On The Sly

As a kid growing up on the north end (oak st.) we had gonyea's ( across from oak st.school on the margaret st., later became dave's margaret, dave's then moved down the st. to what is now frechette's also there was wynn's grocery on south catherine st. across from bazzano's. that is where i did my real growing up.
the altamont which is now bazzano's parking lot, ice cream 7 cents, double scoop 15 cents and what about a pigs dinner!!, and ,of course, who could forget mr. michler's glazed donuts for a nickel and powdered jelly for 7 cent. we used to wait on the porch for him to open.

(Foxy's note: Oh, some great memories here. And perhaps you've given me a few ideas for future blogs. Thanks, Cricket.)

Foxy,
There were 2 other Mom and Pop stores on Montcalm along with Fountain and Lucas. One was between Bailey and Maple Street and the other was between Fountain and Lucas and the 4th Ward. Can't remember names but as a kid can remember going to both for comic books and baseball cards and yes that pink cardboard they called gum.

Foxy, How could you forget possibly the most known store on Fox Hill? THE MAYOR'S STORE on the corner of Johnson Ave. and So. Catherine St. Also how about the Pescia's store up by the housing project. I really enjoy your reminising. Tom

We used to live on Palmer Street for my first seven years and I remember Eckermont's store on Stetson Ave. My best recollection of Eckermont's store is when my Mom needed a loaf of bread before school in the morning. She would send me over there and if Mr. Eckermont had not opened yet I could take a loaf from the delivery left by the door and leave the money there. I have a distinct recollection of the inside of the store also. I wish I could answer the second part of W's quiz. I do not know which was the original. Foxy, I enjoy reading your blog every day and appreciate the way it jogs my memory.

Ah those were the days! growing up on Palmer Ct we normally visited the "big 3" stores in our neighborhood on a daily basis.. Yelle's on Bailey and of course Fountain & Lucas and Murray's both on Montcalm. Myself, Rob Anderson and Brian Rabideau generally scoured Bailey Ave Ball Park on an hourly basis picking up bottles, cashing em in, buying baseball cards and cherry humps..It was a major find if we ran across an RC bottle as those were worth the most...In fact we got so familiar with the grocery industry, Brian opened his own store! Perhaps you've been there! Brian's Cumberland Head Market

Hey Foxy, I'm having a little trouble with this "W" guy/girl (Little political correctness here). My blog expertise is limited to basketball and don't forget I was a "punk kid" during the era we have been dialoguing about. I had very strict parents and was not allowed to "hang out" so I am very limited with neighborhoods and "mom & pop" store experiences. The only other "Cat" nickname I am aware of was Randy "Se-cat" Senecal (later shortened to Cat) of MAI fame in the late '60's who was one of the finest 3 sport athletes ever. As a matter of fact, he was the lead off hitter for the Post 20 Junior American Legion Baseball team that won the New York State Championship in 1969.

Anyways, Foxy, I know there are pretty limited rules for your blog but I just wanted to pass on that I am not as gifted, or as well read or rounded as "W" and have to limit myself to my very narrow recall.

Here’s another quiz for Bullet:
Emile Eckermant ran two grocery stores ‘back in the day’ at different times. What were their locations and which was the original? (hint-youth were often seen eating root beer popsicles on the front steps of the latter one) Who else was labeled “Cat” and what school did he play for? Why were left handers at a disadvantage playing at Copeland Field? (tbi)
If you get these I'll buy you one of those RC Colas which were the first 16 ouncers on the market and were most popular at a store Harry Yelle's relatives ran.

Hi Foxy....
The store on the corner of Brinkerhoff and Williams was originally Lapham's. My Grandfather (Arthur) and Grandmother (Margaret) Lapham owned and operated the store. They made 2 deliveries each day...one in the morning and one in the afternoon. People would call in their list and their groceries would be delivered later that day. Imagine what a great convenience that was!! My Father (Eddie) and Mother (Shirley) worked at the store, too. My fondest memories were going upstairs over the store to my grandparents' large apartment and splitting a pint of ice cream with my Grandmother. We just took a knife and split it down the middle! That was great!! Another wonderful memory was sitting on the front steps of the store with Franny DeGrandpre, Karen Lanigan and Maureen Fitzpatrick and enjoying a creamsicle while solving most of the world problems before the stick was bare. Those were the days! When the big guys arrived in town...A&P and later the Grand Union, my Father sold the store. It became the Chuckwagon and is now Zukes. So....there you have a little Brinkerhoff St. history!! And...yes...we want to be included in your book!!
Gale (Lapham) Carroll

Foxy,
Your blogs sure bring back some good memories of home. We used to play our neighborhood games at South Acres Park a few years, probably 20, after your Johnson Avenue battles. Fortunately a few years after your games Lester Burdo opened another small store on S. Peru Street. That is where we used to grab drinks after our games and most, more like all, of them were bought on credit. He never did let me pay my tab but I guess grandfathers are funny that way.

Hey Fox, down here on the north end, we have Frechette's Grocery. I would go there when I was a lad and buy penny candy and load up on the Topp's baseball cards. Man, was that gum nasty. There is no doubt that they will always have the best michigans for a Ma Pa store. I also remember when I was real tiny going over to Millie's on Pine Street over by the police station, she was a sweetheart. The dentist loved me, haha. Gus Terry

I must say the all day (and evening) pick-up baseball games and hockey games are great memories. I remember playing ball at Bailey Ave. and St. Peter's until my dad came and got me. Or playing hockey at West End, Fox Hill, or even at MAI until Brother John would tell us to go home because he was trying to go to bed and we were being to noisy scoring all those goals! He would make us shovel the rink so it was 'clean' for others to use the next day.

There's another book you could write...History of the Mom and Pop in Plattsburgh. That would be cool! Heck, the history of Fountain and Lucas could be a whole book. And St. Denis', C&C, Burdo's, the Newsstand...What was the name of the store on the corner of Brinkerhoff and Willaims, near the laundrymat?

(Foxy's note: Thanks for mentioning St. Denis's Grocery on Cornelia Street, probably the busiest "mom and pop" in the city. And you are very likely remembering the Chuck Wagon near the laudramat on Brinkerhoff Street.)

Those comments bring back alot of happy , carefree days. And don't forget the three cents return on the soda bottle that got the handfull of candy. We lived across the street from Ashline's Grocery on Monty Street.

Fountain & Lucas was much more than a grocery store as were all the mom and pops. They all were a neighborhood gathering place for coffee, sports discussions, and political bantering. Red Sox versus Yankees, great meats, constant chatter, and family roots. A slice of Americana gone now...

Hey Foxy,
We had the Mom and Pop stores out in the country too. Kelso's, then Cromie's had the coldest RC Cola and sweetest Mallo cups ever. Sure did taste good after a day in the hayfield.