Walking in the Footsteps of Giants
Catonsville is ever-evolving and never changing.
As is true in every small town, progress in Catonsville has a way of evolving in a self-referencing manner. New replaces old, and then is supplanted by newer, but each incarnation seems to only emphasize the depth of the well from which it sprung.
For example, there has been a strong and pleasantly fattening history of ice cream shops in our town. My memory stretches back to childhood ice cream soda extravaganzas at the counter of Moss's drugstore. These memories were succeeded by the pubescent-defining moments I spent at Father's Gay Nineties. The fact that my thirteen year old self never once stopped to contemplate the word "gay" in the name only emphasizes the defining role this ice cream mecca played in my life.
And now we have You Scream, Ice Cream. I encourage everyone to patronize this establishment as it deserves to earn its star in the Catonsville ice cream firmament. Harkening back to the giants that dominated our town in years past, You Scream, Ice Cream gives great service at great prices. Every time I leave their tiny Frederick Road storefront with ice cream in hand, I remember back to my nights at Father's and days at Moss's. The only thing missing from You Scream, Ice Cream is a rowboat filled with ice cream and some brothel-red velvet wall coverings (if you are not familiar with this reference please turn to the Catonsvillian next to you and ask them to fill you in on the décor of Father's Gay Nineties).
Here are a few other examples of the ever-evolving but always the same tiny little world we live in:
Parent- Baltimore Colts Marching Band; Offspring- Purple Fridays
Parent- parties in God's Country; Offspring- parties at the Barn
Parent- Field's Candy Shop; Offspring- Ken's Old Fashioned Candy Shop
Parent- fireworks at Catonsville High School; Offspring-....ok, that hasn't changed at all.
Reader, reader, pumpkin eater, stop pretending to work and join me in this pleasant diversion. Please tell me in the comments your ideas about the same game but different name that is Catonsville. Or, tell me about things in Catonsville that are simply irreplaceable (really, what could ever replace Westview Drive In?). And feel free to be as obscure as you like; after all, obscure references are the building blocks of most Catonsville conversations.
What makes Catonsville, well, Catonsville?
Tell us in the comments.
Dave Ditman
6:11 am on Monday, January 9, 2012
How about fireworks at the old junior high school?
Cheryl Dunigan
8:07 am on Monday, January 9, 2012
Dave, didn't know about fireworks at the old Junior High. If anyone knows the history of fireworks in Catonsville, fill me in!
Richard Hiteshew
8:10 am on Monday, January 9, 2012
Before: Steve Whalen builds 405 Frederick Road and local citizens are opposed.
Now: Steven Whale builds a new Medical bulding on Kenwood Road and local citizens are opposed.
What????
Dave Ditman
10:02 am on Monday, January 9, 2012
Up until about 1963 we all trooped to the old Junior High to watch the fireworks. It got a little crowded there so the show was moved to the Senior High grounds.
Grandparent: Hilton Dairy Cottage; Parent: Lighthouse; Offspring: houses across Rolling Road from the high school.
Dave Ditman
10:02 am on Monday, January 9, 2012
Up until about 1963 we all trooped to the old Junior High to watch the fireworks. It got a little crowded there so the show was moved to the Senior High grounds.
Grandparent: Hilton Dairy Cottage; Parent: Lighthouse; Offspring: houses across Rolling Road from the high school.
Ron Wise
10:22 am on Monday, January 9, 2012
Cheryl, Just how old are you? You look like a kid in your profile pic. (But then, everybody looks young to me these days.)
I bet you don't remember Shield's Drug Store at Paradise. They were the old fashioned kind of pharmacy with a soda fountain. My sisters and I would go there to enjoy sodas, sundays, the un-PC Black cow (root beer and vanilla ice cream. We'd sit at the little tables with the glass tops where you could see ads for sundries and match book covers advertising same. I also remember Moss's being on both corners of Frederick road.
Cheryl Dunigan
12:01 pm on Monday, January 9, 2012
Ron, I am 150 years old. And your comment about my profile pic has now made you my #1 favorite Patch reader.
Kate
10:30 am on Monday, January 9, 2012
i've only been in catonsville about 5 years, but absolutely love it. i just wish they would bring a nice, organic grocery store...Trader Joes or Davids Natural Market?
What about fireworks near spring grove? there is so much beautiful land there, it should really be put to use.
Anne Weinkam
10:48 am on Monday, January 9, 2012
Grandparent: Walk the streetcar track from the Junction to Frederick Road while putting your ear to the track to feel if a streetcar was coming.
Parent and grandchildren: Walk the paved trail on beautiful day and see the mural wall representing days gone by.
We used to sit on the hood of our car parked along the shortline tracks behind the old Bloomsbury school and watch the Fourth of July fireworks.
Anne
Laura
11:22 am on Monday, January 9, 2012
Kate -- there was an organic/holistic market in the storefront next to G.L. Shack's 10 or 15 years ago -- it didn't last long, unfortunately.
Penny Riordan
11:51 am on Monday, January 9, 2012
For those who aren't aware and are interested in an organic market: we have written about a group in Catonsville that is looking form a food co-op: http://catonsville.patch.com/articles/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-catonsville-co-op. The organization's website is: http://www.catonsvillecooperativemarket.com/
John Provenza
12:16 pm on Monday, January 9, 2012
On Frederick Rd., Between G.L. Shacks Grill & 7-11. Parent: Gino's, the original fast food burger joint in the 60's. Offspring: Arby's & presently McDonalds.
Chris
2:29 pm on Monday, January 9, 2012
Parent - hanging out on Geipe Road and vomiting at Gino's
Amy H.
2:33 pm on Monday, January 9, 2012
Parent: Attended school at Catonsville Junior High on Bloomsbury; Offspring: soccer/ballet/etc. at the Bloomsbury Community Center. (Cheryl, I also remember walking to Father's after dances at the Jr. High, & yes, I'll vouch for that red decor!) Also, Parent: party at Garvey's field; Offspring: playground/sports at the Senior Citizens Center on N. Rolling. John Provenza, you forgot there was a Roy Rogers at one time at the present McD's location on Fred. Rd.
Parent: the original Record & Tape Traders (sold records! and "other stuff")Offspring: Trax on Wax.
Gina
12:08 pm on Sunday, January 15, 2012
Amy this made me laugh..............
Parent: owned the Garvey house, Offsping(generation1) partied in the woods at the Senior Center, Offsring(generation2) still parting in the woods at the Senior Center!
Penny Riordan
3:11 pm on Monday, January 9, 2012
The Record and Tape Traders and Trax on Wax one is a good one!
Karen
3:30 pm on Monday, January 9, 2012
Parent - Hardees /breakfast before class at CCC, offspring Dunkin Donuts some type of latte/mocha breakfast before classes at CCBC. Parent -smoking in bus port at the junior high, offspring - actually smoking in the restrooms at the high school. Parent - field hockey in the "dust bowl", offspring - field hockey STILL in the dust bowl. Grandparent - Mrs. Parks for History at high school, Parent - Mrs. Parks for History at high school...
mary
4:33 pm on Monday, January 9, 2012
Parent- White Coffee Pot Jr for hamburgers
offspring- Chef P for everything
Cheryl Dunigan
5:07 pm on Monday, January 9, 2012
Oh Lord, White Coffee Pot, Jr. That was some fried chicken.
Bob Cross
7:01 am on Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Parents: sat in same place for the parade 1969-2003
Offspring: moved everything two blocks west and to the opposite side of Frederick Rd.
Bob Cross
7:06 am on Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Parents: Pappy's for pizza
Offspring: peace-a-pizza
John Provenza
11:08 am on Tuesday, January 10, 2012
@ Amy H.: You are correct! There may have been another fast food place in that location as well, maybe a Hardees?? I'm not sure though.
Amy H.
11:44 am on Tuesday, January 10, 2012
@ Bob Cross: Pappy's! Who didn't wear one of those Pappy's hats back then? Great call.
Gina
12:13 pm on Sunday, January 15, 2012
even I remember pappy's (I'm 35) every time someone mentions that place I can taste the Birch Beer! That place was great! I remember being squished in the window with piles of other kids watching the guys making pizza throwing them up in the air and catching them!
Cheryl Dunigan
12:00 pm on Tuesday, January 10, 2012
@Amy and Bob Cross- I wrote an article about the greatness that was Pappy's. If you're interested, you can find it here:
http://catonsville.patch.com/articles/pappys-on-my-mind
Bob Cross
5:47 pm on Sunday, January 15, 2012
Every time I drive by that intersection I think about Pappy's. It's the reason every time I go in the Catonsville Gourmet I order a Birch Beer. It was a great place to go.
Tamara Riddell
1:27 am on Monday, March 26, 2012
Does any one have information/photos of the Westview cinemas/ Inside or out? My daughter's grandfather, George Brehm, helped design and run it, but all memorabilia has been lost. I have told her a little about the building, but it was torn down before I had a chance to really get familiar with it. She would really love to see something (reminisces, descriptions, pictures, anything related) to help her connect with a grandfather who passed away when she was only a baby. Thank-you,
Tamara tuggerhugger@yahoo.com
Gina
8:38 am on Monday, March 26, 2012
Tamara I worked there for about 2yrs when I was in high school. If I remember correctly George ran the films. I don't really remember anything great other then whenever I would start my shift I would always turn to the security camera and say "Hi George!" At the time I was just a teenager and worried more about talking to my friends that worked there had I been older I probably would have asked more questions about the history of the place. Back then I never thought it would have been torn down, it was a great place, I can still remember what the inside looked like.