Growing up in Alex -- Part II

As I was reminiscing about growing up in Alexandria, so many former businesses came to mind. Now, going down Alex's Main Street there isn't much left to see -- certainly not many businesses left from years ago. This probably won't hold the attention of my kids so well, but Pat and my brothers will relate. And hopefully they can correct any errors in my memory.
A couple businesses are still in familiar locations. Security State Bank still anchors its corner of Main Street. I barely recall the old Security State Bank building which, I believe, burned down the night before Jim's motorcycle accident (in 1965?). My recollection of those events is quite sketchy, but I seem to recall we were fishing at Lake Hanson when we learned of Jim's accident, and then I spent the next night or two staying with the Mohrs in Emery while the folks went to Jim's bed side. Security State Bank, of course, was rebuilt in the same location with its modern, one-story building it still occupies today.
The Alexandria Herald also still stands in its familiar location on Main Street. That building, in itself, will be the topic of a future blog. While sturdy as a rock, its cracks and crevices provided easy entry for bats, which always made summer nights a lively experience. Just ask the kids.
Just kitty-corner across the street from the Herald, and where the senior citizen center used to be, was Burlew's Store. Earl and Bus Burlew, as I recall, were the brothers who ran the store, which featured a snack bar and a counter where you could order a scoop of ice cream for a nickel, or two scoops for a dime. Bon bon was my favorite! The Burlews were an interesting pair. Their store was my regular Saturday night stop on the way home from the city library as they displayed several recent comic books on hooks on the wall, each with the handwritten date it was put out on display. My favorites were Archie, Hot Stuff, Richie Rich, and the lighter comic book fare. I wasn't as much into Batman, Superman, and etc., although sometimes I'd pick them up too when I felt particularly rich. Back then, a comic book cost a dime. The "giant" issues -- with more than twice as many pages -- were a quarter. When I felt particularly rich I'd come home with a couple comic books in addition to a book for myself, along with a couple of novels -- usually romance novels about nurses -- for Mom. My visits to the library including weekly conversations with librarian Shirley Letcher, who knew what books Mom liked.
Burlews' store also featured a number of magazines for purchase. Playboy was among those "adult fare" magazines out of the reach of little hands like mine. Not to worry. Back then I was a fan of Sport magazine. I was (and still am) an avid sports fan, and I loved reading about my favorite teams and players. Sport, however, ceased publication some time ago.
Another great memory of Burlews' was when you'd buy a soda, one of the Burlew brothers would serve you and take your dime while the other brother would retreat to the back of the store to get a replacement bottle of soda to put in its place.
Ah, the things we remember...
Next door to Burlews' was an apartment building, and next to that -- on the corner north across the street from the bank -- was the post office, where the folks' good friend, Bill Mohr, worked. In later years a new post office building was built across Main Street to the west.
That's enough for this second blog about growing up in Alex. Next time I will concentrate on the businesses that sat along the second block of Main Street near the bank -- Schmitt Meat Market, Pitts' Dry Goods, Rourkes' Drug Store (?), Haines' Hardware, Folsom's GW, Clancy's Discount Store and the Rosebud Cafe. There was even a music store in Alex once. Anyway, more reminisces next time.