Parke's Grocery

This "remember" was sent to me from a reader, former Glasgow resident Laura Knight Haefer of Billings, in response to my recent writings on grocery stores from years ago. Laura reminisces here about Parke's Grocery, which operated about 1½ blocks from Southside School:

"I remember very well growing up just three and a half blocks from our little neighborhood grocery store. Yes, Parke's Grocery was three and a half blocks from our family home at the dike. The David Parke family lived in the southern part of the building and his neighborhood grocery was in the northern end.

"Often Mother would send us on our bikes to the store for something she needed for her cooking. I distinctly remember the bologna that Mr. Parke would slice on his little machine. Never in my life have I found bologna to match the taste of his!

"And then there were the Fudgsicles in his store. They were the best! They included sweet cream in their mixture. They were 10 cents each. When my sister and I purchased strawberry licorice at a penny apiece, we bit off both ends and used the middle of the licorice as straws in Coke bottles."

Thank you, Laura. My memories of our neighborhood grocery were much the same, and I only had to cross the street. I too specifically remember the Fudgsicles. Of course, they were so much better than a Popsicle and they cost the same, 5 cents. Maybe the price difference compared to today has something to do with how old our memories are. 

Gwen welcomes your memories at 367-5582.