were the best of times and thankfully all of us (that still remember) can have our memories forever. You know what? All of us that remember should get together for the good times!
Ok how is this for a list of stores starting on the south side and going up main st Brother and Sister Shop Calvin Youngs pianos, Ulman Theater, Dr Richards dentist, Bergers novelties, Lesnars Shoes, Montgomery Wards which became the YMCA, Woolworths pop a baloon for a sundae, Union Trust, Bergers Gro Young Shop for woman, Md National Bank, Reads Drug Store, Mangralls, Ralph and Gaskills, Central Drugs I know I missed a few Going down Main Street on the North side was Thurstons Studio after he moved from across from Feldmans and G&K Furniture, Homer White Shoes, White Jewelers, Kuhns Jewlers, Lad and Lassie, Edwards Shoes, White and Leonards, First National Bank, Hess Apparel, R E Powell, Benjamins,Ediths, Jarman Shoes, Waqtson Smoke House, Bergers Novelties. Yes those were the days, Christmas Parades, Halloween Parades and you always felt safe. I hope I jogged some memories with the list as I remember how nice down town was and the fun
Main Street has sure changed. From 4 lanes of traffic in the photo to one limited lane with hardly any cars using it now. If closing Main Street was such a good idea, why didn't other local towns such as Berlin, Easton or Rehoboth do it?
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