[RP TownTalk] Sonnenberg Building

[ABragg7393 at aol.com]

I just wanted to thank our former Mayor Ann Ferguson for the history  lesson. 
 It is greatly appreciated.  We lose so much of our history  when people move 
away or pass away and the only way we can know some of these  things is if 
they tell us.  Thanks Ann for telling us.  I also like  Emily's idea about all 
the old businesses and keeping a history or a walking  tour.  What a great 
idea.  Hope we can accomplish this in the  future.
 
 
In a message dated 1/18/2009 8:22:07 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
johnferg27 at aol.com writes:

Doug et al. -
 
Your proposal is a wonderful idea -- I don't know just how extensive you  
could make this actual and pictorial public display, but I feel things like  the 
trolley line and the other shops of the past would give a sense of the  Town 
in another time that could be quite evocative.
 
I know I remember a drug store across from the Sonnenberg building that  was 
not a chain -- just an old-fashioned style with a soda fountain.  It  was a 
treat for me and my children when I put the youngest in a stroller and  had the 
others walk holding on to the bars from our house on Oglethorpe Street  up to 
Route One for an outing.
 
I also remember there was a Little Tavern on the corner that is now the  
Rite-Aid.  The bite-size hamburgers they sold were delicious and I  had a 
fortifying cup of black coffee there as I waited out my five year-olds  tonsillectomy 
at Leland Memorial Hospital.  There were still a few  private residences along 
Baltimore Boulevard in my memories -- they went the  way of the wrecking ball 
when the McDonald's came in and when the old "Homer's  Gulf" gas station was 
expanded.
 
Of course many of you will still remember the shoe repair shop at the E-W  
Highway corner -- the first "cobbler" that I knew there was an Italian  man and 
he did very good work.  There was also, at one time, a portrait  photographer 
in one of the buildings and a U.S. Post Office -- I don't believe  they were 
in the Sonnenberg building but perhaps they were.  And, of  course, I took many 
items to the Peeler's Dry Cleaners that was a drive-up --  so convenient to 
have all of these shops nearby.
 
I even remember before East-West Highway was constructed and we had a  
gentle, residential street that cut over from the commuter rail area to (I  think) 
Rittenhouse Street and up to Route One.  Of course, the traffic  that backed up 
each morning and evening to cross the railroad tracks was  horrendous before 
E-W -- so  I guess it was inevitable -- I always wished  we could have pushed 
it further up north towards College Park --
 
In conclusion, Doug, good idea -- I'll be the first to stand up to be  
counted in support and will offer whatever assistance you might feel of  value.
 
                                                                              
                  Ann  Ferguson



 
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