Neighborhood Grocery Stores

Many of us remember the old "neighborhood groceries." It seemed there was one in every neighborhood...sometimes more than one. In my old neck-of-the-woods, we had Murphy's, Bill's Trading Post, Lincoln Grocery, one on Lambert Street that I can't remember the name of, one on Kimball between 7th and 8th, True's Market on Pine, and Petska's on 4th. I would take a quarter to Bill's, get a pop for .12 (a dime and deposit), and a bag of sunflower seeds for .05, and get change back. Sometime's I'd get a nickle's worth of candy in a small brown paper bag....chewy coins, licorice, candy sticks, pixie stix, and other goodies.

Here are some of the small grocery stores from 1961. I'm sure there were more, but this is what my list includes:

Bill's Trading Post, 508 E 6th
Broadwell Grocery, 1124 N. Broadwell
Campbell Lafe Grocery, 253 S. Locust
Ditter Grocery Store, 1512 N. Eddy
Handy Grocery, 420 W. 4th, (the hot spot after school)
Kelly's Market, 1118 N. Eddy
Lincoln Grocery, 811 E. 8th
Louie's Cafe & Grocery, 1405 W. Charles
New Eleventh Street Grocery, 211 W. 11th
North Pine Grocery, 814 N. Pine
Petska's Market, 204 E. 4th
Pure Food Grocery & Market, 1302 W.4th
Rehder's Grocery, 612 N. Washington
Schmidt Grocery & Service Station, 1916 S. Locust
Stop & Go Grocery, 208 S. Vine
True's Market, 382 N. Pine
West Bell Grocery, 1814 W. 4th
West Lawn Grocery, 2115 W. State
Willman Super Market, 365 N. Eddy & 1201 S. Locust

There were also many bakeries in Grand Island at different times in our history. In 1961 there were:

Butter Krust Bakery, 319 S. Locust
Butter Krust-Grand Island Baking Co., 376 N. Walnut
Dreier's Home Bakery, 124 W. 4th
Ernst Bakery, 423 W. 3rd
McCormick's Bakery, 204 N. Broadwell
Rainbo Bread Co., 365 N. Jackson

That's it for my list of 1961. It's been fun going back in time.

Namárië

More 1961 Businesses

Here are some more businesses from 1961. It's been fun thinking about them and visualizing where they were. Especially the Palmer Hotel. Mom ran the cafe there for quite some time. From the counter area of the cafe, looking out north, you could see Grand Island Music. The Eagles Club is located where the Palmer was, and the YMCA building takes up the whole north side of 3rd, from Sycamore east to Oak.

Mac's Coffee Shop, 313 W. 2nd
Mac's Drive-In, S. Locust
Manhattan Cafe, 106 E. 3rd
Marler Shoe Repair, 207 N. Locust
Mary Jane's School of Beauty, 405 N. Wheeler
Mayfair Hotel, 703 W. 3rd
Meadow Gold Products, 1623 W. North Front
Mercury Cleaners, 505 N. Pine
Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio, 217 1/2 W. 3rd
Meyer's Jewelers, 121 W. 3rd
Missouri Valley Construction Co., W. 2nd
Mode O'Day Frock Shop, 324 W. 3rd
Model Laundry & Dry Cleaning Co., 224 E. 3rd (First job I ever had!)
Modern Cleaners, 524 W. 4th
Montgomery Ward & Co., 301 W. 2nd
Municipal Swinning Pool, 520 S. Oak
Necci-Elna Sales & Service, 205 N. Wheeler
Nehi Bottling Co., 503 E. 4th
Nicholas Rexall Drug Store, 123 W. 3rd
North American Van Lines, 123 W. 4th
Northwestern Bell Telephone Co., 105 N. Wheeler
Ovrland National Bank, 304 W. 3rd
Paine Monument Co., 314 N. Walnut
Palmer Hotel, 3rd & Sycamore
Party Shop (The), 408 W. 3rd
Pastime Cafe, S. Locust
Pat's Booterie, 214, W. 3rd
Payne-Larson Furniture, 101 E. 3rd
Pedersen Farm Equipment Co., 224 E. 4th
Penny, J. C. Co., 319 W. 3rd
Pepsi Cola Bottling Co., N. Hwy 281 (Pepsi still in business on E. Hwy. 30)
Pinsston's Launder-Rite Service, 1939 N. Broadwell
Plamoor Snooker, 121 W. 4th
Plummer & Son Junk Yard, 217 E. 4th
Polly Shoe Store, 215 W. 3rd
Presto-X-Co., (pest control), 2250 S. Locust
Red Rooster Sales Co., 120 E. 3rd
Rexall Drug Store, 123 W. 3rd
Rockwell Alleys, 410 W. 2nd
Roe Buick Rambler Co., 515 W. 3rd
Roger Jewelry Shop, 201 W. 3rd
Rona Lee's, 307 N. Locust
Rork's Cafe, 312 N. Broadwell
Roush Mobile Homes & Trailer Court, Stolley Park & S. Locust
Royal Crown Bottling Co., 503 E. 4th
Ruby's Typewriter Store, 313 N. Locust
S & F Farm Store, 3100 W. 2nd
Saddle & Halder Club-Palmer Hotel Bldg., 3rd & Sycamore
Safeway Store, 810 W. 3rd
St. Francis Hospital, 1310 W. Charles (The new hospital is on Faidley Ave.)
St. Francis School of Nursing, 1405 W. Koenig
St. Mary's School, 502 W. Division
Salvation Army Citadel, 124 E. 3rd
Scheffel & Sons Monument Co., 363 N. Cleburn
Schimmer's Tavern-Schimmer's Lake

SCHOOLS, the ones that have moved:
Barr Junior High, 318 S. Clark
Walnut Junior High, 504 N. Elm
Wasmer, 1613 W. Division
West Lawn, 104 W. State

Schuff's Cafeteria & Hotel, 321 N. Locust
Schuppan Sales & Service, 2328 N. Broadwell
Schweser's (women's wear), 110 W. 3rd, now at the mall
Sears Roebuck & Co., 407 W. 3rd, now at the mall
Seven-Up Bottling Co., 645 W. Locust
Shamrock Motel, RFD #1
Sink & Baer Cleaners, 412 W. 3rd
Skags System: 417 W. 3rd; S. Locust Store on S. Locust, State & Eddy (still there)
Stinson's Shoe Store, 205 W. 3rd
Studebaker Sales & Service, 110 W. 2nd
Sun-Set Motel, 1802 S. Locust
Swan's Furniture, 318 W. 3rd
Tilley's Nursery, Old St. Paul Road
Tober's For Fashion, 118 W. 3rd
Top Hat TV, 4th & Eddy
Twin Rivers Co. Inc. (eggs), 1003 E. 4th
U-Need-A-Rest Motel, S. Locust
Union Bus Dept, 323 N. Locust
Union Pacific Railroad Co., Baggage & Tickets, 202 W. South Front; Roundhouse, E. Hwy. 30
VFW Club, 216 W. 2nd
Vavra's Sausage Kitchen, S. Locust
Walklin Pharmacy, 205 N. Locust
Walnut Street Pharmacy, 402 W. 4th
Watson's TV & Bicycle Service, 313 E. 4th
Well's Furniture Co., 320 N. Pine
Western Union, 317 N. Locust
White House Cafe, 414 W. 3rd
Willman Clothing Store, 219 W. 3rd
Willman Frozen Food Lockers, 365 N. Eddy
Wilson Motor Co.; Showroom & Garage, 110 W. 2nd; Used Car Lot, 411 W. 2nd
Wolbach's, 103 W 3rd
Woodland Country Club, S. Locust
Woolworth, F W, 309 W. 3rd
Yancy Hotel, 2nd & Locust

That's about it for now. There are some other businesses....like grocery stores and bars & taverns. Perhaps I'll add then later.

Namárië

1961 Grand Island

I found a list of businesses from 1961 that maybe you'll remember. I've not included all businesses, like bars and taverns, but it's an interesting view of Grand Island from 1961.

A through L

American Crystal Sugar Co., W. Koenig
American Telegraph & Telephone Co., 105 N. Wheeler
Apfel-Butler-Geddes Funeral Home, 209 E. 2nd
Austin Furniture & Appliances, 309 N. Pine
Bali Hai of Niemano's, 1603 W. 2nd
Band Box Cleaners, 2nd & Pine
Big Boo Fine Foods, 206 N. Wheeler
Bost Pharmacy, 386 N. Pine and 802 W. 2nd
Bowen Drug Co., 102 W. 4th
Brunswick Cigar & Billiards, 316 N. Pine
Burke Drug Co., 5 Points
Cadillac Sales & Service, 121 E. 2nd
Capitol Theatre, 109 W. 2nd
Cashway Lumber, 716 S. Elm
Chasis Jewel Shop, 206 N. Locust
Clayton's Pharmacy, 213 W. 3rd
Coca-Cola Bottling Co., 645 S. Locust
Commrcial National Bank, 207 W. 3rd
Conger's Jewelry, 316 W. 3rd
Continental Trailways Bus Depot, 516 W. 3rd
De Kok's Bike, Key & Electric Service, 602 W. 4th
Dependable Cleaners, 314 N. Pine
Dreisbach's, 1137 S. Locust
Dunn's Pharmacy, 216 S. Wheeler
Ensley Electric Co., 216 W. 4th
Fairacres Dairy Farms Inc., E. Lincoln Hwy.
Fairbury Pipe & Supply Co., Oklahoma & Eddy
Fairmont Foods Co., 924 W. Oklahoma
Farm & Home Radio Station, 205 S. Cedar
Federal Savings and Loan (The), 217 W. 3rd
First National Bank, 202 W. 3rd
Flower Basket (The), 103 . 9th
Ford Packing Co.-meat packer, W. Lincoln Hwy.
Foreman Beverage Inc., 608 E. 4th
Frontier Village Novelties, E. Hwy 30
Gamble Stores, 315 W. 3rd
Geer Co.-mobile homes, E. Lincoln Hwy.
Gold Bond Gift Center, 309 W. 2nd
Gorman's Men's Wear, 112 W. 3rd
Grand Island Beauty School, 311 W. 2nd
Grand Island Beer Co., 706 W. Oklahoma
Grand Island Bottling Co., 645 S. Locust
Grand Island Candy Kitchen & Cafe, 313 W. 3rd
Grand Island Ceramic Studio, 1915 W. 1st
Grand Island Clinic, 215 1/2 N. Pine
Grand Island Hardware Co., 110 W. 4th
Grand Island Livestock Auction, W. 2nd
Grand Island Loan Shop, 108 N. Pine
Grand Island Manufacturing, 356 N. Elm
Grand Island Music Co., 105 E. 3rd
Grand Island Poultry & Egg, 371 N. Sycamore
Grand Island Rendering, St. Paul Road
Grand Island Rug Cleaners, 817 W. N. Front
Grand Island School of business, 116 E. 3rd
Greenberger's Clothing, 221 W. 3rd
Greyhound Bus Lines, 323 N. Locust
Hallstead Printing Co., 313 N. Locust
Hayes Hardware, 1927 N. Broadwell
Heim Upholstering Co., 415 N. Oak
Hesselgesser's Garage. 107 E. 2nd
Hested Stores Co., 216 W. 3rd
Hoefts' Furniture Mart, 2224 N. Broadwell
Holcomb Hatcheries, 317 N. Elm
Ilanda Ballroom, 811 W. 4th
Jack and Jill; 2121 N. Broadwell & 1717 W. 2nd
Jameson's Cafe, 208 N. Locust
Jarold Shops Inc.-women's apparel, 124 W. 3rd
Jerome's Teepee Novelties, W. Hwy. 30
Johnson's Brother's Barber Shop, 521 E. 4th
KFNF Radio Station, 205 S. Cedar
Kaufmann's Dept. Store, 308 W. 3rd
Kernan Shoe Co., 119 W. 3rd
Kirby Co.-vacuum cleaners, 320 W. 4th
Kissel Auction & Furniture, 213 E. 3rd
Knott's Auction, S. Locust
Legion Club, 315 1/2 N. Locust
Library (City), 321 W. 2nd (Not torn down, thankfully!)
Lumbard & Leschinsky Studio & Camera Shop, 109 E. 3rd

That's it for now. I'll add the rest later.

Namárië

The Drive-In Theatre

I'm old enough to remember the Drive-In, but too old to remember many of the details. It must have been the late 50's and early 60's that I remember the most. One thing I remember is the petting zoo they had there. Dad & I went to see the animals before the start of the movie and I held one of the white rabbits. I'm sure there were other animals but the rabbit is all I remember. (I also remember it was right after my "accident" on the merry-go-round at Lincoln School....but that's another story.)

On hot summer nights my folks and us kids, usually 4-6 of us, would pile into Dad's '60 Chevy station wagon. It had fins on the back but don't ask me what model it was. We'd drive back and forth through the rows of speakers, until Dad found the right one. Sometimes we had to move because the speaker wasn't working. If the folks were agreeable they would let us ride the ponies. Remember those? Round and round we went at the entrance to the drive-in.

There was a concession stand at the drive-in that sold the regular types of food; hotdogs, sodas, popcorn, etc. Mom always made popcorn at home, in the cast-iron skillet, and put it in a bag. That was our treat for the movies. Before the movie started us kids would play on the swings in front of the screen.

Mom put blankets and pillows in the back of the station wagon and we put the back seat down. I can't remember many of the movies I saw there but the "tinney" sound of the speakers, Mom's voice, the popcorn and stars are what stays with me.

Another screen was added to the drive-in later. One night, while "The Exorcist" was playing on one screen, the other was hit by lightening. Ummm.. It wasn't long after that the drive-in began it's swan song. Slowly time and mother nature reclaimed to land. The screen was removed and the land stood vacant for a number of years. Now the land is filled with Kohls, TJ Maxx, HyVee and others.

Kearney is home to one of the remaining drive-in theatres. Maybe I'll take the grandkids there sometime. Something tells me I'd hear quite a few "I'm bored" coming from the back seat. These kids are used to tv, computers and video games. Watching a movie from the confines of a car might be too much to ask. :)

Namárië

To Start With....

Growing up in Grand Island, hereafter referred to as G. I., I am very familiar with the town. Town. Ummm. While growing up here it seemed like a town, but now it seems more like a city. It has grown and expanded beyond anything I remember. And...I've never left!


Like most folks, my memories of my town probably tend to be sweetened by the years. But I honestly think times were different then. My folks let me ride my bike all over town. My kids could ride "close to home," and my granddaughter couldn't ride in the street, let alone leave my sight.

A few of the things I remember: The Drive-In, Jack & Jill Stores, Kings, The Satellite Club, Fairmont Creamery, The Palmer Hotel, Lombard-Leschinski, The Grand Island Clinic (the one at 3rd & Pine), Hesselgesser's Oldsmobile (on 2nd between Pine and Oak), all the little "neighborhood" grocery stores, $.88 Cent Store, Kaufman's 5 & 10, Hesteds, Woolworth, most of the stores "downtown," The Capitol Theatre, Municipal Swimming Pool (The Muni), Christmas on Memorial Lane, Scotties
Drive-In, Heights Drive-In, home delivery of milk and dairy products (with the wooden crates), Shuff's Cafeteria, The Greyhound Bus Station, Continental Trailways Station, The Union Pacific Station, Koehler Hotel, the old Hamilton County bridge and the billboard on the north side of it, Pioneer Village, Jerome's Tee-Pee, St. Francis Hospital on Charles St., Lutheran Hospital near 1st. and Walnut, Niemano's, Big Boo, Bill's Trading Post, Apfel-Butler-Geddes Funeral Home on E. 2nd, Bowen Drugs, Clayton's, Dreier's Home Bakery, Vavra's Sausage Kitchen, Royal Crown Bottling Co. (somebody's brother has a body shop there now), and many, many other things. Going back over my list I notice how many have to do with food. I guess food can provide good memories.


There are many people that have left a lasting impression on me. Like Mae T. Clark, principal at Lincoln Elementary School; Mildred Cunningham, 5th grade teacher at Lincoln; Mrs. Williams and Mr. Yost, both 6th grade teachers and Lincoln. During my years at Howard Elementary I rememberMrs. Moore, the principal, and Mrs. Swiggle....but I don't believe that was her real name, just the way I remember it. (I wonder if there's a website I could go to and look up the teachers of Grand Island? Anyone have an idea?) I was one of the lucky girls to dance the Maypole in 4th grade at Howard. That tradition continues today.


So, here it is, my memories of Grand Island. Maybe I'll add a bit of Hall County later. Drop a line and tell me of your memories. The more memories we write down, the more we remember.

Namárië!