1962 what a great time in Lockport! Prosperity and we still had our downtown. Urban Renewal was creeping up on us, however. The Kennedy - Johnson era was at hand with those grandiose plans for transforming prospering urban areas into vacant areas except for lots of government subsidized housing. In the southeast corner of Cottage and Main below: how about those cars! Kipp's Cigar store in seen a building that would be torn down. Only the Masonic Building ---the anchor on the corner --- survived in this block (the Masons had connections in City Hall). A sub shop is where Mary Carter Paints had been, a Coin Shop where Albert's Men Shop was, and a Tattoo Parlor is now in the middle store front between Albert's and Mary Carter. The Telephone Company building, at Cottage and Walnut, just visible was a full-service office back in '62. You could go in and talk to real live people about your bill, your problems, and Lockport. We even had "Operators" working here!
Thanks to Al Goehle for sending along the photo which was taken by Lockport Photographer John Jenkins. We always appreciate it when folks send in photos to share. --- Lou