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It was war time seven decades ago when a 9-year-old boy sat at the Warren Pvblic Library on High Street. He thought that the poor stone cutter had certainly made a mistake on that stone header out front. It was Saturday morning. He had just finished swimming at the YMCA and it was about time to catch the bus for home. The huge and beautiful old grandfather clock that had been donated by J.W. Packard’s widow started its booming chime for 12 o’clock. The slow pace of its ringing reminded him of the slow pace of an old man’s walk. He wondered how it would be to be old How many memories would be ones that he would cherish?
He checked out a book about fighter planes and was on his way to the eastbound bus terminal in front of Strouss Hirshberg’s. He turned right from the library and walked under the marquee of the Harris-Warren movie theatre where “National Velvet” was playing. That pretty little Elizabeth Taylor was the star. Then he walked past the adjacent little confectioner’s shop called Rodney Ann’s, where the best frosted malteds ever made were served. He crossed Harmon in front of the “Y.” Then came the challenge. Just try to cross at the corner where High and Mahoning converge.
Walking south toward Market he looked over at the log cabin where Santa had him sitting on his lap a few years back. He was wearing a false face. What little kid is going to believe that? The dark gray stone courthouse on his left was sitting in a grove of beautiful tall elms shading everything in the square. Those trees will last forever.
Crossing at Market and Mahoning he turned left onto Market and walked past Al Paar’s Drug Store, Osborne’s Luggage, Woolworth’s, Kresge’s Dollar Store, and then Kresge’s Five and Ten. Did you ever try Kresge’s fried doughnuts? Then Nobil’s Shoes where he could get Red Goose shoes before rationing took hold He missed the bus. It was too full, anyway.
Now he had a half hour to kill. He walked past Strouss’, crossed South Park at Union Savings on the corner and continued on his little stroll. Across East Market was the Saratoga Restaurant with its sawfish, turtle and starfish marine display. Then he was under the marquee of the Ohio movie theater. A Phantom serial was featured. JCPenney was directly across, and further along was First Federal Savings. On his side was the Robins theater. “Curse of the Cat People” was showing.
He turned left to cross Market again at Pine. And there it was. That wonderful, futuristic, Streamliner diner. It was so beautiful in its cream, red and silver livery. If that’s what the future will be like, take him along. The Hotel Henry looked a bit dingy. Joe the Key Man’s little hole in the wall was almost directly across.
On his left at the corner of High and Pine opposite Rappold’s, was the Hotel Warner. It was a treat to dine at the Warner with his family, and his dad’s Warren Rotary met there every Wednesday at noon. Along High in the Hippodrome building was the Post theater – not so upscale as the Robins – but nice. He had seen “They Died with Their Boots On” there.
Farther west at High and North Park was Prince’s where he might get a new suit for Easter. For the duration, he couldn’t get cuffs on his trousers. Down North Park was Vautrot and Myers Jewelry. His dad had bought him his first ring there – a gold signet ring for his 8th birthday. Next was Warner’s department store followed by Muter’s greeting card store and the Park Hotel. What a wonderful treat it was to dine there in the hotel’s Hamilton Room with his family. While he waited for his dinner to be served, he studied the fox hunt mural that was portrayed all around the room. The steak would be brought out under a silver entre cover. Two questions: Did they get the fox? And, did he really get steak? It’s war time, you know.
Finally, at the corner of Market and North Park was Weinberger’s Drug Store. Ka-ching. “Someone just spent, someone just saved, at Weinberger’s Drug Store.” He crossed over to Strouss’ to board the standing room only Perkinswood bus for home.
Now it’s 2015, 70 years later. He sat in the Warren Public Library once more. They finally spelled “Public” right this time. The library is now on Mahoning Avenue. Many places he remembered from seven decades ago are gone now
That same huge old grandfather’s clock is there. When it chimed 12 noon again this time, he was barely able to keep pace with its tempo as he walked to his car. Once again, he’s too late to catch the bus.