With the demolition of Automatic Machine in Attleboro, another chapter closes, but it makes for a good time to resume our Wednesday night sojourn in 1950 at County and Wall streets.

As we stand outside Cooper's at the nexus of North Main, South Main, Park and County, then as now, the landscape was dominated by the Bronson Building and annex. The Bronson business offices were mentioned earlier, and the annex, which fronted on County Street, could boast of 36 occupied rooms in 1950.

At street level was the Veteran's Service Center and the Attleboro Valet Service. The Electric Shop was at number seven, and Eastern Paint and Plumbing Supply Company was at number nine County rather than the North Main Street location we've been familiar with so long. Windy's Barber Shop was at number 11 and then within the Barden block was Charles B. Oulton, jeweler, the Perry Soldering Company and the Jehovah's Witnesses, which had yet to build Kingdom Hall.

In the rear, was Bernard Connell plumbing and heating and then at number 15 was the H. and L. Cafe, the GAR Memorial Hall and storage area.

Next, we have the Crossman Insurance Agency, then Marion McIntyre's florist shop at number 17.

Moving along, we have Stewart's Curtain Shop at number 24, and then at number 25 we once again can see the signature smokestack of the fondly-remembered L.G. Balfour company. At number 28, was Doug's Atlantic Service, at number 33, Coppola's Liquors, and perched at the corner with Riverbank Road, was the Firestone Tire Store, which was at that location for years. Number 40 County was where Arnold and Johnson Inc., had their garages, while Wells Manufacturing was at number 47.

The Snell Building is at number 49 and Sunnyside Service at 50. You'd be out of luck if you dropped into number 53 for ice cream because these Bliss Brothers manufactured jewelry.

On the corner with First Street at number 71 was Attleboro Tire Sales, 72 through 80 were private homes, then there was the First Church of Christ, Scientist. Swanson Construction is the final business we'll see on County Street because now we're taking a left onto Wall Street.

Now on Wall Street, at number 34, was A.J. Fish Printing, Crest Engraving, and Ed Cameron & Son Electroplaters. Just over the river was Attleboro police headquarters, then at number 20 was Colonial Press. Number 14 housed Everett O. Dexter, masonry materials, and Lester M. Mount.

The Holden family's Automatic Machine Products was next, right where it would stand for another 60 years. One summer during my high school years, I worked there and have warm memories of the folks I met.

At the end of Wall Street, James Conlon and Bernard Donnelly ran their grain and feed store, and Conlon and Donnelly's served as a well-known landmark to city residents for many years, just as its successor, Bob Bamberg's Old Barn does today.

Well, I'll tell you what. Just as I did as a seventh grader at Richardson School with Mike Walsh, Dave Hardt and Frankie Marcoccio, let's hop over to Railroad Avenue and get a quarter bag of fries from cousin Bill at Watson's Diner, then we'll sit on a baggage cart at the train depot and have some lunch while we decide where to go next week.

Footnotes plus

When Butch Barros, Bill Murphy, Bob Palmer and I were kids, we often prowled the area of the old "Gee Whiz line," which ran through the woods around Simmons Pond. Within that area was the old Peck Burial Ground, and occasionally we occupied ourselves by clearing and picking up that small family cemetery.

Now, anyone in the city with a long memory can tell you that any one of us were pretty creative hell raisers, but on our worst days we would never even think of disrespecting a burial ground or taking something from a grave site. Nothing spooky about it - it is a simple matter of respect. So, I'd like to tip my cap to those who perform the same service 50 years down the old dusty road, Ryan Bouffard, Chopper Limoges and all those helpers that assisted them in their recent cleanup. I know they did it for the same reason we did; it made them feel better as human beings.

To those who disturbed their hard work within a day, I say this - chances are you will never study Eastern philosophy or religions, but that does not matter. You may never know about the concept of karma, but it knows about you, and will visit your house often, unless you change your thinking. To put it in terms of song lyrics from an "old geezer" music group, the Band, "Just be careful what you do, it all comes back on you."

Don't allow thoughtlessness to deter you and your friends, Ryan…

Our condolences this week to the families of Helen Igo, Ann Simpson, Paul Murray and Virginia (Weeman) Rice, mother of my late friend Normie Rice. Sympathy also to the family of Jack Kupstas.

To an old childhood friend, Karla (Gustafson) Celestini and her husband Guissepe, condolences on the loss of your mother, Isabel Gustafson. I also have to say goodbye to an old friend of mine who was a devoted fan of this column - prayers and condolences to the family and friends of Tom Mingo.

Tom and I went back a long way and he will be sorely missed here, as will another lady I have known most of my life, Genevieve Bozzo - condolences to her extensive family; farewells to good people are never easy.

Please be good to one another out there and try to take an action that will better your community everyday. Peace.

Thomas McAvoy is a community columnist.