ReMarx on Genealogy and History: October 2023

On Thursday, September 14, 2023, Bangor experienced a great loss. The large building at 24 Broadway was on fire. Along with loss of personal belongings in apartments and two businesses, there was a loss of memories. The only glimmer of good, was no one was injured, human or animal. Bangor Fire Companies fought the fire diligently. Many nearby fire companies helped, all volunteers.

The loss of memories for me, and many others, was G. C. Murphy’s 5 & 10 store that was located on the first floor. I believe, it closed in the 1980’s, and always evoked a small-town store.

Five and dime stores sold the best variety of inexpensive household items. From candy and toys to housewares and notions, these stores offered a little of everything. Local five & dime stores were Woolworth’s in Easton, started in 1879 at Utica, NY and J.J. Newberry, opening first in Stroudsburg, PA in the year 1911. Others were, McCrory’s, Sine’s, and W. T. Grant’s “that advertised as a 25-cent store, implying a classier degree of retail.”

I have memories of going to Murphy’s as a young teenager. My cousin and I would walk a mile to Bangor. Making stops at Bray’s for comic books, Clara May’s for penny candies and occasionally, Murphy’s. (we called it Five & Ten) There were three doors you could enter the store, with a check out between the first and middle door. I recall the floors were unfinished and creaked. Everyone remembers the creaky floors! Being young, I only paid attention to “kid related items”. I would look at 45 records and I believe I bought Red Rubber Ball by Cyrkle. That record was released in 1966, so if I did get that, it was an “oldie”. My favorite place in the store was the basement toy area. I assume it used to be a store room and at some point, became the toy section. I loved this room. There was a long ramp down to this treasure world. Think Sears Catalog with a much smaller selection. Most times I was just looking. Occasionally, I would buy a yo-yo or some inexpensive toy. One thing for sure, I always saw an employee check on us. My sister, cousin and I would never think of stealing, and even at this young age, we knew why they were watching.

I wish I could remember the last time I went into Murphy’s, but that is not in my memory. Many decades have gone by. With the then nearby Grant’s moving out of town to a larger store with plenty of parking, that is where we would do some of our shopping. Eventually corporate closed the downtown Bangor store. In this building, apartments were always on the second and third floor, with retail on the bottom floor. The later store facades were not nearly as quaint, as the 1970’s were not kind to small towns.

Now living near this building with a view of it, I see broken windows, a collapsed roof, and debris scattered around. From what I hear, this building and the attached former Strand Theater will be taken down, destined to be a parking lot.

Fortunately, memories live on.