DOWNTOWN: Joey Festa of Morgan Hill, Calif., has some thoughts
and suggestions for the old hometown.

He writes, “Days gone by. I think of Bradford often. I was so
lucky to have been a child growing up in Bradford in the ’50s and
’60s.”

“It was just like the small town that as a child, Disney spent
four years growing up in. It’s so sad to hear about Main Street and
how the shops, or what’s left of the shops, on Main Street falling
into disarray.

“It doesn’t have to be that way. After visiting Bradford in
2005, I noticed the new buildings don’t have the small town look,
that made Bradford look and feel good.

“I know we can’t live in the past, but can you imagine putting a
modern looking building in the middle of Main Street at Disneyland?
It just wouldn’t look right.

“So it might help Bradford, if the next time a new building goes
up on Main Street, it has the look that fits the style of Main
Street.

“That’s all, and I sure do miss the good people of
Bradford.”

ON MAIN: While we’re on the subject of downtown Bradford, we
have a couple more comments about the James R. Evans men’s
store.

Bill Metzo of Sparta, Ky., writes: “J.R. Evans & Co. Wow! I
remember getting my ‘first communion’ suit from them (1956) and
they go back in the ’30s? Now, that’s tradition! Lost America! If
only those walls could talk? It would be as big as an
encyclopedia!”

“The older I get and the more I see, I’d never change where I
grew up at for nothing in the world! Thank you, Bradford for the
memories!”

Franklin Coburn of Arlington, Texas writes, “I grew up in
Bradford during the 1930s and 1940s and completed high school and
left for the Korean War in 1952.”

“My mother purchased my good suits at J.R. Evans on Main Street.
The salesmen at the J. R. Evans store assisted me in developing a
keen eye for the correct style of dress clothing.

“J.R. Evans was a great store and will be missed by future
generations of Bradford young men.”

We also had a call on Monday from a Bradford woman encouraging
us to make mention of Jack Bird, who was the proprietor of J.R.
Evans for many years.