SUMMERTIME MEMORIES AGO/LAUREL WEDNESDAY NITE!

       Up until the early 1950's, Laurel was like a lot of small towns complete with lots of stores and shopping action. Monday night had movies and Wednesday night was the night to shop and a band played in the Band Stage in the summer.

      Most of the retailing was lined in typical fashion up and down the east and west side of Main Street. Later in the 1950's most of the wood buildings that were butted together were destroyed by a fire. One of the earliest stores hat I remember was a general store that was run by a Mrs. Wessell's. It was dark and had the typical glass cases and lots of merchandise lining the shelves behind counters. The only thing I remember of importance to me was getting black licorice out of a glass jar. A great treat!

      It is hard to believe that you would see hundreds of people walking around, shopping, and socializing on a mid week night in such a small town like Laurel. A picture that I still possess of my Granpa Smith running a foot race at the turn of the century (1900) shows just how many people did attend events in small towns.