Save Our Local Neighborhood Stores Before They Die

You can call them rebels—of a sort—the small neighborhood stores that compete with big-box stores and shopping centers. They rebel against a new faster paced and more remote way of life. They call them mom and pop shops although it’s a term I shy away from. After all any small entrepreneur could own one. If you frequent one, the next time you’re there take a long look, for it may fade away in the not too distant future and become just a memory.

Sometimes it's good to take a little trip down memory lane to get a good perspective on things. It was on Saturday morning a number of months ago that I drove the short distance to the small shopping center near my condo to pick up a furnace filter for my heat pump at a hardware store. Located in a pristine neighborhood, the small hardware store sat on an end spot of the shopping center.

When I entered, one of the clerks asked me if I needed any help but I politely said 'no thanks' and headed for the shelves with all the filters. It's funny how an image of something can trigger a memory. As I looked for the appropriate size filter, I suddenly remembered Al and Frank, from a time that seemed so long ago.

I had lost track of Al and Frank in 1986 when I left home. They had been around since at least 1949. I grew up across the street from them, got through grade school, graduated from high school and then college, and yet they remained, seemingly unchanged. No nothing ever seemed to change with them, but by 1986 the neighborhood, once neatly kept, whose houses with their white marble steps were scrubbed daily, had deteriorated into a crime area infested with drug dealers.

Al and Frank were the two guys who ran the corner hardware store across the street from our row house. It was a long way from today's modern shopping centers. There it sat on the corner of a blue-collar neighborhood in the middle of Baltimore. My father had bought our first fan there in 1949, a stand up Hunter model that never stopped working right through the time someone broke into the house and stole it.

Two glass windows, one on each side, showcased the various items that could be purchased inside including goodies like roller skates or the latest in irons for the housewife. Al and Frank made sure the windows were kept squeaky clean. Eventually though, the glorious glass windows were replaced with bricks and mortar after the neighborhood started to deteriorate and the bad guys broke the windows to get some free samples.

Time moved on yet Al and Frank remained. They were fixtures I could depend upon as icons of stability--Al, Frank and their hardware store. They really didn't own it. They ran it for someone else, but you would have thought they did. They would arrive each morning separately and park their cars on the street in front of the row houses as close to the store as possible, then walk to the store to open it for business. Each had a wad of keys on his belt, which opened the store, storage areas and cabinets inside the store, and the separate garage storage area up the street.

Unpretentious men, they carried lunch pails, although on some occasions their wives would stop by to leave them homemade lunches.

They made keys, cut glass, repaired screen doors; and sold nails, paint, hinges, plungers, piping, plaster, roller skates, clocks, small appliances and just about anything else a homeowner would need--year after year after year after year.

Countless customers had gone up the two steps in front of the entrance and stepped onto the old hardwood floors to be met by Al or Frank surrounded by shelves and cabinets filled with hardware. Incandescent light fixtures hung down and an old crank cash register on a counter awaited the customers after they had selected their purchases.

Of course most customers just asked Al or Frank for what they wanted or what they thought they wanted and Frank or Al would help them find it—and give advice on how to use the particular product or make a repair. Each man was a storehouse of knowledge. Near the counter was an old key maker and by it stood a paint mixer. Just behind the counter a wooden door led to a storage area in back.

From the window of my row house across the street where I grew up, I watched neighbors walk down to the store and emerge with paint, hardware, ironing boards, rejuvenated screen doors, piping, and whatever else they needed. Customers also drove in from outside the neighborhood. There was no such thing as anonymity with Al and Frank--they knew who you were and you knew who they were.

I never understood how Al and Frank kept going for all those years, never changing, and never seeming to mind about what they were doing, and most importantly, never getting tired of each other. Al was slightly outgoing but Frank was more reserved, yet they complemented each other. They were both always amiable, helpful and patient.

I stayed in the house across the street from the old store until everyone I lived with had passed. Then the dank smell of the alleys and their underbellies seeped into the walls until the warmth and safety of the house has faded and became something of the past. The neighbors moved out one by one and the boarded up windows served as testimony to their departure and the declining neighborhood. So the time came for me to also step across the entrance I had crossed so many times, lock the front door and descend down the white marble steps, and move on.

I returned some time later for one last look and to turn the house over to a real estate development firm, which had bought it. The house had been emptied of its contents by then, mostly by thieves who had broken in and helped themselves to almost everything including the stained glass windows in front. They had no use for the books though which they left scattered all over the floor.

It had been a hard sell, for the neighborhood was now virtually full of boarded up houses and the street corners had turned into business establishments for drug dealers.

It was home no longer; I got into my car and looked across the street to the once lively hardware store, which was now surrounded by iron grating tightly secured with a chain and lock. Al and Frank were finally gone and I knew an era had come to an end. I could only wonder where they were or even if they were still alive. What I felt would not never come to an end, had ended. The hardware men were gone.

With that thought, back in the present time, my hand moved forward and pulled out the air filter I had been looking for. As I walked up to the counter I pulled out my apartment key to get a spare made. The clerk found the blank from a hanging panel behind him and I watched him cut the new key on an old style key maker similar to the one Frank and Al had used so long ago. Then I realized that Al and Frank would always be around. They had a certain memorable permanence that would not vanish, physical iron grating and padlocks notwithstanding.

The clerk finished cutting the key and filed off the rough edges, then manually rang up my purchases on a semi-modern register without a scanner. The drawer opened and he gave me my change and receipt and I walked out and down the two steps that led to the entrance.For some reason I liked coming to this store, choosing to stay away from places like Home Depot. Now I knew why.

Sadly, weeks later I got a notice in the mail stating the store was having a going out of business sale. It had become a victim of the economy and our times. It too would soon pass from existence but remain in my memory along with Al and Frank. It would become another nostalgic place to visit, reached only occasionally on that linear time road that takes us back somewhere when things were a little different and perhaps a little better.

The store is empty now—locked up—void of shelves, merchandise and people. Another rebel had lost a battle with the times.

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American Pickers Review

American Pickers is a delightful show if you like collecting antiques, vintage items, or anything else. If you like spending your free time at antique dealers and flea shops, or even if you don’t, you’ll love riding along with Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz as they travel through the great Midwest and other parts of the US searching for antiques and collectibles. Picker is the modern term applied to anyone who searches for antiques and collectibles and sells them to other dealers or individuals.

Barns, buildings, warehouses—you name it—are the places you’ll find these two meticulously picking through piles of items to find something of value. They meet all sorts of mostly friendly characters who have collected or inherited what appears to be junk to the non-initiated. Well that’s not a term you can associate with Mike and Frank. Their depth of knowledge on antiques seems endless and at times amazes this reviewer.

Sometimes they’re just winging it as they travel, keeping their eyes peeled for anything by the roadside that indicates there might be hidden treasure on the property. It might be an old building with hubcaps on it, a bunch of old VW’s parked by the roadside or a vintage sign barely sticking out from a grassy patch by the side of an old barn. Their eyes light up when they spot any telltale sign like that for they know this may be the property of a collector or a hoarder willing to sell something.

Of course sometimes they know exactly where to go, guided by Danielle Colby-Cushman who runs the office of their business, Antique Archaeology, back in Iowa.  Danielle works the phone and the internet and comes up with prize locations for them to visit. She also finds appraisers when Mike and Frank come across something that’s beyond they’re area of expertise, and buyers for previously acquired items.  

There’s always playful friendly banter between the boys and Danielle. They like to give Danielle a hard time but the young attractive brunette with decorative tattoos gives back as good as she gets.

The boys who have known each other since grade school treat all of the people they meet on the road with respect and never try to take advantage of anyone. That doesn’t mean there’s not plenty of good old fashion negotiating that goes on before they reach agreement on buying anything.

The people they meet along the way can be as interesting as the collectibles. Sharing stories of how they became collectors, they reveal something about themselves in the process.

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The Mercedes van Mike and Frank travel in has hauled back a vast array of items from a giant boot to old gas pumps, to circus memorabilia, to a stuffed miniature pony. You never know what treasures they’ll come across.  In the process the viewer learns about many items that they never knew existed and gets a short history to boot.

Occasionally during the segment a screen pops up summarizing what they’ve paid for items and what they are worth at resale. We also get a clip thrown in now and then where Frank and Mike discuss what their strategy was while negotiating for a particular piece.  

A recent segment had Mike and Frank slightly moving out of their realm into decorating as they go on special assignment eagerly collecting pieces for William Shatner’s house including a millstone which Bill specifically requested. Bill, his wife and the boys get together at the end to review their handiwork before beaming away to other picks.

American Pickers airs on the History channel at 9 pm.

Gettysburg: A Place to Visit, Remember and Contemplate

From the moment one enters its outskirts from one of the many small picturesque roads that lead in to the historic town like spokes of a wheel, one is aware that Gettysburg is a special place. As you approach the spoke of this historic town and the old buildings come into view, they seem to announce that you are being transported back in time, back to a very troubled time in our history.

On this 150^th anniversary of the American Civil War, what better place to visit to remember and contemplate this divisive time in our history than Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. 

History

Gettysburg, a small town in a beautiful part of our country is the place of the 14^th battle of the Civil War and the first and only one fought on northern territory. Lee had crossed the Potomac with plans for invading the North when Rebel troops looking for shoes in Gettysburg discovered that Federal Troops were there. Lee thought this was an excellent opportunity to defeat the northern troops on their own territory, and the battle began.

Gettysburg is where 163,000 soldiers clashed and 51,000 were killed. Although General Lee believed it would be a positive turning point for the South in the war if he could successfully invade northern territory, in fact it became a negative turning point for the South.

The North suffered heavy losses on the first day and retreated to high ground on Cemetery Ridge where they were able to strengthen their position after General Ewell hesitated to attack.

Another delay by General Longstreet in mounting his attack on the second day also helped the North to fortify their position.  Longstreet had earlier argued that he thought the Union position was impregnable but was overruled by Lee. Longstreet was correct. Longstreet attacked from the south and Ewell attacked from the north and east but although suffering heavy losses, the Northern troops held their defensive positions.

Day three saw Lee gamble and try to attack the center of the Union line. This turned out to be Pickett’s charge, a massive slaughter for the Rebel troops who fell prey to the false impression the Union troops gave that their canons had been destroyed.  After the Union silenced their canons on purpose, the Rebels attacked with a force that was one mile long believing the Union forces were defenseless. They were completely vulnerable to the Union’s canons, which began firing again. Later lee would claim, ‘It’s all my fault.”

After many prior losses the North successfully repelled the rebel forces after a fierce three-day battle in 1863. It was the so-called High-water mark for the Confederacy for it would never again show such strength but rather would begin its slow journey toward Lee’s surrender to Grant at Appomattox in 1865.

Although the death of 51,000 soldiers is memorialized at Gettysburg, it is not so much a place to remember part of our history but rather to contemplate its meaning.

I have been there many times and have found the place both fascinating and haunting. Every American should plan a pilgrimage to that peaceful place in Adams County, Pennsylvania that perhaps defined the course of our history as The Union Army of the Potomac clashed with Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia for three hot days on July 1, 2 and 3 in July 1863.

Lincoln’s Famous Speech

It is also where President Lincoln gave that famous speech on November 19, 1863 at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery—a speech that was only a little over two minutes in length, but is one of the most famous speeches in history.

That of course is the Gettysburg Address in which Lincoln stated that the Civil War was not just a struggle for the Union but one for “a new birth of freedom.” This famous speech was so short that the official photographer had not set up yet and could only snap Lincoln’s picture as he was returning to his carriage. Today the Gettysburg Address Memorial on Cemetery Hill honors this great speech. A plaque is attached to the memorial with the speech inscribed. The actual speech was given about 300 yards north of the memorial.

 

History Preserved

Although there are restaurants, souvenir shops and hotels in Gettysburg, the battlefield, cemetery and surrounding acreage have been preserved. In fact, there is an ongoing effort to keep this area as it was in 1863. Other battlefields have not been so fortunate since many have been taken over by modern development and many more are threatened each hour of every day.    

Places to Visit

There are many historic places to visit in Gettysburg and it may take more than one visit to see most of them

Upon arriving in Gettysburg, perhaps the best place to start your tour of this historic battlefield is the new Gettysburg History Center, which houses as its centerpiece the beautiful diorama recently restored and moved to this new building. The diorama is indeed breathtaking and one should silently thank the many individuals who over the years have participated in its preservation and helped it survive.

The folks behind the History Center bring the three-day battle to life with a dramatic fully narrated light and sound show integrated with the diorama. The History Center also has displays of Civil War artifacts, a gift shop, and a restaurant.

The Diorama is the main attraction however. It is a masterpiece to behold. Completed in 1883 by 20 artists led by Frenchman Paul Philippoteaux, it is 50 feet high and 400 feet in circular length. It represents 6000 acres of the Gettysburg battlefield. Accurate to scale it depicts fields, roads, horses and military equipment.

Nearly destroyed in 1901 by fire after it had been forgotten and packed in boxes sitting in a vacant lot in Boston, a department store owner named Albert Hahne rescued it. He eventually was the force behind having it shipped to Gettysburg where it has undergone several restorations since its arrival.

Also recently restored in 2006 and a noteworthy place to visit is the Lincoln Train Station. Near collapse after years of neglect, the station was brought back to life through the efforts of local citizens. It is there that President Lincoln arrived on November 18, 1863 and walked two blocks to the home of a wealthy attorney named David Wills who had invited him to stay overnight before giving his speech.

Although five original copies of the speech exist with slightly different text, it is believed that Lincoln penned the final version in the second story bedroom of the Wills House that night. A visitor can follow in Lincoln’s footsteps from the train station up to the Wills House and into the bedroom where Lincoln stayed and finalized his speech.

A tour of the battlefield and monuments is a must. There are several ways to do this. Driving around in a self directed tour with a map is one way. CD’s are also available which you can pop into your car’s CD’s player and guide you through the area as you drive.

Tours by buses with guides are also available and there are even equestrian tours for those who are not afraid of horses. These horses are supposedly quite tame so this might be a unique and exciting way to tour the battlefield.

Whatever method is selected, researching the battle before actually visiting the battlefield is highly recommended so one has a better understanding of some of the areas on the tour.

A little knowledge about the Union’s defensive strategy will be very helpful when visiting the battlefield. The Union’s defensive strategy to seek higher ground after the first day of battle, forming a pattern that is referred to as a “fish hook” was believed to be key in turning the battle to their favor. That “fish hook” defense was on high ground along areas which are well known today and should be visited during the tour.

The “fish hook” encompassed such areas such as Little Round Top, Big Round Top, The Wheatfield, The Peach Orchard, Culp’s Hill and Cemetery Ridge where the final surge by Lee’s forces known as Pickett’s charge was repelled by the Union forces.

Despite the many lives of soldiers that were lost at Gettysburg, only one citizen died in a battle related incident. That individual was a 20-year-old woman named Jennie Wade who was baking bread at her sister’s house and was killed by a stray Confederate bullet. The house is preserved as a museum now, much as it was including the original kitchen door with the holes made from the bullets that killed her.

The American Civil War Museum contains scenes depicting the civil war complete with old artifacts and life-like wax figures. A highlight is an automated Lincoln figure that delivers the Gettysburg address. The wax figures in the depicted scenes are so convincing in detail that one almost expects them to move at any moment.

It is said that the Wheatfield and many other areas are haunted by ghosts of the soldiers killed in the battle.  A theory which has developed states some of the soldiers died so quickly without knowing what happened that they still remain on the battlefield not knowing that they should move on. Some visitors have even claimed to have seen small marching battle units at night. Many writers have visited the battlefield, interviewed witnesses and written books about the phenomena. If you have an interest in this subject there are several ghost tours available to you, which are conducted at night no less. 

As a National Military Park overseen by the U.S National Park Service, Gettysburg has ranger-guided tours also. These dedicated individuals are quite knowledgeable about the history of the battle and a tour led by one of these rangers is quite rewarding.

Gettysburg is a small town and you will find that small town charm in the people there. The shop owners, restaurant owners, tour services people, rangers and others are friendly and always willing to help you and part with any historical information they have.

There are other areas of interest In Gettysburg. Free copies of colorful maps are available at restaurants and shops which show other historic areas as well as places to dine and stay overnight.

Conclusion

The civil war a divisive time in our history when brother fought brother. The conflict at Gettysburg was an important battle in that bloody conflict which lasted over four years. Many have spent their lives helping to preserve it. It is there for us to visit and contemplate. 

A trip to Gettysburg is rewarding both spiritually and emotionally. A part of our great history lies there. From the tragic loss of life there, as Lincoln stated, there was a new beginning for the Union.   

 

Recreational Vehicles - RVing

The sale of recreational vehicles is booming. They are expected to break sales records this year after breaking a record the previous year. Younger buyers are fueling the growth. Almost 450,000 are expected to ship from manufacturers to customers in 2017. Current manufacturers include Monaco, Tiffin, Holiday Rambler, Winnebago, Fleetwood, Airstream, Coachmen, Keystone, Jayco, Forest run, Newmar, Northwood Manufacturing, and Thor Motor Coach, as well as others.

RVs are an excellent way to get out and experience nature. Motorhomes in particular are the perfect getaway—home away from home, with practically all the modern conveniences. They provide the feeling of freedom and stability all wrapped up in one. 

They come in all sizes depending on your budget and intended functionality.

Although people have been living on the road for centuries in covered wagons and horse drawn carriages, the concept of RVing probably originated in Europe with gypsies and other nomads who traveled from one place to another in covered wagons.

The birth of the modern RV began in 1910 as cars began to be mass produced and people got the yearning for adventure on the open road.  In 1910 camping trailers were produced that were meant to be towed by motorized vehicles. In that year the first trailer called Touring Landau was produced by Pierce-Arrow and was shown at Madison Square Garden. Later that year an American Company named Trailer Works located in Los Angeles began manufacturing trailers also. Trailer Works was the first company to produce campers with primitive bathroom facilities inside.

By the 1920s, RVing was becoming quite popular although still for the adventurous, as roads were still a bit on the rough side, and sometimes these pioneers of the hobby had to haul their campers where there were no roads, in order to reach rivers and other beckoning outdoor points of nature. Clubs began to spring up such as The Tin Can Tourists, named because they ate from heated tin cans of food as they traveled the country braving all sorts of hazards and weather to enjoy their hobby.

It wasn’t until the 1930s that manufactures began to implement new designs, offering various sizes and much needed improvements such as electricity hookups, self contained water supplies, beds and dinettes. Aerodynamic styles began to emerge with the production of the famous Airstream Clipper trailer, an aluminum, highly polished aircraft style sausage shaped trailer designed by Hawley Bolus. The Airstream Company is still producing recreational vehicles today although production of Airstream trailers stopped many years ago. Original Airstreams are quite valuable. 

Styles modeled after buses and boats also appeared.

Other companies in that era, such as the Covered Wagon company also began producing trailers even though economic times were tough. The lifestyle was popular as it was an alternative to train travel and hotels. Many trailers were manufactured during the 1930s, and some were even homemade from kits. So many were produced that the market became saturated, causing many companies to go out of business.

Production of recreation trailers stopped in World War II as aluminum was needed for other uses and the hobby declined as people were occupied with war efforts.  Many trailers were used as military housing.  Not until the end of the war did civilian production again resume as popularity of this lifestyle once again increased.

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By the 1950s, RVing was quite popular again. Trailers became biger with more elaborate interiors and modern conveniences. That period also marked the birth of the modern self propelled RV known as the motorhome. These could be driven and were built on truck, vehicle, or bus chassis.

Eventually,these motorhomes were classified into three classes: A, B and C.

Class A motorhomes are the large ones. They are normally built on bus-like chassis and are luxurious inside, available with all possible amenities. Some have slide-outs to increase the living space. As expected they are quite expensive. Their downside, beside the large outlay of cash needed to purchase one, is that they are intimidating to drive.

Maneuvering along small roads can be difficult and dangerous. Finding parking accommodations can be difficult in small trailer parks. Many owners tow small vehicles behind them so they can run errands. This class of motorhome is good if you plan to live on the road full time but insurance, gasoline and maintenance can be very expensive.

Class B motorhomes look like large vans with high roofs because that’s basically what they are. Interior living and storage space is restricted, but because of their size, they are easily maneuverable, and less expensive to maintain. Small errands can be run easily and gasoline costs are reasonable. 

Class C motor-homes are larger than class B motorhomes and are built on a truck or van chassis. They have an overhang over the cab area for extra sleeping and/or storage space. They are harder to maneuver than Class B motorhomes and use more gasoline. Small errands can be hard to run and again, some owners tow a small vehicle in back for quick runs to the store.

Towable trailers com in various configurations and sizes depending on functionality. Accommodations inside can be luxurious or purely functional, again depending upon budget and intended use. This class includes sport utility trailers for hauling toys such as scooters or ATVs. Other types of trailers include the expandable type for camping trips, that are expandable with tent attachments but fold back down when towing.

As noted atthe beginning of this article, RVs are a hot selling market at this time. More sales have been recorded than at any time since statistics have been kept on RVs back in 1979. The largest portion of these sales will be for trailer type RVs. Maybe this is an excellent time to consider shopping for one or buying stock in RV companies.

                              

                              

Rehoboth Beach: A Family Oriented and Young Professionals Resort

Rehoboth Beach is a popular local beach resort in Delaware. Originally a Methodist gathering place, today it is a modern pleasant resort with fine restaurants and shops. Discover Rehoboth Beach’s boardwalk, its downtown’s historic charm and excitement, its sporting activities and nightlife. Rehoboth has drawn acclaim from the AARP as one of the Best “Places to Retire.”

Rehoboth Beach bills itself as the Nations Summer Capital because of its close proximity to Washington whose residents vacation there. It also draws residents from Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania as well as other Eastern Seaboard areas.

The famous boardwalk is approximately one mile long and was named “Best in America” in 2006 by Readers Digest. It features shops, restaurants, games, rides and even a haunted mansion.

A jewel on the Boardwalk is the award winning Boardwalk Plaza Hotel. The Victorian style hotel built in 1991 has 84 rooms and is a beautiful structure. There are many other hotels at Rehoboth with luxurious accommodations also.

Rehoboth has countless shops and outlets including The Pearl, which is a collection of shops including The Cultured Pearl Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar, Bin 66 Fine Wines and Spirits, Starbucks Coffee, the Pineapple Princess Swimwear store and others. A big attraction at Rehoboth is the tax free shopping.

There are many fine places to eat such as Jake’s Seafood House restaurant and Nicola Pizza. The Candy Kitchen is a fine place for all varieties of candy and gifts.

You can take an excursion on the Cape May Lewes Ferry, which traverses Delaware Bay and Cape May New Jersey. It’s an attraction you won’t want to miss. The 85-minute cruise covering 17 miles takes in lighthouses, picturesque views, birds, sea life and other ships. The vessels, which resemble cruise ships, have room for cars if you choose to take your vehicle but reservations are required. Full service food areas are located inside the ships and there’s even Wi-Fi.
                                 
Rehoboth is a family and young professional’s resort. It has a famous boardwalk and a shop filled downtown . Although there are large crowds at Rehoboth during the summer months, Rehoboth is a fine place to take your summer vacation. Even in the off-season the shops and fine dining are worth the trip.

Northwest Independent Writers Association

A Taste of NIWA

The Northwest Independent Writers Association (NIWA) invites you to enjoy "A Taste of NIWA". This bundle contains an assortment of novels, in various genres, written by members.

NIWA was formed in 2011 with the mission of assisting independent writers from Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Northern California, Nevada, and Alaska who are working to achieve professional standards in independent writing, publishing, and marketing.

We hope you find your next favorite writer in, "A Taste of NIWA".

Table of Contents

1. "Placid River Runs Deep" by Mollie Hunt
2. "Something In The Dark" by Pamela Cowan
3. "Strange Sci-Fi Stories" by Frank Arcilesi
4. "Ancient Resurgence" by F.L. Journey
5. "The Heritage of Michael Martiniere" by Joyce Reynolds-Ward