Hometown America–Main Street, Phoenixville, PA, Plus the “Generations” Gift Shop

It seems fitting that I found myself on a picturesque small town American main street during this Fourth of July weekend. I was visiting my sister who lives near Pennsylvania Dutch country yesterday, and we stopped by to say hello to her friend, Sue Meadows, left, in Phoenixville, PA. (It’s 30 miles west of Philadelphia; the population is about 16,000.)

Sue is standing in front of her “Generations” toy and gift shop at 113 Main Street, Phoenixville, the same building that housed her grandfather’s pharmacy and soda fountain from the early twentieth century to the 1950s. (The black and white photo at the bottom shows him with a customer.) Sue’s shop is crammed with hundreds and hundreds of interesting items: In addition to a huge toy selection, she carries decorative china and ceramics, kitchenware, vintage jewelry,  greeting cards, and much more. (I came away with an adorable ruffled apron for my granddaughter.)

The pic at right features two of the early soda fountain signs on display atop the original soda fountain in Generations. Note
that while ice cream sodas were a pricey 10 cents, a root beer could be had for just a nickel!  If you visit, don’t forget to look up and check out the antique pressed tin ceiling, too!

In the pic below you can see that the massive marble and carved wood soda fountain cabinet is now decked out with assorted toys rather than the ice cream parlor glassware, soda water dispensers and milk shake machines of her grandfather’s day. (While almost every American town  once boasted at least one soda fountain, the number still functioning is only estimated at about 125 across the entire nation. Personally, I’m very sorry they’re becoming extinct!)

Did you know that soda jerks were called jerks due to their repeatedly pulling the levers that dispensed soda water? I’ve read that some overly senstitive “jerks” preferred to be called “fountaineers,” but– perhaps not surprisingly –this never caught on!

Some soda jerks were showmen, performing for their customers by dropping scoops of ice cream from far above into the serving dish,  spritzing on clouds of whipped cream with a flourish, and dramatically tossing nuts and flipping cherries from behind their back onto sundae tops. For more on history on soda fountains, plus my recipe a classic banana split (said to have been invented in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh), go here.

 

Like the iconic Main Street of many small eastern U.S. cities and towns, Phoenixville’s is lined with large trees and old homes, a goodly number
in the late Victorian “gingerbread” architectural style. I thought the
house at right, located just a couple blocks from Sue’s shop,  looked particularly stunning. But there where a
number of others similarly adorned with gables, bay windows, turrets,
expansive porches and elaborate latticework with contrasting painted
trim. I plan to go back and photograph additional houses in the future.

                                                                          

Should you wish to visit “Generations–Things Old and New,” it’s at 113 Main St
Phoenixville, PA 19460.
Phone: (610) 933-8100. Email: http://generationsonmain.com
Hours: Wed-Sat 12:30 pm – 5 pm (except on “Long Friday”  the first Friday of each month, when the shop is open until 9 pm). Several Philly area shoppers have rated the shop a top spot for its toys, gifts nostalgia, and friendly service; their “hotlist” comments are here.