Chester, Then & Now!

I try not to follow local or area online posts that talk about our town because, honestly, they seem to take a negative tone most of the time. While I understand frustrations and concerns about a person's community, I just think stirring that negativity online only ramps up more negativity. So, this column in no way is being written in that tone. This is just a few moments of reminiscing and perhaps a little old fashioned cheerleading. Come on along, if you'd like. I'd love to have you with me.

We are so fortunate in Chester to have our fine Rozier's Country Market! But certainly we all remember a day in Chester when grocery stores abounded on nearly every block! At various times, and in no particular order chronologically, there were so many, including Pautler's IGA, Tom Boy Market, Daniels, Berry's Store, Uffelman's (Later Food Park), Jung's Market, Nordmeyer's Bi-Rite and certainly Thriftway, which later was Moore & Wittenborn's. I know I have forgotten lots, having not even touched on what was located on the riverfront.

Grandma Hasemeyer did most of her shopping just a block from her home, at Berry's Store on the corner of Swanwick and Van Zant. But I do remember that she would also walk to Pautler's Market at the corner of Swanwick and West Holmes. I have great memories of going with Grandpa Hasemeyer to Pautler's meat locker where he had his own key to his own meat locker in the basement of that store. I'm sure it was mostly filled with his own venison. Just fun memories. But look at other small towns as you travel, certainly in our own county, and I think you'll see that mostly those towns depend on one good, local market.

What I hear a lot about is that Chester no longer has clothing stores. I remember Sherman's and P.N. Hirsch, which I believe were chain stores. They were called Department Stores. Remember that? And there were The Leader, Vine's and the Chic Shoppe, which were locally owned. And I remember a tiny little shop on State Street, I think it was next to where Carol's Creations is now, called the
Pleez-U Shop! Such a cute little place, that was owned by a diminutive little lady named Kathryn Boeger. I remember one time my sister and I purchased a blouse there for my mama for Mother's day. It cost $1! But that was before the current inflation!! The department stores featured clothing for men, women, children, shoes, linens, pots & pans, toys, jewelry. You name it, they had it. Again, that was small town America THEN. This is a new day. But friends, a lovely young Chester woman has stepped out on a limb and opened a new women's clothing store in Chester. It's called Studio Boutique and it sits on Swanwick Street in the building formerly occupied by Delish's Bakery. Check it out. She has women's clothing, all sizes and lots and lots of cute, fashionable things. And also check out Carol's Creations on uptown State Street. The owners are very talented and creative and feature lots of great items! It may be a new day, but we have to support our own, right?

I could go on and on about our local establishments or a lack thereof. Restaurants, for instance. I know we all go out of town to eat, but we also have spots right here in Chester that provide great food at very reasonable prices. It's Thursday night! Look around and support what's here - or down the line, it may not be.

Something else we have in Chester that is top-notch, top-drawer - is the Chester Public Library. Our library is not just 'good for a small town'. It's great for any town! Tammy, Lisa and their crew do wonderful things there and if you don't know about those things, those services, I encourage you to check it out. You will be amazed at the scope of services!

Chester has its problems like any small town, and I'm not here to sugar coat those problems. But we also have wonderful people who are working very hard to fix and solve some of those problems. We have a very active Chamber of Commerce, a Tourism/Beautification Committee, a Park Board, a committee called River City Renewal. You may think these groups don't do anything, but I'm here to tell you they work very hard. They give up their time and volunteer their efforts and talents and they don't get a lot of credit. They're dedicated and determined and while the masses are sitting down to eat lunch or supper or watch TV, they're making calls, writing letters, writing grants. They're sitting at meetings trying to hash it all out, trying to plan good things for all of us, for our community.

One more memory! Remember riding around on any given summer night - traveling the circuit between Kipp's Drive-In to the courthouse.....from the Dairy Mart back to Kipp's,  maybe stopping at Mr. Goode's Dairy Queen! At some point we'd have to pool our finances to get a little more gas. I remember Charmaine and I could get a gallon of gas for 25 cents from our friend, Joe Schatte, who worked at Martin Oil! Horns were honking and we were all waving! Great memories, not gone if we remember them.

I won't lie to you. No porch today....too hot! Stay cool. Enjoy the remainder of summer and check out some of what Chester DOES HAVE TO OFFER!