This is the best news of the year...Ol' Simmons is back. See you on Friday, and dont forget to bring Wigboy, or whatever his name is.

woot woot!

Are you mixing up something for A-Rod or Barry in that photo?

Stay on topic...well the topic said Blast from the Past...

As usual, I have too much time on my hands. It occurred to me, that I haven't really given much thought or type time to Linton. After all, it was the BIG town in our life. Just exactly who decided that we would "Like Linton". I personally liked Lyons just fine.

Did Lyons ever have a title or Logo or slogan?

How about "Weber's Drugs Home of the Accident"?

Maybe..."If you don't like Linton try Lyons"

Maybe, "I ain't Lie'n, you'll like Lyons"

Anyhow, that wasn't what got me to pondering. I was trying to tell my husband how at least once we went to Linton over the Holiday Season to see the lights and that consisted or an X of lights strung across the main intersection and often some of those were out. Do you remember, it was those big fat colored bulbs. What really scares me is that we drove to Linton just to see them.

So much of this is remembrance and a lot of it is wondering. For instance, did you ever really know anyone who stayed at the Roosevelt Hotel? It was there and I can remember walking through it, more or less a shortcut over to Vincennes street from the Canteen but did anyone ever really stay there? Do you remember the green vending machine that sat in the lobby of the Roosevelt? It was green metal with pull handles and a mirror on the top half. Why was there a mirror on vending machines? Did you need to check your hair as you purchase candy. Usually that machine had Lance Crackers with Peanut Butter and those Mentos Candy. I think maybe Planter's Peanut Bars but of course after they fell down the vending slot it cracked them into a million pieces.

Of course it was all stale.

The Lyons Laundromat had a cigarette machine with a mirror. Were you supposed to check your hair and make-up before buying the cigarettes of which were only Chesterfield, Pall Mall, Winston or Lucky Strikes.

Okay, back to Linton and the Roosevelt Hotel.

There were at least 20 chairs arranged into conversation areas. Who sat there and talked? I never saw anyone. Looking back it was down right eerie. All those chairs, all those rooms and no occupants.

Is the Public Free Parking still there in Linton. If so, who parks there, no one shops in Linton much anymore. Can you remember the day when you went to Linton every Saturday and often had difficulty finding a spot near the front of the public lot?

Take a stroll with me,

Out of the car in the public lot.

Up across the steps of the Canteen, because when you are a kid you add extra steps to a trip because you have energy to spare.

Past that shoe store repair shop remember the smell of that leather. It seems to me it must have been for work boots because there sure weren't any cute shoes in there.

At this point you would cross the street, often as I stated earlier going through the Roosevelt to save time or around the corner.

Up past the Lad n' Lassie, that store was SO crowded with stuff that you couldn't find anything. My mom would take me there when I had an accordion recital or a program at church. Those were some ugly clothes, now I realize they weren't but if you remember, when we were kids ALL dress up clothes were itchy. Must have been some unwritten rule that said if you are going to dress up in the late 50's early 60's they have to itch. I am sure it was the stiffening and material used but they always itched. Didn't they? I think so.

Across the street was the "Tot to Teen", for what it's worth, their clothes itched too.

Past Harley's Tavern with the same drapes hanging in the window that are hanging there today probably.

Into G.C. Murphy's......wow, that was big time for us kids from Lyons. Can you remember the smell of those toasting cashews. Do you remember the lady with the real pink cheeks who worked at the Candy and Nut counter that was sold in bulk. If you wanted 1/4 pound she took that little steel weight and put it on the scale then she would get that metal scoop and put whatever you were buying onto the scale. If it were nuts she would hold that little scoop over the scale sprinkling just one or two more nuts until it balanced out. Can't you just see that toy aisle now. It was over on the East side of the store a couple of rows back west from the sewing stuff. Both sides packed with treasures you could only dream of having. I can remember being there and just being tall enough to look over the edge. The displays had an elevation up so you could see everything.

One pleasant memory of Murphy's was that mom didn't have to worry about abduction. She headed for Ladies wear or sewing goods and I headed for the toy aisle. Remember at Christmas how they would put the big toys such as wagons, bikes, etc. all around the circumference of the store up high and you could see them. Wait a minute, maybe the rest of the world's moms did worry about abduction but my mom wanted me to be taken.

The the big decision came...did you really want to walk ALL the way down to J.C. Penney's. After all that was a block away.

Passing the Bank and Kennedy Shoes. I remember going in there and feeling like you had to buy shoes because they were so attentive asking to help you. I think I bought about 4 pairs of shoes I never wanted because I felt guilty about taking their time. Even back in the 60's Linton was on the pacesetting edge with that suggestive marketing skill.

I think Francis' Jewel Box was in that first block too at one time. I can't remember. Francis' Jewel Box; now there is a name that rolls off your tongue and of course in the teen years that is exactly what we joked. It must be a Cat House with a name like that.

Haseman's Shoe repair, I can't believe there was ever a time that merited 6 shoe shine chairs. Looking back I wish I would have paid more attention to that. That itself is a novelty that a town that size would have people going to get their shoes shined.

Pirtle's Men's store, I didn't want to go in there. Occasionally my mom would stroll through there.

Across yet another intersection. My, that was a long walk. J.C. Penney, in the door. Men's clothes on the right and woman's on the left with a accessory section up near the front. I remember going to get a Choo-Choo bag there and they only had Yellow or Brown. Who bought all the red ones, that is the color I wanted.

Greek's restaurant, wow, I remember everyone raving about their Coney Island Dogs. I didn't then and don't now like Hot Dogs but in order to fit in with the crowd I too would rave about them, having never eaten one.

The Cine Theater, remember that window upstairs that was painted black? Why was it painted, if you were waiting for someone to use that nasty restroom you could squint through the scraped paint and still see the movie. Remember the windows upstairs in the bathrooms were always open, you could look down in the alley. Thank heavens those windows were open or you would have asphyxiated with the odor from those washrooms.

I too remember how your feet stuck to the floor inside the movie, I don't even want to think about that!

One entire summer we always ALMOST got into a fight with a nameless girl, I don't even know what we were mad at her about, in fact, I don't remember if she ever did anything wrong, but it just seemed the norm to be going to fight someone from another town. I guess she was as good a person as any although I can't remember a thing about her. Just the "almost fight".......what was so enamoring about getting into fights in our wild and misspent youth? The best scenario was to see a fight or almost get in one. I don't think anyone really wanted a busted nose.

Across the street to Jerrells Jewelry Store. Do you remember those Sweet Heart Rings, some girls got one after two weeks from every guy in three towns. I well remember they were $15.00, what a deal. Some girls never got one. I had one, guess I wasn't one of the lucky ones. Of course you kept it at night in a Pink Velvet Lined Jewelry box that had a ballerina on a spring that twirled and played some song when wound up. Most girls had torn the lining out of it to keep top secret notes in there. I don't think I had any top secret notes but I didn't want anyone to know that so I too tore the lining out of mine. That ballerina knew some real secrets.

Back up the west side of the street to P.N. Hirsch. Remember the two tone brown tile floor. I bought a hideous hat there once. White and furry with big balls on the end of the strings. Everyone had one so I wanted on too. Of course it was ridiculous, it messed up your hair and caused static electricity so badly that your hair looked like you had just gotten a chemo treatment when you took it off. But fashion dictated that you own one.

Across the intersection again to some store that the name eludes me, I think maybe it was call Valu or The Value or something to do with value. They had COOL clothes that fell apart as soon as you washed them.

Then there was Hamilton's Drug store, remember the lunch counter and the way the water was in a paper cone stuck in a metal holder. My mom always ordered Chicken Salad Sandwiches. They must have been good, I saw many other's ordering that. I personally wanted BBQ Beef with Chips and they gave you two BRIGHT green pickles to eat with it. I am talking BRIGHT green, like maybe you would be mutated if you ate to many of them. It must have been a popular place to eat, I can remember waiting in line for someone to be done and to take their seat at the counter.

The Sportsman, Rhodenbeck's Men's store, Page's Book store were all on that side of the street.

For the East West Street, remember Tyree's Dance Studio, before it was a bar and Mrs.. Tyree would substitute teach at L&M and try to teach us the Cha Cha in Home Ec., High Fashion hair salon where you could get a Hair Do that would last a week. Cullison's Optometry used to be just East of Tyree's.

Do you remember Bill's Bicycle Shop, he sold Scwhwin (sp) Bikes,

The fire station, some things never change.......same men in the same spot doing the same thing....Nothing and I must say they were really quite good at it. In retrospect I am sure they aren't the same men, they would be 108 years old by now.

How about Allen's Motel that boasted then and still now of Colored T.V. and Phones? I think they might need a new sign.

How about Florida Fashion's, I have asked before, who decide that those of us in Greene County wanted to wear what they wear in Florida. I personally have never owned a shirt with Pink Flamingo's on it, nor do I want to.

Remember when the "Body Shoppe" opened it was the first of it's kind in Greene County; a woman's workout center. I am glad I didn't join, I would just be too thin by now.

Do you remember the anticipation of Linton getting a fast food restaurant. Master Chef. I worked there for two weeks. That was about it for my food service career.

How about the Pink Barn and Rebel Burgers, I can taste them now.

How about the Elbow Room?

The Canteen Dances and the stamp on the hand from Mrs.. Harmon. The Corvettes who changed their name later. The Apple Corp, Punkin and the Miracles. All a part of the canteen life. Remember the sequence of rules and regulations over the Canteen. When you started going you weren't allowed to leave the building, then later you could go on the porch, after a period of time I was allowed to walk to the show in a group to get a coke but could not get in the car with anyone. Later, I could get in a car if it was who I went with to the canteen.

Do you remember 3-D or Danners, that was the big time.

Do you remember when the D.Q. was Dills Ice Cream Place.

How about, The Red and Blue Store, by the time I was growing up only rowdies went in there so I didn't get to. Man, I wanted to go there, I probably missed out on a great time. I wanted to be rowdy and mom wouldn't let me, now that I am old enough, I don't have the energy to be rowdy.

Remember opening day of the Linton Pool.

Ah........the Linton Carnival, didn't you think you had to go every night or for sure on the last night. Did you envy those girls walking with guy's carrying a Teddy Bear, it was kind of like an indication to the entire world that someone liked you well enough to plop a quarter down on a spot and be willing to lose it to win you a bear. Now isn't that about the most shallow thing you have ever heard but it sure made sense back then.

How about those Hootchie Kootchie Shows, didn't it seem like behind that door was an entire amphitheater, but if you think about it, it could have only been as wide as a trailer. I thought they went back through that curtain into a stage with lights, seating and all the comforts of the Hulman Center. Of course I would never have asked anyone that would have just been too embarrassing.

Go ahead, admit it, at one point in your life you had one of those Robin Hood looking hats with your name embroidered on it with a plume feather going out the side and back. If you are really truthful you will admit that you thought you just had to have one. I had a white hat with a turquoise feather but I have always felt that I got cheated, my name wasn't embroidered it was put on with glitter and glue, that is just not the same.

I still want one, my mom only let me play the "Pick up the Duck" game when I was little, she said all the other games were rigged and I would never win. What did she know?

At the Carnival, around, and around, and around, and around, and around we walked, on the Midway they called it. It is a wonder we are not all dizzy from all that walking around and around. You occasionally would turn and walked the other way just in case you were walking in sync with someone you did or didn't want to see and if you went the other way for awhile you might see them.

I guess I have strolled about to the end of Linton and now how am I going to get back to the Canteen/Public Parking Lot, I am far too old and fat to walk and my mom won't let me get in the car with anyone.