POTATO MASHER: To grasp the concept of a German hand grenade as
a “potato masher,” you need to think back how potato mashers used
to look – not the electric mixer we have now.

Don Anderson answered our call on Wednesday to tell us this
grenade had a wooden handle not unlike one that might be on a
hammer only hollow and with a string attached. The other part of
the device resembled a tin can, a large cylinder some four inches
long, which held the charge.

If it was thrown like a hammer, the string would somehow
detonate the explosive device – with devastating consequences for
those on the receiving end.

Don tells us he was familiar with this “potato masher” as a
member of the 104th Infantry.

STORE STORIES: Equal time today for Tom Spencer of South Bend,
Ind., who gives us chapter and verse on some of those old stores in
East Bradford:

“The mention of Silverberg’s Meat Market was particularly
interesting since our phone number was very close to Silverberg’s
and we routinely received calls from people wanting to order pork
chops.

“Speaking of meat markets there was a great one in East Bradford
at the corner of Bagley Alley and East Main – Thessen’s. It had
terrific ring bologna.

“Next to it for many years into the early ’60s was Meldrum’s
News Room where you could get papers, baseball cards and a card
game! Pete Meldrum hosted a nightly card game and customers at the
store had to deal with the thick clouds of cigar and cigarette
smoke that permeated the store.

“On the other side of Bagley Alley where the parking lot is was
Romano’s shoe store and Art Miller’s barber shop.

” … The Chinese Restaurant in East Bradford used to be my
grandfather’s grocery store (H.A. Spencer) and after 1951 a
plumbing store. And the restaurant, the New Keystone was called
Turner’s in the 1920s when my father and nine of his grade school
friends rode a 10-man bobsled down Welch Avenue and right through
the front door!

“Thanks for sharing the memories for all of us transplanted
Bradfordians.”

PET PEEVE: We’ve heard a couple complaints recently about
merchants parking in front of their own stores thereby depriving
potential customers of the most convenient place to park while
patronizing their store! Go figure.