I would like to continue last month's story about stores in the downtown in the early '50s.
Let's start with the Premier Market at 37 Pleasant St., a longtime fruit and produce store run by the Katz family, fine people who sold superior products. Also on Pleasant Street was Kennedy's Butter Store, located on the upper corner of Inn Street. A chain store, they would cut your butter out of a tub, scoop great peanut butter out of a large container or cut the cheese of your choice out of large slabs. They also sold eggs, tea and coffee, etc. Many of the older residents will recall the long butter lines stretching down Inn Street during World War II.
Farther up Pleasant Street was Knight's Radio and TV Store at the corner of Unicorn Street. When TV first came to the area, they had a set in the front window and in the evening, crowds would gather to watch it. I saw my first TV there.
Opposite the Post Office, "Bow" Murphy had a window full of peanuts, a small soda fountain along with magazines and newspapers. It was also a gathering place for the local politicians. "Bow" was one of many pleasant merchants on Pleasant Street. No doubt many will remember Aristotels Sotiropoulos, who ran a long-established shoe shine parlor at 29 Pleasant St. He also sold used comic books, balloons and other sundry items. Another long-established business was Leighton's Bakery. Their main store was at Market and Pleasant streets, and they had an outlet at 26 State St. and another in downtown Amesbury.
Moving to State Street, Kunkel's Book Store and the General Store just below Essex Street were very popular. It will be remembered that the General Store later moved to Pleasant Street for many years. Simmons music store and Pearson the florist were at the lower and upper corners of Threadneedle Alley. Pete Marceau had his shoe repair shop at 49 State St. Bob Morris, the area's last cobbler, learned the trade from Pete. Next to Pete's was a small gift shop run by a Miss Walton. I believe she was a retired schoolteacher. Osgood and Goodwin's Dry Goods store had been located at 57 State St. for more than 50 years. Mr. Goodwin lived in the big house at the upper corner of State and Temple streets, now law offices. Just below Temple Street was the Western Union office and next to it was the Merrimack Valley Cleaners, a busy little shop staffed by two popular Kalashian sisters.
Maybe it was just a coincidence, but Hazel's Art and Yarn Shop, the area's leading yarn and sewing center, was located opposite Threadneedle Alley at 42 Inn St. The Daily News was across from Hazel's and all of its operations took place there, as there were large printing presses in the basement. Just up the street from the News was Brock's Fish Market.
Let's not forget those two "Dime" stores. S.S. Kresge was where the Richdale is today and J.J. Newberry was on Pleasant Street where the Card and Gift shop is now, also with an entrance on State Street. Both of these stores were very busy, both had lunch counters and both employed many women and high school girls.
There was no shortage of tailor shops in those days. There were three on Inn Street, Constant Christuk, Jacob Cohen and Richard Halliburton. Frank Kelley was on Pleasant Street and Joseph Richard was on Charter Street.
The 1951 City Directory lists 15 barber shops in the city, three on Inn Street, which probably has had a barber shop since the Civil War days. Number of barber shops today — three.
In closing, I want to mention a one-man business, and like Bob Morris, he was the last of his trade in the city. Constant Porriau was a cigar maker, and he made what he called C.P. Extras on the second floor at 33 A State St. He had a large customer base.
¢¢¢
Joe Callahan is a former fire chief of Salisbury who is interested in historical accounts of the area.
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