It was just after the war, 1946, and Lockport was booming! The Harrison "Main Plant" seen in the upper part of the photo was in full production. The Lockport High School campus was between Walnut and East Avenue and can be seen bordered by the trees in the middle left. Lockport had excellent bus service and the bus and city transportation center is visible just north of Walnut and to the southeast of the landmark Farmer's & Mechanics Bank Building at Locust and Main. Note all the buses lined up just west of the The Palace Theater on Elm Street. Stores and (occupied) buildings instead of parking lots! Many folks didn't drive downtown but took a bus---service was so good (before NFTA). Many from the south would walk downtown along Locust and Washburn Street---the entire downtown was safe---no Crime District!
In 1946 downtown Lockport had most everything! A big base of taxpaying buildings and stores for most everything you needed. To see a list go to our Memories of Main Street Downtown Destinations Page. Can you spot...Burt & Ben The Tire Men?...The Union-Sun & Journal (locally owned then, it was printed, composed, edited right in downtown)...Jay's On The Corner...Bewley Building...etc. All this without government grants or loans. Instead of government handouts to a select few, the "incentives" were: low taxes, no sales tax, safe streets, a cop on the beat, bus and taxi service, full out-of-town rail and bus service, a real local newspaper with local owners, and a spartan welfare bureaucracy. The aerial photo was taken July 23, 1946 by Arthur W. Moreau.
Do you have some photos of old Lockport to share? We thank those who have loaned us photos for copy, sent photos by e-mail, and just donated old boxes of them headed for the trash. We have a fair backlog awaiting publication but are always seeking more variety, different views, personalities, families, etc. Click here to learn how to help.