Barbara A. Martindale- For What It's Worth July 30, 2013
The soda fountain has been brought back to life.
To mark its historic regard, anyone born before 1966 is invited to view the popular 1930s to 1966 original Boose's Drug Store large fixture on Sunday, September 1 from 2 to 5 p.m. at Clark's Supertest Station, 2096 Highway 54 West.
There is quite a story behind the soda fountain. This column, in two previous Sachem issues, put together some details when the soda fountain went up for sale three years ago and then sold a year ago.
A bit of refresher goes back to Boose's Drug Store, when Osborne Boose was the proprietor from 1938 to 1966. It was during that time when the popularity of the soda fountain era was at its best, waning somewhat by the 1960s.
Stan Parke, who had worked for Mr. Boose for many years, beginning behind the soda fountain, purchased the business in 1966. Making changes, Stan Parke decided to remove the soda fountain that year and it sat in the basement of the store (The Coach House today) for the next 14 years.
In 1980 with Big Creek Boat Farm and its new dinner cruise activities, owners John and Luela Albin purchased the soda fountain; they thought it might be a good fit for their operation. It wasn't, as it turned out, and the soda fountain sat in one of their buildings from then until 2010, when son Blain Albin decided it was time to put the soda fountain up for sale.
A year ago, Ron Clark purchased the old soda fountain and Chuck Martin and others moved it with some strategy to where it is open for view at Clark's Supertest Station housing Ron's antique cars. Some elbow grease went into its restoration, too.
Ron and Nancy Clark have been planning this occasion for some time. They are pleased to have some community nostalgia on their property and they look forward to sharing it with Caledonians.
Fern Peart will be in attendance. She remembers working at Boose's Drug Store during her high school days. She either worked behind the soda fountain or doing some other needed chore in 1938 and 1939, graduating from Grade 13 in 1939 at age 17.
Fern remembers the huge crowds on Saturday nights when farmers and residents came to town to do their shopping. Some didn't finish their shopping until 11 p.m. and then they would come in for ice cream.
"Many of those Saturday nights, we didn't get out of the drug store until 1 a.m.," said Fern.
Evelyn Harrison agreed. She has the September 1 date marked on her calendar, too. She worked at the drug store also as a high school student in 1945 and 1946. Stan Parke was back from the war by this time. Evelyn also would come in after school to wash dishes, work behind the soda fountain or where needed in the store. Saturday nights were busy and the drug store opened Sunday mornings at 8:30 a.m., too. Evelyn said she learned a great deal at the job.
"I was there when Mary and Robert Boose were born to Osborne and Edith Boose," said Evelyn.
She also remembered Boose's being the bus depot and the tickets she had to get ready. As well, there were two businessmen who always came in for a milk shake on their morning break- far different from the coffee break of today.
Take a trip back in time, have a sundae with all the fixings at the familiar soda fountain of yesteryear and enjoy some friendly company with those who remember, born before 1966, on Sunday, September 1 from 2 to 5 p.m.
