June 11, 2012

Take a Walk, Even if It's in Your Mind....

Took a walk down Slayton's main street of the 1940's the other day with Earl Halvorson who shared some memories of growing up during that time.  With the outskirts of town being much smaller then, he and his best buddy Hawk used to frequent the town dump that was located in the vicinity of where Rupp Park now stands.  

Walking down the gravel road that today is 28th Street, the two youngsters would spend hours at the dump digging for treasures and breaking milk bottles and generally doing what kids do.  There were no houses in that area, Earl says - only fields. At that time Highway 59 had not yet been routed east of town rather it ran down current day Maple Avenue. 

Earl recalls a time when there was a slough where the water tower now stands and as a youngster he used to swim there and catch tad poles during the summer, and play hockey on the ice in the winter.  Nearby, where the hospital now sits, was the school's football field.  When the circus came to town, that is where it set up as well.  As a young lad, Earl says he used to help set up the big tents in return for free tickets to the circus.

"It was a fun time growing up in  Slayton," he remembers. The stock yards were also located near the water tower area and Earl says he used to visit regularly the bums and hobos who frequented that area.  Those fellows would make bird houses out of willow branches, he said, and more than once he shared a can of coffee with them much to his mother's chagrin. 

 Broadway Avenue of the forties was a mere specter of what it is today.  Sporting two hotels, the City and Park Hotels, downtown was quite different than today.  Those wishing to imbibe could patronize Palmer's, located below the City Hotel, or the Grotto, below the Park Hotel.

Walking northward down Broadway Avenue, Earl can see in his mind the funeral parlor where the Chevy garage and Investor's Choice now stand;  tucked in there was also a barber shop.  Then there was Vern Buckles Variety Store, J.C.Penney's and S & L.  The Hermes Meal Market was located next to the present day Hut.  Before the Hafners came to town and opened their drugstore business, Earl says,  its space was occupied by Fay's Clothing store.   Next to that operated a 4-lane bowling alley where the boys made big money setting pins at pennies each.

Webster's hardware store was next door.  The bank anchored the block on the corner and across the street stood the Park Hotel, a two-story wood structure that was torn down during that time.  "Hawk and I snuck in and took the changes off of the sinks and made bracelets," Earl says with a chuckle.  They also snuck into the basement and swiped pop from the bar, which was also slated to be torn down.

The Red Owl grocery story, sat in one of its three locations just north of the hotel.  Moving down the block, a liquor store sat where the empty space along that section of the block now is.  The Grain Belt beer company ran its business out of offices next door.  An apartment building next to that housed a toggery cleaners on the main floor.  

At the end of the block sat the Ford garage where Siebe's Electric building now stands.

Across the street, where Scott's Appliances is located, a John Deere implement dealership operated.  Then, working southward from where the post office now is, was a show shop, Emma's bar, the City Cafe and pool hall.  Earl says the old guys would sit and drink nickel beer there all day long. 

Next to the Weck building (which at one time housed the local library), sat Stubbe's grocery store, then there was the Herald newspaper office where the shoe shop now is, and finally, Doc Patterson's office on the corner.

Coast to  Coast anchored the next main street corner, then the Red Owl grocery store (relocated from across the street), Snelling's shoe shop, and another hardware store next door.  The bakery once was Joe Budde's cafe and later pool hall when the addition was made in the rear of the building.  Billy Jacobson cut hair in his barbershop next door and Earl remembers that you could always get the lowdown on baseball from Billy.  Next was the jewelry store where the pocket park now sits, then Frankie's electric store. 

The local theater was in the Skalak building.  Earl remembers seeing Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Hopalong Cassidy among other favorites.  "The place was just filled with kids on Saturdays," he laughs.  A bakery sat next to the theater, and then the Silver Star where the Mint Cafe once operated.  "The watering hole of Murray County," Earl says.  "The cops were always parked outside the place."

In the Loopy's building, Silverberg's clothing store sold clothing of all sorts.  Upstairs on the dance floor, many a  homecoming dances and other events were held.  They even had prize fights complete with a ring and boxers, Earl says.

A minuscule popcorn shed offered popcorn on Saturdays.  Nelson's Furniture and the Fashionette shared space in what is now Second Wind and on the corner, Don Roberts sold school supplies and assorted candies in his retail establishment.  

Change happens all the time but it is perhaps comforting to know that often times one's mind can record a snapshot of that certain place and time that we all yearn to recall.  For without the memories, all would be lost.  Look around today-notice the things you see and take for granted every day.  They will most likely be nothing but a memory to you some day.