It’s been (knock wood) a very snow-free winter.
That was not the case back in the day.
I’m not sure what year the photo above was taken. Carriages had already been replaced by automobiles. But on a day like that one, it was nice to have a horse on hand.
I don’t know the year of this one one either. But believe it or not, Greenberg’s was luckier this day than a few decades later.
In the 1960s, heavy snow collapsed the roof of the Main Street “department store.”
It never recovered, and closed shortly thereafter.
I remember the first winter we lived in Westport in 1966. I had to get my gym uniform ( ugly red one piece thing…) at Greenbergs. The ceiling was that glass with the chicken wire stuff and it collapsed. What a mess !
My mother bought blouses for me at Greenberg’s. I was young and remember standing in the store, feeling quite overwhelmed with all the clothing items for sale.
cool pics!
Wow! Fabulous photos!
My old friend, Betty Donaher, who was the youngest of ten children, and who lived in the big house with the wrap around porch on Bridge Street, told me about their sleigh riding in the snow on the streets of Westport. Great to ab able to picture it! She also rode the trolley into town – later, I imagine – to go to the movies at the Fine Arts theater. I think she said it cost $.35.
I remember Greenberg’s, too. I bought material to make my first pleated plaid skirt and later bought the then popular blue “work shirt” there. They were the consummate dry goods store!
I remember Ms. Donaher well. The guidance counselor at Greens Farms School. A lovely lady.
I recall seeing a similar photo of a sleigh at the foot of Main St. I think it was from the blizzard of ’39.
Oh those pictures. I remember all the paces shown but few years later than the pictures. Greenberg’s….My first pair of Bermuda Shorts came from there. Bought lots of fabric, patterns and underwear there also . I miss it still.
These are just wonderful images. I can almost smell the snow.
With maybe a hint of coal.
I once interviewed two McNally sisters who were born in the nice white Greek Revival next to Violet Lane (I think it’s #40). Their dad was a blacksmith and his shop was down in back. The women told me that horses seemed to love their dad and that it was not uncommon in the early teens to see an entire team come tearing down what is now Violet Lane dragging an empty sleigh on its side. The horses would pull up to the blacksmith shop and just stop as if awaiting further instructions. The two sisters said that usually some time would pass before someone with a bandaged head would appear on foot looking for his property.
Loved Greenberg’s. Every year, ,my mom taking us 3 kids
Christmas shopping there…. One year,(I was about nine years old) ,I bought this small (slightly garish) glass-leaf brooch for my mom to wear on her winter coat-(which she then always wore, afterwards). Many years later,
looking through her jewelry box,I spotted the same brooch-‘OMG,Mom,you Still
have this garish thing?’ Mom smiled,’Someday, when you have kids of your own,Linda, you’ll save Everything they gave you, growing up..’ 🙂
(..Thanks,Mom, you were right.:-)