Some of our favorite features
Judge Frederick M. Lewis
Frederick M. Lewis, attorney with the Kemper, Wells and Lewis law firm in St Johns, was appointed District Court Judge by Governor William Milliken on July 23, 1973. He will fill the vacancy left by the death of Judge Roland Duguay.
The A&P Store
This was the checkout counter at A&P in the 1950s. Looking on is Don Gilson, store manager.
Fred Lewis’ Retirement
Fred Lewis, who worked 48 years for the St. Johns Post Office, was honored at a retirement dinner held Tuesday, January 11, 1966, by fellow employees and retired employees of the post office. About 23 people attended.
Lewis, center, reminisces with Walt Russell and Jack Welton, left, and Postmaster J. D. Robinson and Asst. Postmaster, Keith Mishler, prior to the dinner held at the L & L Restaurant, downtown St. Johns.
Andy’s I.G.A. Anniversary
In 1974 Andy’s I.G.A. celebrated an anniversary at their store located on N. U.S. 27. I’m not sure if it was the anniversary at the new location or whether it included the time at the old location in downtown St. Johns as well. Rick Anderson accepts a piece of cake from two unidentified employees at “The Village Bake Shop” that created the bake goods offered by the store.
The Clinton Theater
The Clinton Theater was located in downtown St Johns in the first block. Roy G. Beechler and Richard Willits Beechler owned the theater that opened on November 1, 1935. Bill Beechler’s office was located on the south side of the theater and on the north was a Barber Shop which always had barbers in it, the last one being Jim Viers.
Antes Cleaners wall sign: say goodbye to a piece of downtown history
Everything ages with time. People, places and even pieces of local history – like the painted advertisement sign for Antes Cleaners. Time has faded the painted lettering in recent years to the point where it’s nearly illegible today. It probably would not have survived this long if the Mathews Dairy building that abutted Antes had remained standing.
Lester Lake Jewelry
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.
A landmark goes up for sale
Elements of a St. Johns’ landmark were available for sale this week in the form of furnishings contained within the brick walls of Oakland Place.