During a recent weekend visit home, I took Mama Bore riding around and we noticed how "dead" it was around the town square. Used to be, Saturdays were bustling with activity. "Let's go watch people go by!" Mom would yell, and we kids would haul ass into the family station wagon, anxious to see what was going on downtown, especially after dark. Stores were open until 8 or 9 PM. We'd always hope for a prime parking space...in front of J. C. Penney's at the corner of 6th and Madison since it had the most foot traffic. Mom would drive around the square over and over, just waiting and hoping for that coveted spot.Once parked, all we did was, as Mom had promised, sit in the car and watch people go by, of course. We'd make astute observations about them--how Mrs. T. was always leading her forlorn husband by an invisible leash or how Mrs. S. had such good posture. I particularly remember observing a boy a few years younger than I tromping slowly along the sidewalk, seeming so lost and lonely. Years later, he murdered several members of his family.
I don't think we ever did any shopping during these outings. It was strictly voyeurism. About the only time we got out of the car was to switch places with a sibling. It wasn't fair for one kid to hog the front seat the entire time and have the best viewing spot. We would actually have Mom check her watch periodically in our quest for equal squatter's rights.
Well, nowadays, there is absolutely nothing gone on downtown on Saturday nights. Stores are closed, not a single car is parked, and no one is walking around. Empty. Where has everyone gone? There are four blinking stoplights waiting for action at each corner of the square but all for naught. I try to recall the different businesses that used to be there--a rowdy bar on the northwest corner, the Kansan theatre on the east side, Cozy Cafe on the south, along with Penney's, two drug stores, Bennett's Variety, and others. But, time marches one. Things change. Business come and go, as do people. We can park wherever we want now--and all we can watch is a small town becoming smaller.
4 comments:
Wow, this is pretty sad. It is very true how little towns get smaller and smaller. I like how you guys would people watch and how creepy about the lonely kid. Yikes.
This post makes you think about change.
Sorry your stuck in the library.
What about Jones' Grocery and the Bakery on the West side? The Penny Girls still have breakfast once a month but I think the youngest one is 79 and is a close relative to me. My fav used to be to set over at Foodtown and watch who went in and out of the liquor store across the street. What happened to Dairy Queen? Where did Swartz's go? Doane's is still an institution. The Hearld was run out by Relph's. High Margin wants to know what happened to Benedict, he remembers the telephone office and grocery store there and his elementary school with a lighted baseball field?
I do love Fredonia's town square and have my own memories of weekend get-togethers at Yates Center's. Towns with a Town Square are much cooler than towns without, I think! ;-)
Diva, that's neat about the Penney's gals getting together. Ah....Dairy Queen..and Bennett's Ice Cream Store on Madison!!! Doane's and Modern Miss are about the only businesses that are still there from when we were kids. MM still has the same mannequins in the window. Wouldn't surprise me if the clothes were the same!! Haven't hit up Benedict lately. I shall have to investigate!
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