A Blast From The Past

Who remembers Herman’s Sporting Goods?!

Herman’s Sporting Goods was a sporting goods retailer in the United States founded in 1916. Unfortunately, it filed for bankruptcy in 1993 and closed completely in 1996.

Here’s a fishing lure I came across today, that I bought back in the day from Herman’s -

I have fond memories of Herman’s. I visited it often and spent quite a bit of time there. It holds a special place in my heart ❤️ and reminds me of a time and place that still brings a smile to my face, a tear to my eyes and tugs at my heart.

Redneck Relics For Sure

Do you youngsters know what theses are -

I finally stopped into the Redneck Relics antiques store the other day, which is just down 11E.

An interesting place to say the least. Not very organized, rather quite messy but a fun place to get lost in.

A Blast From The Past

My grandfather worked for Union Carbide in South Charleston, West Virginia for 41 years!

"Charlie Frye (with an "e") came here over 41 years ago. He spent 30 days in AX and 30 days in the catalyst, then went to ethanol operations for 24 years,  Since '69, Charlie has been in polyols as foreman on "C" shift. The Frye's have two children and four grandchildren"

Below is a picture of my grandfather at his 40-year celebration party -

 To be a fly on the wall...

A Time Gone By

Going through some old paperwork of my folks, I came across the below November 1977 Singer special event advertisements, which are in very good condition.

Suppose the prices listed were considered expensive back then.  Interestingly, I did a "Singer sewing machine" search on Amazon and the returned results show similar prices, see below.  However, I suspect the ones made back in the day were made with solid pieces and parts that lasted versus today's models are made with plastics and much less reliable -

FYI - Amazon returned results for "Singer sewing machines" -

Here are a couple of cash register receipts from the Singer Sewing Machine Company from back in 1955 and 1956.  I'm guessing these were receipts for a new sewing machine that my mother bought at that time. Although, I am confused at the name that's written on each but the address, 24 Staniford Street in Boston, is where my mom's family lived at that time.

I still have my mothers Singer sewing machine here at my place and it still works perfectly -

 

Here is a current map of 24 Staniford street today.  I'm guessing the old apartment building is long gone, having been replaced with something more modern and with more capacity.  Perhaps, when the weather warms come spring I'll take a ride into Boston one day and walk around this area to get a lay of the land - 

If we could only go back in time...

"Oh, The Places You'll Go"!

I came across these .37 Dr. Seuss USPS postage stamps the other day, two pages of twenty.

I forgot I had them.  I don't recall exactly when but they were given to me by my dad.  It was at some time after 2002 since these stamps were released back on June 30 of that year.

Not that I send much mail out via USPS but I gave some thought to simply using these on the few things I do mail.  However, after doing a bit of research and for posterity sake, I opted to keep and display them.

I tried to find matting to fit the page size but no luck, as they're an odd size.  I toyed with the idea of having a custom matting done but too impatient, so I went with a standard 8x10 frame and a 4x6 matte.  It chops off some of the stamps but it doesn't look too bad -

Interestingly, Amazon has this same page of stamps listed for sale and as of this morning there are only (7) left in stock, so order soon if interested - 

2004 DR. SEUSS #3835 Pane of 20 x 37 cents US Postage Stamps by USPS

‼ Also, this "Oh, The Places You'll Go!" posting is my 309th of 2024, making it the most I've ever posted in a single year since I began blogging here back in 2006!

Unusual But Now You Know

I found this label on door at a doctors office and thought it unusual.  Never seen a bathroom sign that used two separate words to refer to or identify a "Restroom" before.  Perhaps, it's just me, dunno.

Seems, perhaps, to be a reference back to the late 1800, when there were rooms designated for 'rest" and back then they did not include a commode.  The toilet requirement followed years later.

"Restroom, also rest room, rest-room, 1887, "room set aside for rest and quiet" (in a workplace, public building, etc.). As these often later had (or were required to have) accessory toilet-rooms, by 1930s the word came to be a euphemism for "lavatory, toilet."

Here I was ready to make fun of the sign, rather I learned a thing or two instead.

Who Remembers 'Bradlees'

Circa 1958

On my afternoon walk the other day, I scored myself a vintage but new, never used 32-gallon Rubbermaid trash barrel.  There were a number of items curbside, free for the taking, as the house had just been sold.  C'mon, how could I resist such a find?!

Being that this barrel is in pristine condition, intact with lid and never used is impressive when you take into account that the Bradlees stores filed for bankruptcy in 2000, with all of its stores eventually closed by March 15, 2001!

A quick search on Amazon for a similar 32-gallon, heavy duty trash can runs about $25 bucks, which does NOT include built-in wheels or locking lid and on Walmart, it'll set you back about $20.  The price increase isn't too steep seeing it's been ~23 years but I suspect there's a noticeable difference in the products quality and durability. Sadly, things made today just don't last.

Who Remembers 'Jordan Marsh'?

Another blast from the past, Jordan Marsh!

I grew up with this store and it was a main anchor in Framingham at Shopper's World and in Boston's Downtown Crossing; a Boston lost landmark.  They had a terrific bakery in the store and I can still smell and taste the BIG chocolate chip cookies we'd get.

The ownership of Jordan Marsh was transferred between several holding companies during its operation, including Hahn Department Stores in 1928, Allied Stores in 1935, and Federated Department Stores in 1988. The brand was retired and eventually absorbed into the New York City-based Macy's chain in 1996.

A Parent's Prayer, Circa 1964

Going through my mother's recipe box last night - 

I came upon the above A Parent's Prayer.

Based on the notes this prayer was sent back in 1964 by my grandmother, Edna, to my mom and dad.

Good advice still, some ~60 years later.

Who Remembers 'Paperama'

Circa 1987

With my new Christmas tree up, I'm finally going through some of my mothers old Christmas ornament.  They've been stored in the garage for years and now is an ideal time to see what I have and even get them hung!  I came across three boxes of bulbs, all with Paperama price stickers, see below, and made back in the day when things lasted -

Paperama was a cross between a supermarket and a discount store and was owned by the John S. Cheever Co.  In their heyday, they had (16) stores, with one being in Norwood, the next town over from my home town of Westwood.  Sadly, the company into problems in the early 1990's, with falling sales leading to suppliers and lenders tightening credit. The John S. Cheever Co. filed for bankruptcy in 1994, and later that year, the Paperama stores were sold to Long-Island-based  Party Experience. That company closed the stores in 1998.

Hanging some of these bulbs to my Christmas tree adds a nice bit of nostalgia and brings back some wonderful memories.

#Blessed 

Who Remembers Lechmere

I have a 545 yard roll of nylon fishing line that was purchased at Lechmere back in the 1990's and for only $1.38!  It's used sparingly here and there for small projects like hanging Christmas decorations.  Being so thin and fine, it's perfect for stuff like that. Being so old, I don't know if I would trust using it for fishing.

A quick search on Amazon today and a 300 yard spool of fishing line costs anywhere from $15.00 on up.  Times have sure changed

Lechmere was a Massachusetts-based chain of retail stores, owned my Montgomery Ward & Co., that sold consumer electronics and appliances.  Sadly, all Lechmere stores closed November 7, 1997.

Things You Don't See Anymore

Remember these forgotten audio formats, the Flexi Disc, often found as magazine inserts?!

Introduced sometime in the early 60's and ran into the early 90's but by then the CD and other digital formats were coming out, so the Flexi Disc became obsolete.

Interestingly, I ordered a "new" hardcover book from Amazon, which clearly doesn't look to be "new" but that's a different issue\story.  Inside this "new" book was this collectible Flexi Disc relic and a McDonald's one at that!

You're all jealous aren't you?!  Yeah you are!

Make me an offer.

From A Time Gone By

Check out these neat, vintage metal transmission fluid cans.  Both are full, sealed and in great condition -

Quaker State automatic transmission fluid

Route 55 ATF automatic transmission fluid

 

Items Of A Time Gone By

Came across some items of my youth; my toddler days perhaps.

Sadly, I cannot tell you much about these items, for example who knitted the outfit or if the spoon was one I used or more of a keepsake. 

No idea what to do with these things, other than reminisce of days gone by.

Scads of Beanie Babies!

Finally found the motivation to go through and sort all the Ty Beanie Babies we have, OMG!

I sorted them all, pairing up the duplicates and triplicates, etc..  I then put all the singles into one pile, keeping the ones with tags or the better condition tags and bagged up all the dups, which totaled over 110!

I did the ole Google search for "most valuable Beanie Babies" and then sadly confirmed, like all my lottery tickets, that I have NONE of the desired and rare ones, alas.

I sold the bag of 110, which went fast but not sure what to do with the rest.  Either way I made progress and whittled down the number of plastic bins taking up space to house these fad items of a time gone by...

Old Boston Globe Clippings

I came across some more of my dad's paperwork yesterday and spent some time going through it.

Here are several Boston Globe clippings he had saved from years ago.

Truth be told, I wish I had more boxes of my dads stuff to go through.  The process brings back some great memories and keeps my connection to him alive.  I miss him and sure could use his wisdom and advice right about now.

Reuse, Repurpose and So Long

I finally pulled the bunk beds down from the attic. I spent a good hour the other day washing and wiping them down, thank you Murphy's Oil soap, as they roared back to life and look very good.

These were used by my brother and I growing up, then by my two oldest when they were young and have been stored up in our attic for many years now.  A good product, built years ago when things were made to last, that was put to good use by my family and served us well.

That being said, the time has come to let go of this heirloom and pass it along to another worthy family, as it has plenty of life left in it.  I am plead to say that I found a new home for this piece, down in Connecticut, where it's sure to make a couple youngsters very happy.

Once Upon A Time...

We were living large back in 1968 with this black and white console television!

Years later the TV and all components were removed from this unit making for a place for storage really but at one point I believe it served as a liquor cabinet.

Ah, the good old days!

You Are A Meathead

I came across this oldie game from back in the 70s.  I'm not sure why we had this game as a kid, nor do I recall ever playing it.  Perhaps, that's why it's in such good condition.

Boy-Oh-Boy, All In The Family wouldn't have a chance today!

Archie was one of the best!

Antique West Virginia Bricks

Unfortunately, I don't know the history behind these two bricks, other than what I can find online, or the reason my dad had these and passed them along.  However, it's worth noting that my dad was born in Spring Hill, WVA and raised in St. Albans, WV and had an uncle that lived in Morgantown, WVA, so there's definitely a West Virginia theme and tie here.  Sadly, when you lose a loved one, you also lose the history and the knowledge and the memories of times gone by.

They are unique for sure with each weighing about 9lbs each.  I would guess they don't make bricks like this any longer.