My family moved to Martinsburg in August of 1950. My dad, who was a pharmacist, purchased the local drugstore from the family of Dr. C. N. Johnson, who had recently passed away. Martinsburg has changed in many ways since that time. Perhaps the biggest difference is that Martinsburg, like many small towns all across America, was at that time a complete and thriving economic unit; meaning that you could obtain most of what you needed for daily life right there if you lived in town or nearby.

For example, Martinsburg had within its borough limits, among other things, three grocery stores, thr...