I
was amazed at the number of responses I received when I asked my
friends to share their Somerville Christmas shopping memories from the
old days. It's great how one persons suggestions can trigger your own
memories – and that is what we have here. So as those two FM radio
stations continue to jam commercials and Christmas music down our
throats, let's look back at what Christmas gift buying was like way
back when.

Carol recalls: buying handkerchiefs with her dad's
initials on them at Mickey Finn's in Davis Square. We dads can never
have enough handkerchiefs.

Jane recalls: on Broadway, in the
East Somerville area, there were two stores that come to mind. Tucks
and the 5 & 10 store. My mom and her sisters would shop in Tuck's
(Grace Abruzzio used to be the sales girl). They would give me and my
cousins money and we would go down to the 5 & 10 store to buy our
gifts. This way we didn't get to see what they were buying for us in
Tucks.

Jo chimes in with this memory: I remember the Bargain
Center in Davis Square where I got my first Barbie Doll. It was part of
a fire stock sale. Her legs had a tiny stain on them but she was
beautiful anyway. That was the "Bubble Barbie" from the 50's and I
still have her today in her pattern leather case with all the clothes
(that would fetch a pretty penny on eBay!).

Eileen joins in with
the following story: I remember buying my mother "Evening in Paris"
perfume from the Woolworth's in Davis Square. It came in a dark blue
bottle and cost $1.00. I think she only pretended to put it on, because
she still smelled like Estee Lauder when she went out :).

Jo-Ann, Suzanne, Jane and Eileen also mentioned the perfumes Ambush, Jean Nate, Blue Grass, Tabu and Emeraude.

My
friend Jon sent us this little tid-bit: Davis Sq was the best. There
was The Bargain Center and Grants. Woolworth's had that big fish tank
with thousands of goldfish. The lunch counter had a hot dog/chips/coke
special. After that we went to Parke Snow to buy something for my
mother because that was the fancy store!

(I actually worked behind the luncheonette counter at Woolworths for a while)

I
am outing Jo-Ann with this one: my Mother was an Estee-Lauder woman –
she used all of their products. I never knew the price when I was going
to buy her present. I just went into her pocketbook and took some
money! Only something a mother would love! Sorry Ma.

This is
from Marcy: I remember going with my mom to Davis Square for some
shopping. We walked down Willow Ave then up Highland Ave. There was a
gas station on the right with a spinning sign. I loved to watch the
sign spin as a little kid. There was something about the snowflakes
falling on the sign. It brings back fond memories of Christmas. I think
Gilchrist's had a revolving door. My mom warned me to stay away from
the door, but I got my thumb jammed in it. Man I'm having some major
flashbacks to this time frame.

My friend Donna has these
memories to share: I remember going to Dick's Drug store (aka Highland
Drug) on Morrison Ave at Highland Road (later it became part of Russ's
donuts and now it's a high-end condo duplex) to buy the aforementioned
Evening in Paris or Jean Nate for Mom, handkerchieves for Dad and
little cars (Matchbox) for my brother. Later, I graduated to Davis,
Ball and Porter Squares.

Jef says: Grover's Pharmacy at the corner of Broadway and Cross St – Hai Karate for dad, and Jean Nate for my mother.

Rick
recalls: I remember walking from Oak St, where I lived, to Bradlees –
which was past Union Square – to get some last minute gifts on
Christmas Eve while it was SNOWING like crazy.

Cheryl
contributes this piece of Christmas history: 70's Saturday morning,
bundling up, hopping on the bus to Davis Square with my grandmother.
Woolworth's, then to Mickey D's for a Happy Meal and topping it off
with apple pie! Then in the 80's, shopping at Suit Yourself at the
Assembly Square Mall, 5-7-9, Roland's and being embarrassed to go into
KMART with my mother. What if any of my friends saw me? Now I
understand my children's pain. LOL

Kim sends this in: In 1978,
me and Kathy E worked at a restaurant called Pepperroos in Davis
Square. I saved all my money to buy a full length white rabbit fur
jacket at Cummings in Davis Square.

(I think I actually remember that coat!)

CJ
writes: I don't know if all of these stores were in the 70's – remember
Sparks? I never bought anything in that store! How can you forget Thom
McAnn's? I thought I was so cool with my first pair of "Jox" sneakers!
Oh, and don't forget Apple a Day. I will never forget the LONG lines at
McDonalds, which was twice the size it is now, on Saturday afternoons.
You could hardly find a place to sit! Ahhhh, those were the days!

Alice
said: when I wanted to get my brother some candy, I went to Mae's. It
was on the corner of Adrian Street. I used to go to the Pioneer Food
Store on Washington Street – the owners there were Hilda and Arthur. I
always got my dad a package of handkerchiefs and my mom something for
the kitchen. My brother got something crazy like a can opener or
something like that.

This one is from Cyndi: when I was 4 (in
1964), my cousin put itching powder in my snowsuit. When my mother
brought me Christmas shopping at Bradlees, she had to buy me all new
clothes and wash me down in the fitting room! Not exactly a warm and
fuzzy story! ROFL (Rolling On Floor Laughing)

Other places that
people recalled were: JM Fields, Speedy Pizza, Marks, Louds Candy Shop
in Powderhouse Square, Anderson Little, Fanny Farmer, Frascatis, Kay
and Chips and Zayres. Someone also mentioned S and H Green Stamps.

Well
that was fun going back in time and talking about Christmas shopping.
Thanks to all my friends who shared their memories with us. Now let's
go out there with plastic in hand and make some more memories! Good
luck trying to find a parking spot! That's why I have become…"Mister
Online Shopper!" P.S. – keep those handkerchiefs coming! You can email
Jimmy direct at jimmydel@rcn.com.