Published: October 22, 2007 12:32 pm            

HIGGS: A stroll down memory lane

I recently went to a couple of events at the new conference center downtown. This is a beautiful facility which made use of a white elephant formerly known as the Falls Street Station or Fair or something like that. I was fortunate to be allowed to take a peek at the kitchen and it is really state of the art. Things seem to be pretty busy there now and I am sure it will be a successful venture.

While there, I also saw the changes to “Old” Falls Street which is now partially open to vehicle traffic but still remains a pedestrian walkway. I look forward to the day when shops and other activities are present as it will be a reminder of the good old days on Falls Street. Going back in time, as young girls, my sister and I would visit Santa Claus at Beirs with our parents and then cross the street to JN Adams where surprisingly, Santa would also be there to greet us. We wondered how he crossed the street before us.

My grandfather had a grocery store on Thomas Street. Anyone remember where that was? Unfortunately he passed away when I was about 6 years old so I have no memories of his store but I do know it was around Ninfa’s which was a bar with a reputation.

When we were allowed to go out on our own, my sister and I would spend most of our time on Main Street as we lived in the north end of the city. Once in a while we would venture out to Falls Street and yes, I did enjoy the popcorn and the root beer floats like everyone else my age. We also went to the Strand and Cataract theaters many times and I often wonder why more thought was not given to retaining some of these beautiful art deco buildings we had.

I was 16 when I worked at the Sample Shop on Sixth and Niagara streets and on Saturdays I would walk to Falls Street on my lunch hour. I loved to shop at Beirs Bargain Basement and would cut through Little Fourth Street passing the Silver Dollar Saloon on my way. I would cross the tracks and pass the railroad station across from Yaseen’s Jewelry Store and near the Mr. “S” Coffee Shop. There was even a narrow little store that just sold ties. I bought my first sewing machine at the Singer Store near Sears. My boss, the owner of the Sample Shop, Sam Gellman, invited me to Louis Restaurant to celebrate my 16th birthday. I sat with all his cronies and all they talked about was horse racing. Back at the store he told me to “pick out a present” in the sportswear department. It was an enjoyable experience working there and everyone was very nice to be with. I did billing and other office work.

After graduating from Niagara Falls High School, I worked at DuPont for a few years, married and lived in Germany (Army wife) and returned to Niagara Falls in 1962 with a 4-month-old son, Douglas. We ended up on Cedar Avenue and money was tight in those days as I was not working and did not have a car. My friend Ginny lived two doors away and she also had a son the same age so we would spend many Sundays together walking to Falls Street with the kids. Our favorite store was Neisners where we looked at just about everything in the store. Somehow we managed to spring for a soda fountain treat once in a while but it was mostly just window shopping. Five and dime stores like Neisners and Kresges have been replaced by dollar stores now and I still enjoy roaming the aisles looking at all the merchandise when I have time. Beirs and JN Adams are now Bon Ton, Marshalls and Sears and even the big box stores have a place in my heart. But there is nothing to compare with the old style of side-by-side stores such as those on Pine Avenue and Center Street in Lewiston. It was the move to suburbia that took away the downtown shopping experience in most cities and for some reason (maybe the automobile or the people exodus to the suburbs itself) it has never returned to Falls and Main streets.

I am the eternal optimist and look forward to the day when there are shops again on Old Falls Street. Hopefully they will be locally owned and operated and not just the same old chains that pop up everywhere in the world with cookie cutter merchandise offered. Gov. Eliot Spitzer wants to help us restore Old Falls Street and I, for one, will take him up on his offer. Let’s make it look welcoming and easy to navigate and watch the hodpodge of signs and other disruptive things we seem to have around our tourist area now. But I do hope many of these shops have a Santa Claus.

Norma Higgs serves with the Niagara Beautification Commission and Niagara Falls Block Club Council. Her columns appear Mondays in the Gazette.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.