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Show "I REMEMBER" 8Y THE OLD TIMERS ' From Mra. John Harris, Lincoln Lin-coln Park, Michigan: I remember the old "Town Square" In a southern south-ern Iowa town where the stores went completely around the four sides. In the center was the park, enclosed with a hitch rack, we called it. It was a heavy chain running from post to post where the horses were tied. At one side was the Town Pump here the tired folk went to quench their thirst; where the children washed their faces, flushed from the summer heat; their dirty hands and their dusty feet. Nearby was the white bandstand,, band-stand,, with its gingerbread trimming. trim-ming. Once a week band concerts con-certs were given and sometimes the Church women would have an ice cream supper. Sometimes it would be held on Saturday nitei when the country folk came In to bring their produce, do their shopping and then would congregate congre-gate with the town folk In the park for a good visit. The young folk walked arm In arm around the square, munching munch-ing on peanuts and popcorn bought from the friendly old vendor on the corner. The children played tag and leap frog, stopping ones In a while to get a dish of ice cream and good home made cake. About nine o'clock the farm folks would begin their journey home, in all manner of conveyances, convey-ances, buggies, wagons, horseback horse-back and some afoot. Once in a while on the 4th o: July or Labor Day, we reallj celebrated. The bandstand and all other stands decorated with red. white and blue bunting. Tht band played martial music and the speakers held forth for hours we thought. Between the park and the stores would be a Merry-Go-Round, a Ferris Wheel and one there was a dog show. If we had twenty-five cents o spend foi pink lemonade and popcorn, wt were in seventh heaven. |