BLOCK 6 - Main Street Tour Locate on map The grade on the south side of Main at Rusk does not seem to be as steep as that on the north side. There are no steps in the sidewalk as we stop in front of yet another drug store, aptly named the Corner Drug. It was also known as Ross’s for a period of time. The next storefront in the 50’s was Pulley’s Jewelry; years before it was Seabrook’s Florist. Next came Greer’s Western Wear and Boots, a store that expanded in size through the years. Indeed Mr. Greer built a reputation for being a talented designer of custom-made western boots. Before it was the location for Greer’s, however, Starr’s (later moved to a smaller location across the street adjacent to Joseph’s Dry Goods) had been in this location. Next came C.E. Maddocks Insurance and Real Estate. A real stretch back in time is necessary to remember when the five-and-dime on the south side was called Scott’s. More people will remember when it was later associated with the Ben Franklin chain. Whatever the name, this store always whetted a child’s appetite for all sorts of somewhat available toys. Some, stamped “Made in Occupied Japan,” no doubt were very fragile and not likely to endure much rough child’s play. It now is the site of a store belonging to the Dollar Store chain. The next hotel complex housed more than one business and was probably major competition for the Paramount across the street. The Gholson Hotel was the property of one of Ranger’s first mayors and resident of a mansion on the corner of Mesquite and South Hodges at the base of the hill with the hospital. Just prior to the hotel itself some will recall a coffee shop, perhaps named the Gholson Hotel coffee shop which was operated by Ralph & Nell Lockwood at one time. Underneath the awning was the entry to Swaney’s Pharmacy with yet another soda fountain so popular at one time, but under the awning itself was a display of all sorts of current periodicals. In fact, it was here that some high school boys stole a quick glance at the newly published Playboy. A back door of Swaney’s opened directly into the hotel lobby. Before the main entrance of the hotel lobby was an entry down a threatening stairway to a pool hall and who knows what. Many preached so against such evils as playing pool that this yawning opening seemed to be the very gates of hell themselves. Then came the main entrance into the hotel with a glassed-in storefront to the west that has variously been a site of the Sweetbriar, a very up-scale ladies’ dress shop, belonging to Mrs. Henry and a barbershop (Tony Lewis’s). Another shop in this area was the Young-Age Shop, which was an up-scale store for kids. Thursday nights for many years it was here in front of the Gholson that the students and other townsfolk gathered for pep rallies before the Friday football game. Imagine the excitement in the fall of 1953 when victory after victory ultimately led the Bulldogs to the State championship in 1-A football. Later women’s dress shops were immediately west of this one sharing a side with the hotel entryway. In this other storefront was the so- called Smart Shop (owned by Audrey Yonker), which may have been the same site earlier known as the Sweetbriar. On the corner of Austin and Main stood for many years the large former bank building that had been First State Bank. In the late 40’s and early 50’s it was fondly called simply the Ice Cream Parlor and owned by the Shelton family, who also lived in the building. It was razed many years ago and afterwards served only as a parking lot. End Tour