Knightstown in the 1950s

---

Main Street looking west in 1954

---

Here’s an editorial from the Jan 30th, 1955 Banner written by Tom Mayhill. 
KNIGHTSTOWN DESERVES BOOSTING
A Knightstown resident approached us the other day and said he thought citizens should have more civic pride and take a real interest in boosting the community.
We believe that many persons share this thought. There are always some citizens of any community who can find nothing good about that particular community. Everything is bad in their eyes.
And Knightstown is no exception in this respect. Because, we regret to say, there are always some citizens who are always knocking, never boasting.
Why is it that some persons always see the bad features about his fellow man or about his community and never sees the good features. Quite often, we have noticed that this type of individual soon develops a scowl and never finds time to smile or be really human.
How is it that so many residents fail to see the real assets which Knightstown possesses:

1. A neighborly spirit and quiet living conditions.
2. Good residential areas.
3. An outstanding school system.
4. Excellent churches.
5. An exceptionally good business area, possessing excellent food stores, drug stores, variety stores, hardware stores, department stores, furniture stores, lumber yards, elevators, automobile agencies and garages, professional men, photographers, implement dealers, childern’s shop, hatchery, barber shops, restaurants, and many other lines of merchandising.
6. Two of the leading banks of the state.
7. Paved streets throughout the community.
8. An active Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis club, Psi Iota Xi, Tri Kappa, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and other civic groups which are working to make Knightstown a better place in which to live.
9. Substantial small industries.
10. An outlying agriculture area which includes some of the best farm land in the world.
11. State roads and the National road which go to all the large cities nearby.
12. A very good community park and recreational area.
13. Two railroads and good transportation facilities.
14. Some nearby fishing areas and a new resort area.
15. A good post office building, with courteous and efficient employees.
16. A good Public Library.
17. A completely modern telephone company with dial service.
18. The Indiana Soldier’s and Sailor’s Children’s Home which lies on the outskirts.
19. Modern street lighting in the business area.
20. Modern electric utility and a forward looking gas company.
21. (We hope a good newspaper can be added to the above but there might be some objections to such a statement.)
22. Many other miscellaneous features.
-RTM

---

Main Street looking east in about 1953

---

---

 

The Bowling Alley

0 comments. .

I sent an email request for inputs about the little Bowling Alley in downtown Knightstown that was part of the social life of our community back in the 1940s and early 1950s.  Your response was great..!!  I got inputs from Treva McDonald Williams, Rosie (Rosalie) Womack Miller, Kay Richey Hinshaw, Robert Myers, and Donald Rhodes.  

Treva sent that Clarence Post told her that there were actually three Bowling Alleys in K-town.  One in the basement under Hopkin’s Furniture Store, one in the Odd Fellows building, and the best known one near Citizens Bank on Main Street.  This little article is about the latter. 

Kay wrote that she liked to go to the Bowling Alley because she had a huge crush on the owner’s son, Gary (Gabby) Binford.  The Binfords moved to Portland, Indiana when they sold the business and left Knightstown. 

Rosie told me that her sister and her sister’s friend would clean and set pins for the owner, Cecil Binford, and he would let them bowl for free.  

Bob Myers shared his memories of the Bowling Alley with us as follows:

The Bowling Alley was next door to the Citizens National Bank.  Later it became a tavern and in the 1960s Alvin Harden, president of the bank bought the building and made the drive through for the bank.  The Strand Theater was next door to the bowling alley.  In the good old days when everyone went to town on Saturday evening, we used to go to the Alhambra for a movie and then went duck pinning afterwards. 

I was in my pre-teens during this time.  The movie, a box of dum-dums, a bag of Flory’s pop-corn and two lines of duck pins cost 50 cents.  Not bad for an evening of good entertainment.  My weekly allowance….. 

Great stuff, thanks Bob…!!!

Don Rhodes who graduated KHS in 1950 very kindly sent an excerpt from his autobiography in which he describes his experience working at the Bowling Alley.  He started working there when he was a freshman and continued throughout his high school years.  I was very happy to receive his account and be able to include it here.  It gives us a wonderful bit of insight about what it was like.  Thank you Don…!!!

I started working at the bowling alley in September (of 1946).  I had to get a Social Security card when I started working.  Cecil Binford was the owner and a good person to work for.  A couple of years later, Cecil sold the bowling alley to Jim LaForge. 

The bowling alley was located on Main Street in the building that used to house the Strand Theater.  I believe it was late occupied by Cooney’s Photography Studio. 

The bowling alley was a “Duck Pin Alley”.  the pins were smaller than regular bowling alley pins and the balls were smaller and solid.  We had four bowling lanes.  Richard Davis set pins on lane number 1, Eddie Vaughn on lane number 2, Victor Wyatt on lane number 3 and I set on lane number 4. 

I set the pins near the end of the bowling lane.  I had little red dots to tell me where to set the pins.  Behind the pins was a drop-off where the pins and balls would after the ball hit the pins.  This was a four foot square called the “pit area”.  I had a little seat that I would hop up on when the bowler rolled the ball.  When the ball came into the pit area, I would jump down and pick up the ball and roll it back to the bowler on a track that went from the pit area back to the bowler.  I would give the ball a push so it would go all the way back.  I would then jump down into the pit and clear the lane of any down pins that did not go into the pit area.  After the second ball was rolled, I would jump down, send the ball back and set up the ten pins for the next bowler. 

If someone wanted to bowl in my lane I would turn the light on and jump up on my seat.  When the ball came down the lane i would put my feet together and hold them out to block any pin that might come in my direction.  The balls were small and some bowlers would roll the ball very fast.  If the ball was rolled fast and hit the head pin straight on there was a good possibility that the head pin would go airborne and hopefully not in my direction.  There were many times when a pin would hit me on the shins or fly up and hit the wall behind me and come back down on me.  If some guys were throwing exceptionally hard Cecil would tell them to slow it down.  If i wanted to be mean, and i was on some occasions, I would set the head pin about an inch in front of the first red dot.  The bowler wasn’t able to see that i did that.  When the ball hit the head pin it was a sure split and the pin would usually go flying. 

We usually worked on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoon and evening.  We would work other nights if needed.  If there was a basketball game in the middle of the week we would always work after the game.  Most games were played on Friday nights and we would be very busy after the game and work until about 1:00. 

I was paid by the amount of games that were played on my lane while I was setting pins.  I received 15 cents for each game.  Usually two or four people would bolw at the same time.  For four people that would be 60 cents for a game which doesn’t sound like very much of an income.  However, on a busy night I would work from about 6:00 until 12:00 or 1:00.  Each 15 cents counted up and gave me some spending money. 

When bowling was over in my lane, I would turn the light off and go up to the front.  I would get a coke, sit down or do whatever I wanted as long as I stayed close if someone wanted to bowl.  Setting pins was a sales job in a small way.  You wanted people to bowl in your lane.  First you would encourage them to use your alley then set the pins fast.  People didn’t want to wait and if you were slow getting the pins set up you would lose a customer. 

The bowling alley opened at 2:00 on Sunday afternoon.  We would come in about 1:00 and clean up the pit area.  When the pins fell they would make black marks on the alley where they fell.  Also the red dots would fade from week to week and would need to be repainted.  I would take steel wool and clean off the black marks and smooth off the red dots and paint over them.  It wouldn’t take them long to dry.  Then I would be ready for a long day of bowling. 

I continued to work at the bowling alley (through high school).  I enjoyed working there for several reasons.  First and foremost was the money.  I didn’t make big bucks but I made enough to buy gas, go to the movies, eat out and do a few things I wanted to do.  I enjoyed talking to people when they came in the bowling alley.   I have always been shy and this helped me come out of my shyness a little bit. 

I always set pins on alley number four.  When no one was bowling I would talk to people, get a coke and maybe a piece of candy.  Sunday afternoons were always fun.  We would come in early to clean our pit area and then we were free to go back up front until customers came in.  Jim Laforge was the owner at this time.  He would come in and open up then be gone most of the afternoon.  He usually came back about 5:00.  We had two pinball machines.  They were old and we found out we could take a wire coat hanger, straighten it out, and run it through one of the corners that had a tiny opening in it.  We would put a nicklel in the machine then stick the wire through the opening, bump it against one of the lights and rack up about a hundred games.  We would take turns and play all afternoon.  When we saw Jim coming we would hit the button beneath the machine and run off all the games.  I am pretty sure Jim knew we did this but he didn’t care.  We usually didn’t have many customers until later in the evening so it gave us something to do. 

---

0 comments. .

Vivian Forst sent me a nice letter with a few more tid-bits related to the Bowling Alley.  Some of you know Vivian is the mother of Linda Forst of the class of ‘56.  She is 96 1/2 now and sharp as a tack…!!  I’m very grateful to her for sharing her memories with us.  Here are her notes:

In 1938 Louie Flory had arrived in Knightstown from Illinois, and stopped in at Kendall’s Barber Shop.  While there he heard that someone was needed to help in the Bowling Alley.   Mr. Flory said: “I could do that” and headed over to apply for employment. 

Cecil Binford (either owned the building or was the manager) hired Flory to work there.  Leslie Williams was also an employee who worked either a day or night shift. 

After taking the job at the Bowling Alley, Louie Flory returned to the barber shop.  He was asked if he had taken a drink from the fountain on the square and he said he had: then he was told “if you drink from that fountain you’ll never leave Knightstown” and he didn’t.

He and Jane Flory opened up their own shop next to the Alhambra Theatre and later moved the shop to Main Street where it was in operation for many, many years.  It was later managed by the Flory daughter, Dolly, who married Richard McCormack. 

I don’t remember when the alley was closed.  It was located where the Paint Store was (now closed).  I have been told the alleys were dismantled and stored upstairs over the Paint Store.  (may still be there). 

Great story..!! thanks again Vivian..!!!

---

---

 

Buy a new car and fill er up right here….. 

 At the end of World War II there was a pent up demand throughout the US for new cars which lasted well into the 1950s.   Knightstown was no exception and there were plenty of places to buy that shiny new ride in our little town.   There were also an abundance of places in town to get it gassed up and have the oil, water and tire pressure checked and the windshield cleaned (without asking)… 

The Texaco Station at Main & Jefferson in the early 50s

 Here’s a list of new car dealers in Knightstown in the 50s. 

• Redick’s Auto Sales 39N. Wash.  - Buick - until about 1951
• Abner Motor Sales 536W. Main - Buick and IH Trucks
• Goodwin Bros Main & Madison - Dodge, Plymouth, Dodge Trucks
• Joe Irvine 236 E. Main - Hudson then American Mtrs.
• Wood Motor Co.  East US 40 - Ford, Ford Trucks
• Hall Motor Sales West US40 - Chevorlet, Chevy Trucks
• C & W Sales 39 N. Wash. - Olds and Pontiac (Agent for Howard Holt)

 Here are a few advertisements for new cars which ran in the Banner. 

---

 Filling Stations:

  Here’s a partial list of the Gas Stations in K-town during the 50s. I need your help to complete it. 

• Standard - NW corner Main and Franklin
• Marathon - SW corner Main and Franklin
• Texaco - SW corner Main and Jefferson
• Sinclair - West Main St north side at the Railroad
• Mobil - West Main St south side at the Railroad
• DX - NW corner Main and Hwy 109
• White Rose - West Main St.
• Goodwin’s - West Main St.
• Hoosier Pete - West Main St.
• Gulf - NE corner Main and Adams 
• Phillips 66 - Main and Madison

Joan Sharp Stanley (class of ‘56) sent the following about her Dad’s Phillips 66 station:

 Sharp’s Phillips 66 on the corner of Main and Madison.  Dad had it built and it opened in 1954.  We had a grand opening with dad dressed up as a clown and myself and several of my girlfriends (Janet Wampler, Nancy Maple, Barbara Paul to name a few) dressed up as “cigarette girls” with a tray on a ribbon around our necks and gave out favors and trinkets to all the customers on opening day.  What fun..!!!

 

---

---

 

Grocery Stores back then….

As I reflect on the amount of commerce that went on in our little town back in the late 1940s and throughout the 50s seems to me there were a heck of a lot of grocery stores for a town of 3000 souls.  I tried to remember all of them and I initially only came up with 5 or 6 but then I started asking folks about them and several more came to light.  There were little grocery stores and markets all over the place.  It’s kind of fun to try to place them all.  There were four in the main business district.  The Regal Market was on the northwest corner of Main and Jefferson in the Masonic building.  The Kroger store was on the south side of main near Washington and Rhims meat market was on the SW corner of Main and Washington.  Then the IGA was across Main by the Public Square.  Rhims burnt down about 1950 or 51 and built a new building then soon after sold out to Marsh Foodliner.  Those were the biggies and the easy ones to remember.Then there were the little Mom and Pop operations which were scattered all over town.  I’m having trouble sorting them all out and this is where I’m going to need your help so I hope I get some input on this. Everybody remembers Chance’s on west Main but there was another little store across Main in front of the National Body Co.  What was the name of that one..???  I think the Pearsons ran a little grocery on Morgan Street between Jefferson and Franklin..???  There was also a little store across from the School on Adams but I don’t recall the name, somebody help….!! On the south side of town there was a store run by the Buckles and Lowrys.  It was near the Pennsy tracks on Jefferson as I recall.  There was also a little store on the southeast corner of Franklin and Brown.  I recall it very well because I lived right across the street but haven’t a clue who ran it.  It closed in the early 50s and they eventually moved the little house it was in.  There was a little store owned by the Lawrences and one operated by a family named Munden or Munson but I don’t remember where they were located. Anyway, if you needed something quick for dinner it was only a short walk to buy it no matter where you lived in town. Please help me get this all straight and maybe we can put a little history together.  It’s trivial but folks may want to know in 50 years or so.
Ron Short just sent some additional info.   If we keep getting input we may be able to sort this all out, collectively…..  Here’s Ronnie’s input:

I think the Pearson’s store was on the NW corner of Washington (and Morgan) and was bought by the Lawrences.   I think Glen Stoten operated the store on Brown and Franklin.  The store on south Jefferson by the RR was run by Peanut and Maxine Munden.   Wasn’t Conway’s on west Lincoln at Franklin.?

Integrating Ron’s input with the info I had previously gotten enabled me to make up a little map with the locations of the stores.

Here’s a preliminary list of who ran them.  Both the map and the list will, no doubt, have to be revised when we get this together.

1. The Regal Store (Chew’s)
2. The Kroger Store
3. The IGA (Vestal’s)
4. Rhim’s Mkt. later Marsh Foodliner
5. Pearson’s later Lawrence’s
6. Conway’s
7. Munden’s - Lowry’s..???
8. unknown
9. Glen Stoten..??
10. Chance’s
11. unknown….

We’ll eventually get this right…

---

Here’s a picture from 1952 with Mable Small’s gym class in front of Lawrence’s Store.

(Sent by Frances [Cranfill] Vander Weide)

---

---

---

The jobs us kids had.

A lot of us 40s and 50s K-town kids started working at a pretty early age.  I don’t think anyone gave it any thought it was just what you did.  My first job was at the Regal grocery store when I was 11.  That would have been in 1950.  I made 25 cents an hour as a butcher’s helper at the meat counter.   There were other kids working in the store too but I must have lost all the brain cells in that area so I can’t remember who. 

It was pretty hard work for a kid of 11.  I waited on customers but the hard part was all the clean-up stuff.  It seemed like there was always a messy pan to wash.  Then at night I had to empty the meat case and wash it out and put everything back.  One time the butcher was painting the specials on the front of the case with bright green paint and I knocked over a jar of paint on a pile of hams.  They didn’t look so good all green.  My boss wasn’t too happy about that one.  I got transferred to bag boy not long after.  I had several different jobs throughout my school years.  I worked at my stepdad’s junk yard off an on.  On when we were getting along and off when we were feuding which was most of the time.  I often wish I would have tried to get along a little harder.

Some of the other kids in my class had already been working for several months when I got my first job.  I remember that Lonny Young started working at the meat counter at Rhim’s grocery store a long time before I started at Regal and Joan Jolly was working in her family’s drug store at a very young age too.  Ronnie Short had an afternoon paper route but I don’t remember when he started that.  Larry Lindsay was helping his uncles, the Wyatt boys, delivering milk house to house in the mornings.  That was a hard job because he had to start at about 4 in the morning. 

There were a bunch of filling stations in Knightstown back then and a lot of the boys worked at them.  Gary Plank went to work at the Texaco at a young age and worked there throughout his school years.  Donnie Sylvester worked at one but I’m not sure which one.  

A lot of the girls worked in the restaurants and the two soda fountains.   I think they also got jobs in the dress shops and other retail stores.  Maybe some of the gals can help me out here.  Please post something on the jobs the girls had.  There was enough going on in Knightstown in those days that if you wanted a job you could get one no matter how old, or young, you were. 

---

---

Support Historic Knightstown

---