Old News: 39th Street

Until I was about five years old, the corner of 39th Street and Lafayette Avenue was my

Crossroads. Shenberg's Grocery Store was on the northwest corner. We lived in the flat

next door to the store, second story east. My Grandpa and Grandma lived 1/2 block east

of the corner. On the southwest corner was the 39th Street Drug Store.

My Grandma worked behind the fountain at the drug store. Various family members took

me with them when the were running errands. If we went to the drug store and Grandma

Santa was working, I got a treat. In an effort to help me drink responsibly, she usually gave me

a kiddy-sized Coke and not the huge malt I desired. Even if I didn't get to drink malts on a regular basis, I could watch them being made. The noise was awful, but I loved seeing the silver

containers on the mixing contraption. The real payoff was when the silver cup would get

all frosted over.

Another contraption that mesmerized me was the glass container that held the straws.

Paper, not plastic, straws. To me, at that time, stainless steel was just plain silver. The

glass had a silver, domed lid on it and a silver knob on the top of the lid. When you pulled

the knob up, all the straws appeared at attention and waited for you to take your pick.

My relatives told me it was magic, and for a long time I believed it. By the time I went

to high school, I had figured out that a spike ran from the knob to the bottom of the glass

and was attached to a little rimmed plate at the bottom that fit nicely into the glass jar.

My Aunt Barbara taught me how to fold the paper straws at right angles until you had

an accordion-type thing-a-ma-jig. I still do it with the paper that plastic straws are

wrapped in.

About a half-block down the street on 39th Street was the Paragon Shop, where we bought

my outfits, including a stunning little hat that tied under the chin. My sister got to wear

it after I out grew it.

Also, up the street about a half block was a tavern, Mascara's. When my Dad and

his friend had me in the evening, I would go with them, sit at the bar and drink Coke.

I used to think it was hilarious when they would call each other by their highschool

nicknames: Zeke and Sid.

Another store on 39th Street was a radio store where I had my first television experience. Of

course, the first time has to be with Disney. It was Cinderella's Fairy Godmother waving her wand and singing " Bibbitey Bobbity Boo." Ten years later I'd rush home from eighth

grade to see American Bandstand.