Monday, September 3, 2018

Sugar Town

 Penny Candy Stores and a Soda Shop

When I was younger there was a neighborhood Penny Candy Store up a couple blocks and on the corner called Steve's Store.  My brothers spent most of their paper route earnings there and at the comic book store downtown.  I didn't find wax lips, pixie sticks or candy cigarettes much to my liking.  I saved my babysitting money for college instead but once in awhile I'd splurge and buy one of those candy necklaces and get one for my younger sisters as well.  We actually wore those around our necks and ate off of them, played games outside like Statue or Spud or 7UP, jump rope or jacks and get all hot and sweaty but still ate off of them for several days.   Strangely we were never sick. 

I don't think we ever had soda pop growing up.  Maybe we'd get an Orange Crush once in awhile. We usually drank water that came out of the faucet in plastic glasses or old jelly glasses.  Sometimes we drank Kool-Aid with only 3/4 cup of sugar; not the whole cup it called for. 
 Chocolate Shops

You can almost see the chocolate in the air! 
 The best place to buy hand made chocolates around here is Lagomarcino's. My husband usually buys me a box of chocolates from there for Valentine's Day and Christmas gifts.  We never had much money for gifts when the kids were younger so my husband and I never bought each other anything for holidays, anniversaries or birthdays.  When we finally got ahead financially I started getting a box of chocolates from Lagomarcino's for a Christmas gift.  All these years later that's still the only Christmas gift I get from my husband and I'm not complaining.  The boxes come wrapped (by Lagomarcino's) with a big organza or tulle bow. I've saved all those bows in a little box thinking I'll find a use for them someday - maybe a wreath?  He usually buys two boxes for Valentine's Day but only gives me one and hides the other.  As I eat chocolates out of my gift box he sneaks more into it out of the hidden box.  So it seems like the box fills back up like magic - kind of like scraps.   I didn't catch on the first year he did that but now know what's going on but never let on to him I know. But I'm pretty sure he knows I know. 

Bakeries and some Nut Houses for the more Salty Characters. 

My husband's maternal grandfather, William Petersen (1895-1935),  basically raised himself. His parents were alcoholics.  At a young age (13) he was an apprentice in a bakery (according to census records), enlisted in the Army in 1917 (discharged 1919) where he was evidently a baker  and later he ended up as the owner of the same bakery where he served as an apprentice.  He shipped bread to all the surrounding areas via rail until Wonder Bread came to town and took over most of that business. I actually have one of the old wooden shipping containers from those days that I use for a side table. I also have some bread pans from the bakery that I sometimes use when I make bread.  They are well seasoned.  William turned the bakery into a tavern and died at a young age of cirrhosis of the liver. 

I got some troubles, but they won't last
I'm gonna lay right down here in the grass
And pretty soon all my troubles will pass
'Cause I'm in shoo-shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo-shoo
Shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo Sugar Town. 

Like so many songs, especially blues, I'm pretty sure the sugar that Nancy Sinatra sang about was a double- entendre.  I have to say that the darned lyrics played over and over in my head while I was making these.  Thankfully it's time to leave Sugar Town. 


23 comments:

Claire Witherspoon said...

ooooh, I love these houses. Great idea to pull fabric scraps by themes like that! very cute!

Cathy said...

I love your stories as much as your quilting. So many shared experiences of youth “back in the day”. And the box(es) of chocolates ... so sweet! (another double entendre). Thanks for sharing. Really... thanks!!

beth s said...

I enjoyed your stories today. Keep 'em coming. :)

Quilting Babcia said...

Your stories bring back so many memories, shared experiences though we grew up in different parts of the country. Perfect stories to go along with all your sweet little houses and shops.

Run 'n Stitch said...

What a fun quilt, with lots of great memories woven in.

Crystal_235 said...

Love the houses. These would make a fun I spy quilt for a kid.

Linda said...

The minute I saw the heading for your post the song Sugar Town came into my head. I suppose it will be an ear worm for the rest of the day. Great childhood stories and memories and I loved your story of the two boxes if Valentine's chocolates! Your husband sounds a romantic, like mine. Lovely collection of blocks too.

Libby in TN said...

I got a sugar high just looking at your blocks! There was a penny candy store around the corner from Gramma's house where we would go for popsicles in the summer time. They had a gumball machine with some of the gumballs wrapped in colored foil. If you were lucky enough to get one of them you could win a penny, nickel, or dime.

Susie H said...

Cool story. Love to hear them. It makes us who we are. Great idea for your husband to give you a Never-Ending Box of Candy. Sweet!

Carla A Few Of My Favorite Things said...

Oh my 7 up I had forgotten about that game. We would get pop on Sundays with a scoop of ice cream in the summer. We also had a local store owned by Charlie Yates, we called it Charlie's. It was a grocery/post office/ candy store. We would work on the local vegetable farm and pick beans and would buy candy as treat often there. We drank water out of the hose and were always playing in the local ditches and deserted barns. Aren't we luck we survived!!!!!!

Sue McQ said...

A sweet story by a sweet lady! Memories such as those are gems. Thank you for sharing.
Blessings!

MissPat said...

Love these houses! My grandparents owned a Mom and Pop grocery store in our neighborhood and my brother and I went there every day after school. They had penny candy and full sized candy bars and soda in bottles. I drank a lot of coke and ate a lot of candy in those days which is probably why I have a mouth full of dental fillings. There was an old-fashion soda fountain counter in the store but it wasn't fully operational by the time I spent my afternoons there. I think they did serve ice cream though. What a fun time "playing" grocer we had. Thanks for the memories and for your stories.
Pat

Shelina (formerly known as Shasta) said...

I loved reading these stories! I too loved those candy necklaces and bought them when I had money, which wasn't very often. I didn't have candy much as a child, which explains why I am making up for it now with all the sugar!

Pamela Arbour said...

I love the descriptions you give the houses and thanks for sharing your trip down memory lane. Nice memories.

Cynthia Brunz Designs said...

So many great stories to go with your lovely houses. I can't wait to see which neighborhood we visit next!

Ann said...

So many good stories. I like that you are making quilts highlighting these memories.

Louise said...

Great stories! I remember buying Fruit Stripe gum at the little corner store near my grandparents' house. I was lured to it over and over again by the colorful packaging and the fun zebra mascot, but always disappointed in how quickly the flavor faded. Thank goodness fabric remains bright for so much longer.

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

We must be the same generation. So many things I do or see bring back long forgotten memories. You brought to mind MY little store down the street and over the tracks where I got penny candy and a bottle of pop from a red cooler with lids that opened on both sides. You know, I lived in that neighborhood before I went to school. We went all over the place. Parents would never let their kids do that today.

I love your little houses. It is such a cute idea to make them in candy fabrics.
xx, Carol

Quiltdivajulie said...

What a super-duper extra great post today!!!!!

mangozz said...

It's so interesting learning some different things about your life. It also brings back memories. I loved penny candy too and candy necklaces, but usually only had a few cents to spend at once. There was also a small store close by that sold real Italian Ice in many flavors - my favorite was root beer. Getting one of those was a real treat on a hot day. We hardly ever had tonic either unless we visited my grandmother, and then I had root beer with milk in it. Otherwise my mother just gave us Koolaid or Zarex made with tap water. That's really sweet what your husband does with the extra chocolates! I'm a chocoholic too. Love, love, love all your little houses!

Emily said...

Love these candy houses, but your story about the 2 boxes of candy is the absolute best! What a sweet thing to do!

em's scrapbag said...

So many sweet houses. Love everyone of them!

Pam @ Quilting Fun said...

I have wanted to make a house quilt forever! Any tips for making this a bee block?