Manchester Stories

Stories About Historic Manchester, New Hampshire
  • Archives
  • About
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Archives
  • Business
  • Clayton’s Elm Street doggerell
 

Clayton’s Elm Street doggerell

by John Clayton / Tuesday, 04 December 2018 / Published in Business, Culture, Elm Street

‘Twas the week before Christmas and all through downtown,
Not a creature was stirring, Elm Street was shut down.

Oh, the road? Sure it’s open – try to cross if you dare –
But most of the widows and store fronts are bare.

But how did this happen? How come commerce went south?
The street seems so empty, so down in the mouth.

Where it once teemed with shoppers, now it reeks urban blight.
The crowds? They’re all gone. They’ve vanished from sight.

Friends used to converse under streetlights, on curbs.
Now the folks there at night time? The word is “disturbed.”

While shoppers would prowl for gifts on the shelves,
These people just mutter and talk to themselves.

It used to be different. Shopping downtown was fun.
And so what? You got snowed on before you were done.

You’d bump into old friends, bundled up for the cold.
“Want a sip of my coffee?” “If it’s hot, then I’m sold.”

Familiar acquaintances, chatting and mingling,
Backed up by the sounds of cash registers jingling.

You could catch up and gossip, get shopping advice.
“There’s a sale on at Stratton’s.” “Those new dresses are nice.”

“You want a good tip? Try the neckties at Barton’s,
and if you want argyle socks, go directly to Martin’s.”

Shopping at Bartons on Elm Street in Manchester, NH

Shopping at Bartons on Elm Street in Manchester, NH

“Go to Nugent’s for nightgowns – Hey, there’s Anne at the bus stop! –
but for real buys you should try the P&Q Men’s Shop.”

Carroll’s Cut-Rate? A must. A new book? Go to Goodman’s.
“And make sure you remember to get more film at Woodman’s.”

“A tool box?” “Got to Moreau’s.” “Hunting knife?” Mickey Finn’s.”
“Hey, what’s at the State Theater? Think we can get in?”

“Pariseau’s second floor? Elevator or stairs?”
“We can always try Leavitt’s and then go to Zayre’s.

Pariseau’s on Elm Street in Manchester, NH

Pariseau’s on Elm Street in Manchester, NH

“For suits, try Ben Richards. You can’t beat their styles.”
“You nuts? Go to Easler’s! It’s better by miles!”

“As for me, I like Floyd’s. You’ll never do better.”
“Except for Pandora. Just check out this sweater.”

“For the wife?” “That’s a toughie. Wow, you’re on the spot!”
“How ‘bout, a ring from Desjardin’s? Or Pearson’s? Or Scott’s?”

“Nylons from Machinist’s? Undies from Bell Shops?”
“Hey pal, she’s your wife. Better pull out the stops.”

“Corsets from La Mode? Or high heels from Satter?
A mink stole from Crawford’s?” “The price doesn’t matter.”

If you don’t mind driving, you could try Mammoth Mills,
Or make like West Siders and shop Forest Hills.

While parents were shopping, kids clamored for treats,”
“We’ll stay out of your way if you just spring for eats!”

We’d have a dog at Perillo’s or a Puritan shake,
How ‘bout doughnuts from Cheddie’s? Or that Mayflower cake?”

Go to Chime’s? Or Kay’s Kitchen? The Alibi? No, Good Earth!
Have some Chinese Chop Suey with your seasonal mirth.

We’d have baked beans from Levi’s while shopping for Dad.
“Kennedy’s has those white shirts. Or would he prefer plaid?”

“I know he’d like loafers. What about Thom McAn?”
“They have ox blood and brown, but he prefers tan.”

“A pen from Llewlleyn’s? R.G. Sullivan stogies?”
“Hey, Larry’s Manhattan has felt hats like Bogie’s!”

1935 | Firefighters decorating tree at Lake Ave Fire Station

1935 | Firefighters decorating tree at Lake Ave Fire Station

Now those mem’ries grow faint. Yes, they’re fading with time.
Guess it’s only nostalgia that’s fueling this rhyme.

There’s no more Beauregard’s, no Varick’s on Elm Street.
By day, banks and law firms. At night? Kids with rap sheets.

Where’s old J. Ferretti’s? The fancy fashions at Hill’s?
Tell me, what good is Christmas without all the frills?

No Lynch’s or Bon-Ton, Newberry’s or Woolworth.
So we pray for the Bookery to trigger a rebirth.

Where the heck are the shoppers who once decked these halls?
They’re shopping on Amazon, or bound for the malls.

But think for a minute of all that’s we’re losing.
Pray tell, what good is Elm Street if it’s only for cruising?

Let’s bring retail back, let’s fight the good fight.
Happy Christmas to all, but to malls? A good night!

What you can read next

A Box Car Recalls 250 Tons of Thanks
Manchester NH Calumet Club
More Columns
Drive-in Theaters

Search the Archives

The Latest Additions

  • Crafts Brothers Manchester New Hampshire

    What They Were Fighting For: The Memory of the Crafts Brothers Transcends Partisan Politics

    It may seem early, but as Presidential candidat...
  • Remember the Manchester Motordrome?

    Nothing like a little city driving to put the h...
  • Depressed? Maybe You Miss the Winter Carnival

    I read somewhere that good writers borrow but g...
  • A Box Car Recalls 250 Tons of Thanks

    Tucked away on a short, dead-end stretch of Ree...
  • Manchester Town Pound

    Having given the matter several days of deep th...
  • Manchester NH Calumet Club

    More Columns

    As citizens of the world, we are all heavily in...
  • Manchester Trivia

    So you think you know Manchester? We shall see....
  • Beware the Canals of Amoskeag

    Because of my romantic fixation upon the city o...

Story Categories

  • Architecture
  • Business
  • Culture
  • Elm Street
  • The Merrimack
  • The Millyard
  • Uncategorized

Contributors to the Website:

John Clayton

John Clayton is the executive director of the Manchester Historic Association and Millyard Museum. He previously spent 25 years as a reporter and columnist for the New Hampshire Union Leader, and he is the author of seven books about Manchester and New Hampshire.

Mr. Clayton’s “In the City” column was a fixture on the front page of the Union Leader for more than 20 years and won numerous awards, including best local column from the New England Associated Press News Executives and “Best Local Author” from the readers of “New Hampshire” magazine.

Mr. Clayton received an Emmy Award for his work with New Hampshire Public Television where he was the long-time host of “New Hampshire Crossroads” and he was recently honored by the New Hampshire Humanities Council as one of the state’s “40 over 40” cultural icons.

John Hofstetter

John Hofstetter is a graphic designer who lives with his wife in Manchester’s Historic North End. John has designed for a variety of clients including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Citi Performing Arts Center, NPR, OXFAM International, The Pine Street Inn, Louis XIV, Amy Winehouse, Composer Bear McCreary, and Atlantic Records. Stateofthedesign.com

Images from the Manchester Historic Association’s collection are available for purchase for $25 per image. To browse the collection, click here.

For more information, e-mail or call 622-7531.

The MHA also operates the Millyard Museum at 200 Bedford Street where the permanent exhibit, “Woven in Time,” chronicles more than 11,000 years of history in this area. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, go to www.manchesterhistoric.org

Contact Us

For questions about the site or to become a contributor, email manchesterstories@gmail.com

Website Design by stateofthedesign.com

TOP