How 'Square' we were in the '50s and '60s

Christmas time in Nevada brings back many memories, but those of the downtown "Square" remain at the top of my list. The glory days of the Square are long past, and they are not likely to return. That is a loss for our community and way of life.

The idea for this story came to me when I was watching the morning business shows on MSNBC. The commentators were relating the new shopping figures for the current Christmas Holiday season.

It really came as no shock to me, when they released the new figures that showed online sales booming. It was also not a surprise to me, that because of these huge increases in Internet sales, many well-known retail businesses are feeling the pinch.

Well, there is a lesson for them that Squares like Nevada's and thousands of others around the country, have learned the hard way over the past few decades. When it comes to business and the consumer, nothing can ever be taken for granted.

I love to go to the library and look at the old pictures of the Nevada Square, especially in the times before there were automobiles. Can't you just imagine the sights, sounds, and for that matter smells, that were produced when all the parking spots were filled with horse drawn vehicles?

The large business district that grew up around and along the streets close to the Square, were still busy when I was a young boy in the 1950s. Every day the Square was filled with people and vehicles, but on weekends it was a sight to behold.

Our family visited town and the Square almost every Saturday back then. Every kind of business of that time was open on Saturdays. Many people did their banking on Saturdays.

I can still remember my father driving around the streets both on and off the Square, just seeking a weekend parking place. If you think Wal-Mart's parking lots are full these days, I still think the Square hosted more people and vehicles.

Christmas was very special for the Square in the Nevada of my youth. Several years ago, I wrote a column, dedicated to the various Christmas kid's toy lands, that you could visit.

Practically every business around the Square decorated for Christmas, but some of the larger stores had these special areas just for kids.

Our Square had two businesses that we referred to as "Dime Stores." On the south side of the Square was Scott's and on the west was Kresses 5 & 10. Both locations had lots of Christmas decorations and gifts for kids.

The "Big Three" of stores, as I thought of them, were Montgomery Wards, Sears and Roebuck, and J.C. Penny. Both Wards and Penny's had more than one floor, and the children's toy land areas were on the upper floors. Moore's Department Store was also a multi-floor shopping venue.

The Square had numerous clothing stores on every side. For those of you who don't remember those days, you have to have some perspective of just how much variety these businesses offered.

There is probably no better example than that of men's suits. I'm not sure how far you would have to travel today to find a business that sold men's suits, but that was definitely not the case back then.

You could find several clothing stores that carried suits and sports coats in stock. Most of these stores offered on-site alterations. Most men's slacks were cut to the exact size after you were fitted and measured.

Women's clothing was even more prolific around the Square. Many of the stores I have already named carried large selections and types of women's apparel. There were several small women's stores called "dress shops." Among those I remember include Hayden's and Marmicks.

You could find just about any type of business in and around the square. There were several grocery stores, automobile dealers, and just a block off the Square to the north was the famous Welty's Livestock Pavilion.

I have no idea how many cafes, restaurants. and even bars were in the vicinity of the Square, but no one had to look very far for a meal or a beer. One of my favorite businesses was a tiny vendor's building that was located on the sidewalk along the west side of the street at the corner of Walnut and Main streets.

There was this man who ran a small business there. For some reason I think he might have had some type of disability, perhaps with his vision. He sold a variety of items. My father used to buy cans of Rawleigh's Salve from him. He had a popcorn machine inside, and you could buy a bag of fresh popped corn for maybe a nickel.

During Christmas there was always a large Nativity Display on the courthouse grounds. Most years it was located just to the south of the Stone Memorial.

Yes, the Nevada Square was a vibrant place. You could get new shoes from several stores. There were at least four or five barber shops, and some of these offered shoe shines and shoe repair.

How the world has changed. With the advent of huge shopping centers like Wal-Mart, the old town squares began a steady decline. There are few town squares now that have even a fraction of the business and activity they once were noted for.

Life never ceases its ability to adapt and change. Perhaps there will be a decline for businesses like Wal-Mart and the big shopping centers that were the downfall of town squares.

This online stuff is growing all the time. My comrade Odie Braswell, said he wants to live long enough to have something delivered to him by "DRONE!"

We lost a lot more than businesses when the Square began its downfall. We lost an entire social setting. I miss it, and I don't mind saying I sort of enjoyed being "Square."