Years ago, Greenfield was fortunate enough to have many women’s and men’s clothing stores.
Starting from the the east end of Main Street, in the Mansion House Hotel, there was a men’s clothing store called Farr & Willards. That store, in later years, became Hanley’s. Across the street was a hat shop owned by Mae Dunn.
On the lower end up Federal Street was Bartlett’s, a men’s clothing store owned by Dave Bartlett and Merril Davis. That store eventually relocated to Main Street. A fine line of clothing was sold at Bartlett’s.
Coming down Main Street on the north side was Louis Peterossi’s, another men’s clothing store and, almost next door, was Spate and Company, a women’s clothing store that sold women’s undergarments. Next door was Rosen’s, which sold both men’s and women’s items.
On the corner of Davis and Main was B.J. Michaelman’s, which carried men’s clothing and Wilson’s, which sold both.
Further down the street was HG Carson’s, a men’s clothing store that was later sold to B.J. Michaelman’s. Nearby was Ann August, a women’s store and W.L. Goodnow Department Store, which also sold both.
Still on the north side of Main Street was J.C. Penny Co. and Peggy Parker and Colodny’s, both women’s stores.
Montgomery Ward Co. and Sears Roebuck Co. were a few other big stores with a broad appeal. Lander’s was another on that side of the street. On the south side of Main Street, I believe there was one called the Enterprize.
Up the street from there was Aliber’s, which later became Rooney’s. Aliber’s Bridal Salon is now on Federal Street.
Not far from there was the Army and Navy Store, which sold mainly men’s and Clark’s Sport shop, which sold winter sports clothing. On Ames Street near Davis Street, there was an upstairs women’s store, Mary Ellen’s, which sold a fine line of clothing.
As you can read this, there were many others that were located at the base of the Mohawk Trail.
One of the remaining men’s clothing stores is the Outlet Store on Chapman Street. Most — if not all — of the women’s clothing stores are now gone.
That’s the way it was.
Robert Bitzer, of Erving, is a lifelong resident of Franklin County, having been born in Greenfield. He is in his 90s and his columns are inspired by his own memories of the county.