Re-Imagine DOWNTOWN MILTON

By George S. Venios, Author -Chronicles and Legends of Milton

It was 1965, and oh how well I remember hanging out in downtown Milton along with the thrill of going to the Saturday matinees at the Capitol Theatre. I clearly recall waiting in line with my friends anxious to see the Beatles in “Help.” The line stretched past the Coup Agency, Beachel’s Taxi Stand, the Smart Shop, Hertz’s, Sweitzer’s photo studio, and all the way to the corner of Broadway and Front St. across from Lincoln Park.
As young teenagers, we actually spent most of the day each Saturday downtown. Typically, we started out in the morning at Boyer’s Hobby Shop on South Front St., which was previously the famed McDaniel’s Ice Cream Parlor. While on that block, we’d check out the Colonial Fair Department Store where Seers Buick Garage used to be.
Eventually, venturing north on Front St. we passed Keiser’s Rexall, then Pinky’s and Mertz’s Sporting Goods. We would often cross the street to the Miltonian firehouse to watch the firemen shinning up their classic 1945 American LeFrance pumper in hopes they’d fire-up that Lycoming 12- cylinder engine to hear its roar.
Everyone remembers the Miltonian fire truck as kids when it brought Santa to the Capitol Theatre for the Christmas show. After the movies we were handed a bag full of treats that always included candy, a popcorn ball, and an orange.
Back to our typical Saturday morning journey downtown. Next, after chatting with the firemen, we headed north past Vogel’s Cleaners and then back across the street and often dropped in to visit with my father and uncle at the Alco Restaurant, then have lunch.
Front St. was always full with busy shoppers and even more hectic during sidewalk sales day. Several times each summer, the shop owners would proudly bring out their bargains. Furniture was on sale outside at the Reliable and Eschbach’s even had jewelry on display.
Across the street, the Famous had a full variety of clothes in bins and on racks while Dean Phipps, next to Hoch’s Restaurant, had specials on bicycles. Up from there, past Clugston’s and Buoy’s, Allen’s Western Auto had their array of sporting goods on sale as well. While on that block we certainly stopped by the J & L Sealtest to see who was there.
On the other side of the street were Bronstein’s, Marsh’s, Sears, Dreifuss and Alexander’s. Next Bolen’s would have out their biggest bargains, direct from the bargain basement!
J.J. Newberry and W.T. Grants had their goods on display as well. The Library offered discontinued books.
Most Saturday’s we stopped by the better of the women’s stores, the Elite Shoppe, where we visited my mother and the rest of the staff, or as they were best known as, “the girls.”
A trip downtown would not be complete without stopping at Milton’s most famous corner, Broadway and Front St. where Rea Derick’s was located. While there we enjoyed a milkshake or a cherry coke at the fountain. Then, we were certain to go to Lamprinos to check out the WMLP top 40 charts and pick out a few new records.
There were so many places to go on Broadway; Regal and Blum, Leeser’s, the Betsy Ross Tea Room, Broadway Hardware, Best Furniture, Krebs Newsstand, Broadway Lunch, Sunseri’s, Kurtz’s Market, and of course Limbaugh’s Bakery. Then there’s the YMCA, the Flora Elizabeth, and down Bound Ave. was A&P and Weis markets.
What fond memories of downtown Milton. But, every generation has their special memories as well. Even before all these establishments I’ve mentioned were there, other ones came and went for nearly 200 years at those same sites and locations in our downtown.
As Miltonians we should be proud of our community’s rich heritage and we should be especially proud of our truly historic downtown. This is why we need to take time to reflect and then decide that it deserves the best we can give back. The time is now to “re-imagine downtown,” make it attractive - fix the unsafe sidewalks, get rid of overgrown trees, bury the overhead wiring and install new decorative lighting. A streetscapes overhaul is so desperately needed.
Please support Project 2017 by giving generously to this incredibly worthy cause, whether it’s a cash donation or helping out with fundraising or even rolling up your sleeves to help with light construction.
It is time to “Honor the Past and Invest in Our Future.”