On The Sly

Hi wonderful fellow Plattsburgh folks from the shores Florida's Gulf of Mexico! I enjoy reading this blog and finally decided to log in and post. As a kid growing up in Plattsburgh in the late 60's and early 70's I fondly remember the pet department in Fishman's department store - it was always a treat when my Mom took me and my brother there to see the animals. Does anyone remember Butch, the bird who resided there?

Hi Mr Gagnon...THANKS for all the wonderful memories of Plattsburgh!! Makes me want to move back home!! I live in Raleigh, NC but read the Press Republican online everyday and just read your blogs for the first time today!! I'm hooked, they are so enlightening!! Although no one had mentioned good Ol' Merkel's Dept Store, my Mom's favorite store!! All of mine and my sister's clothes came from Merkel's. My sister, Kathy even beat out Debbie Merkel in Highschool for "Best Dressed" PHS Class of 68'. My Mom and Dad even did a commercial for them back in the 80's!! Speaking of commercials how about those hilariously funny ones we did in your class, I think mine was about deodorant and a hair dryer!! Well, thanks for making my day and for all the great memories of the Good Old Days!! :)

Foxy's note: Jenny, welcome aboard the blog! I remember you well. A+ student and all! When I retired, I saved the videotapes of the commercials we did in 8th grade. Hopefully, this summer I'll find time to go through them and surprise a lot of people with a little gift!)

You know, Bobby, I can't find anyone down here in Saratoga to compete with we north country folks. You spoke of the "hut" on Peru St. I remember going there for beer when we were younger. I won't speak of the reason for going there, but you remember. By the way Foxy, all the old timers are waking up and coming on board YOUR blog. Congratulations. You'll be doing this until the cows come home. Oops! I almost forgot, the Union Hotel was "something else".

HOW ABOUT THE UNION HOTEL!!

Does anyone remember Hamilton Street school? Jimmy Silver's about the only guy I can remember from 1957, maybe the Baker brothers & Mike O'Neil too. Anyway, how about Shea's Trading post at the beach and Nicodemus' store at the Creek, and the 'Hut' on Peru St. or the time that the German Shepherd guard dog got loose at the base and we were all petrified about going outdoors. Jim Carr, good to know you're still around. Fred Forkey, are you still playing Trivial Persuit?

Did I miss mention of Goldman's, Montcalm Avenue's only furniture store? It was almost across the street from City Taxi.

Thank You Foxy! The first storm of the winter so I took carver's advice and logged on. What a trip down memory lane going through the blog today. Anyone remember Mr. Cate's store on Sailly? Mr. E. Ecromont ran it after he did and then it was Lou's Market. So O.K. I am not from the "Hill". Thanks for the memory trip today.

(Foxy's note: Welcome to the blog, Hart. Hope we can finally hook you as a regular. With your talents, you have the potential to break right into the starting lineup!)

Foxy,
My father, brother and I were talking about your blog on this topic. We remembered "Morrison's" Store on Champlain Street and "Yelle's" Store across from Bailey Avenue school. Also, Ellsworth's bait and Tackle on Champlain Street too. Great topic.

Walking home all those years from St. John's there was always a stop at the Prescription Center. And, going to Beemer's to get the New Hardy Boys book was special. Wish I kept all of those books as I am sure they would be worth $$$ now!

Foxy,
Well, I asked for it and I got it. As for the "Zonebreaker", I am narrowing down the list as you suggested by eliminating all lefthanders except Lefty Tessier and Foxy. Those were the only 2 good lefthanded shooters that I was ever aware of. Now i can focus on a smaller part of the population. And Miney, or was it Swiney, I carried you that whole summer. The only time I took any breaks was when Mike laMare and Galen Pavone went on one of their jokefests. Two of the funniest guys to be around and when put together were a riot. And LB, not only could Billy play great marbles but those huge hands made him throw probably the best curveball in Fox Hill Little League History. And finally, "old Timer" what's with this "stump", the world wants to know.
Bullet

Who can forget "the Stump" behind St Johns- I bet the carver, Donald, and even the old timer may have stolen a kiss or two there!
Jonald

I always remember a good meal at Roman Gardens or taking a date to the Apple Barrel. We can't forget the Chez Lionel.
Jonald

(Foxy's note: Good ones, Jonald. I had forgotten about the Apple Barrel. And Roman Gardens was a big meeting place for basketball officials and coaches after the game.)

Hey Foxy.. Thanks for the memories.. I can remember stories that my older brothers told about Mooney's house and hanging out.. Someone mentioned Kitch Cook potato chips.. My grandmother is the one that used to make them in a little room off of her house on Miller st.. another story that was told to me since I was so much younger than my brothers.. I do remember going to the Altamont and the bakery.. Wish they were still around.. As for Carmens store.. that was always a treat on Friday night to go there and get my soda and candy ... Thanks for bringing so many memories back for me.. Love being a Fox Hiller.. Shawn

(Foxy's note: Thanks for sharing some memories at the blog, Shawn. Hope you'll be a regular contributor!)

Couldn't resist another plug for the Altamont. Loved that place. My sister Jane worked there.. and I remember her good friend Judy Perry. But more importantly I remember the HUGE Banana ice cream cones they would hook up a little brother with.

I do not recollect any of these memories of the glory days... I blame that on the fact that I am barely 2 decades old. I'd like to set the record straight that those eye-popping Perry girls from the Altamont would be Sue, Linda, Donna, Judy & Cindy... My aunts & mother

Miney, what a great call on Kitchen Kooked chips. We used to go in the back and get them hot from the grease. I have been looking for anything that even remotely tastes like them and can't find anything. I think Getty's store across from you was Hobbie's store first. Bobby Buck - long time no see!!!

Wow "Chief" - nothin like blowing my cover! Any hopes you had of finding your real family are gone forever! Welcome, to the Blog - those were some good comments - the Gentleman's Slo Pitch League was a blast.

Wow Donald .. good call on Bennett's toy store .... seems we'd stop there daily, although I'm sure it wasn't quite that often... used to buy matchbook cars, my 1st "Stingray" bike, then the goop that was used to make "creepy crawlers".. then sell the crawlers, take the profits and walk down to Meyer's drug store to purchase the latest Monkey's Album and a cherry coke from Jim carr... Foxy, I still chuckle when I think back on watching you and the foxes playing your home games.. I don't really remember the games themselves only remember that group of female booster clubbers which included your mom, Mag Provost, Ruth and Lou flynn, Mrs Baughn, Mrs Staves and several others, whose sole purpose was to chew up and spit out the officials each and every game! at that age I couldn't figure out while the husbands all sat on the other side of the gym! ( I kinda get it now) ....lotta good memories out there fox... everytime I see someone blog in, it brings back more and more great thoughts... bullet hit a pretty good one when he mentioned roy's and the pine grove with our folks and family's on the "river run"and all the great stories on Fountain & Lucas .. this trip down memory lane might take up most of the winter. (which is good for "winter wimps", such as you and me) .. another topic that might stir up a thought or 2 might be a mention of all the great coaches we all had a privilege to play for over the years. I know I was fortuate enough to have had many!

Foxy,

I want to thank those who comment on your blogs. Because of these people, I had some wonderful memories flash through my mind tonight. I realize that I am a lot younger than some of those who comment here, having graduated in 1986, but it's refreshing to find that I share fond memories with others ..... specifically split rock and the oxbow. Being as temperatures are getting rather low this time of year, those memories of warm summer days and nights are extremely welcome. Thanks to all!

Hi Foxy...This is my first post to your adventures. I was told about your blog from one of your faithful posters, the infamous Miss D. I'm actually her much much much younger brother. :) Like her I went to school in Malone, another Huskie, but to be honest with you I don't have many memories of Malone. Well, maybe a few about my much much much older sister, but I'll save that for another day. What I do have memories about are the weekends I spent in Plattsburgh, and holidays, and summers. Those memories stop about 1978 when I left for the Air Force. I served 27 years and retired in June 05. I now live in sunny GA ... where I can play golf in December, a definite must. However my family and I visited Plattsburgh over the holidays to attend the wedding of my lovely niece .. daughter of Miss D. Was great to see so many of the people I grew up with, some of them I haven't seen since 1978, man did they get old. Miss D told me about your blog and suggested I check it out. I normally go out of my way to do the opposite of what she tells me, but I'm happy to say I listened. So many of the comments brought back a flood of memories. I remember many of the names you mention as high school stars, but watched most of their abilities on the softball field. I lived for watching them in the Gentlemans Slowpitch softball league at South Acres ball field. Back in the early 70's that was a hot and competitive league. That got me hooked on what became a lifetime passion of playing softball in the Air Force. Course nowa'days I need the ball sitting still on a golf tee..and still have problems hitting it. Course my favorite team was always the one my brother in law, Ken Leavine, pitched for...Trader Jacks, L Pugh Construction, Helens Hideaway.. going against the rivals like Big Brothers, the Press Republican, Hess Gass and of course Happy Herbies. Speaking of HH's I have to admit that was my first experience (and if my wife asks my last) with the type of establishment. I also remember hitting all the bars talked about, normally with my running buddy Kevin Leavine. Monopole, Big Brother, Goobers etc. Hard to believe he made a career in the State Police and I joined the Air Force as a cop... hope the statute of limitations are up. We did have fun. Thanks for all the great posts... it's great having a touch of Plattsburgh with me, even way down here in Georgia! By the way.. couldn't think of a name.. so I used what they called me in the AF and still do, since that was my rank..Chief. It has nothing to do with the story my sister tells of the Indian my family adopted me from.

(Foxy's note: Welcome to the blog, Chief! Any relative of Miss D is a friend of mine! Let me know the next time you hit Plattsburgh. I'll buy you one at Goobers or maybe the Korina or the Mr. Patches or Happy Herbie's. Well, we will find a place that's still open!)

Boy, did my father spend tons of money at Bennett's Toy Store for 6 kids!

I was missing for awhile but I'm back now. I would like to catch-up on the last couple of blogs. My favorite place was Oak St. school yard. I started playing there at birth, my family's house was where the school is today. We played all the sports and kid games, like cowboys and ...... native americans, in that field. Secondly would be Bailey Ave park. I not only played ball games at the field, but my grandfather was caretaker before Floyd and I swept the stand and changing rooms, lined the field and cut the grass.
After the first two places it kind of depends what age we are talking about. The City beach didn't mean the same kind of fun at 7 as it did at 17, etc. I enjoyed swimming at the beach, ox-bowl and Imperial Dam. I made my first Foxhill friends at Imperial dam. Like almost everyone else downtown was special. The pizza corner, Lario's, Gene's busy corner and Meyer's Drugs store soda fountain. My first real job, soda "JERK" at Meyers. Y dances were special times to socialize. I danced like i had my finger in a light socket, being social was my thing. Someone mentioned the Super 87 drive-in, what about the Plattsburgh drive-in and the Stardust (before the porno movies, of course). I don't think anyone mentioned the Champlain and Strand theaters. What a treat it would be to stop at Conner's for a frostie on the way to the movies. Krispy Kreme has nothing on a Robarge's doughnut. Wick, remember Rome NY and doughnuts? Carver, if I was with some of the Canadian girls from here it wouldn't be in the basement but across the street at Evergreen, the nursing home.

(Foxy's note: Welcome back, Jim Carr, you hit a lot of great memories here!)

Foxy,
Being a Cumberland Header I miss the Route 9 North businesses. From Hess Gas, the Stardust Drive In Theater, and the North Country Shopping Center. Remember Cahill's Sporting Goods? I still have a glove and aluminum bat from over 30 years ago. There was A+P, Esquire Drug, Grants, and Greens.

Craig Mathews

Foxy, you and I have a terrible connection to the past and food! I'm sure Oprah could do a show on us. I lived in Malone and had Carlin's Bakery with cream-filled horns on the way from school every day! I wonder if our grandchildren will remember their granola bars, yogurt and sugar free jello with the same enthusiam when they get older!

I just reminded my wife where we bought our first food processor 30 years ago. It was at Levy Brothers warehouse I believe on South Catherine. There was another warehouse store in the North Country Shopping Centre called Colonial Boardroom.
Memories from an ex-Montrealer who accumulated many Plattsburgh purchases over the years.

Foxy, Another place we used to hang out was bullet's house. Bullet, remember playing marbles in front of your stairways? The kid who everybody thought cheated had the biggest finger for control to put the marbles in the pot. Yes it was Billy Patten the famous one. We used to play wiffel ball in your back yard, homerun in the tall grass.The good old days.

Well Bob, nobody mentioned the Champlain Theater on Clinton St. either - but I know that every kid that was told not to go there sure did. You're right, a toast to Andy Frankos for the great Crystal, which turned into Goober's. Ed, wow, I forgot about Ecomont's store on Stetson. Remember how mean Lashway's dog Toy was? And Floyd, you're right, the Astrodome had the best michigans in the North Country - until Leslie went to prison. LB, check .. if ol Foxy had met the Perry girls he would have been camped out @ the Altamont. And now that he's reminded me of Elizabeth Street .. Darlene, I surely miss your sweet kiss. Hey, we had fun playing ball didn't we LB? And nobody mentioned King's store on Lorraine or the one on Miller next to Ray Trombley's Kitchen Kooked potato chip kitchen. Or the blind man's store on Margaret across from that Altamont. Or Getty's little store on Oak @ Bailey. And hey, the novelty shop the Pavone's ran downstairs from Arnie's along w/the cobbler shop? Thanks for the remembery Juan - Archie's, yaaa. What about Lombardoni's market on South Peru St? Look @ the pictures on the wall in Arnie's & you can see where Arnie's started down there by Lombardoni's by Arnie's mother, who he honors by serving all her old recipes. And how about flying kites in the school yards? John Michelucci (his Dad owned Mickey's) was the best kite flyer in the City - and he also had the best marbles collection in town too. Hey Bullet, was the Pine Grove Inn any where near the Pine Cone Inn? And that summer we worked for Chris Repas @ the City DPW, I noticed you never did any work, what's up with that Dude?

Foxy, This is a good one. I really don't have much to add but have been to about every place and done about everything mentioned in this blog. Growing up in the city and especially on the "hill" was a fantastic time. Hello LB long time no see. My wife and I were really amazed at the changes going on in the "burgh" when we there last fall both physically and fiscally. Is that a word? Can't wait to come back this spring. What was the name of the little grocery store on Monty Street?

(Foxy's note: Randy, you are thinking of Vi Ashline's store on Monty Street -- Ashline's Grocery. No longer a store, Fox Hiller Robin Bouyea and his family live there now.)

Just checking this morning and I see that Bullet is still having a difficult time, the poor boy. As a former basketball coach, and a good one at that, you would think he would know where the name "Zonebreaker" would come from. As for Montcalm George, I believe that the fish for the Fourth Ward Fish Fry on St. Patrick's Day are supplied the "Pied Piper of the French Quarter" David Mayette and his fishing crew. Finally, not being a Fox Hiller, but wasn't the Carmen's last name Ubino.

(Foxy's note: Zonebreaker, you are thinking of the name "Urbinas." Carmen had a son named Roy Urbinas. He had two children, Tammy and Tony, who was a darn good athlete.)

Hey Bullet .. I'm pretty sure "Zonebreaker" didn't get his name for lightin up long range jumpers .... there's a better chance he picked up his name from his part in the "Bove Project"???... as for "smell" I'm not so sure we really wanta know how he got his name!
good to hear from applejack ... I had mentioned earlier some of the famous trees on the south side... but applejack had one of the finer appletrees on the other end of town at the end of palmer court ... lot of us climbed that one over the years! wondering if it's still there??

hey has anyone heard from Carr.... I'm a little concerned ... hope he's not trapped down in the "chanting Room" foxy mentioned in the basement of OLVA ... somebody should check on him.. foxy you better buzz over there and check things out, might find a few other treasures down there too ... rumor has it Carr found a few of the Canadian girls left over from the secretarial school days and he's got them stashed down there somewhere ... might make for a good blogger treasure hunt or fox on the run???

Although it is still there, Arnie's was great to go to after ballgames. How about Freddie Choy's downtown and Gus's across from the city finance office. How about Max Davis's chicken place near the Perry Bridge? And of course, Split Rock swimming hole...

(Foxy's note: Yes, I loved that Dixie Lee Fried Chicken, near the Perry Bridge where Stewart's is now located.)

I miss going to Hap Lamare's store on Friday's to get a freshly cooked perch dinner. I also miss guarding
Foxy during basketball games and playing against him in baseball. They always seemed to pair up us short guys.

(Foxy's note: Yes, indeed, Applejacks, we were probably the two shortest guys on our teams and we always guarded each other. And, we are both lefties!)

Foxy- Just a footenote to some of the memorable places in the North French Quarter. I remember Emile Ecromonts store on Stetson Ave. There was always a card game going in the back of the store. Growing up on Stetson, we'd usually ended up in the store each day for a bottle of Mission Orange, after playing a pick-up game at St. Peter's Field. That was in the late 40's early 50's when the field was mostly sand and rocks. One of the highlights of the year was the MAI Rush. A greased flag was nailed on a tree about 8 ft. off the ground. The flag was defended by the senior class, and the juniors charged from one end of field to the flag. A major fight or riot broke out as the juniors attempted to tear the flag down. There was usually some blood on the ground when time was called by the Brothers.
When I was a Mountie the Rush had been cancelled.

What was Carmen's last name? "Vantussi" and who can forget "Rock a chow" Art Harris, the biggest Red Sox fan in the world at that time. He was almost in seventh heaven in '67 but Yaz didn't come through for him. As for Mooney's I was too young to allowed into the house, we had to hang out by the trees. And Foxy, you were right about Mr. Mooney, what a gentleman. He always said Tom Herlihy was the best hitter he ever saw. Hey, Foxy some of your new bloggers haven't taken any shots back at me. Still would like to find out how Zonebreaker and Smell got their names. The World wants to know their story.
Bullet

(Foxy's note: Bullet, I saw Zonebreaker tonight, and he's not telling!)

Hey LB how bout walkin down to Carmen's store on the corner of west elizabeth and sherman..best gum in town
"chum Gum" remember you'd get 2 pieces for a penny (to share with a "chum")

seems to me there was your house then that crazy molly stewart's house, then the big cherry tree next to my grandmothers and on the other side of corrow's( before there were houses between corrow's and staves) there was a big old chestnut tree...between the cherry tree and the chestnuts we had plenty of ammo for many a battle around the neighborhood...those chestnuts were painful!!

altamont as many said was great but the creamy bee wasn't too bad either!! another one of my favorite spots on the other side of town was C&C Grinder...best subs in town!

(Foxy's note: Oh, C&C Grinders, when Gil Cashman ran it! My regular Saturday lunch stop. Biggest subs in town!)

Hey Zonebreaker, about the Fourth Ward fish fry! Can you remember who supplied the fish?
Don't forget the ice shanties on Cumberland Head. Shanty Town even had a mayor!!!

I CAN'T BELIEVE NOBODY MENTIONED THE CRYSTAL ON OAK ST. OR THE A&W OUT MARGARET

Foxy,I'm remembering when everybody hung outside Burdo's Market on So. Catherine St. also in front of The Mooney's on Elizabeth St. Goose might remember the wiffel ball games behind the Primards house. Miney thanks for the Perry Girls name's. Foxy would have had alot more pigs dinner if he would meet them.

(Foxy's note: Oh, LB, you hit a good one with the mention of the Mooney's house. All of us guys used to hang out there, watch sports in the living room, sometimes we'd be piled up on top of each other. John and Denny thought we were there to see him, but we all wanted to see their older sister, Nora! Then Mr. Mooney would tell us stories about some of the games and how guys would hit that "flookin' ball" so far!)

Miney, maybe someone else already mentioned the soft ice cream place across from the Orange Julep? I think the name was Archies Custards!

Foxy- I am really enjoying this blog from Atlanta. I remember another great bakery on Margaret Street, I think the name was Angelo's Bakery and of course there was an Altamont ice cream place on Margaret. Along with the Orange Julep, I loved the Astrodome. Great topic

(Foxy's note: Welcome to the blog, Floyd! Yes, there was an Altamont (was it smaller in size?) on Margaret Street (I'm sure the Pig's Dinners just as big, though!). And you are the first to mention the Astrodome, near Cumberland Head Corners.)

It was considered a great date, evening-out, or hook-up, when we used to go to the movies at the Strand and then go to the Altamont and share a Pigs Dinner with our date or special friend.

I just didn't accept those 'boundaries', the city was mine to explore - I miss every part of old Plattsburgh, an adventure a day no matter where I rode my bike. I miss PAFB because there were so darn many pretty girls to kiss. LB, I think you're talking about Linda & Sue Perry. I ran into them back in 1977 down in Pensacola, Fla. I miss the swamp between Treadwell Pond and Treadwell Bay because Bobby & I would go there and shoot the guns. Yeah, Carver, the quarries were fun - one day Steve Stowe and I played hookey from Tony Breyette's class @ Oak Street .. we left @ noon because Steve said there was a raft in Quarry 1 and we had fun on it until we lost the big stick you used to get around. We were standed for about 45 minutes until we could hand paddle to shore, where the Truant Officer bagged us. I miss those dipped cones from the soft ice cream shop across from where the Orange Julip was after it was moved from close to Gus's to its new home by the mill parking lot. And I miss the old PHS jr/sr high, because even though Lenny Duquette knocked our books out of our hands and threw us onto the scalding hot radiators in the stairwells, it's where I came of age. Wow, what memories.

Wick Cadieux mentioned Fountain & Lucas Store, a landmark in the French Quarter, along with Murray's, Mose Lucia's and Bourdeau's Market at the top of Montcalm. There was and still is The "famous" Fourth Ward and their lengendary St. Patrick's Day Party and fish fry. How about Patches and the movie theatre that was there before that. Back to Fountain & Lucas, how about the very competitive basketball game in the back where Mille Drakes garage was in-bounds, lot of blood on the side of that old building. Losing team went back into the store for a raw hot dog or some raw hamburg. Fred Forkey was nearly unstoppable on that court. Ah, another blog, neighborhood games and memories.

Foxy, as I was reading your blog I wondered if any of your readers remember Gene's Busy Corner downtown and the old skating rink behind the then PHS which is now the Middle School

(Foxy's note: Welcome to the blog, Lynda! Gene's Busy Corner... now that's a place I had forgotten about!)

Foxy,
Without question a true "Fox Hiller", Robarge's Bakery the BEST donuts ever, the Altamont was the first step into "teenager" as I can recall my first trip as a freshman. And LB from So. Platt, yes to Monty St. Basketball, the only negative part was running thru the "old school yard" after playing. Each season ending with games against the "Bailey Ave" gang with my great buddy "Flukie". The "Zonebreaker" (Where'd he get that name?) brought up the old summer ending field days at the PHS track, those were memorable days. And "Old/Old Timer, you really went back there, Pretty soon you'll be telling us you were in the picture putting up the flag at Iwo Jima. And who the heck is this "Smell" guy, I'd like to know the origin of his name. As far as the "Gulch" is concerned, I think you've been reading way too many dime store western novels.
Moving out of Plattsburgh though, there were 2 places I miss dearly, Roy's in Moffitsville NY , one of the stops on the River Run and of course the Pine Grove Inn at the corner of Rte. 3 and Rte 99. Great memories with my Dad, my friends and their Dads.
Bullet

I remember taking a girl friend to Crab island for an outing and picnic and we both ended up with poison ivy. We were both "distracted" on where we put down the blanket and it cost us some ribbing at school that next Monday!
I also "heard" tales of Canadian girls that would visit your tent at night while camping on Cumberland head but I never had the experience.

Paul

Does anyone remember swimming at the quarry behind the NBC bakery on upper Cornelia St.? 20 or 30 ft of water and it was as clear as a bell. Meanwhile, at the local city beach, you couldn't see your ankles in knee deep water. Polution they call it. They closed the quarry down because the water wasn't deemed clean enough. What are you gonna do? The Oxbowl, on the River Rd, in Morrisonville was another great swimming hole. Jumping off the cliffs was fun.

Foxy,
The bakery what a donut. My father gave us that quarter to stop and get a donut. We raced down to the bakery just to see what they had left over from the day before (special sale) We would end up with two for one.The Altamont was a special place. We would stop after school (with our special friend) for cherry cokes and a load of french fries.The owners of the Altamont in the late 60's was the Perry's. If Stan or Cricket are reading this, they would know the girls (Perry's) first name. Brings back some great memories keep up the good blogs,thanks

ONE THAT FITS HERE IS FOUNTAIN & LUCAS.THEY HAD THE BEST MEAT IN TOWN. EVERYBODY WOULD HANG AROUD THE MEAT CASE AND TALK ABOUT SPORTS. PEOPLE WHO STOP BY WOULD GET A SLICE OF COLD CUTS, AND FIGHT ABOUT WHO HAD THE BEST FOOTBALL TEAM IN HIGH SCHOOL. IT USE TO BE FRED'S LUNCH STOP WHEN HE WORKED AT THE POST OFFICE. THAT WAS THE MONTCALMER HANG OUT. IF YOU WANTED TO KOWN WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE TOWN THAT PLACE WAS THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPEN TO ME.

Correction...not "The Gulch"... it's "The Oxbow". Where the heck is "The Gulch" anyway??

Ice cream flashbacks...how about the Frosty Dairy Bar out by Cliff Haven? They had the best curly fries too! And the beach...you could catch the bus at the Strand for a quarter and if you were lucky, find an empty spot to park your stuff for the day. In later years it was "The Gulch" off the Kent Falls Road in Morrisonville with my friend Ruthie Barton. The Children's Home playground ... bet there are many of you out there with scars from the cast iron handles on whatever that piece of equipment was!!

Foxy, You just got my mouth watering for ice cream from the Altamont. My Great-Grandmother lived in your neighborhood, and when we left her house, my folks very often stopped there for the wonderful ice cream. Just like any other red-blooded American Boy, growing up in the North Country, the Beach was one of the sight-seeing spots for girls during the summer. One good thing, was my Grandmother lived right accross route 9 from the City Beach!! Met lots of nice girls myself, and not only from Canada, but from New Jersey, and other places in the Northeast. Thanks again for the run down memory lane.

Some of our favorite places. I often wonder if they were as great as we remember them. I hope so. Of course the pre-mentioned Larios was one of the top teen haunts. The two Larios girls were exceptional looking and very pleasant. A huge event began when we were allowed to go upstairs to the poolroom. Pool was secondary to most of us. You entered thru the alley next to the Monopole. Once upstairs you could get next to the front windows and look down over Margaret St. In those days Margaret St. was bustling. At the time our favorite swimming hole was up the river at the dam by the Imperial Mill. Some of us would swim across and join the Fox Hill gang and dive off the sheds. Dick Jachish, Tom McCaully, Jimmy Lynch, Joey Pelkey, Butch Burdeau, Py Burdo and others were usually there. Foxy probably never went there because there were no Canadian girls for him to fantasize over. We did have nursing students from the Champlain Valley Hospital which we had the same visions as The Fox. Also when we were about 12 or 13 our parents allowed us to put up a tent at the State Park. At the time we could leave it in one spot all summer. 5 or 6 of us spent many a day and summer night enjoying nature and natural beauty. It was like a Canadian sunset. I am sure we will hear about "The Cozy Corner", Yezzy's, Connors Drug Store, and others. The Orange Julip was started by Dave Morris and Phil Gordon, Dave was owner of Morris's Meat Market in the French Quarter and Phil was part of Gordan's Boot Shop on Margaret St. Maybe you will need a "Part Three" for this one Fox Man.

Being the product of the North End of the city, like you Fox Hillers our parents kept a tight rein on our travel. Crossing broad street was a stretch, although the Altamont was OK and I too remember the Pig's Dinner and had several wooden buttons. A childhood memory was all the time spent at the various city sponsored playgrounds. City of Plattsburgh Recrational Director Peter Blumette always made sure that there was plenty of activities, especially baseball games. How about the end of the summer party behind the old high school where they had three legged sag races, baseball games between the various playgrounds, track races around what seemed like the longest track in the world and the always popular "pie eating" contests. Alwasys fun and always safe. The great times of growing up in Plattsburgh during the 40's, 50's and early 60's.

(Foxy's note: Yes, I think that end of the summer day was sponsored by the City Police Department -- plus, FREE hot dogs!)