Search
1964
The sorting of boxes continues at my house, and, as I do so, I unearth more things from the past. Like a 1964 Battle of Plattsburgh official program for our city's Sesqui-Centennial.
Remember that year? Many of our fathers and older brothers grew beards to replicate the look of our ancestors in 1814. I remember many of the older guys playing baseball that spring sporting beards, especially some on the Plattsburgh High School team.
I don't remember any of our senior guys having beards, though. Guys like Wayne Bedard, Larry Hebert, Dickie Kelly, Marvin Brown and Donnie LaVarnway. Coach Flynn surely would have insisted all the Foxes be clean shaven. And we sophomores barely knew what a razor looked like.
I enjoyed looking over the list of names and perusing the pictures in the Sesqui-Centennial program. The dates of the celebration were July 3-11, 1964. The mayor was John "Jack" "Tarmac Jack" Tyrell and his council of aldermen were Christopher Booth, John Beauvais, Gil Duken, Henry Sabourin, Barry Branon and John Flynn.
John Colver was the City Chamberlain at the time and other department heads were George Miller (City Clerk), Clement Young (Chief of Police), Richard King (Fire Chief), Frank Behan (Superintendent of Water & Sewage), Chris Repas (Superintendent of Public Works) and Pete Blumette (Director of Recreation).
What interested me even more, though, once again, were the ads for businesses from 1964. Now we're talking! Now we have some businesses that I frequented a time or two before they disappeared from the face of Plattsburgh. I remember all these local businesses:
City Taxi - 70 Montcalm Avenue
Booth's Flower Shop - Morrisonville Road
Studholme's Men's Clothing Store - 87 Margaret Street
Todd Pontiac - 191 Broad Street
Toot & Tell 'Em Restaurant - Beekmantown Road
The House By the Side of the Road (James & Leola Campbell, Proprietors) - Route 9
Ray Supply Company - 13 Sailly Avenue
Branson's Restaurant & Bar - 46 US Avenue
Crystal Restaurant - 24 Oak Street
Roman Gardens Restaurant - Cornelia Street
Lippa & Company Jewelers - 83 Margaret Street
Austin's - 82 Margaret Street
Barrette's Sunoco - Margaret Street & Bailey Avenue
Warren Holt Gulf - Beekmantown Road
Harry Alpert General Contractors - 53-A Main Mill Street
Canale School of Beauty Culture (Robert & Cora Canale) - 62 Bridge Street
Lester's Market - 150 South Peru Street
Murray's Fine Foods & Meats - 111 Montcalm Avenue
L & M Motel & Restaurant - 310 Margaret Street
Plattsburgh Lanes - 44 Sharron Avenue
Domenic's Charcoal Pit - Route 9
McMartin Motors
Rector's Midtown Motel & Restaurant - Corner Margaret Street & Sailly Avenue
Tradewinds Motor Hotel with the Lamplighter Lounge - 64 Margaret Street
Bell's Grill - 11 St. John's Street
Elmer's Market (Elmer & Lorraine Rowbotham) - 49 South Catherine Street
Akey & Brohinsky TV Sales & Service - 18 George Street
Baker Pharmacy - Corner of South Catherine Street & Johnson Avenue
Beemer's - 10 Brinkerhoff Street
Hi-Way Restaurant (John & Elsie Rivers) - Route 9 South
Ron's Barber Shop - Corner of South Peru Street & Johnson Avenue
Brewster's Paint & Hardware - 9 South Platt Street
The Pizza Corner - Corner of Brinkerhoff & Oak Streets
And how about that Pizza Corner menu! A large pizza for $1.60. Large pizza with pepperoni for $2. A hot meat ball sandwich for just 60 cents. A full sub for 60 cents.
1964 -- those were the days!
Comments
My Dad bought all his cars from Carl McMartin, one of the nicest men in the North Country. Tarmac Jack & Gene sure were busy men back during Prohibition. I remember seeing/hearing Louis Armstrong play @ the North Country shopping center - they 'passed the hat' and that was his pay. He just loved playing for the people. I was in New Orleans all last week & walked over to 'Louis Armstrong Park'. I'm sure a lot of guys miss Ma Branson, she was a sparkplug!
Posted by: Miney Rowlson | June 16, 2008 9:51 AM
Foxy, sorry I can't contribute to this thread as I am not originally from this area and I was only 3 in 1964 so I really wouldn't be much help.
(Foxy's note: Oh, my, UPS Dave, you're even more of a youngun than I thought!)
Posted by: UPS Dave | June 14, 2008 12:07 PM
Foxy, I remember well the 1964 Battle of Plattsburgh Celebration. I remember my uncle Melvin Bushey being on a float of a ship acting like the times, and his beard, as a 'Brother of the Brush" from the certificate he got. I also had a cartoon type book about the History of Lake Champlain, and the Battle of Plattsburgh, which I had for many years, but have no idea where it is today. I also remember Louis Armstrong being in town, and in the parade, for that event!! The good old days!!
Posted by: Sparcat | June 12, 2008 9:53 AM
Foxy, As I recall wasn't Louis Armstrong in town for the big parade that year? I was 10 and remember being introduced to him. I was riding on a float that year with my mom. Remember how the Parades back then were on US Avenue??
(Foxy's note: Yes, Louis Armstrong was in Plattsburgh then, and not too long ago, I saw some photos of Armstrong and his band at Jess Bebo's house. Great collectibles! I have to admit, I don't recall the parades on US Avenue.)
Posted by: vonrader | June 12, 2008 9:29 AM
Foxy:
Those names as so familiar to me! Studholmes, where we went to rent our prom tuxes, Plattsburgh Lanes where my family would go on Christmas for a few games, Austin's Men Shop- to get some really fine duds.
"Tarmac Jack" Tyrell, the longtime mayor, had a little grocery on the corner of Johnson Avenue and South Catherine Street (before Baker Pharmacy) and the guys from OLVA used to hang out there. It was always "Jack" and never "Mr. Tyrell" to us. When I needed a summer job, I would promptly head to Jack's office in city hall and he would send me down to Pete Blumette's office with the remark "Tell Pete I sent ya!". Pete Blumette would get agitated but always found a job in the summer program for me in one of the city playgrounds. Ah, the perks of political patronage!
Yes, Foxy, those WERE the days!
(Foxy's note: Hi, Ron! Great stories.)
Posted by: Ron Turbide | June 11, 2008 8:06 AM
Wow! Familiar names and faces of 64 bring back memories for sure. I remember that beard on Alderman Christopher Booth (Uncle Kit to me), dark brown hair, bright red beard! Somewhere kicking around are wooden nickels that were freely handed around, worth 5 cents, I think in trade somewhere. Our car came from McMartin Motors, Murray's was the best place for Joe the Butcher's corned beef, Booth's Flower Shop was way out in the country and the Toot and Tell'em had the best pies ever.
Fun remembering, thanks.
Caroline Booth Stafford
(Foxy's note: Thanks for your comments, Caroline.)
Posted by: Caroline Booth Stafford | June 11, 2008 12:50 AM
I was surprised to read the comments by Bob Buck. He owned a restaurant in downtown Glens Falls, a few years back. What a place! I thought Bobbie had moved on to greener pastures out west. Nice to see he's still in the area. His bar/restaurant was a meeting place after hockey games and most friday and saturday nights. I have a lot of great memories of this establishment. See, Foxy, what you trigger when you write of the past in the "burg". See ya, FF
Posted by: Fred Forkey | June 10, 2008 6:45 PM
Roman Gardens without doubt had the best pizza anywhere in the area. North Country Club was close. But now that they are both gone thank god (or at least Corey Rosoff) for Monopole pizza.
Posted by: Rick K | June 10, 2008 12:43 PM
Foxy,
You mention the Pizza Corner, it's amazing that that was 44 years ago. Mike Mercado owned the corner until his eyesight was so bad he had to retire. Several years ago I remember seeing a story on Albany tv about a sight-impaired newspaper vendor in the Albany Plaza either foiling a robbery or having been the victim of that robbery (or theft) and that guy I believe was our Pizza Corner Mike. Thanks for the 60's memories.
Bob Buck
(Foxy's note: Thanks for the comment, Bob. A lot of PHS guys knew Mike much better than I did, but he was always nice to everyone, even us Fox Hillers. His place was one of Plattsburgh's most popular teen spots for awhile.)
Posted by: Bob Buck | June 10, 2008 11:52 AM