LETTERS: MEMORIES OF WOOLWORTH'S STORE

To the editor:

The closing of all F.W. Woolworth stores brings to mind the first five-and-10-cent Woolworth store in our city, located on the corner of Main Street in the building now occupied by Hutson Furniture Co. Many and dear are the precious memories of those days for me as well as many others.

Hardly would a person walk downtown without the intention of including Woolworth's in his shopping.

Every counter with its various items remains fresh in my mind. I always sewed all our clothing and depended on Woolworth's for buttons, snaps and ribbons from which they always had a wide variety to choose. Along one side of the block-long building was the soda fountain with the delicious ice cream sodas and fountain drinks. A large five-cent ice cream cone or 10-cent ice cream soda was the delight of many.

At one time, I worked at Shiff's shoe store downtown. We never failed to go to Woolworth's on our break, as did many merchants on Main. That always made the clerks happy, as we would chat with them.

I remember one day as I was passing the soda fountain I encountered a young lady choking on salted peanuts. A clerk at the counter quickly handed here a glass of water to relieve her choking. The lady was Elizabeth Ellis, well-known for her prominence in our city.

On another occasion when I was making a purchase at Woolworth's, a nun from St. Vincent's came up to me with suggestions concerning my purchase. Our friendship grew, and she remained my dearest friend for years.

Such are a few of the memories of the five-and-10-cent store that remain dear to my heart.

Thus, now that all of the Woolworth stores are out of existence, many precious memories remain, which will always bring to mind the title of the well-known song, "Those Were the Days."

PAULA E. KEMPE

Cape Girardeau