Downtown Altoona

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Downtown Altoona

by Matthew Villani
(Altoona, PA, USA)

11th Avenue

Here's a picture of downtown Altoona on 11th avenue. Mostly what I remember is that although downtown was past its heyday, it was more active when I was little than it is now. For example, Woolworth's was still open and doing great.

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Downtown Altoona

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Fond memories of Downtown Altoona
by: Anonymous

I remember going shopping with my mother and sister starting in Gables(Oh the great smell of the cashews roasting when you entered).We loved the basement bargin floor.I still remember the shoe repair shop down there and the smells of the leather and glues.We would go to Walgreens for our lunch which consisted of a full course turkey dinner for .50.The Holly shop would have specials on dresses,2 for $5.00.For a special birthday my father took me to the New Idea and bought me a flowered suit!!I felt so special carrying it in the box they provided.Then we went to Wolf's to pick out my birthstone ring.They had a jewelery counter when you first entered the store.It was fun going into Texas hot dog and watching the man load his arm up with hot dogs and ladle on the sauce.Back then they were 3 for a dollar.Lots of memories from the 50's and 60's in good old Altoona.

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My Memories
by: Bob Jones

I remember downtown so well from my childhood in the late 50's and early 60's.
I spent a lot of time in Gable's.
My Grandmother retired from there after twenty years about the time it was sold.
I loved Christmas shopping in Downtown Altoona.Before the malls. yuk!!!
I'm sure those Saturday afternoon movies were hot to sit through but we didn't care.Didn't know any better.
All the 5&10's, Bon Ton, and Traub's toy store.
I miss it all.
I'm in Fla. now but the memories have followed me.
Altoona will always be home to me.

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Gable's Windows
by: Sue

My sister did windows in the mid '60s. Mr. Pennypacker was head of the windows when she was hired.

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window dresser
by: Anonymous

does anyone know who created the displays for the windows for gables in the 1950's

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There it is!
by: Alexandria

There's our classic "Matt" photo! :) Happy to find you put it up here, I love it.

Remember, don't ever give up on your dreams, one day Altoona will be just the way you envision it will be.

We have to go over for a visit, I'm sure it will be lots of fun, and will be great to meet up with you.

Take care!
Alexandria

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Where to find photos of Downtown Altoona
by: Sue

Living in Texas, I miss my hometown. Luckily, Acadia Publishing, (2A Cumberland St. Charleston,SC 29401.) prints books about towns across America.
They are part of a series called Images of America. Among them are:

ALTOONA. 2001. Sr. Anne Frances Pulling.
ISBN:0-7385-0516-1

AROUND BLAIR COUNTY.2002.Sr. Anne Frances Pulling.ISBN: 0-7385-1024-6

ALTOONA AND LOGAN VALLEY ELECTRIC RAILWAY. (Images of Rail Series.) 2005. Leonard E.Alwine and David W.Seidel. ISBN 0-7385-3897-3.

The best in my opinion, is the Postcard History Series, ALTOONA. 2010.David W. Seidel.Acadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7385-7261-1.

Altoona bookstores carry them all. I hope you can find them.
They sure bring back memories. SUE
P.S. (You can order online ...www.arcadiapublishing.com.)

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pictures
by: ed heverly

does any one have pictures of all of downtown during the redevelopement years. my grand father had endress market on 11th ave, across from olympic theater. i walked through all of the rubble during this period in time to go to altoona high. the people in charge back then destroyed the history of altoona when they raised down town.

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Altoona Movie Theaters
by: Patricia

Hi Linda,

Yes, I remember the old theaters in downtown Altoona. The Sun Theater was actually on 8th Avenue and 12th Street, my dad had a fruit market on 7th Ave. and 12th Street, I was aloud to walk to the Sun Theater by myself and see a movie when I was pretty young. Of course times seemed so much safer in those days. My favorite theater was the Olympic Theater, I remember my dad would give me $1.00 to go to the movies on a Saturday and I'd stop at Coney Island Hot Dogs and have two hot dogs, a root beer, pay to get in the movies and buy snacks, enough to watch 4 movies. The Olympic always had Saturday special and the theater would be packed full of kids from all over Altoona. Those were some nice memories.

Do you remember the Rivili (can't remember how to spell that ha!) It was on Union Avenue, I remember going there to see "Gone With the Wind". Man did I cry when Charlotte's little girl was killed...ha! Really showing my age here.

Patricia

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downtown altoona in 1950's
by: linda

i remember the movie theaters so well. i would like to know if anyone remembers the strand and the lyric sun theaters and where they were in altoona..i also remember a theater called the stand...i think it was on 11th avenue also...i will check back to see if you have an answer...

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nice
by: Anonymous

fine pictures.

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Downtown Altoona
by: Mark

Great comments and they really bring back memories.

I can remember Saturdays, walking into town from the East End....usually to go to a matinee at the Capitol or State theater.

Everyone would buy their Converse sneakers at Shulman's & at $10.00 a pair.....they were the top of the line.

We would purchase our "Matchbox" cars at the Bon-Ton.....and yes, Christmas was special.

Remember how they decorated downtown & the Gable's windows.....would love to go back!

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I know the corner well
by: George Bloom

I know this corner very well, up until 2010 my Uncle Max (Bud ) Schendelmelier lived in the apartment above the corner store, it was a coffee shop, art shop, etc , he passed away at the age of 93, so I would visit him weekly and he would be looking out the corner window first floor as I drove up along the post office/bus terminal to pick him up, his original home was 929 27street for many years! brings back memories!

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gables
by: susie

i remember taking my son to gables to see miss patty from romper room on tv in 1967 or 68

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Gales
by: Charles Hoff

I remember this store from my early youth. First living in Holidaysburg, then in State College in 1945. It was for many years the only department store I knew. Cinders in the eyes, during WW II, streetcar from Holidaysburg and the Floorwalker, Mr. Little who my parents had to find to get his approval to cash a check.

These trips, to go shopping, usually ended with a meal at The Dutch Kitchen as well.

I guess this is all gone!

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Gable yardstick
by: Anonymous

I have a wooden yardstick from William F. Gable. Was in my Dad's things when he passed.

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Christmas
by: David

Let get really real here. In Altoona in the 50s and 60s, Downtown Altoona was just like the movie "A Christmas Story." We would trudge in the snow and slushy streets with our parents who go to Gables and drop us off to see Santa while they went off to buy gifts. We always knew Santa was in town by the Christmas Parade. I can still feel my chest pounding by the base drum as it passed by. Today the kids don't know of this magical entrancement that happened when I was a kid, but it still lives on every Christmas as I reflect how it used to be. Oh, my brother and I were just like Ralphy and his brother. Those snow suits where murder.

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Gables
by: Anonymous

I remember going there with my mother and seeing all the ladies with their hats and gloves on. i have my fathers credit card from gables and a 50th. anniversary dinner plate also. also a small metal plaque that says The William F Gable Co. Department Store, Altoona. Not sure what its from but it was in my dad's things that i found when he passed away. the plates belonged to my mother and my sister and I inherited them when she passed.

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Altoona Memories
by: Hope

I remember DownTown Altoona as a little girl my Grandmother worked at Gables in the Restaurant and on her days off we would go to McCroyes for lunch they had the best french fries with gravy. I also remember going to Schulmens to buy our school uniforms I went to a Catholic Grade school.
Like I said I was a little girl back then and am now in my forties but I do remember Downtown Altoona and it was nice. It needs to be revitalized but it will never be like it was when I was growing up.

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The New Idea
by: Susan

I rembember The New Idea.
Before my mom and dad married she worked there as a sales girl. Her dad did the advertising and window displays. That was in the '30's and early 40's. My dad told me the owner set aside a certain amount of clothing for the poorer children who lived up "in the mountains" and that a certain gentleman would send in a list to the store of the children's sizes. Mother would fill those orders and wrap them in paper and string. He ordered good shoes for them, too.
As I got older, (50') we watched the various parades from the upstairs window in the men's department. Most of all, I thought it was really grown up to step up that little step into the ladies department and out of the children's department. Each year, my mother would pick out an Easter dress for me, there. In her working days, mother and the sales girls went "down street" to buy a piece of Fiesta Ware, for about a 10 to 25 cents a piece. After the Japanese hit Pearl Harbor, all the stores put out all the merchandise made in Japan. (At that time, most items were stamped "Made in Japan" or "Nippon." Just a little history here. Thanks so much! Sue

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Gables
by: Mary

I remember Gables I had my senior pictures done there. Oh downtown Altoona was always decorated for Christmas too. Too bad everything had to move out to the mall. I have been in Pittsburgh since 1979 but still come back to visit and tell the tale of what it used to be like. The Christmas parades were another thing in my childhood memory.

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Memories
by: Maggie

I remember Gable's Department Store well. I remember the Capitol, State and Olympic theatres. I remember what a busy and fun place it was back in the 50's and 60's. I miss it. I live in Altoon now after 40 years and the downtown is like a ghost town. I wish stores were there and not all out at the Mall. I remember the Bon Ton and Meyer Jonassen's when they were in their hey day. I miss it all.

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I'm Pleasantly Surprised To Find The Interest Here
by: Matthew Villani

For those of you who would like to further discuss downtown Altoona and Altoona in general, or perhaps would like to discuss surrounding communities or even general discussion topics while talking about Altoona at other times, be sure to visit my forum that I have created that is affiliated with my budding website.

http://altoonapenna.proboards80.com/

There are some rules, but most of them are common-sense (don't post topics that are inappropriate for mixed company, keep your language PG-13 or cleaner, don't spam, etc). If you would like to join, it would be greatly appreciated. Also, in the Random Discussions forum, we have chat threads every weekend (Thursday night through Monday afternoon) that operate much like a chat room where the rules are a bit relaxed, our current members love those.

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grew up in Altoona 50's & 60's
by: mike

Oh yes downtown Altoona the memories, my mom and dad worked at Gables that is where they met. Any one remember, The New Idea, my sisters and I got our school uniforms there (St Mary's), remember Traubs toy store, McCrorys, Shirley Shoes, Bon Ton, 2 or 3 movie theaters, the State and Olympic I believe were 2 of them, oh yeah Schulmans what a mess my dad got his mailman uniforms there and blue jeans for me and shoes, my dad knew the brothers Max, Yale I think there I always wondered how they ever found anything there it was so unorganized, lots of jewelry stores, brick streets and the farmers market on Green Ave email me and tell me your memories Langdia2@cinci.rr.com

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Memories of Downtown Altoona
by: Patricia

Hi Loretta & David,

Isn't it wonderful to share these memories of good old Altoona? I grew up in Altoona and my dad had a produce business on 7th Ave. and 12th Street, I'll bet you might remember that David.

Yes, Loretta coming from Bellwood in those days seemed like a big trip, I remember going to Bland Park (now DelGrosso's) and traveling down the highway through farm country and seeing all the cows out in the pastures and so much corn growing.

Gable's was the place to go in downtown Altoona, I remember smelling the seafoam candy every time you went through the doors that went round and round. I had to laugh when you mentioned Holly's Loretta, I remember my mom getting our first credit card there and I got to buy peddle pushers and a new top to go skating...ha!

And Shulman's was where all the men loved to go shopping. Always buying work clothes to work in the shops.

Talk about the good old days, I remember every Saturday during summer I'd get $1.00 allowance and go get 2 hot dogs and a coke for $.35 at Coney Island Hot Dogs on 11th Ave. then go to the Olympic and see 5 scary movies for $.25 and buy plenty of snacks and still had change left over for Sunday root beer float at the Meadows.

Just thought I'd share some memories too, it's such fun,

Patricia

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Road trip!
by: Loretta

I can remember as a child when my mother and a neighbor lady would take all of us children to catch the bus in Bellwood and we would go to 11th Avenue in Altoona to spend the day! That was a really big road trip for us in those day! I can remember shopping in Gables and eating lunch at McCrory's five and dime store! We used to sit in a booth and they had the best lunches you could ever imagine! My dad always bought his work clothes, he worked on the railroad, at Schulman's! Years later, I bought my wedding dress at the Holly Shop for a whopping $10! I have great memories of downtown Altoona, thanks so much for letting me share them with you!

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Gable's
by: David Winstead

My first job was at Gable's as a card writer. I made up the cards showing price of item and what it was. Robert Powers was the president then. His son Jamie, was friend and we went to grade school together. His home at the time was on Southey Ave just up from my grandparents home. Gables was the premiere place to go for anything.

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Downtown Altoona Photo
by: Patricia

Thank you Matthew for sharing your downtown Altoona photo with us.

Yes, downtown Altoona was once a goldmine for any business. I can remember when everybody walked through the downtown and the streetcars ran right down the middle of 11th Avenue. Gable's Department Store was like Macy's in NYC.

I wonder how many visitors remember the good old days in Altoona.

Don't be shy, tell us some of your memories.

Patricia (webmaster)

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Downtown Altoona

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Downtown Altoona