My grampa was a jeweler in our small town. His dad had an alcohol problem and left the family (or they left him) about the time my grandfather finished 8th grade. He apprenticed to the town's jeweler, Mr. Mayle.
My grampa is on the right. This should be late teens or early 1920's.
Our city built a large building with several stories called The Glass Block. Retailers, such as jewelers, could rent floors or spaces. The jewelry store, which I think might have changed to Mayle O'Dell Jewelers moved in.
Here is the Glass Block with the Dinky going down the street. The Dinky ran from one edge of town to the other along Main Street. The town is in the midst of digging up Main Street to the center of the earth and removing the tracks. They removed the tracks at the end of my street last year, dashing my hopes of a Dinky revival.
And here is the Glass Block in August 1923 after a huge explosion. The top floors of the building were removed and the current building is one and a half stories. This was a Sunday and the only two men in the building were killed. A woman waiting on the street car was tossed into the building and died a day later.
Mr. Mayle decided to retire and my grandfather moved about 3 buildings down on the right of the Glass Block. Most of the furnishings were moved to the new building.
These are family snapshots from the Christmas season in the 40's or 50's.
At some point my grandfather scaled back into more jewelry repair and the music store next door cut an opening and expanded into this space. He was still working part-time doing repair work in this area in the back when 1972 he suffered a heart attack and died. My mom and I, along with one the ladies pictured above, inventoried and closed the store.
The beauty of a small town is that whenever the town historian is contacted by someone wanting to sell memorabilia, he calls me. I have quite a collection.
I also have some of the store window display pieces. These are in the best condition.
And I have a ridiculous amount of jewelry. And I am a person who does not wear jewelry. I have a codicil leaving it all to my daughters.
I love that you are a store house of history. We have a tenant like that.
ReplyDeleteMiss Merry, you are an official treasure and I mean that both figuratively & literally. I very much enjoyed reading this and loved LOVED all the wonderful photos. Thank you for sharing, this Memory Monday was truly exceptional. :^)
ReplyDeleteWonderful old photos, inside and outside. I was amazed at the Glass Block...definitely a building ahead of its time in so many windows! Sorry it had that explosion, and yet the move of your grandfather to the new location seemed a good idea. Now you need to share some pics of the jewelry...hint hint!
ReplyDeleteNice info! You have gathered so much stuff. My family tree is a stump. Kidding.
ReplyDeleteJust checking in also as to how you are doing....
This is incredible! I love the old pictures of that beautiful building and it's so cool that you have that connection. Even better that you have jewelry and memorabilia. It's very special.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting family history story. I love that glass block building before it exploded it.
ReplyDeleteI'm so delighted that you're just HERE, and so gregarious and generous to share all these priceless memories. Just the sheen and the cloudy images of that era are precious to me---yours or anybody's---it seems the first decade of my life must have been lived in that sepia tone, with the browns the color of my Daddy's tie-tucked AF uniform, and his later wing-tip shoes. (Which I, even at eight could polish in both colors, without getting a smitch of the white onto the gleam of the brown, or vice versa).
ReplyDeleteA Jewelry store. I see the varied goods in all those tall glass cases---all the silver items deemed proper for a young bride's trousseau and new home, and with the only "registry" of those times. And to see Stone's errand folks drive up to our driveway, both for my graduation and then my wedding shower---what a leap of joy added to all the sweetness of the occasions. I can just SMELL that scent of Hagerty's and hear the crackle of that IMPORTANT paper on the blue box.
Mix that with Evening in Paris and Shalimar (still my very favorite today, and everyone knows what to get me for Christmas), and the crisp scent of gabardine and serge over the wafts of Chesterfield smoke. That place was a luxury just to BE in, and I know you loved it. I've just strolled so far down Memory Lane today, I think that next turn might leave me in a seat at the Rialto for Valentino.
What interesting family history!
ReplyDeleteI love this story. I used to wear jewelry, but now I don’t wear bling at home. My jewelry will go to my daughters.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful having this story and the photos of your grandfather. It's fascinating too-- and the photos really held up. Love the clips too. I haven't worn jewelry often in years and I have some good stuff. It will probably go to Molly.
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking about you a lot since your last post and hoping that you are doing better, that you are staying in and not going out in this awful weather. I'm not sure how much snow you got but it seems like most of it went about a half hour south of here. Some I've seen is frightening! Stay safe and be gentle with yourself.
This is a great story and even having the photos makes it very real. I hope you're feeling better now and getting rested up. Isn't it amazing how something like that creeps up on you. My heart stuff was the same. Out of the blue.
ReplyDeleteDennis made me go to urgent care yesterday. I've been coughing for almost two weeks. It's bronchitis. I hate it when he's right. Ha! Inhaler and antibiotic and hopefully over the cough before my next colonoscopy.
Take care and sleep.
Blessings,
Betsy
I'm so impressed with all the information you have compiled. What a horrible explosion! You are truly an amazing historian.
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