Today, when we think of “convenience stores”, mini marts associated with gas stations or nationwide chains come to mind. It’s easy to forget that in years past, Willimantic and even the small towns that surrounded it, were served by many small, neighborhood markets. These places were often defined by the area in which they were located and often catered especially to one nationality or another. Old city directories and phone books from 1920-1960 showed anywhere from 49 to 26 neighborhood markets, with the number dwindling as years went by. North Windham and Windham each had three grocery stores and South Windham had two. In the 50s, there apparently were three groceries in the Columbia area, five in the Coventry area and three in Mansfield. Because these were small stores, the owners and/or staff knew almost every customer personally and the customers were loyal to the shopkeepers who oftentimes were more than just businessmen. I remember growing up two houses away from Adam’s Market on Valley Street. We did a great deal of our shopping there even after the A&P opened up down the street simply because Mr. Clifton Adams had become a neighbor and a friend to all in the area. One contributor to a local forum said, “ Mr. Adams, a butcher by trade, was a man with a bald crown and a big smile for everyone. He was wrapped in a white apron that was always fresh and clean but stained with signs of his trade. He gave penny-candy of waxed images filled with colored sweet-water, Squirrel candies wrapped in waxed paper, licorice, chocolate malted milk balls free to kids who stopped by to say hello on the way home from school. The smell of his smoking pipe, full of Prince Albert, gave me a feeling that I had reached a way-station on the seemingly long trip home. He was like the grandpa that many kids didn't have in their lives. I remember him leaving his store and helping people across the deep torrents of winter's freezing water and ice the often overflowed through the streets and sidewalks in that area of Valley and Bank streets. That was away beyond the job of being a local convenience store operator.” Another said,” Mr. Adams was a very nice man, like someone who should have been in a Norman Rockwell painting if he ever did one in Willimantic. I remember he had all those built-in refrigerated food storage lockers -- trimmed in fine wood -- at the rear of his store. They were filled with cold cuts and cheeses of all kinds and description. Clifton Adams started out in business with his father, Samuel Adams, who was also a well-known businessman in the City. Their market was known especially for quality beef and was located on Main Street at the site of the present day United States Post Office. Another small market remembered was on Summit Street. "’’Carters’ was run by Carter Williams who lived on High St., just above Lewiston. Before that it was called ‘Bradway's’ since the Bradway family owned it. Carter’s sold Wonder Bread and Moxie and donuts from Mandells bakery. They had a coke machine in there that kept the soda pop chilled by cold water. Another person mentioned Swanson’s, “on Lewiston above Oak Street. Mrs Swanson ran the store. I grew up on Oak Street next to the Lutheran Church. All the kids in the neighborhood use go to Swanson’s for soda. They had glass case cooler just to the left when you walked in the door. I think all the soda was from Hosmer Mountain”. Bruce John mentioned his grandfather’s store, located on Milk Street (today’s photo). “He (Edward John) raised nine children on Milk Street on the corner by the tracks in the three story house that is still there today. He lost his business during the depression when many families in the neighborhood couldn't pay their tabs. He fed them anyway and lost his business.” These few examples are a wonderful reminder of what life and businesspeople were like in former times. Today’s photo takes us inside the Laramee Company’s market on North Street. The Laramee Company was one of the first local businesses to install refrigerated cases for meats and other goods. The man on the right is owner Pierre J. Laramee who later became Mayor of Willimantic.