Published: August 17, 2007 02:28 pm         

Virginia Avenue thrived back in the day; will it again?

Growing up on Arch Street in South Cumberland, I knew all the shortcuts, all the yards that were never to be trespassed, all the places to locate my friends if they were anywhere in the neighborhood to be found on a hot summer day.

There were places we would meet, not prearranged places. Just places that you all had at some point, without a verbal communication, agreed that this would be the spot. The rendezvous sites included playgrounds, alleys, ballfields and corner groceries that supplied us with penny candy and baseball cards.

And then there were higher-profile, busy places that would sometimes garner our attention - like the section of Virginia Avenue from the subway beneath then-B&O, now-CSX railroad tracks north to Boone Street.

Virginia Avenue was always a busy place, unless a winter storm blanketed the city with a few inches of snow. Businesses of every kind operated on the avenue for years. Some of my favorite spots were the favorites of others as well.

For example, Packie's Bakery at Third and Virginia. A couple of times a week by mid-morning, our gang (in the old-school sense) would "bust the bakery," as we would say. Devil dogs, cream-filled or glazed doughnuts were the big draw. There was always a supply of day-old pastries that you could purchase at a reduced price. Over the years, despite my best efforts in various cities, I have not found another bakery that ever came close to Packie's offerings.

Wachter's variety store near Second and Virginia served as a virtual gold mine for comic books. The latest editions of Superman, Richie Rich and many others were on the shelf. The price was right (25 cents a copy) and I typically bought five or six at a time before racing home to savor the take. Wachter's was a small store with wooden floors, low lights and shelves full of books.

Schwenninger's Hardware Store across the street took care of any hardware needs, like wheels and parts for jitneys, a new snow shovel or replacement window glass to remedy damage possibly caused by an errant baseball or some other projectile.

Storer Brothers was my favorite dig. Not a day passed that I did not enter for a frosted-mug root beer, a couple of rounds of pinball and a small bag of nonpareils. I recall a day when Mrs. Keller, a store employee, surprised me with a free bag of those special circular chocolate candies covered with sugar sprinkles. What a treat!

Cumberland Electric Co., just across the street, was a mainstay supply for televisions, floor-model stereos and appliances. The company operated stores at other locations, but Virginia Avenue served as its headquarters. Mack Dailey and sons Bill and Dick owned and operated the highly successful business. There was a constant flow of GE and RCA products out the door. The company also operated a busy service department to take care of its customers long after the purchase. The company loyally stood by its customers, and customers, including my mom and dad, returned time and again because of the company's fine reputation and performance.

To be sure, there were other prosperous businesses on the "avenue" - Keech's Drug Stores, Allen's Pharmacy, Newcomer's Jewelry, South End Cleaner's, Footer Cleaners, Pixie Shop featuring children's clothing, Minke's Tobacco Shop, Divico's Cafe, Green Fern Restaurant, Tri-State Beauty Academy, Light's Flower Shop, Pierce's Cut Rate Store and Cumberland Savings Bank (where I got my first car loan).

Coyle Bros. Supermarket operated at Virginia and Third Street, Joe's Food Market at First and Virginia, and the South End Market in the 400 block of the avenue. Jerry's Confectionery at Third and Virginia had its share of patrons, as did Watson Insurance and Real Estate business.

There were two well-used bowling alleys on the street, a Ben Franklin 5-10 department store and Garrett's Clothing Store, which continues to operate at its original location, as does the Scarpelli Funeral Home. South End Gulf Service and Virginia Avenue Esso provided fuel and car repairs.

Barbershops were everywhere. John I. Nixon (my grandfather) operated the Old Homestead Shop at various locations of the avenue over a span of five decades before he retired. Other barbershops on the avenue included Basile's, Krampf's and Swain's, the Service Barber Shop and another shop operated by John C. Emery, where a haircut entitled you to free Coke from an on-site red vending machine.

Medical care was readily available and service was always provided to walk-ins. Physicians practicing at separate locations on the avenue included Dr. G. Overton Himmelwright, Dr. Earl Broadup and Dr. Clay Durrett. Dental offices that operated for many years there included the practices of Dr. William H. Ryan on the second floor of the Storer Bros. building and Dr. Blair W. Stump, whose office was located in the 400 block.

Leo "Dutch" Bartik's Peanut Shop offered hot roasted peanuts, candy apples and snow cones. There were a number of taverns up and down the avenue. Cumberland police officers twirling billy clubs (with attached rawhide to wrap around your wrist) walked the avenue day and night.

Kline's and Millenson's furniture stores operated on the avenue for many years, as did various other businesses, including Lou's Auto Store and Gulick's car lot. The South Cumberland Library branch was located at Third and Virginia, and the post office in the middle of the avenue between First and Second streets next to the Virginia Avenue School, just a few blocks away from Penn Avenue School and St. Mary's School.

Virginia Avenue served the citizens of South Cumberland and met all of their needs as a thriving business district. Consumers had no need to venture beyond Virginia Avenue unless by choice. At one time, the avenue had it all - including the South End Wall Paper Shop and movie theaters. Empty storefronts were a rarity.

To be certain, there were many other businesses, social clubs and organizations located on the avenue at one time or another that have not been mentioned here. Without question, the avenue in its day buzzed all year long, year after year.

Now there is talk about fixing up the neighborhood, talk about revitalizing the avenue. The vision is a good one. One can only wonder if that vision will develop into reality.

Jeffrey Alderton can be reached at jlalderton@times-news.com.