14th and Meridian

[Mr442]

Or more exactly, Real Hacienda in Anderson IN.  The wife and I had dinner there last night and enjoyed it.  We were wondering what had been in that building previously, that had required the castle like appearance with the stone, arched doorways, and windows.  I could not remember, so I am hoping an old timer (troll?) might remember.

[me]

I'm thinking the building that originally stood there was torn down and that was built for Real Hacienda. 

[Anne]

I think Me is right, I seem to remember Joe's Record Shop in an old building there in the late 50's early 60's. Smitty's Shell Station was on the NW corner and I think a place that sold mens clothing was on the SW corner (bought boys jeans there and pegged them down skintight), I forget what was on the SE corner. The Real Hacienda building was part of the renovations the company from Kokomo came in and did around town several years ago.

[Mr442]

I remember Joe's Record shop across the street from RH, and on the east side a block north, earlier in the mid 60's.  There used to be a taxi dispatch building right along there on 14th as well.  I guess the builders did a good job making the RH building look older than it is.

[Anne]

Hubby says i am wrong about Joes, but it was a big building not the one that is there now. I'll see what I  can come up with.

[The Troll]

I think Me is right, I seem to remember Joe's Record Shop in an old building there in the late 50's early 60's. Smitty's Shell Station was on the NW corner and I think a place that sold mens clothing was on the SW corner (bought boys jeans there and pegged them down skintight), I forget what was on the SE corner. The Real Hacienda building was part of the renovations the company from Kokomo came in and did around town several years ago.

  Wasn't Joe's across street from the Shamrock, the home of the best screw driver on Meridian street

[me]

Connan's (?), where he stored the gambling machines,  and 24hr lunch was in that area  too hubby say's. 

[Y]

Or more exactly, Real Hacienda in Anderson IN.  The wife and I had dinner there last night and enjoyed it.  We were wondering what had been in that building previously, that had required the castle like appearance with the stone, arched doorways, and windows.  I could not remember, so I am hoping an old timer (troll?) might remember.

The building the Real Hacienda is in was built as part of the Town Square project.

The East side of Meridian Street south from 13th Street to 14th Street consisted of:

1)  Public Taxi - now the Eagles parking lot.

2)  An apartment building with a storefront on the bottom level which once housed the Salvation Army IIRC - I think it's all apartments now.

3)  Alley

4)  The Shamrock, a piano bar - now torn down for the RH.

5)  Templeton's Vending Machine company - "  "

6)  The 24 Hour Lunch - "  "

7)  The other part of Templeton's - "  "

[Mr442]

  Wasn't Joe's across street from the Shamrock, the home of the best screw driver on Meridian street

As I mentioned earlier, Joe's was in two different locations that I know of.  On the east side side of Meridian further north where I took ill fated guitar lessons in the basement there.  Then in a larger building at or near 14th and Meridian.

If these places would just sit still and last forever it would be much easier on the rest of us.

[Anne]

That is the Joe's I remember. My sister took sax lessons there. Does anyone remember the little booths you could take the records into to listen to them before you bought them?  The men's store on the SW corner was Phil's.

[The Troll]

  To me being in Anderson, 1955 to 1958 and North Broadway was the best place to be in Indiana.  Around and round Meridian Street and Main Street.

   A cruise out to Broadway to the the Alibi, the Pink Horse and the Big Boy Drive-inns.  Big Boy was the first place I took my wife on out first date 48 years ago.  After we went to see the Westside Story at  the Paramount on Meridian Street. in my 1957 J-2 Oldsmobile muscle car.  Oh what good days.  Days no one will ever see again.

  It really breaks my heart to see what has happened to Anderson in this free trade and world trade we have now.  And no one in Washington really seems to care. 

[Mr442]

I went to Frisch's the first time in late 1970.  For a young gear head it pure heaven.  Anderson had a lot going for it before we gave our jobs away to foreign countries.  Today it is a mere shell of it's former self.

[The Troll]

I went to Frisch's the first time in late 1970.  For a young gear head it pure heaven.  Anderson had a lot going for it before we gave our jobs away to foreign countries.  Today it is a mere shell of it's former self.

  I got to say one thing there was a whole lot of good looking car in Anderson and the surrounding area.  Love those 3/4 cammed V8 engines and those steel pack Douglas mufflers.  They sure don't make many like that today.

[Da Wham]

  To me being in Anderson, 1955 to 1958 and North Broadway was the best place to be in Indiana.  Around and round Meridian Street and Main Street.

   A cruise out to Broadway to the the Alibi, the Pink Horse and the Big Boy Drive-inns.  Big Boy was the first place I took my wife on out first date 48 years ago.  After we went to see the Westside Story at  the Paramount on Meridian Street. in my 1957 J-2 Oldsmobile muscle car.  Oh what good days.  Days no one will ever see again.

  It really breaks my heart to see what has happened to Anderson in this free trade and world trade we have now.  And no one in Washington really seems to care. 

If you were around Anderson then you can give us some help on the old bars and old bands topics. Thanks in advance!