The Corner Drugstore Soda Fountain
An ornate 1914 fountain from a Maryland pharmacy survives in a local library. Its history shows how medicine, retail, and a public gathering place once shared a corner.
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The 1970s.
Familiar faces, local places, and everyday encounters. Explore 1970s stories in the WistMem memory archive. Search for something you remember ↗
Community Life stories
29 stories · Page 3 of 3
The Black Barbershop as a Neighborhood Gathering Place
In many Black American communities, a barbershop could be a business, a place to meet, and a rare setting for frank conversation. Its particular owner and customers shaped that role.
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The Town Square on Saturday Morning
A Saturday town square joined errands with chance encounters. Historic plans show how shops, banks, and public space could gather daily life into one walk.
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The Paperboy’s Bicycle Route
A bicycle newspaper route was a sequence of addresses, bags, and customers. The rider learned how to make the same circuit reliably in changing weather.
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The Full-Service Gas Station Attendant in America
Full service involved more than pumping gasoline. Historic federal records describe attendants checking oil, radiator water, and windscreens, while wartime rationing added another duty.
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