Yesteryear in Downtown Paris

Who knew what a big event that Saturday in downtown Paris was in the ‘40’s and ‘50’s? Farmers and city folks would flock to town. Parking was scarce; some would stake out a parking place for the day. Old men whittled and swapped knives on benches around the Courthouse. Lots of other men would lean against the east outside wall of Blanton’s grocery (now Ainley, Hoover, Clark, & Hoover), to visit and smoke. Over the years, that granite wall became smooth at shoulder level and there was a long line of white scratches from the striking countless kitchen matches. Ladies shopping downtown always avoided passing anywhere near the entrance to Ezell and Douglas (now part of Perkins Drugs), a man’s place and the nearest thing to a saloon in downtown. Throngs of people visited on the sidewalks, kids went to the matinee at the Capitol, or looked at every toy in Woolworth’s (the “ten cent store”). Teenagers could listen to the latest records in the preview booths at Paris Radio (now First Bank) and get fountain treats at Sullivan’s (now Paris on the Square), McSwain’s (now Maggie’s), Fry’s (now Antiques on the Square), or Russell’s (now Dunlap Law Firm) drug stores. Grocery stores were open until 9 p.m. or later; that was the last stop of the day for many. Who knew?...Ray Harding.