ERNIE PYLE: Scott G. Schiller of Emporium stopped by with a
photo of a memorial to Ernie Pyle.

Scott writes, “Some time between January and October 1952, while
assigned to the 529 A C & W Group, my unit was inspecting a
Japanese runway and installation on le Shima. We all knew of Ernie
Pyle and I took and kept these all this time.

“After reading your editorials on Feb. 4 and 7, I thought you
might be interested in sharing them with your readers.”

Ernie Pyle was a beloved World War II war correspondent, of
course. We had written about him just after photographs were
released of his death. Zippo founder George G. Blaisdell had sent
Ernie some lighters and Ernie praised the new gadget. Of course,
those familiar with Zippo history know that Mr. Blaisdell sent
lighters to a great number of World War II soldiers, an act which
helped make the Zippo an American icon.

FOSTER BROOK: Tony Pascale of Scottsdale, Ariz., writes: “We
would be remiss if we didn’t recognize the businesses in Foster
Brook that were there prior to the Bradford Mall opening up. On the
northwest corner of the intersection was Ruth Brothers Toy Store
which sold any toy you could imagine and also handled bicycles and
bike repair (who could forget the Schwinn Roadmaster bike).”

“On the southwest corner (where Ace Hardware is) was the Market
Basket Supermarket and just before you got to the Market Basket was
the Foster Brook Tastee Freeze (Put many a calorie on at that
place).

“Across from the Market Basket was Sandy’s Service Station (I
think it was a Quaker State station). Across from Sandy’s on the
northeast corner was a Kendall service station. Ruth Brothers later
merged with another Foster Brook store, E.W. Williams Hardware, to
form Ruth Brothers and E.W. Williams. They stayed at that
northwest corner until the Mall arrived and then relocated and
changed the name, I believe. There may have other stores in that
area but those are the ones I remember. Thanks for running this
series, it has been interesting and memory provoking.”