AS I MOVE AROUND

downtown MTV from my early years, as the history books might say, I run into the Post Office. A beautiful old mausoleum type building reflecting the height of American architecture.

When it closed, and by the way, why in the heck did it close?, dances were held there for adolescents. But what a marvelous structure that was demolished for a parking lot that sits empty or at least 80%, so most of the time.

Next to it was a gas station run by a super guy who never had a bad word about anybody. It was next to a family owned appliance store and the only place in town that handled 45 records and LPs. I think they may have even had a place to listen to records before you purchased. I never used it: I knew by almost constant radio play whether I liked one well enough to buy it. I think 45s were a buck with albums going for 4 or 5 dollars.

Across from it was the Pool Hall, Jim's Billiards. Lots of high school kids smoked their first cigarette in there. Including me, unfortunately. I never was a very good pool player and when we bought a house that had a slate table in the basement, we mostly used if for a ping pong table. Which I must admit I was even worse. I guess I lost about a hundred dollars over the years at the old pool hall. I never bet very much: once in awhile on snooker, still my favorite game but increasingly difficult to find a snooker table, but the rule of thumb was whoever lost the game, paid the dime for the game to the rack man.

Heading east (a friend of mine played in the band Head East that had a recording that hit the national charts; they were by far, the most famous of the local bands) was The Wooden Indian, or The MTV Tobacco Co., as if was known. Everyday it was my Dad's job to roll out to the sidewalk the giant (at least to me) Indian carved out of wood and holding a cigar. Next to it was Laird's Lads and Dads, a store that was new in the mid-sixties and one where I applied to work, but the job went to a Sunday School buddy who was on the wok program for the high school, so I didn't have a chance. Me and about 50 other students who probably applied.

A jewelry store, also owned by the Lairds, was next door and then Dollen's Shoe Store where kids got Buster Brown shoes with golden eggs. Also was the coolest x-ray machine that we stuck our feet into and watched as our feet were radiated revealing too big, too little, or just right. Even if we were not in the market for shoes, but we had tagged along for parental purchases, we stuck our feet in there for the thrill.

Rexall Drugstore occupied the corner lot. One of the best grilled cheese sandwiches ever was available at the corner restaurant. And, yes, finally we get to the picture on the right. That's what one of the workers looked like at Rexall.

More tomorrow until we cover the whole downtown area of my youth and selected memories.