Memories

Some days are long and for some reason I have been thinking of past businesses, their location and owners.

Let’s begin with the old post office building where I started to work on April 1, 1950 under Postmaster E.E. Sykes. The north side of the building was occupied as a Western store and operated by Albert and Roberta Phelps, later by Claire Whitney. The post office was transferred to the north side later and a grocery store owned by Clarence and Ina Crystal was located in the old post office side. Today, the senior citizen center and credit union are there.

Now across the street to the attorney’s office. Raymond Sheldon and his son Bruce occupied the building for some time.Later, it was occupied by Dick Harkins.

Going down the street and east is the building where the Town Office and Carter County Abstract were located. Next to it, the Fairview Hotel was operated by Frank Kowitz and later by George and Mildred Schuyler. Close by was the Mainline Store, operated by Don and Laverne Ricards. A&A Stieg now occupies those two buildings.

Going east was the First National Bank, now the Town Office. Next was a hardware store owned and operated by Mack Richard. Later, it was the Ekalaka Locker operated by Joe and Helen Blutt. It is Ekalaka Public Library today.

Yes, next a barber shop with Harry West, later occupied by Bob Pulse and Ken Pulse. June Olson Pharmacy with Harry and Beverly Roberts followed by Emerson Pharmacy with Murray Emerson, owner.

Next door was the Buckhorn Bar with owner James “Jim” Mallough. Later the bar was owned by Marshall Kalstrom.

Move on to the Ekalaka Theater, a wonderful building that had a great sound system. The owner was Mack Niccum and possibly V.E. Figg as part owner. On some show nights people would be backed up halfway to Emerson Pharmacy. Then came TV.

A well known and popular place was the Old Stand Bar and Cafe, with Trife Hedges the long time owner. The attached small cafe was operated by Don and Ruth “Bumpy” Hedges. That building is gone, but an Old Stand building is in its place.

Somewhere in the area was a variety store owned and operated by Charles (C.K.) Putnam. He was also the undertaker and kept caskets in the back room. Later, Kathryn Carter operated the store as did Rudy Lovec.

What an interesting article Kathryn has in “Shifting Scenes Vol. I,” page 131. Take time to read it.

More to come.