The Amazing True-Life Tales of Childhood
Mr. and Mrs. Hubbs owned and operated the mom and pop store that was two blocks from the house I lived in growing up.
It was across the street from the park and half way between our house and the school I went to.
It was a huge part of my growing up years, a neighborhood fixture, and a favorite topic when the conversation turns to childhood memories.
I have often regarded childhood stories from my parents and older relatives with awe. Compared to their stories, I never saw my childhood as anything remarkable. It was just about the same as every other kid I knew growing up at the time.
My grandkids sometimes don’t believe me when I tell them tales from my youth.
“What?” the oldest grandchild says. “You didn’t have your own phone? How did you talk to your friends?”
“You’re kidding, right grandma?” the younger one says. “What else is there to do if you don’t have video games?”
They thought it wasn’t fair that my parents wouldn’t let us have any video games at all. Right up until I got them to understand that they basically hadn’t been invented yet.
We didn’t have computers. We didn’t have internet. We didn’t have our own personal mobile phones. We didn’t have Walmart.
They were amazed that we lived through that and came out unscathed!
Trying to explain the phone situation was hilarious. They couldn’t believe that all eight of us had to share one phone, that it was attached to the wall in the kitchen, that you had to dial it (“What is dialing?”) and that the parents had first dibs. We kids were usually limited to five minutes for a phone call.
What did I do when I wanted to talk to a friend? I usually walked to their house and knocked on their door.
We didn’t need video games. We had trees to climb, neighborhood kids to play with, books to read, bikes to ride, and a community swimming pool. We could cut through the yard of the neighbor behind us and be at the park in no time flat.
Of all the tales of amazing things though, the thing they seemed most amazed by was the penny candy. I got to walk to and from school, stop at Hubbs’s store on the way home, and buy penny candy.
They weren’t quite sure what penny candy was, (was it the size of a penny, did it look like a penny, did you have to pay for it with pennies?) but they were amazed when they found out that these pieces of candy could be had for just a penny each!
Bit O’ Honey, Sixlets, Candy Lipstick, Wax Lips, Peanut Butter Bars, Mary Janes, Totsie Rolls, Fire Balls, Candy Cigarettes, Candy Buttons, Neco Wafers… the list goes on!
My mother gave us milk money every day to buy milk to go with our lunches. White milk was two cents. Chocolate was three cents.
I always said chocolate so I could get three cents and bought white so I only paid two cents. “Sneaky, grandma!” the younger grandson said. “I like the way you think.”
I had five cents at the end of the week to spend on penny candy and I’ve got the fillings to prove it.
Almost as amazing as the penny candy thing (to me anyway) was the fact that you could buy a carton of milk for two cents. (I know, right?)
We played kickball in the summer, went ice skating in the winter, played in the field up the street, climbed in and out of the trenches the town dug for the new curbs, and jumped the fence when the neighbors were away so we could go swimming in their pool.
My brother used to take me with him sometimes to the shopping plaza in the winter where he’d do donuts with his car in the parking lot. It was very impressive.
When we went to visit friends in Vermont, we got to climb the mountain behind their house and chip fool’s gold out of the rocks.
We’d garbage pick up and down the street on trash day. People would put out stuff they didn’t want anymore right on the curb for anyone who wanted it.
It wasn’t like we rode in a covered wagon from Pennsylvania to North Dakota like my grandfather did throughout his childhood, and we didn’t live through the Great Depression or a World War like my parents did, but I guess what we had was pretty special–at least to us.
It makes me wonder. Do you suppose that my great-great-grandchildren will ask why my grandchildren’s parents never let them go to Mars?
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Two things:
1. Park Grocery? I always assumed the sign just said “Hubbs’s.”
2. I wonder if Mr. Hubbs was ever razzed about looking so much like Harry Truman?
Great memories, thanks Carol!
I didn’t know it had a name other than Hubbs’s either until I saw the picture and I had no idea what Harry Truman looked like when I was a kid either, so… You’re welcome! ❤
This made me smile, of course. Having many shared memories, I love to compare notes. I wrote a story about Hubbs for my memoirs class. It’s called A Penny and a Dream. As I recall, I talked about how I was allowed to buy cigarettes for my grandfather when I was about five years old! He let me spend the change on candy 😊. One of my favorite photographs is of me and Jeffrey Deuel, standing in my front yard. We are each clutching the familiar little brown paper bags that were the trademark of Hubbs’ penny candy. I’ll have to share it with you. Thanks for sharing these great memories.
PS: you were lucky. My mother never let me buy chocolate milk 😂.
I forgot about those little brown bags, they were the bomb! What a status symbol–they announced to the world, “I have pennies!”
I’d love to read your story and see the picture!
I, too used to buy cigarettes there, but they were for my brother. He signed the notes with my dad’s name. I don’t remember if I got any candy out of it, but I probably did so I’d keep my mouth shut!
The only thing you left out was having a party line! I bet those grand babies would have a fit over that. We really did have a magical childhood, didn’t we? I love this post. As always… you did it again.
Well, we did talk about the party lines but at the age they were, I think they thought I was making it up.
We grew up at just the right time in just the right place for the planets to align and make magic happen!
You’ve got it going on Carol. Heartfelt thanks for stirring up the memories right along with visuals. Mrs. Andersen, my best friend Betsy’s mom often gave us a dime to go to “Hubbs” as we referenced it. GOLD MINE. At one time for several weeks in a row, I would purchase some candy with my father and mother in mind. I stashed it in a covered glass candy dish behind some rarely used “crystal” and was proud as a peacock to present it to Daddy and Mama at Easter time one year. You have once again awakened some fine memories of my glorious childhood. The sun shines for me right now though it is 12:30 am on Castle Hill in EA at this time. A plus to our visits was the fact that Betsy’s grandmother lived up Grove Street on the right before Oakwood and never ever did I leave that house hungry. Knowing her explained the absolute kindness and love of Betsy and Betsy’s mother. Sweet memories does not say enough and thank you is not sufficient gratitude for the emotion you have elicited. Smiling Once Again!
Oh Lorri, you make my heart sing! Thank you so much for your kind and beautiful words. What a sweet and selfless thing you did for your parents. What an awesome memory of love and giving! I’m so glad I could bring a smile to your beautiful face! ❤
…and don’t forget one black and white TV for the whole family (when it was working), and no TV’s in any bedrooms 🙂 Happily that is still a thing at my house. Logan and Gabe would be appalled 😉
OMG! They would be appalled! I’m afraid they wouldn’t go for an on-again-off-again black and white tv either! I love that you’re holding the line at your house! ❤
I loved your story. Anytime I visited my Grandma and Grandpa Fox on Sycamore I was given a quarter. It went far at Hubs. We also collected pop bottles for money. It was a great time to grow up. Our parents had no idea where we were all day in the summer but everyone watched out for you.
Robi, I’m so glad you’re part of the East Aurora experience! It was a wonderful place and time to grow up. The freedom was great and, yes, everyone looked out after all the kids. I’m glad you enjoyed it!❤
WOW. Thank you. Seeing the store and Mr. and Mrs. Hubbs hit me right in my 8 year old child brain. I recognized the Hubbses right away. 60 years ago and some wonderful memories. Candy whistles and Dots. Super happy now. Thanks.
Paul, Happiness delivered! I’m glad you enjoyed. It’s always a treat when we can get our eight year old brains to come out and play! ❤
Hey Carol. I am so far behind. This is awesome. I can relate to everything you said in this writing. Our little home town store was run by Mr and Mrs White. It was on Bay Street, one block off South Main St. After school, us neighborhood kids rode on our bikes and bought a huge paper bag of candy for 10 cents. Sometimes we bought a coke out of a chest coke machine. You put in a nickel and opened the top and slid the coke down a rail and pulled it out at the end. This was before the stand up machine that you opened a long side door on. Remember? Great memories Carol. Your photos are outstanding. Thank you for the great memories. We share very similar memories even though you were North and I was South. Much simpler times my friend.
We were lucky girls, indeed! ❤🚴♀️
Great stories. Consistent with my childhood memories. So many years ago, yet so familiar and comfortable. Lucky to have that in our past.
Thanks Jeff! I think we’re extremely lucky. It was such a great time and place to grow up. And such great people surrounding us!
Thanks for reading! ❤