The Old West Side Of Springfield (St. Louis, Ozark: apartments, houses, wedding)

[Hillman]

Anyone here remember Nichols Junction back when the school was open.The Sunset Drive In,Seven Gables.

I lived there until I was 17,was working at MFA by the Square and Lilly Dale Farm where Deer Lake Golf Course is now until I left to move up North,then came back here 16 years ago.

hillman

[ozarksboy]

Originally Posted by Hillman

Anyone here remember Nichols Junction back when the school was open.The Sunset Drive In,Seven Gables.

I lived there until I was 17,was working at MFA by the Square and Lilly Dale Farm where Deer Lake Golf Course is now until I left to move up North,then came back here 16 years ago.

hillman

Hillman,

Yes, we drove old Route 66 frequently when I was a kid. I grew up several miles west of there (went to Republic for school), so when we went into town, we drove past all those places to get to the public square. Do you remember when Springfield had a real public square? And it was thriving?

We didn't go into town all that much, though; most of our shopping was done at Barnes General Store, west of Springfield on Route 66. Do you recall that place? We bought about everything there, including school clothes. I remember wearing Husky brand jeans while all the town kids wore Levi's.

We went to the Sunset Drive-In from time to time. Never went to a sit-down theater. Family couldn't afford it. Mama would pack snacks in a cooler box. We kids would go in our pajamas.

My dad operated a small barbershop on College Street.

You grew up on the po' side of town, the area the newcomers and slickers hold their noses up at and declare is ugly. My dad's family lived in an even poorer part of town, over there by the railroad tracks on Wabash, off Division. My dad went to Senior High School, now Central, when it was the only high school in Springfield.

These are areas the city slickers from California, Florida, etc., wish weren't part of Springfield.

[graytabbie]

My great uncle and cousins used to live in Nichols Junction (I always remember driving under that VERY low train tressel (sp?)...my sister and brother in law lived there in the 90s before moving. I remember going to the Sunset. Didn't ever eat at Seven Gables much but my cousin worked there for awhile. We lived between Springfield and Republic so we came up Chestnut Expressway/Hwy 266 a lot to get into Springfield. Remember Mr. Quick?? A fast food burger place on the corner of West Bypass and W Chestnut Expressway?

[Hillman]

Yea I use to buy my clothes at General Store.This is going back a bit but i remember Seven Gables before it was a Big truck Stop.I worked for awhile at the Sands across the road.

My dad worked at Springfield Pie on W Chestnut.I did too for awhile.I also helped brick most the Houses in Youngs Orchard.

I rember going to the Old Bypass truck Stop to eat after a night of drinking.One night I was doing 150MPH down Bypass with an old GTO,this was before they put all the lights in.

Yea i lived close to the low train tressel you always had to Honk your horn before going through.

Talking about Poor side of town,when I first married my Ex we lived on South Golden,down by the creek.Couldn't get the Law down there without an Escort by the State Police.

Yea i remember when the Square was a Square.Had parking right in the middle,get out do your Shopping.I remember buying my first Nearoo (sp) wearing it to school and getting the something beat out of me for wearing it.Well maybe Flannel and western Shrirts weren't too Bad.

hillman

[Hillman]

graytabbie if you turn between the School and Drive In,there is a little White House facing the school.I think it looks real junky now.But thats where I was raised,with 6 Brothers and Sisters.

We lived there from the late '50's until '71 thats when I left the area.

hillman

[graytabbie]

Hillman: would that be Meteor Street? That's the one I think my brother in law & sister lived on...They turned the old Sunset into a trailer park, didn't they? When you said "General Store" were you talking about Barnes General Store on West 266? I went there with my parents frequently.

[Hillman]

Originally Posted by graytabbie

Hillman: would that be Meteor Street? That's the one I think my brother in law & sister lived on...They turned the old Sunset into a trailer park, didn't they? When you said "General Store" were you talking about Barnes General Store on West 266? I went there with my parents frequently.

Yea it was Barnes General Store.

I don't know the name of the street.Didn't have names back then.Its the street that runs North and South right between the School and Drive In.Yea they made the Drive In into a Trailer Park.

Cheap heck when I first got married it cost me a Total of $10 for a Suit and Rings.

Here is a pic of me at our wedding



hillman

[MoNative34]

A friend of mine lived in an apartment on College St. back when I was in school down there (1990s) and just west of where he lived there was still an old "motor lodge" standing, but I'm not sure if it was still in business or it was rented out like apartments are.

College St. was route 66 at the time I believe. Am I right, ozarksboy or hillman??

[ozarksboy]

Man oh man, that was a long time ago and my memory ain't what it used to be, but I think that's right. Let me try to picture in my mind driving old 66, past the Sunset, Seven Gables, past Red's Hamburg, then veer off to the right to go down College Street, through the Public Square onto St. Louis Street, past all the car lots with rows and rows of lights, to Glenstone, then left or north to Kearney, then east and out of town. That's what I remember. It may be faulty.

[Hillman]

Use to drive the '59 Chevy up to the A&W on Kearney had the Car Hops.

Hey what was that place on the square that had the Soda Fountain,you walk in and had all the good smells hitting you? It was on the South West corner.

Hey what about the Races at the Airport Speedway?We use to go down to the Dragstrip in Ozark.

hillman