Share Your Memories of Living In Three Rivers

Kauzlers had a stairway that was bowed in the center due to the years of people walking up and down those stairs. Coast to Coast had an upper level that for some reason I cannot ever remember going up there. What was up there? The Riveria had this GIANT upside down bathtub on the ceiling that I used to think would make the coolest bathtub/swimming pool. If I had an unlimited supply of money I would love to buy and restore that building.

Dietzs was so cool. That was where we always bought our models and comic books. I don't remember Sears (I was born in 67) but I took my own penny jar into Coast to Coast and bought my first tricycle. How about the dogs at Coney Island or the basement of Kauzlers lit by a few bare bulbs? Now that was a hardware store but Jack was my mom's cousin so we got pretty special treatment. We used to go to the tackle and bait store (now Public Image/L.A. Cafe) and my brothers and I could get a case of Town Club Soda in a wood crate. We each got to choose our favorites and mix and match. Of course we had to go see the cage full of crickets as well. Shelton's was the place to go for records and Wellingtons has yet to be beat for art supplies. The chamber of commerce office was Doug's Barber Shop. I just went through my baby book the other day and came across clippings from my first haircut sitting in a booster in that chair. And, oh what a big day it was when Doug said "I don't think we need the booster anymore".

How about the water carnival when the floats really did, or the visiting the bear and wolves at Scidmore Park. Going out to see my Aunt Eve at the Buy Low (Big Lots) and my Aunt Jean at Sears (Bike Rack). One day my kids are going to think back to many trips to Lowry’s Bookstore, the new theater where they saw their first movie, the petting zoo at the park, entering their dog in the water carnival pet show, sitting in a fire truck at their open house and riding on school floats in the parade. I hate to be too gushy but it is so cool to think I can give them these wonderful memories.

Wow what a memory trip. Thanks Bob, even if they don’t get posted here, you brought a lot of smiles to a lot of faces. I owe you one. [:D][:D]


Daryl Griffith
Candidate for Commissioner-At-Large
www.beam.to/griffith

I had forgot about the wolves and bear(s) at the park.

My my, just look at what a little free speach forum can do...

They said, "Full of radicals..."

They said, "All negative gobble de goock..."

They said. "Any body could post any thing..."

I say, "Thank god for that...[:)]"

This Daryl Griffith signing off for the evening. Good Night. (National anthem plays to picture of the American Flag)(colored bar test pattern)(say the next part in the highest note you can reach) burrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....

Now that's a wierd favorite memory of growing up in Three Rivers. Kinda reminds me though of WLKM's daylight broadcast hours for their 1510 AM side of things. 6 PM as the sun goes down during the winter and the local radio station goes off-the-air (does that still happen?). Suddenly, I can pick up a Nashville Tennesee station (twang, twang, twang).

Hey! Does anybody here remember when W. Michigan Avenue was two-lane?

I remember the Peeler St bridge being wooden, the area where Village Market is was a corn field and WLKM was called Rock 96 in the evening.

Yeah, that was funny. Elevator music all day long then at 6 pm you hear Ted Nugent screaming through the airwaves. Then they'd sign off at midnight and start again the next morning.

Ah...The wooden Pealer St. Bridge with the scarred-up timbers underneath from being hit by one-too-many too-tall vehicles.

Anyone here ever served by a car-hop at the A&W when it was out on 131 southbound where (clear communications?) is now? Those big frosty mugs was the only way to get root beer! Just not the same out of paper cups.

I remember going to one but I can't swear it was there. I do remember that location's brief stint as an arcade. Same is true for the building that used to stand where KFC is. How about the truck stop at Broadway and US-131 (now ProMed). We went to McDonalds 3 days after they opened and our dinner for a family of five was free because we had to wait 5 minutes!. Anyone know why it takes longer now that most of the food is not cooked on-site? Before that is was Burger Chef (now the bank next to Ridgeway Floral) with a burger bar. All the fixings, make 'em any way you wanted to.
Ahhh....

Daryl Griffith
Candidate for Commissioner-At-Large
www.beam.to/griffith

Burger Chef (my first fast-food job) - I was wondering when someone would go there. The Super-Chef, The Whaler. I still fight the urge to order food every time I go there to make a deposit or withdrawal. I tried that joke when the credit union first opened, none of them were old enough to get the joke, didn't know the place was a burger joint at one time. Geez, I keep aging myself [^]

Anybody ever swim at the public beach that used to be maintained by Memory Isle at the bottom of the hill off N. Andrews St.? Used to give teens summer jobs as lifeguards. Remember the green cement block building used for the showers and bathrooms? Used to truck in sand for the beach and river bottom.

Whoa there Bob, a bit before my time [:D]. We always road our bikes out to the lakes.

Daryl Griffith
Candidate for Commissioner-At-Large
www.beam.to/griffith

Well then, I know you won't remember this one. On the corner of N. Andrews and W. Michigan (Coin Op Car Wash) once stood a fast food restaurant. I remember when it was built but I don't recall what was there prior to that. That walk up, counter-service only place was a franchise operation known as "Burger World" (I can still see the oval smilie face logo with lines to make it look like a globe). Fifteen Cent hamburgers and fries, used to get a whole meal for 50 cents. My folks would give me money to buy lunch there when I was on my way to the "beach" by the river. Their fryer exhaust ran underground to the rear of the place and had a steel grate opening on the ground. Used to take my empty drink cups and place them upside down on the grate, launching them into the air like rockets (it was something to do while I waited for the beach to open).

Burger World stood in that place for about 3-4 years (1966-70?), added to the menu and re-named themselves "Burger & Chix". Another year would pass when they closed that location and moved it to W. Michigan and 131. They didn't last much longer and was replaced by...guess who?...KFC!

Whoosh (hand palm down flying over my head). Nope, don't remember that. I do remember the joint in the now empty field across from Red-E-Coin. That was once a very hot spot but I can't recall the name. Did they have a drive-in service as well?

Daryl Griffith
Candidate for Commissioner-At-Large
www.beam.to/griffith