1940's: TRACY'S LEGENDARY "FIVE AND DIME"

This was originally a black and white photo which happens to be a place I hold dear to my heart. I, and many others were regular visitors to this charming place where one could find anything from knitting needles to dish cloths to curtains and curtain rods...and let's not forget their toy department. This photo led me to the decision to revive my love of coloring books when I was a boy, and I used my photo enhancing software to hand color the old black and white and bring a delightful memory back to life in living color. I even had the option to give myself the green light in the foreground!

1942: TRACY'S "FIVE AND TEN;" A VANISHING PIECE OF AMERICANA

Tracy's was the "in" place for nearly all your household needs. Here's a World War II photo of that great old five and ten cent store so familiar to those of us who are old enough to recall Woolworth's and Kresge's. I have another copy of this photo which I hand colored and calling attention to that familiar red background with the gold TRACY's in bold relief. Tracy's also had stores in Morrisville and Hightstown.

1952: GOOD OLE TRACY'S!

From 1939 when I started Kuser grammar School right up to June 1951 when I graduated Hamilton High, Traycy's was my source for my school supplies, and my childhood toys and gimmicks. Diagonally across the street was Bernie Schnur's "5 and 10" where the impoverished Glover family purchase "cancellation shoes;" shoes with very slight manufacturing defects which were hardly noticable....maybe a cro9ked seam or a slightly off kilter soul.

Anonymous said...

Ah! At last the dark side of the real Mister Glover was about to show itself and especially after the statute of limitations has run it's course for most crimes. I thought we may have been in for a treat with Tom as the mastermind behind that rash of hub cap that went missing in the late 50's. My two "favorite" words are lose and loose. Wasn't there a place out by Yardville or Groveville whose "stock in trade" was imperfections? I believe it was called "The Shoe Barn" and it seems that I remember shoes and sweaters? Or how about "Cheap John's aka, John's Bargain Store next to the Capitol Theater on South Broad?

Tom what really struck a cord .. or was it chord .. was the kids reader of the 1950 that addressed the recession of the times. I remember a "Dick and Jane" reader where "Father" was without a job and the family was faced with summer without a vacation? But "Mother" saved the day and with spare change and a box lunch managed to save enough for a day at "The Amusement Park" with a simple ice cream cone making them feel like royalty. My own Dad was between jobs back then and seeing it in print took much of the sing out of the situation.

Ed Millerick

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Lee Belardino said...

Tommy
Our family bought allour clothes from south street in philly.
All our clothes were "2nds" which meant they were slightly mismatched
or someyhing else.the difference Guys would stand in front of the stores and dag you in. My father always negotiated and never paid full price.imes wete tough for all of us.But we survived right?
Lee

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

YES LEE. I REMEMBER BUYING A SUIT DOWN IN SOUTH PHILLY. GOOD PRICE BUT IT WAS A CHEAP GARMENT THAT CONVERTED ME TO BOND'S IN TRENTON.

TOM

Omad said...

Spent lots of time standing near that "red light" when waiting for my school bus to Villa Victoria and then later for Trenton Transit to Cathedral. Tracy's was "THE" place for lots of last minute shopping when couldn't get to town. I honestly can recall standing at some of the bins of items there and trying to make up my mind. Gosh Tom, that was over 60 yrs ago and those good memories are still there. Thanx again for stirring them up.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Mack said...

I thought all 5 & 10 stores were called Tracys as a kid :)

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

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TRACY'S "FIVE AND DIME"

This particular photo is another from the Duke University R.C. Maxwell collection. It touches personal heart strings for me as few can do. It was here that I, and most of our neighborhood went shopping in all seasons. Tracy's carried a very comprehensive stock custom tailored to the general needs of the community. Just up the street and 2 doors away was Jim Stanton's Hardware store. Jim was an "Ike Godsey" of Walton's Mountain type merchant who had the uncanny ability to find the most obscure hardware items in his well stocked store. During my years working for Fritz Kuser, I made many trips to Stanton's for many of Kuser's needs. Right click on the image and click the + icon and you will see an incredibly clear segmented enlargement of the photo as you are standing in front of Tracy's as it was back during the mid 20th century.