Published: December 14, 2008 11:47 pm      

NORMA HIGGS: More on Third Street

This will be about the remaining two blocks on Third Street, covering Niagara Street to Main Street from 1946-56.

In 1946, 407 Third was Ace Auto Supply and during the 1950s was Progressive Arts Store. Aldrich and Sara Brown sold art supplies and did custom framing. Next door was Mrs. Adam MacDonald who operated MacDonald’s Flower Shop. At some point, this was the MacDonald-Butler Flower Shop and occupied the first floor of the apartment building at Third and Main. At Easter time, the front window had many little chicks trotting around and we always went to see them as children.

Rudolph Giammarco owned a clothes cleaning establishment at 421 Third and in 1956, it was James O’Hara’s Liquor Store. Mahoney Insurance Agency at 423 Third is now located on Hyde Park Boulevard near Seneca Avenue and they were a fixture on Third Street for many years. Lawrence Brooks managed Freddie’s Doughnut Company of Niagara Falls and later purchased the business and called it Brooks Maid Bakery. I recall buying doughnuts here to take to the office when I worked at DuPont in the late 1950s. They were the nice soft kind.

Steven Skiba had a restaurant at 427 Third and this was the Promenade Inn later operated by Helen Lelewicz. Loblaws Grocery occupied 429 Third and Figler’s 3 Hour Shirt Laundry took over this location. There were not as many entertainment establishments in these blocks but I noted many selling and servicing business machines such as Percival Dowell Typewriters and the National Cash Register Company and others. At 435 was the Hancock Beauty and Barber Shop, later operated by Pasquale Ambra and now it is Third Street Liquors.

Third Street had many apartment buildings, usually occupying the floors above the commercial areas. The Clapsattle Building was next to David Heuer’s Grocery at 439 Third Street. I recall a grocer who delivered to the apartment dwellers and it may have been Heuer’s as they were there for a long time. Harold’s Furniture and Hugh Vedder Insurance were at 441 and 445 Third in the mid 1950s. At 447 Third, was the Pierce Marine Company with L. L. Pierce as president and L. M. Mies as treasurer. Next to another auto equipment dealer was the Morre Apartments with the Christian Science Reading Room on the main floor at 451 Third. The current one is now located at 552 Third Street.

The Tearney Apartments remain at 463 Third and in the 1950s the New York Telephone Co. built its business office and space for their engineering, construction and maintenance departments on corner of Third and Ferry.

On the opposite corner where the Wine on Third is now, was Joe Cirritto’s National Drug Store followed by McClure’s Drug’s in the 1950s. Billings Insurance, Simmons-Baker Real Estate with Robert Rice and Maxwell Thompson were next and many remember Dr. William McMahon, a well-known pediatrician in the mid-1950’s . He also occupied space in this block.

During both these time frames, Kahn Decorating Studios was at 507 Third with Phillip Kahn at the helm. Next door, during l946, Michael Trivisondoli had a restaurant and in 1956 Delores Bridal Shop was in full swing with Delores Ely dressing many brides and bridal parties for years to come. Another grocer, J. R. Saul & Sons, next to Ulrich Pharmacy and Manenty Furniture takes us to Main Street on the east side of Third in 1946. Jack & Jill Cleaners (Anthony Marino), Frank P. Johnson’s Liquors and a branch of the still popular DiCamillo Bakery, occupied this same area in 1956.

A little history before we go to see what is on the even side of Third Street. My research shows that our city was first called Schlosser, then Manchester and in 1848 the Village of Niagara Falls was incorporated with Gen. Parkhurst Whitney named as the first president. He was also the owner of the Cataract House. In June 1854, Niagara City, the village in the North End, was incorporated. This was first called Bellevue and then began to be referred to as Suspension Bridge.

It was not until March 17, 1892, that the city of Niagara Falls was incorporated. Gov. Roswell P. Flower signed the bill and Thomas Welch, a second-generation Irishman who was a state assemblyman was present for this historic event on St. Patrick’s Day. Even today, Niagara Falls celebrates its birthday along with a St. Patrick’s Day parade.

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