EQUAL TIME: We’ve have many, many columns in past months about
downtown Bradford’s old stores. East Bradford deserves equal time
and Nancy Merry Ezzolo and Cary Kaber are here to provide it, circa
the 1940s.

They write, “Starting at the northern end of East Main Street,
you’ll find Fairway Ford that was, at the time, Jobett and Chapman
Dodge. Across the street was J.F. Brittain selling Cletrac
tractors. Also on the north side of this was the Quality Master
Market.

“Going south from Fairway Ford was Malone and Madder Ford. Next,
in the early days, was the American House Hotel in the triangle,
and years after that, Boylston Chevrolet had a used car lot there.
Behind that on South Kendall Avenue was a Kendall Service Station,
and across the street was Lloyd Smith Co. where their parking lot
is now.

“South from that was a Red & White Grocery Store. Next was
Brown’s Barber Shop. Next was Reading’s Grocery where Cantwell
Johnson Auto Parts is now, and now we are at the East Bradford Park
where the Citizens Band played on the bandstand once a month in the
summer.

“South from Welch Avenue was Sweely’s Drug Store with Chet
Crop’s Variety Store next. George Johnson’s Atlantic Service
Station was where Togi’s is now. My father, Dave Kaber, and I would
walk down at night and visit at the station. The cop on beat that
night would stop in, and they would talk about all the latest
happenings.

“Up in back of the station was Clyde Well’s Sign Shop. I think
next was a residence where a woman taught piano. After that was
Pete Meldrum’s Variety and News Room where I delivered Buffalo
Evening newspapers out of, and every night Pete had a card game in
the back of the store on a big green round table with one shaded
light above it. The light showed a great blue haze all around from
all the guys smoking cigars. Next to that was Thessen’s Meat Market
where John Whelan was the meat cutter.

“Next was Bagley Alley, and on the corner was a shoe repair
shop, and in the same building was a dry cleaners. And the next
building was Art Miller’s Barber Shop, and finally was the Globe
Service Station and up back of that was Orvie Shook’s Auto
Repair.”

We’ll finish up on East Bradford tomorrow.