nanc
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Post by nanc on May 28, 2005 14:26:51 GMT -5
Back on March 20, 2005, I put a post here, back when I wasn't "logged in" properly, and mentioned a local newscaster. With the assistance of 'Rocky Ford,' who made several inquiries around town, it was established that I was referring to Harold Arthurs. Had I given myself just a little more time I would have run across the following photo of Harold and his wife. Thanks 'Rocky Ford' and others, the mystery has been solved, and now confirmed via a photo amongst the others scattered about my living room floor. ;D And, does anyone put a "horse connect" with him? There might be! Nanc ;-)
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nanc
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Posts: 73
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Post by nanc on May 31, 2005 8:40:23 GMT -5
Someone posted about what we "did" to our bikes to make them special. In searching through photos, ran across this one-----and if you look carefully, you will note a series of "birds" mounted on the handlebars, and as I recall, they had real feather tails of different colors. Seems like we purchased these at a hardware store, for a nominal amount. Looks like I could afford to have four of these feathered "riders" on board. ;D Nanc
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nancs
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Post by nancs on Jun 5, 2005 7:11:07 GMT -5
Hi to all, now having the new upgrade and logging in problems behind me, and I hope everyone else has it mastered, it is time to continue on with "another walk down Memory Lane." On the home page of the Historic Columbus, Indiana, site, David has a wonderful collection of items to jar your memory. In the section about redevelopment in the 60s, there were a couple of photos of the skating rink. Think that the first time I ever had on rink skates, my prior skating experience being via sidewalk skates that clamped to my shoes by using a key, was in 2nd grade. At Christmas time, I believe, all the Cub Scouts, and maybe Boy Scouts, too, had a skating party at the rink, and they could bring a girl as a guest. It was quite an honor to be invited to attend this party. And it was a fun, yearly event, that one looked forward to, keeping your fingers crossed for an invite. In looking at the photos, and I honestly cannot remember going there in the daylight, and perhaps now I understand why my folks always insisted on "delivering me and picking me up" from this destination. Ignoring the outside look, the inside, well.... Seems to me, as you came in, you paid your admission and the cost to rent skates. You secured your skates and went off to the benches that lined the back wall to lace on your skates, depositing your jacket and shoes, along with all the other kids' things, on the floor under the benches. Perhaps there were coat hooks, too. Just know it was always a jumbled mess, and dimly lighted, too. And off to skate. On the wooden floor. In the beginning one had to learn to cross your feet on the curves. As time passed you learned the special skating steps, like the Two Step. There was a lighted board, over the rental skates area, indicating the type of the current "skate." Be it "couples," Two Step, backward skate.......... It was always a great evening of fun. Seems that there was a more lighted area as you came in where parents would congregate and a snack bar was in that area. Know that the skating rink was always a fun place, particularly in the winter, to congregate with your friends. And a very special Christmas, indeed, when you got a pair of your own rink skates with wooden wheels. How proud you were to tie those skates together and put them over your shoulder, and go off to the skating rink. Fun times with great friends. Hope that others will add some more memories. Someone mentioned that there was a tented skating rink out on 10th Street, that would be another tale, I'm sure. Nanc
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Babs
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Post by Babs on Jun 5, 2005 12:53:28 GMT -5
Oh that "old skating rink" sure does bring back fond memories. A lot of parents wouldn't let their kids go there (too wild is the story) but no one could've had any stricter parents than I did and I was allowed to go. My mother would sometimes accompany me and she would sit and watch as we skated round and round the rink. What a thrill when some "older" guy who was a really good skater would ask you to "dance" to one of the couples skates. What fun! One time my parents allowed a friend and me to stay till closing time, so naturally the buses no longer were running. We walked home, taking short cuts through some alleys. I guess it must've been a cat or something else wild but we heard this loud noise and you never saw two high school girls run so fast to get out of that alley. Most likely some animal getting into someone's trash can but we thought someone was after us. Kids couldn't be allowed to do this sort of thing now but back then we were really safe. I think it might've been a New Year's Eve because normally I had a curfew to be home much earlier. I still am not sure just why I was allowed to stay out this late on this particular night but it is something I will always remember. Prior to going to the rink, I, too, skated on those old metal skates that you needed a key to make them fit. I loved my first set of good skates and didn't we think we were pretty cool as we skated round keeping time to the music. What great fun those days were! Babs
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Post by David Sechrest on Jun 6, 2005 0:15:19 GMT -5
Nanc--the street picture of 5th and Washington: Yes, that building ran at an angle. 6th Street, on the west side of Washington, also ran at an angle, but the city did away with 6th (running toward Jackson Street) years ago. The reason these buildings were built at an angle is because of the railroad tracks that once ran to the railway station where the First Christian Church sits today.
Decorating bicycles continued to be a favorite pasttime even through the 1960's. We used paper mache and balloons and had contests for the best bike, but there were never any prizes awarded. We couldn't afford that!
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nancs
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Post by nancs on Jun 6, 2005 9:44:33 GMT -5
Okay, again 5th and Washington, taken probably from almost the same vantage point as the "raffle car" in a post here. In this photo, on the right side, I see the "stores" facing Washington St. as remembered, basically at the bus stop corner. Looking to the west side of Washington, there is, what I recall, that "angle" to accomodate the RR tracks, and can almost recall a train engine occasionally stopped there. Am I right that Hooks Drug Store would be on that NW corner? Then the "angle opening" and Red Jenkins' barber shop would be in that first shop of "the angle?" Seems like on beyond the barber shop there was a "Mode-o-Day" dress shop. Sorry, I have no date for this, but you car buffs should recognize and come up with "something." Would love comments on this one, as I only think "I am close." Nanc
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Babs
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Post by Babs on Jun 6, 2005 10:17:21 GMT -5
Nanc, Yes, Hooks would've been on the Northwest corner. Used to go in there and buy "malted milk tablets", does anyone remember them? I seem to think they came in a little bottle and they were so good. This is now the corner where the Irwin-Union Bank sets. The bank used to be on the SW corner but moved when the new building was constructed. NE corner was indeed the bus stop and the very spot where my Aunt Trecie fell and broke her ankle one day. Her ankle never did heal properly and she walked with a limp till she died. Think the bus was parked too far out and as you remember had pretty steep steps to get on it. Thanks Nanc for this lovely reminder of our past. Babs
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Post by David Sechrest on Jun 6, 2005 19:01:43 GMT -5
While we're on the subject of Washington Street businesses, here is a great picture that Karen Konetzka sent to me: By the looks of the cars, it appears this picture was taken around the same time as the one nancs posted earlier. I wish this picture was a little clearer, as I'd like to see what that guy (or kid) is pushing along 6th Street. I'm not familiar with Lords. What was it? And, it looks like the business next to Lords is Vogue(?) Was this a clothing store by chance? See where Kroger was located? I had no idea they were right downtown! And they complain about finding a place to park at grocery stores today. HA!
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Post by David Sechrest on Jun 6, 2005 19:13:25 GMT -5
Another picture from Karen: Notice where Sears is...
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nancs
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Post by nancs on Jun 6, 2005 20:45:25 GMT -5
Okay, I remember Kroger's and that would have been during WW II, for me. Parking was not a problem, as either one didn't have a car that would run, or one didn't use the "gasoline rationing stamps" or whatever there was, for a trip to the grocery. My dad rode a Cushman to and from work at this point in time, and will admit that it was fun when he gave me a ride. ;D Our car ran, but was only used for very special trips to visit family in Martinsville. My mom and I went to Kroger's via the Maple Grove bus. Bless my dear grandmother, who crocheted two shopping bags for my mom so that she could "cart" home the groceries, avoiding paper bags that fell apart before you could get home. These bags would "expand" and we could carry home large amounts of groceries. And lots in tin cans, and remember how one saved the cans for the "war effort?" One opened both ends of the can, flattened the can, saved the ends, and turned them in somewhere? Where was that? Okay, and attaching a CA memory in this one. At Kroger's at the right end of the small frozen food cabinet, on rare occasions there would be a wooden box, with avocados packed in "excelsior," that straw stuff, maybe as many as twelve. ;D Oh, my goodness, it was a great day when my mom would purchase one of those precious avocados. And she managed to make one avocado serve three people. It was wonderful!!! Can still taste it and the sweet Miracle Whip dressing that she served as part of the salad. Much as I hated CA, will have to admit-----the high school cafeteria in Fullerton served a half an avocado, with 1000 Island dressing for some ridiculous low cost. OMG, I was in heaven!!! I could not believe that an avocado was there every single day as a menu choice! ;D And ate them, I did!!! And now, next door to me, there is an avocado grove and my neighbor keeps me well supplied. I can eat a whole one now, in one sitting! ;D But my Columbus memories of that wonderful fruit is what really lingers. And David, that "kid" or whoever, looks to me like he is pushing a cart like the "garbage pickers" had that I mentioned some long while back. Think there is a "piece" about them in the Barholomew History, Vol 2, as well. Just guessing, might have been my "Alley Oop" or the "Old Buzzard." ;D My memory for today. Have a good one! What a blast from the past. Who else has a thought, please share it. Nanc
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Post by EC on Jun 6, 2005 20:55:19 GMT -5
Hi David. My reference book lists “Lords Apparel Shop” at 533 Washington Street as selling Women’s Clothing. In the name section listings, Mrs. Vina Rowland is listed at the Manager.
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nancs
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Post by nancs on Jun 7, 2005 7:46:27 GMT -5
Hi, and never in a million years can I be as organized with my memories as EC is, I just have "to go with the flow," as one thought leads to another. EC, I surely admire your organization skills and terrific accounts of "Growing Up Columbus." With Washington St. being the current "hot item," will go that direction down Memory Lane. Do you remember when-------it came near to Halloween and the kids painted pictures on the windows downtown? Seems to me, that this came about as an effort to constructively occupy the kids with an activity of which they could be proud, rather than do a prank. I rather think that the prime windows were assisgned to talented high school art students to use as their "canvas." I do remember that it was a real treat to stroll down Washington St. and look at all the art work. One year, as I recall, the winning picture was on a window at Nagel's, drawing huge crowds, and I want to say that it was of Abe Lincoln......anyone else remember something like that? Windows out of the prime locations were assigned to Brownie Troops and similar groups. I do know that my artistic talents were displayed on a corner building on the 6th St. side. ;D Am thinking that we just used poster paint to create our picture. Seems that we might have had an afternoon off from school to participate in this creative effort. This next thought is in part a question----in the picture that I posted of a parade, about midway down that block on the west side-----my grandmother was in town, and wanted to "park and visit" with those strolling the street, and she was a tad put out at my folks, as the best spot we could find was in that block. As she got bored, for lack of folks to visit with in that area, she told this story: She pointed out the upstairs part of one of those buildings, relating how a friend had asked her to go to a meeting there. She went and was shocked to discover that she was, indeed, right in the middle of a KKK meeting. Apparently, at this meeting the people did NOT have on their KKK attire, and she noted a number of prominent folks in town in attendance. I know that she was shocked, and never went back. My question is: Just how active was the KKK in town? Any record of that? Moving on with another Washington St. memory----and it crops up in my head rather frequently right now, what with the popularity of women's shoes with ankle straps!! You would not catch me in a pair of shoes like that on a bet, no matter how attractive the bet might be!!!! As a youngster, my best friend and I would walk down Washington St., occasionally we would spot a couple of ladies approaching us, that looked like "ladies of the night" to us! Beyond the shoes with ankle straps, I don't know how we came up with this perception. Just know that we would high-tail it to the nearest set of stairs that went to the upstairs offices, hiding until these ladies passed, as we feared we might just get "some social disease!" Ah, through the eyes of youngsters! Have a great day, and take a moment to share one of your memories on these message boards. It is a lot of fun, and your own kids would love you for recording your memories of "Growing Up Columbus!" David, thanks again for providing this for the pleasure of so many. Nanc
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Post by David Sechrest on Jun 7, 2005 7:54:01 GMT -5
And yet, another picture from Karen: I'm going to have to go through my notes to see if any of the two men on bikes are identified. This is what 3rd Street looked like back in the days. You can see the courthouse in the background. The thing that amazes me about these pictures (this one, and the one of Washington Street that shows Sears), is how abruptly our downtown area just came to an end. It appears that, from all the trees that line Washington from 7th north, and in this one, that the downtown area definitely had specific boundaries. It's hard to get a perspective of exactly where this 3rd Street picture was taken, but it looks like it was around Lindsay or Brown. By the late 50's/early 60's, weren't there homes and businesses lining 3rd at this location? If you look at the pictures in the 1966 redevelopment section of the website, 3rd looks nothing like it does here. Or maye it's just me...
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Post by David Sechrest on Jun 7, 2005 8:24:01 GMT -5
Nancs--as popular as the KKK was in the 20's, 30's, and 40's, I'm most certain that Columbus had a pretty good base of members.
I can't remember what it was, but I recall seeing a video where the owner of the White House Department Store spoke of the racial problems surrounding this time, and how certain groups tried to keep people from shopping at his store.
EC--did you ever see this, or does it sound familiar?
I recall seeing an aticle printed in the Evening Republican back in the 1960's about barbershop owners that wouldn't cut your hair if you were a black person, and I think that Harry McCawley wrote an article about this some years back.
Elmer Goins, owner of the Goins Hotel, was a successful businessman in Columbus. I'm not sure what the time period was, since I can't find the rest of the info, but I will locate it (hopefully), and post more here.
A picture of the Goins Hotel on 4th Street.
Little Harlem later became the old Plantation Bar. Now that I sit here thinking about this, I wonder if there was a specific reason that, when this bar changed hands, the name "Plantation" was picked as the name. Hmmm...
This is one aspect of Columbus' history that I would like to explore in detail, and will most likely write an article to include in the website at some future date. Better yet, if any of you out there would like to tackle this, please email me.
Due to copyright restrictions, all pictures have been removed from this post...
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Babs
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Post by Babs on Jun 7, 2005 9:04:59 GMT -5
Nanc. That was just what I thought when I saw the picture with the "cart" being pushed down the street. I remember what my mom called "rag pickers" who came up the alley in our neighborhood, calling out that they wanted your old rags. Not sure how many we ever gave him because a lot of people kept old rags and then made those "rag rugs" out of them. I would guess that was just what that cart was! Oh and as an added note, some of those old handmade rag rugs bring a pretty penny at local auctions! Babs
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Post by David Sechrest on Jun 7, 2005 9:06:13 GMT -5
Black History In Columbus really deserves a folder all to itself, and I would really like to get a discussion going regarding this subject. It would be a great, eye opening history lesson for all of us.
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Post by EC on Jun 7, 2005 10:31:26 GMT -5
David, my 1953 reference book lists a Little Harlem at 302 Eighth Street, which was at the NE corner of 8th and Jackson Streets. It lists Donald Lambert as the owner. The book also lists Mr. Lambert and his wife Maxine M. as living on Newton Street.
I searched my reference book under the Hotel in the Business Directory and didn’t find a Goins Hotel. I find the Belvedere at 428 3rd, Columbus Hotel at 621 Jackson, Hotel Orinoco at 1629 Orinoco and Hotel St Denis at 432 Washington. The name section lists an Elmer K. Goins as working at Reeves Pulley and living on RR # seven.
The street and avenue guide for 4th street moving east from Washington Street lists the following on the south side of the street: 415, Price Callahan - Barber. Isn’t the first sign on your picture saying Barber Shop? 417, Irvin N. Hendershot - Jeweler. 419, Columbus Shine Parlor - Hat Cleaners. 421, The Unger Granite Works - Monuments. 423 Merlin A. Lucas - Restaurant. 425 Palms Café - Tavern. 425 ½, Henry Goins. The owners of the Palms, as listed in the name’s section, is given as Don Schafstall and Frank G. Meyer. 427, Glenn N. Pierce - Billiards. 427 ½, Harry Cooper. 433, Hollywood Café - Tavern. The owner of the Hollywood Café, as listed in the name’s section, is James A. Bova. 435, The Home Furniture Company.
Several years ago I saw a video about early Columbus, but I don’t recall the racial speech you’re talking about. I do remember while I was in school that friends said they went to Indianapolis to get haircuts.
In one of Nancy’s posts, didn’t she state that one of the best haircuts she ever had was from a black barber on tenth street? A search of my reference book lists an Annex Barber & Beauty Shop at 1319 tenth street which was between Short Wilson and Reed Streets with a Eugene W. Smith living at the same address.
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nancs
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Post by nancs on Jun 7, 2005 11:10:33 GMT -5
EC, that barber shop on 10th, as I am not real good with street names at this point in time, be about or near the big open field where they always set up the circus when it came to town? That is kind of where I remember the shop being, and facing in the direction of that open area. Nanc
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Post by EC on Jun 7, 2005 11:28:26 GMT -5
Nancy, Reed and Short Wilson ended at Tenth Street and the Circus field was on the North side of Tenth Street at that point. Today, Tenth bends and connects with Eleventh Street through the West part of the field.
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nancs
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Post by nancs on Jun 8, 2005 7:58:42 GMT -5
Hi to all, and thanks EC for confirming my thinking on that area of 10th St. And I do believe that the barber shop was in a home, in the front part, so well could be that the gentleman lived in the rest of it. While thinking about this area----the big field. And I really only have one recollection of that, being when the circus came to town. Think my dad must have been a "frustrated circus person" deep within. It was a rainy day, and my dad appeared at school and took me out of class----to go see them set up the Big Top. I know his thinking was this experience was more important than what I would be learning in school that day. Thanks to my dad for this foresight. And have often thought of that day when some student's parent requested to take their child out of my class to go to some special place or event. Something not approved of in educational circles today, but these parents always gained my support. "Please, go and with my blessing, and build a memory!" We parked the car and sat and watched the men and the elephants pull the Big Top into place, driving in the stakes to hold it up, and all in the rain. The show must go on!!!! Eventually, the rain let up some and we walked around looking at the various exotic animals as they were being fed. As to "The Show," and it might have been the Cole Brothers Circus, I know we did go to see the circus, but it was the setting up of the Big Top that I remember. Am a lot fuzzy on "how" the circus got to this area. Seems I remember semi-type trucks with writing on them, or might it have been train boxcars? Anyone remember how the circus got to town?? In that same area, perhaps to the east and maybe at the north edge of the open field----was there a cannery or some such place----a white building with at least one row of windows fairly close together? And the ladies that worked there wore white uniforms with a white head covering? Surely others have more that could be added to circus memories, or other functions that went on in this big field. Please join in and add your two cents worth. Nanc
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