Looking Back- Galesburg’s Neighborhood Groceries

I grew up in Savanna, Illinois in the ‘50’s and ‘60’s. Savanna was a small town where you didn’t worry about locking the doors to your house. And it was an era where in grade school it was considered safe to walk home from school, even though it was about a mile walk. 

Between my Avenue School and my house, there were three neighborhood groceries. If you had extra change, you would always stop for some baseball cards, a pop, or a candy bar. Everything was from a penny to a dime. 

As I drive around Galesburg, I see buildings that clearly had to be “neighborhood groceries.” And I hear people who grew up in Galesburg talking about Nelson’s, Shott’s, Dickerson’s, and many more.

In an article on the subject, Tom Wilson said that in the 1930’s there were over 130 small businesses that sold food in Galesburg. Some of these stores sold only food, others only meat, some just candy, and others might mainly have sold clothes but also had a section for food. Main Street had over 10 such stores. By the 1950’s, there were 50 such local stores. 

This is an article where I am reaching out to get Galesburg natives to share information and memories about the “neighborhood groceries.”  To get you started, in some cases I have some present day pictures and in other cases I just have names of stores but no pictures. 

With the following pictures— please share…

1- What was the name of it?

2- Do you have a picture of it from when it was still open as a store?

3- Any memories about the place?

(Share in the comments, or share to emass70@yahoo.com)

#1- Fremont St/Beecher St.

#2- Sanborn St. 

#3- Fremont St. (between Praire/Kellogg)

#4- North St/Whitesboro St.

#5- Lincoln St/North St.

#6- North St/Pearl St

#7- East Main St/Ohio St.

#8- Day St./Brooks St.

#9- Dickerson’s- W.Main St/West St.

#10- Smith’s- Monmouth Blvd/Henderson St.

#11- Hi-Lo Grocery- S.Seminary St.

#12- Nelson’s- North St./Monroe St.

#13- Knox St./Henderson St.

Here are some names of “neighborhood groceries.” One of my pictures may go with one of these names. Share if you have:

1- Address these would have been located.

2- Picture of the spot now?

3- Picture of it when it was open?

4- Any memories of the store?

5- Please add others that I am missing. 

(Share in the comments or email to emass70@yahoo.com)

A- Daggie’s on Maple St.

B- Shott’s on Fremont St.

C- Harley’s on Academy St.

D- Campbell’s on Fremont St.

Others???

I am hoping you will share, and then in a month I can clean up this post and put together a more accurate outline of all the “neighborhood groceries.” 

Thanks!!