When my kids were small, Cherokee Street was still a thriving six-block-long shopping district. Independently owned store front businesses specialized in shoes, jewelry, clothing ... they sold everything that the big box stores sell today. There were four, 5&10 cent varitey stores: SS Kresgee's, Woolworth's, Morris Variety and Neisners. This was before air conditioning. The stores had overhead ceiling fans which moved the hot air around in summer. I loved the "dime stores". Kresgee's served counter food. Greasy sloppy joe meat sat all day in warming pans and hot dogs rolled endlessly on electric heat rollers at S.S. Kresgee. The wafting smell of popcorn, peanuts and candy displayed in glass cases made my mouth water. Woolworths had booths and counter stools to spin on. Favorite Bakery across the street baked the best butter cookies. Proper Shoe sold the extra wide high tops my little boy required. We could have bought a week's worth of groceries for what we paid Gerry Mandel's dad for those white baby shoes ;)
The highlight of the beginning of summer was the Flag Day parade and kiddie carnival set up at the intersection of Nebraska and Cherokee Steets. When the band marched by, my daughter, 5 and son, 2 marched in place at the curb waving their little flags. You know how sometimes you get caught up in the moment and lose yourself? My little guy's legs were going a mile a minute. He was waving his flag like a sparkler on the 4th of July. Momentum took over and he took off, right into the street to march with the band. Yikes! I embarrassed easily back then; now I laugh at the memory.
