By Jane D. O’Donoghue
Special to PRIME
In the last three columns I mentioned businesses along Main Street in Springfield, Mass. In 1946, the many side streets were also filled with restaurants, small shops, hotels, movie theaters, opticians, jewelers, markets, and banks among other enterprises. The upper floors of buildings housed the offices of doctors, lawyers, insurance companies, dentists and chiropractors, as well as small schools and architects. All needed convenient locations to achieve their livelihoods.
On Market Street, one of my favorite places for years was Johnson's Secondhand Bookstore. On the upper floor above the tearoom and camera shop, this spot welcomed me and other readers and browsers of old and yet respected print material. It offered stacks of used books, back issues of magazines, prints, post cards, and maps of every type. It was a spot to lose yourself in rummaging for that certain item.
On Vernon Street there was Aitken Flowers, LaMode Shop, Milliners, New England Church Supply, the Security Building with multiple offices, a coffee shop, Hebert Candies, Broadway Office Supply, C.C. Clappp, piano tuner, and Maury's Service Station at the corner of Broadway.
Bridge Street, starting at Columbus Avenue, contained Regnier, Harness Makers, Bridgeway Hotel, Broadway Theatre, Bridgeway Knitting Mills, Snappy's Restaurant, P. Capone, Barber, and a complex for nine bus lines including Peter Pan and Greyhound, then Gloria Hats. Poole Dry Goods shared the other corner of Main with S.S. Kresge's. Across Main, Springfield National Bank, Mohican Market, Roche & Moore, Corseters, Margaret's Baby Shop, Thomas Men's Furnishings, Astman Furs, Georgian Restaurant, and Omartian & Sons Rugs plied their trades with many others.
Hillman Street hosted the Highland Hotel, famous for their lobster dinners and meeting place. Christmas time meant eggnog parties and office gatherings there after work.
The Public Market and J. H. Miller Co. occupied Harrison Avenue along with an engraver, antique shops, a beauty salon, tailor, and architect and watch repair enterprises.
The Myrick Building sat at the corner of Worthington Street and Columbus Avenue. Many printing companies such as Phelps Publishing Co. and the New England Homestead, flourished there along with advertising agencies. A first floor business thrived as W. H. White Plumbing Supplies. Further along, Fitzgpatrick Wall Paper Co., Stern's Curtain Shop, Belvedere Cafe, and the Bijou Theater, awaited customers. Across Main the Rink Restaurant, Hotel Worthy, Gross Style Shop, Young & Young religious supplies, Van the Hatter and Smith's Billiard and Bowling Academy filled the street. Next were Litwar Pawnbroker, John Boyle O'Reilly Club, Stearn's Hotel and the New England Telephone & Telegraph Company. This busy place employed phone operators around the clock at the corner of Dwight Street.
When December Christmas shopping was in full swing, stores remained open until six and all day Saturday. Customers rushed from store to store in search of the perfect gift within their budget. Carrying shopping bags, they filled the sidewalks almost shoulder-to-shoulder. Seasonal decorations enhanced the spirit of the season as colored lights crisscrossed Main Street. Each establishment vied to create enticing windows and music filled the stores for enjoyment. In Kresge's, a gifted piano player played song after song for shoppers and potential buyers of song sheets. Santa sat in several places awaiting young friends. In Johnson's Bookstore he also gave a precious memento. Lunch counters kept busy serving harried shoppers thankful for a place to sit and relax.
Springfield Street Railway conveniently located stops at most corners. These buses along Main Street carried riders from their neighborhoods and home again laden with packages and bags. Often there was standing room only. Out-of-towners headed to the bus terminal on Bridge Street, and lucky drivers to the parking lots with errands completed.
Although many were gainfully employed downtown, others, with leisurely afternoons attended one of the first -run movie theaters and dined without watching the clock for bus schedules, or lunch hours from work. Evenings brought others into the area for friendly entertainment, filling it once again. Dining, dancing and dates beckoned friends to gather. Lighted store windows lured strollers with ideas, dreams, and hints in the quieter time.
The spirit of the season was contagious as young and old awaited the holiday that, to the young, seems to take an eternity to arrive.
Jane D. O’Donoghue is a Hungry Hill native and retired school librarian. Her writing has appeared in local and regional publications.
