Cole’s Department Store, Cowan’s Shoe Store, the Kaw Theater and Confectionary, Plaza Speedway, the Midway Drive In were just some of the numerous businesses remembered by community members during a Memories at the Museum discussion on Sunday in Junction City.

Local residents told their stories and experiences at businesses from years past.

Geary County Historical Museum Director Katie Goerl explained the importance of the Memories program. “The real value in this program is engaging in the community and the conversations people have with each other. It’s real meaningful to bring folks together and share these memories with each other.”

Memories shared included comments about easterners stopping at a drug store operated by Ray Smith where they would live 50 cent stips, big in the 1950’s, after enjoying refreshments at the soda fountain, the fact that Cole’s Department Store had an elevator, young people would cruise in their vehicles up and down Washington Street with Dick’s Drive-In on North Washington Street a popular hangout.

Barbara Craft remembered that her father operated Cowan’s Shoe Store downtown more than 50 years without ever signing a contract with the building. There was only a handshake agreement with the building’s owner Jesse Brown.

Jeannette ( Ritter ) Vogelsang remembered the 1950’s downtown when her family would travel from their farm into Junction City. “We sat on the hood of the cars and talked to everybody, walked up and down the streets and went to the movies. ” Vogelsang noted there were three movie theaters including the Colonial which is now the C. L. Hoover Opera House, the Kaw and The Junction. “We could walk all about downtown. We went everywhere see our friends, and we had ice cream shop, and we had many grocery stories. It was all very different. Everything was located downtown.”

Memories at the Museum are held monthly. The session in July will focus on the “Flood of 93.”