I was thinking the other night about the Hobby Shop that was next door to the Borough Hall (the old one between 4th & 5th Aves.). Dad and Mark and I liked to make models -- dad loved to build model ships and Mark (my brother) and I preferred working on airplanes.
I have to admit that sometimes we got frustrated, especially dad because the ships had a lot more small parts than the planes.
I think about the only thing the Hobby Shop had to sell was models and glue, the kind of glue that was later to become the halucingenetic of choice of kids in the early 60s. Airplane glue was the common name and it was "ingested" by sniffing.
I was also wondering how many of the shop owners along the Pike and other places in town were able to eke out a living and keep from going under. I know Leap's Supermarket was often very crowded, and it really was the only grocery store in town that wasn't a deli. It was also during these years the only store that had a frozen food section. Frozen foods were a new commodity in the 40s and early 50s. The deli located next to the Post Office (the old one on the corner of the Pike and Clements Bridge) was always, and I mean a-l-w-a-y-s busy. You HAD to take a number. There was another grocery store, sparsely furnished and really an over sized deli, around the northeast corner of the Pike. That store was always empty, or I just hit it right. I was my mom's "personal shopper".
Some of the stores were:
Palumbo's Bridals -- never busy.
Marsten's Jewelers -- never busy.
Freddie's -- always busy
The Barber Shop -- always busy
Jake's 5 & 10, when it was on the Pike busy, when he lost his lease his little shop in his home, not busy.
The optometrist -- well appointment(ed) -- took the place of Jake's
The shoe store -- served the town well
The taylor shop -- Dad used this shop often. Mom didn't really have time for mending.
Webber's bakery -- best cream donuts anywhere, ditto with the cinnamon buns -- ran out of baked goods by noon.
Runnemede Supply -- what can I say -- it was the only hardware store in the area for many years.
Most of these stores lasted until the late 50s, early 60s. Then there seemed to be a downward trend in stores along the pike. Closures because shop owners were getting old and retiring or passing away seemed to be a monthly event.
One more thing -- I also remember when you didn't need an appointment to see the doctor. You just went to Dr. Fessman's office, or Dr. Palmisano's office, walked in and waited your turn. We went to Dr. Fessman's because he was closest until he died suddenly, then we stayed in town and used Dr. Palmisano until my mom died, and that was a lot of years. In later years, of course, you needed an appointment.
Oh, yeah, Dr. Fessman was known to show up at our house when we children got some contagious disease to put the "notice" on the door warning other Runnemedians(?) that there was a nasty disease in our house and they should stay away.
ttfn
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Coal
We met with a couple from our church last night and we were talking about the "old" days -- the 40s and 50s. We are the same ages (he and his wife, Alan and I), and the subject of coal furnaces came up. That reminded me...
When I was a little girl -- before the early 50s -- we had a coal furnace. I love that heater, although I'm sure my dad and mom didn't.
I loved it because the floors were always warm -- big pipes in the basement pushing the hot air into the few registers we had upstairs. My favorite register was the one in the kitchen and I'll get back to that topic shortly.
I figure dad didn't love the coal furnace because early in the morning he had to shovel coal into the main part of the furnace, after getting hot ashes dumped into the holding bind under the main heating area, then he had to wait until the fire died down a bit to empty the holding area into a large metal bucket which he had to wait again for said bucket to cool down, then he had to dump the ashes in the metal can (garbage can not used for garbage only for ashes) out in the back yard which was half-way up the stairs to a door that exited out to the back yard. Then he had to go through that procedure at least twice a day -- once mid-day, and once just before he went to bed. He didn't add any coal at that time but banked the coal so there wouldn't be a fire.
He never complained. Perhaps it was something he enjoyed doing -- let's just say my dad was not a handiman and perhaps that made him feel more useful around the house?
Mom didn't like it because of (1) the dust that collected daily on all the furniture. NOTE: I usually notice the dust every 7-10 days, we could write messages to each other on our furniture from the dust that settled on the furniture on a daily basis back then; and (2) the day the coal arrived and was deposited into the coal bin (a small section of the basement that was baracaded off from the rest of the basement) there was a bit of coal dust that collected on all surfaces in the basement, which meant mom and I would sweep and dust the basement wearing our bandanas, our face masks, and carrying our sprinklers (bottles with a cap that had holes in it) to keep down the dust. We were quite swarthy when we finished down there. I think it was a quarterly event.
Now, back to the register in the kitchen. It was between the stove and the chimney, and I used to sit on it to get warm, or I would stand on it and watch my dresses balloon out when the hot air came up. That kept me warm also.
I am sure you are wondering why I would write about this. Well, I was thinking as we reached 70 degrees late last week -- around March 1 -- dad would be been delighted because it would be warm enough to do without heat -- we'd just get warm under the down quilts we had.
I bought a new, warm, down-filled coat for this winter with a hood, figuring I would need it. I haven't worn it once -- the winter has been warm.
I know dad and mom would be rejoicing over a warm winter, first heater was coal, and dad wouldn't have to shovel as much; second heater was oil, and the oil bill wouldn't be as much; and the last heat was gas, I think they had a gas heater last. Anyway, as my husband is rejoicing over the lower heating bills, so mom and dad who lived on a very, very tight budget would have been happy.
ttfn
This item has not been proofread. Please forgive mistakes.
When I was a little girl -- before the early 50s -- we had a coal furnace. I love that heater, although I'm sure my dad and mom didn't.
I loved it because the floors were always warm -- big pipes in the basement pushing the hot air into the few registers we had upstairs. My favorite register was the one in the kitchen and I'll get back to that topic shortly.
I figure dad didn't love the coal furnace because early in the morning he had to shovel coal into the main part of the furnace, after getting hot ashes dumped into the holding bind under the main heating area, then he had to wait until the fire died down a bit to empty the holding area into a large metal bucket which he had to wait again for said bucket to cool down, then he had to dump the ashes in the metal can (garbage can not used for garbage only for ashes) out in the back yard which was half-way up the stairs to a door that exited out to the back yard. Then he had to go through that procedure at least twice a day -- once mid-day, and once just before he went to bed. He didn't add any coal at that time but banked the coal so there wouldn't be a fire.
He never complained. Perhaps it was something he enjoyed doing -- let's just say my dad was not a handiman and perhaps that made him feel more useful around the house?
Mom didn't like it because of (1) the dust that collected daily on all the furniture. NOTE: I usually notice the dust every 7-10 days, we could write messages to each other on our furniture from the dust that settled on the furniture on a daily basis back then; and (2) the day the coal arrived and was deposited into the coal bin (a small section of the basement that was baracaded off from the rest of the basement) there was a bit of coal dust that collected on all surfaces in the basement, which meant mom and I would sweep and dust the basement wearing our bandanas, our face masks, and carrying our sprinklers (bottles with a cap that had holes in it) to keep down the dust. We were quite swarthy when we finished down there. I think it was a quarterly event.
Now, back to the register in the kitchen. It was between the stove and the chimney, and I used to sit on it to get warm, or I would stand on it and watch my dresses balloon out when the hot air came up. That kept me warm also.
I am sure you are wondering why I would write about this. Well, I was thinking as we reached 70 degrees late last week -- around March 1 -- dad would be been delighted because it would be warm enough to do without heat -- we'd just get warm under the down quilts we had.
I bought a new, warm, down-filled coat for this winter with a hood, figuring I would need it. I haven't worn it once -- the winter has been warm.
I know dad and mom would be rejoicing over a warm winter, first heater was coal, and dad wouldn't have to shovel as much; second heater was oil, and the oil bill wouldn't be as much; and the last heat was gas, I think they had a gas heater last. Anyway, as my husband is rejoicing over the lower heating bills, so mom and dad who lived on a very, very tight budget would have been happy.
ttfn
This item has not been proofread. Please forgive mistakes.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Coming and going
Christmas and New Year have come and gone. I didn't write about a Runnemede Christmas because there are several postings already on this BLOG about Christmas in my home in Runnemede.
However, I must mention my later Christmases in Runnemede -- when I was in college. Alan was in Kenya at the time and I wanted to celebrate Christmas the same time as he did (8 hour time difference), so I figured he was opening his gifts in Kenya at 8 a.m. in the morning which was midnight our time. So I made sure I opened my gifts at midnight. I found out just this Christmas that Alan opened his presents on Christmas Eve, so I should have been opening my presents on Christmas Eve in the afternoon.
My dear family HAD to go along with this because -- well, just because they did.
Then in 1963 when Alan returned from Kenya. our first Christmas as a couple in the same town was one of the best Christmases I can remember. Alan really went overboard and bought me a lot of presents. Jewelry from Israel -- which he visited on his way home from Kenya -- a new jacket, which I wore out; a sweater; a hat and scarf and mittens; and if I remember a few other trinkets, like a couple of new charms for my charm bracelet.
Alan set a precedent he couldn't keep up -- after that first Christmas, while I expected the same treatment the next Christmas, it wasn't to be. Alan was a student at Rutgers and he was flat broke. We both were. The following Christmas his parents had returned from Kenya and we spent Christmas with them in Laurel Springs, instead of in Runnemede. And that was my last Christmas in Runnemede because we were married the following summer.
That Christmas (1965) was pretty nice. I had a job at Strawbridges in the evenings and I was working for a Philadelphia law firm during the day, so I was pretty much raking in the money which I spent lavishly.
For me the giving of gifts is the best part of Christmas. I don't care what I get, or if I get anything at all, I get such pleasure out of giving presents to my husband, and in later years, and presently, giving gifts to my children and grandchildren.
And yes, I spend too much money. But hey, it's just once a year.
The only thing I miss now days at Christmas is the ability to walk to the center of (a) town and window shop. There is no main street in the town in which I live, just a bunch of strip malls on the Pike. And, oh, yes, I really miss the Christmas display at Wanamakers (I wrote about those trips in an earlier BLOG).
Hope you all had a great Christmas and that 2012 will be a great year for all.
ttfn
However, I must mention my later Christmases in Runnemede -- when I was in college. Alan was in Kenya at the time and I wanted to celebrate Christmas the same time as he did (8 hour time difference), so I figured he was opening his gifts in Kenya at 8 a.m. in the morning which was midnight our time. So I made sure I opened my gifts at midnight. I found out just this Christmas that Alan opened his presents on Christmas Eve, so I should have been opening my presents on Christmas Eve in the afternoon.
My dear family HAD to go along with this because -- well, just because they did.
Then in 1963 when Alan returned from Kenya. our first Christmas as a couple in the same town was one of the best Christmases I can remember. Alan really went overboard and bought me a lot of presents. Jewelry from Israel -- which he visited on his way home from Kenya -- a new jacket, which I wore out; a sweater; a hat and scarf and mittens; and if I remember a few other trinkets, like a couple of new charms for my charm bracelet.
Alan set a precedent he couldn't keep up -- after that first Christmas, while I expected the same treatment the next Christmas, it wasn't to be. Alan was a student at Rutgers and he was flat broke. We both were. The following Christmas his parents had returned from Kenya and we spent Christmas with them in Laurel Springs, instead of in Runnemede. And that was my last Christmas in Runnemede because we were married the following summer.
That Christmas (1965) was pretty nice. I had a job at Strawbridges in the evenings and I was working for a Philadelphia law firm during the day, so I was pretty much raking in the money which I spent lavishly.
For me the giving of gifts is the best part of Christmas. I don't care what I get, or if I get anything at all, I get such pleasure out of giving presents to my husband, and in later years, and presently, giving gifts to my children and grandchildren.
And yes, I spend too much money. But hey, it's just once a year.
The only thing I miss now days at Christmas is the ability to walk to the center of (a) town and window shop. There is no main street in the town in which I live, just a bunch of strip malls on the Pike. And, oh, yes, I really miss the Christmas display at Wanamakers (I wrote about those trips in an earlier BLOG).
Hope you all had a great Christmas and that 2012 will be a great year for all.
ttfn
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Christmas long ago
I vaguely remember a time when I believed that there was a Santa Claus. My parents never let on that the fictional character wasn't real and until I was in first or second grade I waited anxiously on Christmas Eve for Santa's visit.
I recall vividly one such Eve. I was being a pill. My mom wanted me to get to sleep so she could do what parents do to keep the sprite elf's visit a mystery, and told me if I didn't get to sleep there would be no visit from Santa. The threat of getting a lump of coal in my stocking was real, as we still has a coal-fired furnace. Poor dad. He had to go down and bank that thing every night and then stoke it first thing in the morning.
I digress.
So I weedled her into allowing the shade that was pulled down on the window next to my bed to be raised all the way to the top so that I could watch out that window for Santa and his sleigh to arrive.
Of course, I soon fell asleep. All I needed was a reason to really keep my eyes open, and then the lids slammed shut faster than a rabbit runs into his hidey hole.
The next morning I found a doll -- my first -- which I still have. It had the kind of eyes that close automatically -- quite a treat for me. I held that doll all day long on Christmas day.
One more thing. This must have been before I was 5 because my sister wasn't in bed with me yet. She was still in a crib.
Ah, memories!
ttfn
I recall vividly one such Eve. I was being a pill. My mom wanted me to get to sleep so she could do what parents do to keep the sprite elf's visit a mystery, and told me if I didn't get to sleep there would be no visit from Santa. The threat of getting a lump of coal in my stocking was real, as we still has a coal-fired furnace. Poor dad. He had to go down and bank that thing every night and then stoke it first thing in the morning.
I digress.
So I weedled her into allowing the shade that was pulled down on the window next to my bed to be raised all the way to the top so that I could watch out that window for Santa and his sleigh to arrive.
Of course, I soon fell asleep. All I needed was a reason to really keep my eyes open, and then the lids slammed shut faster than a rabbit runs into his hidey hole.
The next morning I found a doll -- my first -- which I still have. It had the kind of eyes that close automatically -- quite a treat for me. I held that doll all day long on Christmas day.
One more thing. This must have been before I was 5 because my sister wasn't in bed with me yet. She was still in a crib.
Ah, memories!
ttfn
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Remembered again
I know I have a tendency to be redundant in these BLOGs but sometimes I can't find a remembrance I'm looking for in the list of BLOGs I've written for Runnemede Remembered, so if this is a repeat, just stop reading.
I think one of my first recalls I have of my life is the arrival at home of my mom from the hospital with my sister, Debbie. Yippee! I'm three years older than she, and in youngster years that practically made me an adult as far and I was concerned.
She and I didn't get along too well when we were growing up, mainly, I think, because of that big gap in our ages (a little sarcasm there). We yelled at each other. We'd mess up each other's side of the bed we slept in. If I didn't clean the floor soon enough, she'd write in the dust on my side of the bed, "Judy's dirt". Neither she nor I would dare mop the other person's side of the bedroom, even though the mop certainly could extend under the bed all the way. We were just that ornery with each other.
Her friends weren't my friends, and my friends weren't hers. She was a freshman. I was a senior. I got married first. I had my babies first. But by then we were catching up to each other and became more endeared to each other.
I don't when it happened, though, that we really bonded. However, I'm so glad it did. We talk almost every Sunday. And those talks make me feel so much better. My husband can't understand what we have to talk about, but then he is not a great conversationalist. I think we just gab. She makes me laugh. And I often cry.
I so wish we lived closer to each other so we could talk face to face. That would be so nice.
I am writing this because this week my dear sister sent me a Christmas bouquet and I'll have that to look at (and talk to?) for at least a couple of weeks.
Thanks Deb for all you mean to me. I thank our Lord for you every day. I love you.
ttfn
I think one of my first recalls I have of my life is the arrival at home of my mom from the hospital with my sister, Debbie. Yippee! I'm three years older than she, and in youngster years that practically made me an adult as far and I was concerned.
She and I didn't get along too well when we were growing up, mainly, I think, because of that big gap in our ages (a little sarcasm there). We yelled at each other. We'd mess up each other's side of the bed we slept in. If I didn't clean the floor soon enough, she'd write in the dust on my side of the bed, "Judy's dirt". Neither she nor I would dare mop the other person's side of the bedroom, even though the mop certainly could extend under the bed all the way. We were just that ornery with each other.
Her friends weren't my friends, and my friends weren't hers. She was a freshman. I was a senior. I got married first. I had my babies first. But by then we were catching up to each other and became more endeared to each other.
I don't when it happened, though, that we really bonded. However, I'm so glad it did. We talk almost every Sunday. And those talks make me feel so much better. My husband can't understand what we have to talk about, but then he is not a great conversationalist. I think we just gab. She makes me laugh. And I often cry.
I so wish we lived closer to each other so we could talk face to face. That would be so nice.
I am writing this because this week my dear sister sent me a Christmas bouquet and I'll have that to look at (and talk to?) for at least a couple of weeks.
Thanks Deb for all you mean to me. I thank our Lord for you every day. I love you.
ttfn
First kiss
Do you remember your first kiss? I do, sort of.
My husband (then boyfriend, sort of) and I were on one of those Delaware River cruises with several other church kids and I bet him a quarter he wouldn't kiss me. Pretty smart, huh? Well, he leaned toward me and he told me he kissed me on the cheek, and he's still sticking to that story. I didn't feel it.
So, does that count? I don't know. I didn't feel it, and I didn't pay him a quarter. We did, however, eventually kiss each other, and still do. And yes, we still enjoy kissing each other.
ttfn
My husband (then boyfriend, sort of) and I were on one of those Delaware River cruises with several other church kids and I bet him a quarter he wouldn't kiss me. Pretty smart, huh? Well, he leaned toward me and he told me he kissed me on the cheek, and he's still sticking to that story. I didn't feel it.
So, does that count? I don't know. I didn't feel it, and I didn't pay him a quarter. We did, however, eventually kiss each other, and still do. And yes, we still enjoy kissing each other.
ttfn
Just wondering
Is the Borough Hall still between 4th and 5th Avenues?
Is Santa's shed still in front of Borough Hall?
Do the police still work out of Borough Hall?
Where does one go to get a marriage license these days (in Runnemede)?
Does NJ still require a physical exam before issuing a marriage license?
Do all Runnemede students stay for lunch, or do most go home, like when I went to school?
Do all Runnemede students ride the bus now? Or do most walk, like when I was a kid. Note: Out here where I live all students ride the bus even if they a couple of blocks away from the school. And...the buses in some of the counties stop at every single house, even if two students live next door to each other. This is very annoying if you get behind a school bus in the afternoon. Since the school buses start picking up at 7:00 a.m., I wouldn't be involved in trailing one. But I have trailed a bus on more than one occasion in the afternoon. What ever happened to walking five miles to school, one way, in the winter, in foot-deep snow, uphill going and coming? :) I've learned to not be out driving around between 3 and 4:30 p.m.
See what things I think about when I'm falling asleep at night? Stupid, huh?
ttfn
Is Santa's shed still in front of Borough Hall?
Do the police still work out of Borough Hall?
Where does one go to get a marriage license these days (in Runnemede)?
Does NJ still require a physical exam before issuing a marriage license?
Do all Runnemede students stay for lunch, or do most go home, like when I went to school?
Do all Runnemede students ride the bus now? Or do most walk, like when I was a kid. Note: Out here where I live all students ride the bus even if they a couple of blocks away from the school. And...the buses in some of the counties stop at every single house, even if two students live next door to each other. This is very annoying if you get behind a school bus in the afternoon. Since the school buses start picking up at 7:00 a.m., I wouldn't be involved in trailing one. But I have trailed a bus on more than one occasion in the afternoon. What ever happened to walking five miles to school, one way, in the winter, in foot-deep snow, uphill going and coming? :) I've learned to not be out driving around between 3 and 4:30 p.m.
See what things I think about when I'm falling asleep at night? Stupid, huh?
ttfn
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