When did they tear down the church? I think I can remember it still being there in the late 80′s? I need to get back home before there’s nothing left to remind me that it is home!
CTheatrean remember this well, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. You have Thrify Drugs on one corner and Walgreens on the other, plus just right down the street on the West side was the Roxy and Lincoln Theatres. You turn East on Monroe you had the Senate Theatre. Back 1/2 block North on 5th was the another Theatre The Tivoli and 2-blocks North was the Orpheum Theatre. Everyone would hang around the 5th and Monroe area just to chat with old friends, and once in a while you could gather up a drag race from 5th South, if you could make all the lights? On Friday and Saturday evening after Midnight the Theatres would all let out, and everyone would run to 5th& monroe to get a fresh Hot Tamale. A fellow would have his Tamale cart on the corner every Friday and Sat evening. All curled up in a corn husk for 1-dime. After you had your Tamale you could walk on half a block North and have Fresh Sweet Rolls 24/7 at Thompsons Grill. Those days can never be again, I’m glad I seen this era.
I have always heard my family talk about that hotel. I am not sure, but I think that my family might have had something to do with it. Does the name Rockwood ring a bell?
Hey, Does anyone remember when 5th and 6th street changed from 2 way streets to one way streets? I was born in 1957 (we lived on Ash St between 5th and 6th) and I remember asking my mom this question one day when I was very young when we were driving …”Mommy, what happened ,why are the streets going all one way now?” They also cut down a tree in front of our house on Ash St. to make more room for 2 more lanes,changing it into 2 lanes going east and 2 lanes going west….memories…..
The old photo of 5th & Monroe is one of my favorites on this site. It shows the hustle and bustle of the old downtown. People everywhere, lots of cars and buses, but with a flow that was not gridlock. The current picture makes me sad; the life of the city is gone.
In 1954 I was a sophmore at Cathedral High School and lived on Holmes Ave on the S.W. side of town. we had to switch buses at 5th & Monroe to get home. It was the gathering spot for all of the kids who had to bus to school.
We would meet our girl friends at the Steak & Shake which was between 5th & 6th on Monroe.
I always wondered if this was the corner that prompted the words in a song, “Standing on the corner watching all the girls go by?” It seemed to be a great bus transfer point for many of the FHS, SHS, LHS,& CATHEDRAL HS kids. I seemed to recall a newspaper stand there on the corner where Batman, Superman, Archie, etc. comics could be purchased for $.10.
In the winter time, when snow was falling and the streets downtown were strung with colored lights, one of my treasured memories is hearing the Methodist Church bells on 5th street at 5pm playing a song. The nostalgia of that church, the snow, the warmth of the season, helps to make great young-kid memories.
What were people doing downtown in 1954? Why weren’t they at the mall?
Dan at BFS | May 19, 2008 | Reply
I sure do miss the way it was downtown… Hey anyone else notice all the open windows on the building? Bet it was hot working in there back then!
Giuseppe | May 19, 2008 | Reply
there were lots of department stores in that area.
allie | Jun 1, 2008 | Reply
SJ-R ad offices from 1970 til new building.
TDH | Jun 12, 2008 | Reply
Down at the next corner, 5th & Capitol, you can see the old Abraham Lincoln Hotel on the right and the old First Methodist Church on the left.
David Robinson | Mar 8, 2009 | Reply
When did they tear down the church? I think I can remember it still being there in the late 80′s? I need to get back home before there’s nothing left to remind me that it is home!
Giuseppe | Mar 10, 2009 | Reply
CTheatrean remember this well, especially on Friday and Saturday nights. You have Thrify Drugs on one corner and Walgreens on the other, plus just right down the street on the West side was the Roxy and Lincoln Theatres. You turn East on Monroe you had the Senate Theatre. Back 1/2 block North on 5th was the another Theatre The Tivoli and 2-blocks North was the Orpheum Theatre. Everyone would hang around the 5th and Monroe area just to chat with old friends, and once in a while you could gather up a drag race from 5th South, if you could make all the lights? On Friday and Saturday evening after Midnight the Theatres would all let out, and everyone would run to 5th& monroe to get a fresh Hot Tamale. A fellow would have his Tamale cart on the corner every Friday and Sat evening. All curled up in a corn husk for 1-dime. After you had your Tamale you could walk on half a block North and have Fresh Sweet Rolls 24/7 at Thompsons Grill. Those days can never be again, I’m glad I seen this era.
Bob Hawkins | May 15, 2009 | Reply
I have always heard my family talk about that hotel. I am not sure, but I think that my family might have had something to do with it. Does the name Rockwood ring a bell?
Jonathan | Aug 24, 2009 | Reply
Hey, Does anyone remember when 5th and 6th street changed from 2 way streets to one way streets? I was born in 1957 (we lived on Ash St between 5th and 6th) and I remember asking my mom this question one day when I was very young when we were driving …”Mommy, what happened ,why are the streets going all one way now?” They also cut down a tree in front of our house on Ash St. to make more room for 2 more lanes,changing it into 2 lanes going east and 2 lanes going west….memories…..
Patty Jannesse | Oct 29, 2009 | Reply
It’s always amazing to me how busy the downtown area used to be.
Stephen Parfitt | Aug 26, 2010 | Reply
The old photo of 5th & Monroe is one of my favorites on this site. It shows the hustle and bustle of the old downtown. People everywhere, lots of cars and buses, but with a flow that was not gridlock. The current picture makes me sad; the life of the city is gone.
Nancy | Oct 31, 2010 | Reply
In 1954 I was a sophmore at Cathedral High School and lived on Holmes Ave on the S.W. side of town. we had to switch buses at 5th & Monroe to get home. It was the gathering spot for all of the kids who had to bus to school.
We would meet our girl friends at the Steak & Shake which was between 5th & 6th on Monroe.
Charles Robson | Feb 9, 2011 | Reply
I always wondered if this was the corner that prompted the words in a song, “Standing on the corner watching all the girls go by?” It seemed to be a great bus transfer point for many of the FHS, SHS, LHS,& CATHEDRAL HS kids. I seemed to recall a newspaper stand there on the corner where Batman, Superman, Archie, etc. comics could be purchased for $.10.
Ron Kelley | Feb 10, 2011 | Reply
Because their wasn’t any mall. 5th and Monroe wa the place to be.
Cheryl (Miller-Lampros)Robillard | Feb 16, 2011 | Reply
Because their wasn’t any mall. 5th and Monroe was the place to be.
Cheryl (Miller-Lampros)Robillard | Feb 16, 2011 | Reply
The mall does not have any shopping that would come close to the wonderful shopping at those shops downtown.
Pat Turnbull | Feb 16, 2011 | Reply
In the winter time, when snow was falling and the streets downtown were strung with colored lights, one of my treasured memories is hearing the Methodist Church bells on 5th street at 5pm playing a song. The nostalgia of that church, the snow, the warmth of the season, helps to make great young-kid memories.
Barb Schou Turley | Mar 22, 2011 | Reply
The newspaper stand was operated by George Hickman until August 1957 when he moved his family to sunny Florida.
Anonymous | Oct 7, 2011 | Reply