Martinsburg Musings from the 1950s: Part Two

More on Kreider’s Atlantic service station on Allegheny Street, one of at least five businesses in town that sold gasoline: In the 1950s people were loyal to their brand, so everyone had their favored station. Glenn Kreider, joined later by his younger brother Bill, was the proprietor that I remember. From time to time there were “gas wars” where every station tried to have the lowest priced gasoline. I recall it being as low as 17 cents a gallon.

Farther along the south side of Allegheny Street and after Dr. Bonebreak’s office was the Lykens Insurance Agency owned by Edgar Lykens. Several blocks away was the Harleysville Insurance office of Harry Rhodes. Jesse Hoover sold Marietta Silos from his residence, and had a frozen custard stand in the rear on Walnut Street, next to the Memorial Park.

On the other side of East Allegheny Street, starting at the square in the center of town, was Geist’s Confectionery Store operated by Bill Geist, which had a lunch counter along with candies of all types, newspapers and other treats. It was also the stop in Martinsburg for the Blue and White Bus Company, which had a daily route to Hollidaysburg and Altoona.

Also in the Geist building was another grocery store, Shaffer Stores, which, although small, had a complete line of goods and many loyal customers.

Next, in a large brick colonial-style building was the Post Office and Bolger’s barber shop. The latter was operated by “Posse” Bolger, whose real name was Joe, but no one called him that. He was one of the three barbers in town, each of whom had their group of loyal customers. Mr. Bolger’s brother was a Blair County Commissioner and political discussions were common in his shop. This structure, along with the Geist building, was taken down in the early 1970s to make way for the new post office on the square.

After that was the K. R. Miller Funeral Home operated by Kenton Miller. Mr. Miller also operated a Pyrofax bottled gas business out of the same building and sold furniture as well. I remember Kenton Miller as a distinguished gentleman who always wore a suit and was very well respected in town. The funeral business continues to this day as John K. Bolger Funeral Home, having been operated by his son-in-law Jack Bolger, then grandson, John Bolger, and now by Bill Helsel.

Dr. Keim Bonebreak, the other dentist in town, had his office two buildings farther on. He was the son of medical Dr. John Bonebreak, whose office was across the street. Dr. Keim was a kind and generous man.

Back to the square:

The Geist building extended along North Market Street and housed Bowman’s Stores Inc., which was part of a small chain of clothing stores. After that was a large wooden structure that held the Isenberg tin shop and hardware store. The business was run by Robert Isenberg. As I recall, he largely concentrated on making spouting for residential and commercial buildings. Spouting and drains were not prefabricated, rather had to be made by hand, which is probably now a lost art. I believe there was also a general store in the building, the name of which I can’t recall.

Across the street, at the corner of North Market and Allegheny Streets, was (and still is) the home of Leidy’s Home Furnishings. The owner, Glenn Leidy, was quick to realize the potential market for electric appliances, particularly television sets, which were just beginning to be acquired by the general population and thus had a corner on the market for this new device.

This was also the most popular place for the purchase of washing machines, dryers, and kitchen appliances. His son Dick worked in the business with him and eventually took over. Dick’s son Frank, and his wife Barbara, now continue the family tradition.

I recall that there was a grocery store in that same building, possibly the Economy Market, but I can’t say for certain.

Next on North Market street, in the colonial-style brick building, was the home of Martinsburg’s telephone company, which I believe was still called the Morrison’s Cove Telephone Company and served several locations in the Cove. When you made a telephone call, you picked up the telephone receiver and waited for the operator to ask you what number you wanted. After you told her the number (almost all operators were female), she would connect you or advise you that the line was busy. Telephone numbers were simple: the drugstore was 66 J, our house was 66 M. Hollidaysburg and Altoona had rotary dial telephones. I didn’t know how to use one until I went to college.

The Morrisons Cove Herald office was in that same building. The editor was Blair Bice, one of the finest people that I have come to know. He was my Sunday School teacher when I was in high school and took a personal interest in providing guidance to those in his charge. I considered him a mentor. He was a civic leader who was a voice of wisdom for the community.

From the Square and along West Allegheny street, adjacent to the Leidy building, was the Penn-Mar Restaurant which offered a full lunch and dinner menu. In the later part of that decade it was where we hung out after school, largely because it had a juke box and pin ball machine.

After that was a shoe repair shop, then the medical offices of Drs. J. W. Hershberger and Howard Kerr, followed by Feather’s gasoline service station.

A block further was the insurance office of Irvin Brown, followed by Cove Bottling Works, operated by Eldie Smith. He produced a variety of soft drinks which were favorites among the local community. In the fall he pressed apple cider.

Several blocks beyond was a convenience store, Cliff’s Service Station, a sort of mini-Sheetz.

Back on the square, at the corner of South Market and West Allegheny Streets, was the gasoline service station of Earl Hartman.

Charlie Paul’s barber shop was located next to it, on Locust Street. After that was Bert’s Beauty Shop, operated by Bertha Shaw and her sister, Mildred Garber. Joe Gordon’s barber shop was two blocks further on Locust Street. There were two other beauty ships in town that I recall, Nelda’s on Julian Street and LaRue’s on South Market.

Dilling’s Store was at the triangle formed by Locust and South Market Streets. It was a true general store, a sort of mini Walmart meets Lowes. The store had been in operation since the 1880s. It was a fascinating place, selling everything from children’s toys to house paint.

Hershberger’s Chevrolet Oldsmobile dealership was at the corner of South Market and Penn Streets. Martinsburg Ford, operated by Frank Nicodemus and Lewis Hoover, was a few blocks away. Querry Motors, a Plymouth DeSoto dealer, on West Allegheny Street, rounded out the three new car dealerships in town. In those days, as it is now, car sales were fiercely competitive. However, people tended to be very loyal to their brand of vehicle. Car styling changed from year to year, sometimes drastically. New car models were offered in late

September or early October and were eagerly awaited by the public. I remember the windows at Hershberger’s being covered in paper before the unveiling of the new models.

There were several businesses dedicated to serving the farm community: Burchfield’s on Railroad Street, which sold Oliver tractors, farm supplies and Westinghouse home appliances, including tv sets, Forshey’s Feed and Implements, dealers of Allis-Chalmers tractors, Martinsburg Service and Supply Company, Martinsburg Milling Company and Over’s Feed Store.

Finally, there were a number of contracting firms: W. Floyd Bush electrical contracting which at one time employed over 100 men, Nicodemus Construction Co., commercial and residential builders, and McGraw Builders led by Charles McGraw and his son Richard, not to mention plumbing firms, E. L. Bowers and A. Lloyd Steele.

This listing of businesses within the borough, lengthy as it is, undoubtedly misses many more. It’s hard to believe the number that are gone now. Where did they all go? As time went on, some were swallowed up by larger businesses or simply ceased operation. By the 1960s many were displaced by the so-called big box stores, fast food franchises and various shopping centers, including the Logan Valley Mall.