Framingham Views

At the end of April, 1926, Penneys advertised the grand opening of their newest store in downtown Framingham. Here’s the ad that appeared in the Framingham News.

Penneys was the place to buy clothes for the family back then. You can still see the tile front entrance on Concord St. and think about how grand it all seemed way back then.

When I was a kid, we’d park the car in the Arcade parking lot, usually going in the back door of Penneys to buy the school clothes. Then it was back out to the car to put the clothes away, and into the back door to Woolworths for a toy.

St Stephens Church had a Golden Jubilee Banquet at the Meadows in 1948. It was held for the Reverend James McCafferty, on the Fourth of July. Here’s a rare panorama photo of that event, that I found at a local yard sale.
Now we all know what the place looked like inside. Imagine Vaughn Monroe on the stage doing “Ghost Riders in the Sky”.

Take a look at the signs on the front of these stores in Irving Square, circa 1958. Not painted banners, they were an important way business would attract customers. Pay particular attention to the Kay Jewelers. Large heavy signs, with neon lights and lots of glamour, people knew this was a legitimate business. Today, take a look, across the square and down the street, businessmen are trying to revive the downtown. Presentation is the first thing they should look at. Startups have so little money today, they can’t afford the advertising. And that’s part of the reason they fail.

You will also notice the gold decals on the windows above street level. One downside to the improvements along the stretch of Concord St. above what used to be Woolworths, and Penny’s, is the amatuerish window decor.  When residential takes it’s place, I wonder how it might look, with all sorts of curtains, and shades, etc. Maybe tinted glass to look uniform from the street would look better.

The Park Central Hotel was also known as the Old Colony. Here’s a photo from a couple of years ago.

The Park Central Hotel in downtown Framingham seems to have been a popular spot for an evening out in the 1930’s and ’40s. 
These advertisements, courtesy of the Framingham Library, show how the place looked in 1946.  (I wonder what the Jungle Room looked like! You may notice the Manager is Armand Tomango, brother of Ceasar Tomango.

Armand later built the Beacon Terrace on Rte 9.

Just east and behind the Beacon Terrace, was Ceasar’s Monticello. I guess the Tomango’s were instrumental in bringing fine dining and entertainment to Framingham.

In 1957, I would ride my bike down to the block of stores at the corner of Hartford and Concord St. to get a haircut at Collotta’s Barber Shop. Afterwards, a visit to Balboni’s for a cream soda at the soda fountain which was at the front of the store on the right as you entered, then to the back where they kept the comic books. 

Balboni’s was sold and renamed for it’s new owners, Deans Pharmacy. Deans was where I discovered Famous Monsters of Filmland Magazine, as well as Mad, and later, Marvel Comics like Spiderman and the Fantastic Four. The Pharmacy eventually closed and became an autoparts store, and now has turned into a Day Spa. Collotta’s Barber Shop is still in business, in a renovated house. The original barbershop has been turned into a place to get your nails done. I wish I could see a photo of Balbonis taken after this advertisement, because I think I remember a big neon script sign on the front. Anyway, this is the best I could find.

Early 1951, Shoppers World under construction. When I managed the Cinema you see in the background, there was an Anniversary event, and after the the promotion was over, one of the publicity folks gave me this picture as a souvenir. The view here is standing nearly to the beginning of the dome, in what was to become Jordan Marsh, looking toward the theatre.

Back in the 1950’s, downtown Framingham was a place to go shopping. Here’s a view of the crossing in 1950, compliments of the Framingham Library. You’ll notice a Waldorf Cafeteria in the spot which later became the Bell Shops. Next door, Gorins, and next to that, JJ Newberry. Gorins would end up moving to Shoppers World in 1951, and Bell Shops along with Gilchrist across the street, would remain downtown, losing business to the modern shopping center.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if stores to go shopping in would return to the downtown? 

In the early 1950’s Clayton Moore, the Lone Ranger, made a personal appearance at Shoppers World. Here’s a photo of his arrival.  Thousands of families lined the walkways on both sides. That looks like an Oldsmobile convertible he’s getting out of.