Memories of Mill Street in the 1950's

Mill Street, Danville, Pennsylvania in the fifties was typical of most small towns back in the day.  I'm writing about some of my favorite memories from my growing up years in small town Danville.

My family lived in Riverside which was like Portage to Kalamazoo, Michigan, a "sister" town of the same town. Riverside, formerly known as South Danville, was across the Susquehanna River from Danville thus the bridge was always an important part of our town.  The old former iron bridge (pictured below) had been constructed right after the turn of the twentieth century by "The King Bridge Company."  The new bridge, a modern cement one,  was celebrated on opening day in 2005.  

We Riversiders, upon crossing the bridge in the 1950's, passed by the old water works which has long been razed.  Next to the water works was the park which featured huge maple trees, cement benches, a fountain and a wall separating it from the river.  

Like most folks in those days we walked wherever we went.  I remember stopping often at "The Old Dutch Pantry" for a sticky bun or some other pastry.  The pantry stood at the present location of the parking lot adjacent to the WPGM radio station.  Next to the "The Old Dutch Pantry" was the Montour Hotel.  I most recall two features of that hotel:  it had a basement level entry (to the bar).  We kids, sometimes for fun, took the steps from one street side entry to the other as we strolled Mill Street.  It, too, had a rounded balcony from one of its windows facing Market Street.  An elderly lady tenant, if your walk was timed to catch her, (no she didn't jump :)  entered the balcony and threw bread crumbs to the birds on the sidewalk below.

When my sister and I were grade-schoolers, Dad used to take us into Fry's store.  Fry's was located across from the former Capitol Theater on Mill Street.  We loved to go there because back in the corner of the store is where Paul was caged.  Paul, a talking parrot, was a real entertainer.  I remember Dad bought our cap guns from a counter display at Fry's.  We loaded those silver things with rolls of red caps which often failed to produce fire.  We resorted to smacking each powder dot with a stone releasing its odor and a bit of real fire.

Friday nights, in those days, was grocery shopping time at the A & P, the towns major grocery store.  That old Atlantic & Pacific, had the wooden grocery "belts."  Mom did the grocery shopping while it was common for Dad to go to the "hosie." Dad would bide a bit of time with old second ward friends at the Friendship Fire Hall.  The groceries were referred to as "the order" and in those days delivered to your house.  After making our order, we'd walk up to the hosie and ring the bell for Dad. 

If we shopped for groceries during the day, my sister and I had the pleasure of walking across the street and playing at "The Ferry Street Playground."  Presently, Cole's Hardware parking lot, the playground as I recall had a big stately entrance gate.  I remember meeting a girl from Mt. Carmel one day while playing in the sandbox.  I had no idea there even was a Mt. Carmel anywhere near or where it was located.  I only knew about caramels.

In a future post I will continue the old Mill Street memories beginning with the day my mom, sister and I flew into the air in front of the police station on Mill Street!