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WHY DID GRAMS HAIL A TAXI?? I THOUGHT THAT YOU DROVE??

I knew someone would pick up on this. I should have mentioned that my uncle drove us to town, but could not wait as this took most of afternoon. I wasn't driving,as I was only 12 at the time.

How much was the taxi ride back then?

50 cents to go up on West Hill.

Keep up the memories Pappy...A lot of your memories are my memories also...Do you remember a Diner across from the old St Pauls School on North Broad?--Possibly up more toward the Church that was next to the School..Believe the Victory ended up where the old St Pauls School was....Len

I also share many of these memories..When did you live on Gold St?

I'm thinking it was about 1947,48. We lived at 25 Gold, almost next to the RR tracks. I'll have to dig out my old pictures to verify. Len, I think I know who this is. You and my brother were about same age. Can't remember diner you are referring to. I did work at the N. Broad Victory, as well as the S.Broad. Before they built the N. Broad store, it was located where the Bluebird was. I was produce mgr. there. Norton Endries was the store mgr.

I worked at the upper Victory myself for Nort Endries when I was a seniou at NHS back in 1961-62. He was a fair man.
Does anyone remember McGarity's (sp) across from the old YMCA. They had the only true custard in town. It was a real treat. Next door was the bus terminal and around the corner from there was where the Binghamton paper came in to town for the carriers to pick them up for delivery.
Remember the days of neighborhood stores such as Norwich Food Market on W. Main St., and there were others on Henry St., Rexford St., Mitchell St., and many more.
I used to get my hair cut for a quarter at Cheesboro's barbershop down on East Main St. He gave us back a nickle and we went next door to Distefano's grocery and bought an icecream cone with the nickle. Some times in the middle of getting your hair cut he would sneak across the street to the old Globe Hotel for a quick drink and then come back to cut more hair.
I remember getting out of school every Wednesday afternoon and going to your chuch of choice for Church School. Think that would go over today? Ha, not on a bet but it should.
Norwich, memories, many, many to share.

Oh my gosh, do I ever remember McGaritys. The frozen custard, the real McCoy. Wednesday afternoon was religious instruction day. We use to go to a church on Birdsall(sp) street. A real treat was to go to Conroys Drug store on the corner of So. Broad and East Main. He had a real soda fountain and had great drinks. I would stop in there after I went to Dr. Ulrich, a dentist who was over the drug store. Old Dr. Ulrich had the old style drills that were very slow and very painful. Hey guys, love this stuff. Keep 'em coming.

Around the corner from Conroy's on E. Main St. you could find the local shoe shine parlor. Can't remember the guys name but you couldn't get by him without being asked if you would like a shine, even if you were wearing sneakers. Also, right at that same place was Smith's Smoke Shop. We used to go in for penny candy and he also had lots of tricks stuff such as itching powder and little things you put into the end of a cigar that made them blow up when you lit them. He had a big selection of magazines and papers too. We used to sneak a peak at a Playboy magazine when we thought he wasn't looking.

Did McGarity's have a counter with stools? I was trying to think of a Diner accross from old St Pauls, but could have been down the street a bit.....I remember that my big treat for getting decent grades was to be able to sit on the stool and have a treat....That was until we broke the stained glass window at the Church next to St Pauls playing baseball....Len

Len...Was it the Belvedere? I don't think there were any stools, but you may be right. I remember Smiths real well. When I would get out of work at Colonia, I would stop and get a pint of ice cream to take home. 29 cents if I remember correctly. Yes, I liked all that joke stuff. Bought a hand buzzer and a lot of goofy stuff. Remember the hobby shop on King St. Bought many a balsa airplane there.

Pappy---Could have been the Belvedere but don't have the memory that you have...I do remember the hobby shop on King St...Also remember Dad taking me down when we got the block ice...I was older than your brother..Was born in 1943---Remember going to see "High Noon" in 1952---I thought I was Gary Cooper for a while....Even wore my Ken Maynard hat and Hoot Gibson gunbelt ...Still recall the day that Ole Gary Cooper was walking up to your house ---in a daze---until George Hendricksons 1000 lb---or more----German Shepherd lurched to the end of the stone wall and sent Ole Gary Cooper to your house in record speed and the never again to be seen Ken Maynard hat flying across the field toward the Max Blenis farm...Poor Ole Gary Cooper was never the same again....Len

I lived on Tinker Ridge and about 1948 or 1949 saw my first movie at Smalleys "Old Dan Patch".
I went to first and second grade in one room school (with 6 grades) in Plymouth.
Can remember being locked in coat closet frequently and being beat by the teacher (Miss B.)

Hope it wasn't my Grandmother. I'm sure it wasn't as she taught in a one room school on the road between top of West Hill and Preston. We always liked Smalleys because we could stay all day if we wanted to. It only cost 14 cents and some days they would have 26 cartoons, plus a cowboy double feature. We did a lot of swimming in South Plymouth behind General store.

The teacher at Plymouth was never married....not your grandmother. She was angry (so I was told) because my father had been Super. of schools for many years and would not hire her. Once he retired she got the job....the first year I went to school. She left her handprint on my face and so many other horrendus things happened. Took me years to get over it.

I have wonderful memories of swimming in So Plymouth behind the store...that is where I learned to swim. Does anyone remember Hattie and Leonard Parker that lived on a farm up on the hill from So Plymouth? How about the Monday Farm, the Browning farm and the Park farm. What wonderful places.

I never had teachers like that, thank God. I don't recall any of these names. The only name that comes to mind is Sawyers. The swimming hole had a long rope we use to swing way out on. Good times.

Len, God how I hated that monster dog. I would actually go way down in the field so that he wouldn't see me. Coming down the hill was no problem as I would go just as fast as the bike would go. Going up was the problem. Anyone remember the Eagle Hotel? It was a huge building. It wasn't being used when I was a kid, and was torn down sometime in the 50's. I always thought it would burn down as it was mostly wood. Guess it was quite a place in it's day.

Pappy, I love your blogs..I read them and all of the comments..I really think you should write a book..I would buy it..

Thank you, Dianne. You are too kind. Just like to reminisce about the good old days. I really enjoyed growing up in Norwich. Pappy

I remember the Imperial restaurant where McNeils Jewelers is today. The Imperial had the last of the old fashioned juke boxes with the boxes at the tables where you could make our selection. Where was McNeils before they moved into the Imperial building?

I remember Fishmans. They had the best french fries and banana splits at their counter.(What would you call that today? It wasn't as fancy as what we now think of restaurants. No tables, just a counter.) And while you waited, you could go to the back (Or was it downstairs?)and look at the toys.

I remember an old hotel where Frontier's parking lot is today. Olan Mills always came there to take pictures of the children.

I believe McNeils was right to the left of Colonia theater. I bought my wifes engagement ring there. I have several pictures of old Norwich and one is the counter in Fishmans. I will try to post some of these in the forum soon. Where is Frontiers lot? Am not familiar with them.

Hi Pappy, I must tell you how much I enjoy your writings, I would give almost anything for an old fashioned custard, like McGarity's. Do you remember Bartlett's Bakery? It was around the corner,next to where the Binghamton papers came in? You are right re the jewelery store, it was next to the theater. As I lived on Mitchell St, I remember the railroads well. I always took the shortcut down the tracks to go to East Main ST. school.Please keep up the good work

I went to East Main St. school for the 6th grade. We lived on Gold St. then and had to walk or ride our bikes to school. Do you remember a Mrs. Coppernoll? I believe she taught Literature. I think I remember Bartletts. Sounds familiar. When we were at the Jr. High school on West Main St., we would go over to Pringles Cigar store for a double dip of Velvet ice cream. We loved hanging out in the park on our lunch break.

Hi Pappy, Of couse I remember Mrs. Coppernoll, What about Miss Hannon? They used to call her Cannon ball and everyone was terrified of her.Also there was a Miss Newton, who taught 7th at West main, she wore high top button shoes.

Oh yes, I remember these teachers. How about Mrs. Thomas? If you got caught chewing gum, she would put the gum on your nose and stand at the entrance stairs until everyone saw you. How about Mr. Jacobson, our band leader? Also Mr. Tom Collins. Boy could he ever get mad. When he did get mad, everyone shut up and didn't say a word.

Hi Pappy, Yes I remember Mrs. Thomas. She was tough, but one of my favorites. I think I stood with gum on my nose, just once. What about Helen Sullivan.7th, grade English. She was also our Debate coach. Do you remember a little hill we used to slide down between Mitchell and Gold streets? It was beside the railroad tracts. What about Welch's Store on Silver St. class of 58

I had forgotten all the teachers that you mention. Yes, I remember them. I always seemed to get in trouble with a lot of them. I use to skip school a few times when the weather was real nice. Would wander up to the quarry and just daydream. When I got out of the Army in 56, we lived at Dick Welch's apartment. I use to work in his store at nights after working for Smith Ford and later Victory. Dick was a great guy. I see it is closed up now. I,m trying to remember the hill you are talking about. Was it near the viaduct?

Just discovering this blog community. Born in Norwich, 1949, graduated NHS 1967. Lived on King St. from about 1955 to 1967 but do not remember a hobby shop there. Was it on the Cortland St. end? Many pleasant memories of the Bus Terminal, McGarities, Prindles, etc. brought up by this chat. Also think of the Stone Quarry and swimming in the Canasawacta swimming area before the pool was built.