During the late 1930s and early 1940s, when I was a teenager, there were some interesting stores in the region where I often went shopping, saw a movie and bought a milkshake, soda, or a box of popcorn.
Greenfield had three theaters during those years in addition to the Greenfield Garden Cinema, which is still open for business. Lawler Theater and Victoria Theater were the others.
The Victoria on Chapman Street had Vaudeville acts and the follies, organized by the boards of the hospital and the Greenfield Lions Club. Next door to the Victoria was Delands Music Store.
At the Lawlor on Federal Street, Skinner’s Drug Store had a soda fountain counter and all kinds of treats next door. The Garden always had the latest movies and Evan’s Candy Store was next door, where movie-goers could buy treats.
The Garden had a Christmas party back then for all the children in the area. The Holy Trinity School had a choir that sang Christmas carols on the stage. After the party, each child was given a mesh bag that had an orange, an apple, a box of Cracker Jacks and some unshelled nuts. This was a very popular event year after year.
There were no teen centers back then, but us teenagers had two special places to get together every afternoon after school. One was the corner store on the corner of Beacon and Federal Streets, where there was a soda fountain booths. Another reason to get the kids together on the lower end of Federal Street was Rita’s Luncheonette and Ssoda Fountain. It was like a second home to so many of us. Large booths were in the back and there, you could meet and make new friends and just talk bout everything.
Many romances were made and later weddings took place for many who met there.
The store on North Main Street, where anyone could shop, was Liggetts Drug Store, which had a long soda fountain counter. In back of the counter was a very large mirror where you could see yourself eating a sundae with many toppings on it.
Almost next door was S.S. Kresge’s, which had the same products and a high amount of merchandise for home and personal use. It had a large candy counter where one of my classmates worked.
She later became my wife.
Other stores that were very popular were F.W. Woolworths and McLellans. Those stores sold wonderful items for everyone. On the south side of Main Street was Sullivan’s Drug Store, which had a luncheonette counter for everyone for so many years.
This is just a glimpse of the many fine stores that were on Main and Federal streets back then.
Many of them are now gone, but they are not forgotten by myself and the many other elders of our area who no-doubt remember them.
Hopefully, there will always be stores in Greenfield that provide a joyful shopping experience. Thank you to all readers of the Recorder for reading my memories.
Robert Bitzer, 92, of Erving is a lifelong resident of Franklin County, having been born in Greenfield. His columns are inspired by extensive photo albums and thorough collections of correspondence he has compiled over the years.