Lester Lake Jewelry
by Maralyn Fink
Lester Lake had purchased Allison’s Jewelry Store in April, 1940. That firm had been established by C.S. Allison in 1879. The store was located in the front of the Hicks Store on the west side of the second block of Clinton Avenue.
John Harley, who died in November, 1948 had operated a new and used furniture store on the west side of Clinton in the first block. Lake’s grand opening depicted in the photos above was celebrated in the newly renovated Harley store.
Lester Lake sold his jewelry business on March 16, 1968.
Many Rodney B. graduates will remember that class rings came from Lake’s. Lester did not do all of the sizing and ordering for himself. Each year he would assign a senior, usually a girl, to do all of the heavy lifting for him. It was a complicated and exacting process, and for her trouble that girl would get her class ring free. It may have been free, but she earned it.
I remember walking past the store every weekday as I was in co-op my last hour of school. Co-op was a program that students were able to get jobs at different places, mine being Bement Public Library. I would hurry so that I could get a chance to window shop to look at all the “jewels” that were on display in the window. Wow, that cost a whole $10.00 I would say to myself. I was able at one point with a little help to purchase something for my mother. A big difference in $10.00 in my day than it is now. That was a lot of money that most people didn’t have.
