Long ago on independence square (Jackson, Browning: online, fake, decrease)

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

There was one long building on the northwest corner of 23rd and Kiger that held Buck Rogers, another small shop, which was initially a laundromat, C&J, Brown's hardware, and a DX filling station with a one bay auto lift. There may have also been another shop west of Buck Rogers, also, as I have some vague remembrance of something being torn down on that end. This would have been around 1956, or so.

The more I think about it, the small shop was at the western most end and that was what was torn down. Just a few feet further west of that was the 23rd Street facing home of John Brown who owned most of the property on the entire north side of 23rd and Kiger.

One of the high school teenage part time employees at C&J found himself in a shotgun wedding situation and could not get on full time. He decided he wanted to be an entrepreneur and opened, on an emaciated shoestring, a hobby shop in that small space. One of the full time C&J employees had an artistic ability so he painted a rather large sign on the hobby shop window to help him out. The store lasted probably two or three months, if that long. I don't recall what happened to that teenager after that.

John Brown was not the typical landowner lessor type, wearing old bib overalls, always kept his billfold in the bib, and always chewing tobacco, but industrious. He also did not take any lip from anyone. Both he and his wife lived modestly in their small bungalow and operated the new hardware and dime store on the other side of Kiger, while also leasing a laundromat, a barbershop, a beauty shop, and a new DX station on that side operated by his son-in-law. Additionally, he leased to C&J and to the Buck Rogers auto repair shop on the northwest side.

Brown's house has been gone for a long time.

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

The more I think about it, the small shop was at the western most end and that was what was torn down. Just a few feet further west of that was the 23rd Street facing home of John Brown who owned most of the property on the entire north side of 23rd and Kiger.

One of the high school teenage part time employees at C&J found himself in a shotgun wedding situation and could not get on full time. He decided he wanted to be an entrepreneur and opened, on an emaciated shoestring, a hobby shop in that small space. One of the full time C&J employees had an artistic ability so he painted a rather large sign on the hobby shop window to help him out. The store lasted probably two or three months, if that long. I don't recall what happened to that teenager after that.

John Brown was not the typical landowner lessor type, wearing old bib overalls, always kept his billfold in the bib, and always chewing tobacco, but industrious. He also did not take any lip from anyone. Both he and his wife lived modestly in their small bungalow and operated the new hardware and dime store on the other side of Kiger, while also leasing a laundromat, a barbershop, a beauty shop, and a new DX station on that side operated by his son-in-law. Additionally, he leased to C&J and to the Buck Rogers auto repair shop on the northwest side.

Brown's house has been gone for a long time.

Perhaps these views will assist your memory. First is 1957, followed by 1963...

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by Mad Anthonie

Perhaps these views will assist your memory. First is 1957, followed by 1963...

Too bad, there is not a ground level view, chuckle.

That solitary building on the northeast corner in the '57 view was a Dairy Creme or Dairy Kreme drive in. I am thinking that long white item to the rear of the drive in was a ground level propane tank.

The entire parking area for the drive in was gravel. It was not very old--I am estimating five years or less when it was ripped out to make way for the new buildings on that corner.

It also looks like the C&J expansion did not occur until '58 or so.

Brown's house is showing with a sidewalk and a gate pointing east. Going directly back to the small building in the rear was their garage. I dont recall what kind of car the old man drove but junior, his son, received a new Corvette on his 16th birthday, which was around 57 or 58.

[CaseyMO]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

The more I think about it, the small shop was at the western most end and that was what was torn down. Just a few feet further west of that was the 23rd Street facing home of John Brown who owned most of the property on the entire north side of 23rd and Kiger.

One of the high school teenage part time employees at C&J found himself in a shotgun wedding situation and could not get on full time. He decided he wanted to be an entrepreneur and opened, on an emaciated shoestring, a hobby shop in that small space. One of the full time C&J employees had an artistic ability so he painted a rather large sign on the hobby shop window to help him out. The store lasted probably two or three months, if that long. I don't recall what happened to that teenager after that.

John Brown was not the typical landowner lessor type, wearing old bib overalls, always kept his billfold in the bib, and always chewing tobacco, but industrious. He also did not take any lip from anyone. Both he and his wife lived modestly in their small bungalow and operated the new hardware and dime store on the other side of Kiger, while also leasing a laundromat, a barbershop, a beauty shop, and a new DX station on that side operated by his son-in-law. Additionally, he leased to C&J and to the Buck Rogers auto repair shop on the northwest side.

Brown's house has been gone for a long time.

You are correct about John Brown's house being to the west of C&J and you are correct about his appearance. Big guy too!

I believe the hobby shop was owned by the Bertoldies. It may have been Gary, one of the two sons, but not sure. He died a few years ago. Gary once owned the brick store on the north side of college across from Bryant School. He also had a grocery store in Lawson and he worked at Continental Baking Co when I did.

John Brown also owned the feed store that was on the SW corner. I think he did not own the SE corner.

[CaseyMO]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

Too bad, there is not a ground level view, chuckle.

That solitary building on the northeast corner in the '57 view was a Dairy Creme or Dairy Kreme drive in. I am thinking that long white item to the rear of the drive in was a ground level propane tank.

The entire parking area for the drive in was gravel. It was not very old--I am estimating five years or less when it was ripped out to make way for the new buildings on that corner.

It also looks like the C&J expansion did not occur until '58 or so.

Brown's house is showing with a sidewalk and a gate pointing east. Going directly back to the small building in the rear was their garage. I dont recall what kind of car the old man drove but junior, his son, received a new Corvette on his 16th birthday, which was around 57 or 58.

I thought the NE corner had been developed by 1957. I don't even recall the Dairy Crème. I'm thinking that Brown boy was older than my brother. My brother turned 16 in January of 1957.

[CaseyMO]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

Both he and his wife lived modestly in their small bungalow and operated the new hardware and dime store on the other side of Kiger, while also leasing a laundromat, a barbershop, a beauty shop, and a new DX station on that side operated by his son-in-law. Additionally, he leased to C&J and to the Buck Rogers auto repair shop on the northwest side.

Did someone mention the DX Station?



Yippee! I can post pictures. Wow! LOL!

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by CaseyMO

You are correct about John Brown's house being to the west of C&J and you are correct about his appearance. Big guy too!

I believe the hobby shop was owned by the Bertoldies. It may have been Gary, one of the two sons, but not sure. He died a few years ago. Gary once owned the brick store on the north side of college across from Bryant School. He also had a grocery store in Lawson and he worked at Continental Baking Co when I did.

He also owned the feed store that was on the SW corner. I think he did not own the SE corner.

It was Gary. (Looks like he passed away in 2005). We all thought he was rather destitute and felt quietly sorry for him in view of the circumstances of his marriage and not being able to make it with the hobby shop, but maybe he had more backing than we thought. Then, again, I do recall him driving a new '58 Chevy.

I was not aware or more likely do not recall than Brown owned the SW corner. There were several shops on that side also. Including the Queen City Feed Store which I think had a small grocery and maybe one old pump for a filling station, and there was at least a restaurant, a barbershop, and maybe another laundromat.

Do you recall an old man by the name of Casper Fopper? Rumor had it he was 86 years old and he looked mean, looked like a tramp and was always going through the garbage at all the stores on the four corners. He seemed to be physically fit for such an old man. No one ever bothered him.

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by CaseyMO

I thought the NE corner had been developed by 1957. I don't even recall the Dairy Crème. I'm thinking that Brown boy was older than my brother. My brother turned 16 in January of 1957.

Thinking further, the Corvette may have been given to him on graduation, perhaps promised as an incentive to graduate. I think he played football, also. I dont think he had the industriousness his father had.

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by CaseyMO

Did someone mention the DX Station?



Yippee! I can post pictures. Wow! LOL!

That is Stan's DX that was on the northeast corner. MAD had previously posted a 1988 photo of it shortly before it was torn down. Stan was John Brown's daugther's husband. He ran the station when it was on the northwest corner, but I don't think it was called Stan's until this new one was built.

He had a huge stack of old tires behind this station that had been taken off cars when the owner bought a new set. I could not afford new tires or a new tire, so when I needed one I went back there and picked out the best one I could find. He charged me $1 for the tire and I don't believe he charged me to put it on my car.

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by CaseyMO

I thought the NE corner had been developed by 1957. I don't even recall the Dairy Crème. I'm thinking that Brown boy was older than my brother. My brother turned 16 in January of 1957.

I did also. The Dairy Creme sold, among other things, something called ice milk. It was supposed to be less fattening than ice cream. It seemed to look and taste like ice cream to me.