The Edina I Knew

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Losing Old Friends   

   A Friend might be defined in more ways than one. That to include people, pets, even buildings that were part of our lives. I was just thinking about some of the buildings that were part of my childhood, which no longer exist.

   Let me start with the big barn located right here on North Street., The barn housed 30 cows and 5 horses, and 3 dogs. Not to mention the pigeons, barn swallows, sparrows, and a varmint or two. The barn was a place of much fun playing games in its loft. 

   Then, there was the little barn by the Big handball court by St Joe School. Then, would you believe even that big beautiful St Joe School has been dismembered and hauled away, what a testament to life it was. 

Then, the little Steve Lynch store where I bought tons of candy and Pepsi has been demolished.

   Our Tombstone store located under the old water tower is now gone. 

The beautiful antique auditorium has been demolished.

   The old Hirner Shoe Store is now a vacant lot.

   The beautiful unique Christian Church burned to the ground. The Methodist Church is now gone. The old Baptist church was demolished. The old Assembly of God church burned. 

   Everyone’s heart was broken when McKay’s Soda Fountain Closed. 

The same might be said for Calloway, Kinsel, Gilbert, Karhoff Soda Fountain on the South Side. 

   Then, we lost an old friend when the Lindina Theater closed.

   The Motters Hatchery closed forever. 

   Then, we lost our railroad and depot, our grain elevator, our glove factory, then 5 car dealerships, 5 tractor/implement dealerships, Brees Real Estate, Gilbert Appliance, The Western Auto Shop, The Gamble Store, The Farmer’s Supply Store, The Hillcrest Store, McKenzie soft ice cream shop, The Amtrim Lumber Company, McCauley Windmill Repair, The Capitol Printing Shop, Algy Schaffer Hamburger Stands, Four saloons, 6 grocery stores, 4 restaurants, 4 gas stations. The Majestic Café, Schemp Café, 2 hotels, now forever gone. Then we lost the Slaughter house and Stutsman Meat Market. We’ve lost 3 doctors offices. Lost McClure Photography, we’ve lost 2 produce houses, one lumber yard, The St. Joe School, The Tombstone Shop, The Victor House, 3 scrap buying houses, Kates Cleaners, Toll Welding Shop, Hillcrest Grocery, our negro population, Beer Bottle Bridge, Kriegshauser Furniture store, our lawyer offices, the negro school, Lewis Dairy, Kriegshauser Dairy, Burns Dairy, Skelly Mobile Gas, Philips 66, Shell, Standard gas stations. The Telephone office, Capitol Printing Company, Gilberts Philco appliance store, Krueger Clothing and Jewelry, the shoe repair shop. 

   Taylor, Pinson, Gragg, Peters, Prebe Truck Lines. The bus station, Gibbons Hotel, Pop Hinds Café, Farmers Supply, the roller rink, bowling alley, the food locker, Toby and Susie Big Tent Heater, The wagon factory, swift packing, Glove factory, schofield/White Fertilizer and coal, Glorious Nickel, Southern Kitchen.

   Would you believe about the only thing left of Milltown (black community) is the African American church – Why don’t we protect and keep it??? I will give the first 100 dollars.