New Britain herald., 1922-08-05


 Britain Is not so apt to notice the many changes that occur, especially those that affect the business section and the business life. as one who has long been away and then returns, The transfer of the old and established Fuller and Niven store, better known as The Boston Store. this week, how ever. brings with added force the real ization that times are changing and business men with time. The passing of MT. Niven as an active Main street merchant closes mora than 40 years Of active business life in the city's cen- ter, few months ago Dugald Me- Milan closed out his personal hold ings in business after more than 80 years. Not so long ago Joseph Ryan closed out his harness and leather goods store after two decades In the center. and while Morgan and Kings ley. another pioneer business house still maintains its business, neverthe- less the old site Is changed and a modern building is being erected there.
 
 present generation. even those suifi- ciently young to fatter themselves by thinking they are "the rising gener- ction" when compared to some of the old timers, can recall changes about the center that have brought about almost an entirely new business sec- ton. First, those still in their twen- ties, can recall the time when the old wooden bandstand stood at the south end of the triangle, here now crowds wait for trolleys. They can also re- member the pretty little fountain that used to play in the center of the square, where there is now a flower garden. They can remember when the Savings Bank of New Britain was located in a building where now stands the John A. Andrews store. And 1t requires no stretch of the mem- ory to remember the day that the spire of the old First Baptist church was pulled down. That edifice stood where now stands the imposing Ma tonal Bank Building. Where the saw ings bank Is located formerly stood the Y. M. c. A. dormitory now moved around on Court street The rickety old one story Dickinson drug store building stood, until a compara- lively few years ago, where the Fair Department store building is now, and at about the same time there stood on the site of the Barnes block a re- modelled dwelling house which was occupied toward the last by l.. M. ho of In tho basement was a well known all night re staurant conducted by Charlie An 4rews, who was well known also as a concessionist at White Oak Park. Of course it is only within the past year or two that the old Miller bockl which for years housed the Darius Miller dry goods store and Nicholas Cohen's millinery store, gave way to the modern Besse- Leland building Also, 1t is not so long ago that the old Hungerford house stood where Hatch's block is now. The Hunger ford house is the Y. W. c. A. head quarters. The Jr. O. r. A. M. hall was formerly the Hungerford estate harm, and at that time Porter X Dy- sons store was in, a little wooden building, a continuation of which now houses the manufacturing part of that business. Across the street, where Bence's garage is, stood a handsome old fashioned dwelling which gradual ly gave way to the tide of business, it's last occupant before being razed hay ing been a Chinaman who conducted a laundry. Further down. where Le- Wits block is. there stood, until 6 or years ago, the old Stanley House, about the last of the old time resi- dences. Dr. NJ. J. kinsella, when he first came to New Britain, opened of- Aces in that old building The Hali- nan block, on Main street, is on the site of another house owned by the Hart family, which at present stands back of the Sovereign building.
 Church street, too, has seen its changes within few years. Rogers Recreation building is not so old but almost everybody can remember the old ramshackle one story houses that were located there.
 With these few changes called to mind, and there are many more, with in the memory of the young man'and young woman of today. 1t can be seen that New Britain Is not the old New Britain, and the returning ex-resident is hardly able to realize that it Is the cid home town"
 Local merchant reports information from producers that Switzerland is cheese from this country. Another case of the worm turning.