Nostalgia - For Old People Only! Maybe some more of you are old enough to remember when things looked a bit like this... when downtown was a line of a half dozen stores, there was a...

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Maybe some more of you are old enough to remember when things looked a bit like this... when downtown was a line of a half dozen stores, there was a gazebo in the common ground, the town newspaper was hand-set and printed locally on a rolling press, George Washington watched over every schoolroom, church was plain-and-simple and there was a man who could be found somewhere that could fix the handle on your grandmother's iron skillet.

architect Loc: Chattanooga

The main street was wide enough for a stagecoach to turn around, the curbs were 30 inches high with steps every so often, and there were iron rings set in the curb to tie up horses. And a bench in front of the General store occupied by old men chewing the fat (and tobacco). Cottonwood, California in the 40's.

dooragdragon Loc: Alma , Arkansas

Excellent set, I sat in those school chairs as a kid.matter of fact I used to have 3-4 of them once they were replaced with newer models.
Pete

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

minniev wrote:

Maybe some more of you are old enough to remember when things looked a bit like this... when downtown was a line of a half dozen stores, there was a gazebo in the common ground, ...

i would add the sound of the towns air raid siren telling people it was time for lunch and the rail road track on which a young boy could balance and dream.

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

When the circus came to town, they would stage a parade down Main Street so that everybody could watch for free. It was great advertising ploy - nearly everyone would then go to the circus (which was under a Big Top tent).

Bmac Loc: Long Island, NY

Interesting set Minnie and although I am not old and do not remember any of those things I enjoyed the thread. :mrgreen:

By the way....that is one huge, ugly computer in photo #4. :shock:

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I enjoyed your nostalgic journey very much, Minnie!

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Great series. I used that style of desk in 1st and 2nd grades.
We didn't have a blacksmith but the welder at the local garage did the same kind of stuff.

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

Great story and excellent photo's. I hate to say I do remember something in those photo's. The school room desk's in no.2, except I used the ones with the flip-up tops so you can store your books.

jwhphotos Loc: Maryland

I hate to admit it but I do remember those things. Of course I grew up in the country and we used horses for work. Damn this makes me feel old!

Good shots

Bruce with a Canon Loc: Islip

Gorgeous set!
That "ugly Computer" was one of my first jobs, Linotype operator. Brings back memories, the sounds of the machine clunking, the smell of ink, the swish of the paper through the press.
How times have changed!

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

architect wrote:

The main street was wide enough for a stagecoach to turn around, the curbs were 30 inches high with steps every so often, and there were iron rings set in the curb to tie up horses. And a bench in front of the General store occupied by old men chewing the fat (and tobacco). Cottonwood, California in the 40's.

These little towns were spread all over the country. My own childhood was in small towns of Mississippi, but I found this little gem in Indiana last week. I remember the horse rings! And every town had the bench..

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

dooragdragon wrote:

Excellent set, I sat in those school chairs as a kid.matter of fact I used to have 3-4 of them once they were replaced with newer models.
Pete

The inkwells had gone out of use by the time I used these desks, but all the rest of it was just like this. Children learned to write in cursive then!

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

oldtigger wrote:

i would add the sound of the towns air raid siren telling people it was time for lunch and the rail road track on which a young boy could balance and dream.

Or you could put a penny on the track and retrieve the flattened one after the train went by. We lived near a track and it was a constant fascination.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Bob Yankle wrote:

When the circus came to town, they would stage a parade down Main Street so that everybody could watch for free. It was great advertising ploy - nearly everyone would then go to the circus (which was under a Big Top tent).

As recently as '88, I had the joy of a tent circus that set up in the empty lot next to our house. I'm so glad my kids got to see it, they are probably extinct now.