Two weeks ago, we ran names and miscellany from the program of the Attleboro Police Department's 46th annual Policeman's Ball, held at the King Philip Ballroom in Wrentham on the evening of Friday, April 10, 1964, very nearly 50 years ago.
Regular readers may remember the promise from that earlier column to list the advertisements placed within by area merchants. I've received enthusiastic response in the past from longtime residents who find it pleasant to stroll past the businesses along Memory Lane.
So, without further delay, let's take that first step on our" path to the past."
The entire inside front cover reads, "Compliments of L.G. Balfour Co.," and ads on the inside pages are from Frank Miller & Son Inc., Sadler Brothers Inc., Mar-Val IGA Super Market ("We give King Korn Stamps"). A full-page goes to Castro's Open Air Mart, corner of County and Thacher streets (but looking decidedly different).
Also there was General Findings Inc.; Dagg's Lounge in Mansfield; Aurnaud Beauty Studio, 27 Bank St.; R.H. Cheney Inc.; Mike Caruso's South Main Street Barber Shop, 42 South Main St.(next to the Attleboro Sun); the Gazebo, teen and misses' sportswear, 48 Park St.; a great full-page ad for the sadly missed Pleasant Pharmacy, featuring the smiling faces of three quality men no longer with us, Joe Grourke, Lester Chadwick and Gordon Bramwell.
Here are more: Telephone Answering Service of Attleboro, Margaret Parker Henry, 12 Gustin Ave.; Vic's Diner, 11 Bank St.; Arthur O. Lemonde Construction Co. South Attleboro; Metals & Controls, 34 Forest St., a corporate division of Texas Instruments Inc.; Zahigian the Tailor, Morey Street (a longtime fixture in my old neighborhood); Dr. James H. Brewster, M. D. 178 South Main St.; Dr. Anderson Briggs, M.D. 7 North Main St.; Colonial Press, 228 Brook St.; Falls Shopping Center, Commonwealth Avenue; Launderwhite Co., 73 County St.; Conlon & Donnelly Co., Attleboro's leading garden center, feed and poultry supplies, 65 S. Main St.; Clarence J. Ripley, 14 Winthrop Drive; Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Inc., Gilbert-Perry Post # 115 (also sponsored our little league team); Mopsie & Freddie's, 765 Washington St., South Attleboro; Farmers Medical Associates, Henry Auerbach, M.D., and Ralph O. Brown, M.D. 12 West St.(my doctors as a barefoot boy); Diamond's Cafe Inc., 448 Mount Hope St. Attleboro Falls; Sherwin-Williams Paints, 23 North Main St., Bertrand Wallpaper & Paint Inc., 878 Washington St., South Attleboro; the Norton Forge, Alec Rich, 42 South Washington St., Norton; Joseph F. Perry Welding, 3 North Ave.; H.& E. Jewett Brothers, 15 Horton St.; Armond's Sunoco, Armond E. Blais, 60 County St.; Saart Brothers Co., Silversmiths, 20 Forest St.; Henry J. Beach Jr., cut meats, wholesale-retail, 217 Pleasant St.; J & L Tool & Findings Co., 49 Union St.; Elco Co., 70 Emory St.; E. I. Perry Co., Clothiers, 6 Park St.; Dr. Richard G. Rossi; Holiday Inn, 1270 Newport Ave., South Attleboro; DeMayo Trucking Co., 42 Prairie Ave.; Desjardins Industrial Cafeteria, 41 Pearl St.; South Attleboro American Legion Post # 312, 437 Newport Ave.; Lima Second Hand Store, 20 Pine St.; Attleboro Sun Publishing Co. Inc, Print Division, 45-47 Railroad Ave.; Standard Plastics Co. Inc., 62 Water St.; Caruso's Lounge, 490 Pleasant St.; Dr. Wilfred Morin (the entire Morin family were great friends); Laure Specialty Shoppe, 3 Park St.; Bunny Bonin's Motel & Cabins, North Attleboro (that one gave us giggles as schoolboys); DeLitta's Market, 89 Park St. (difficult to find two nicer people than Annie and "Mac"); The Electric Shop, 19 Union St.; Peter Duffy Shell Service, 181 North Main St.; Sam & Pearl Fine, Smith Street; Allan A. Gross Inc., Plumbing & Heating, 9 Maynard St.
These are but a small sampling of the advertisers taking space in this program some 50 years ago. Should the feedback be positive we may continue our wanderings through our city's past - there are certainly many more businesses available for selection.
From time to time we preoccupied people on this "crazy granite planet" seem to require examples to show us what to value in this life, and just how it should be lived. The problem is, they leave us much too quickly, so we can only hope that their example through living leaves an impact on our lives. Bless you, Sam Berns, your spiritual beauty shines upon us all. Vaya con Dios.
So let's follow Sam's example and value our brothers and sisters. Let's try to close every day secure in the knowledge that we have done something positive to help another. Peace.
Thomas McAvoy's commentaries appear in this space on Tuesdays.
