Ask the Williamsburgers

In last week’s Herald edition, a lot of history was brought up. I — like so many of the younger generation of our town — don’t know how great and lively Williamsburg once was. According to my mom Suzanne some of “the best places to be growing up was both Rat’s and Shickle's.” This inspired my question for the week: what did you love most about Rat's and Shickle’s?

For context, the location of Rat’s was the Rhodes’ building and Shickle’s was located by the Williamsburg Hotel.

Here is what a few residents had to say:

Walt Frank: I could read the Tribune Democrat sports page on my way to school at Shickles.

Polly Eastep: Taking a quarter, buying chips and a Pepsi, and a candy bar.

Jennifer O: Candy and banana popsicles

Heather Miller: Rats had a lot of cheap candy. I would take in 50 cents or 75 cents and get a nice bag of candy.

Wendy Martin: The selection of candy from Rats and walking to Shickles at lunch which consisted of a bag of chips, candy bar, pop and then playing pinball.

Marsha Williams: At Shickles, the best thing was seeing the owner, Mrs. Freda Singleton. She was a sweet lady, plus the candy.

Lisa Corbin-Jones: The Coke cooler with the little glass bottles and the cold, cold water on a hot day. Yes, the Coke tasted better in glass and of course, that cold water would cool you down.

Marianne Nicholas: We learned how to make change by buying our candy there. The Singleton’s were very special people and were very patient when we were deciding what ice cream to buy.

Tina Mingle: Shickles – Freda was my great Aunt. She always looked out for me. I never remember any problems in her store, all the kids respected her and she treated them all like they were her own.

Beth Bowman: Walking to Rats for lunch in high school – Middleswarth BBQ chips and chocolate milk