In my time.....

In my time when I was younger there were lot of different stores in down town Frederick.  But Christmas was still a big thing in town.  We could find all that we needed in down town.  There was not the Malls of today that we have.  Yes in the late 1950s we got the 7th Street shopping center.  But most of us had to be content with the stores that were down town. 

To start the Holiday there was a Santa parade. That was when Santa came to down town. He would have a small house outside of a 5 and 10 cent store. Then they moved him into that store where they gave him a space to have pictures taken with him sitting in a big gold chair.  During the day you could find him walking the streets of our small town.  He would talk to all the children and find out if they were naughty or good.  Once and awhile you could find him looking at the trees at Cappello's food store or the ones next to the F & M Bank.  They all smelled so good. There was fur trees and spruces and white needle pines.  The Crutchley's Trees were the ones on the side of the bank and he made garlins and wreaths too.  He would also have Mistletoe, you know that stuff that people use to kiss under. But it was real!!

Mother would go to Cappello's and buy her groceries there. Mr Cappy or Pappa Cappello would have them bagged and sent to home for us like he did for sooo many people back then.  He delivered!  They had a big black paneled truck that would come right to your door and bring things.  While Mom was there she would place her order for red and green loaf bread.  That was for her special parties that she would have.  She would also order her ducks or turkey for Christmas dinner there too.  Oh and the bakery there would always give the children a cookie if they were good and let their Mothers shop.  It was one of their butter cookies with red cherry or red or green surgers on them.  They had all kinds of good cookies, pies, cakes and breads.  And if you wanted sometime special they would do that too.

Now if you wanted Flowers then you would have a short walk up West 2nd Street to Zimmermans Florest Shop.  They had trees, wreaths, garlin and hot house flowers and roses for sale.  In side that wonderful place would be all kinds of flowers and you could get vases to put them in too.  If you went into the hot houses you could find African violets and Poinsettia plants. The Norfolk Pine trees too.  Some Paper whites and other forced bulbs too. they had a big pine tree out front that they would trim with lights and a big star was placed atop of the chimmy of the hot house.

Then there was Parsons.  Here you could buy your clothes from baby to lovely lady all under one roof.  Mom and I would go there last.  She would look for a blouse for Aunt Alice or a skirt for that Christmas Eve party.  She could also find that apron or towel for another member of family.  I would sneak off to find that Christmas hankie for her or Aunt Alice or Mary.  I one time found that apron that was a hit of the Holiday party she and Dad had.   You could also find table cloths, napkins, ladies stockings, little girls socks and many other things.

But if not there we would go to Bennets or to Shipleys or  Hendricksons Store or to the Hallmark Stores.  There were times that we even went to one of the four 5 and 10 cent stores.  There was a small shop called The Leather Store and that is where Mother would get Dads wallets or even his one Nerrelco shaver.  Dad got Mother a beautiful tooled leather hand bag there one year.  And I got one too.  I still have them both.  There still smell so good and are in fine shape.  There was also a store that was called Harold's Smoke Shop. there Mother would get her Vogue or House Beautiful or Better Homes and Gardens magazines. Dad use to smoke a pipe and she would get his tobacco there too.

The very last place she would head was to a small candy store and I am so sorry but I have forgotten the name of it. There she would buy the turtles that my Father use to love or maybe some of the ribbon candy.

Oh how I do miss some of the stores that use to make up my Christmas buying list so much easier.   Now that was one stop shopping in my day!  Oh yes, and the parking  was free during those days before Christmas.  How wonderful it was to shop in down town Frederick in my time.