How do you remember Phoenix? Stories from long time residents... (Mesa: new construction, suite)

[zen56]

Originally Posted by AZDesertBrat

I do remember when downtown was that busy. My grandmother used to take me once a week for shopping. Lots of people and traffic. I always thought it was pretty 'exciting' but I was just a little kid.

My family probably saw EVERY parade but I think that was mostly because we had other family that always rode horses in them.

i loved downtown,does anyone remember the coney island,its still downtown,loved the chili dogsalso does anyone remember the guy on the corner of washington in front of woolworths selling newspapers,he would yel newspapers get your morning newspaper. we would go on saturdays and get pictures taken in the pic booth,and wait watched them come out the slot great times

[zen56]

was aj bayless who gave out green or gold stamps,i remember as a kid sticking them in the book,when full we would take down to the stamp store on indian school to redeem them.also i remember walking by the rainbow bakery,when walking downtown,oh the bread smelled so good.

[zen56]

Originally Posted by billyincaneyville

I grew up in Peoria from 1970 until 1983 and remember an electric plant or something in Glendale that really lit up the night sky with all the lights on it. It seems like it was on 75th south of Grand Ave. Is it still there and was it an electric plant? Seems Like it was 75th and Northern .

yes i live 91st northern and its still there

[roosevelt]

Originally Posted by zen56

yes i live 91st northern and its still there

This is the Agua Fria steam generating plant at 73rd and Northern. The picture is from 1961. It cost $45 million to build by the Salt River Project.

[roosevelt]

Originally Posted by zen56

i loved downtown,does anyone remember the coney island,its still downtown,loved the chili dogsalso does anyone remember the guy on the corner of washington in front of woolworths selling newspapers,he would yel newspapers get your morning newspaper. we would go on saturdays and get pictures taken in the pic booth,and wait watched them come out the slot great times

Coney Island was officially named The Sandwich Shop, at least that is what their canopy sign said. The owner was a Greek woman. She had a ham leg on a stand and a steamer for the buns. I always got the chili burger. It was located between the Ford Hotel and the Strand Theater in the 40's, then they moved further east, then moved again and again until they ended up next to the Washington Hotel on 1st Street. That building was torn down to make way for the Valley Bank Tower. There was a waitress that I remember from the 40's, I heard she worked every day of her life and actually died on the job one day of old age.

The most famous newspaper seller in the 40's was the guy with no legs, he had a location in front of Walgreen's on Central and Washington. He went all over the place on his wheeled platform using pads on his hands. He loved to go to nearby grammar schools and talk to the kids.

[locolobo13]

Originally Posted by zen56

was aj bayless who gave out green or gold stamps,i remember as a kid sticking them in the book,when full we would take down to the stamp store on indian school to redeem them.also i remember walking by the rainbow bakery,when walking downtown,oh the bread smelled so good.

Gold stamps, I worked for bayless in the 70s. I remember going to the store on Indian School also. Redeemed them for a bookcase.

[locolobo13]

Originally Posted by roosevelt

Coney Island was officially named The Sandwich Shop, at least that is what their canopy sign said. The owner was a Greek woman. She had a ham leg on a stand and a steamer for the buns. I always got the chili burger. It was located between the Ford Hotel and the Strand Theater in the 40's, then they moved further east, then moved again and again until they ended up next to the Washington Hotel on 1st Street. That building was torn down to make way for the Valley Bank Tower. There was a waitress that I remember from the 40's, I heard she worked every day of her life and actually died on the job one day of old age.

The most famous newspaper seller in the 40's was the guy with no legs, he had a location in front of Walgreen's on Central and Washington. He went all over the place on his wheeled platform using pads on his hands. He loved to go to nearby grammar schools and talk to the kids.

There used to be a guy with no legs selling pencils in front of the grocery store at 27th & Bethany Home back in the 70s. He looked like he was in a little red wagon.

[AZDesertBrat]

Originally Posted by zen56

i loved downtown,does anyone remember the coney island,its still downtown,loved the chili dogsalso does anyone remember the guy on the corner of washington in front of woolworths selling newspapers,he would yel newspapers get your morning newspaper. we would go on saturdays and get pictures taken in the pic booth,and wait watched them come out the slot great times

I do remember most of that stuff. Mostly the pic booth! I still have pics that my best friend and I had made back in 1960.

[kathy butler]

Originally Posted by deraffe

ok since i can't find out how to edit a post, here is more info:
the house and property was orginally owned by the Sandage family who owned most of the land in the area. at some point he sold the land to Ed (?) Baker of Bakers nursery fame and he had moved the family in and out of it at different times and might still live there today.

Was Vince Welnick in the Tubes?

[kathy butler]

Originally Posted by aj661

http://wallaceandladmostore.com/WNLTgangcu2.jpg (broken link)

I remember going to Legend City they had local bands playing on week-end nights..our small version of Disneyland.