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Childhood Memories
Dear Editor:
As a child I spent many summers at the Guinan's Country Store with my grandmother, Barbara Prescott. Flipping through the local papers the last couple of weeks have brought back so many warm and happy memories. From the antique cash register that to this day makes a distinct sound to the view from the kitchen window looking at the purple mountain in the fall and winter to digging through the big yellow cooler for a Dr. Pepper that was always at the bottom and the extra large Gobstoppers that came in a 2-pack in the old fashioned candy jar. I can't forget the red and white chair that sat between the candy stand and the snack stand that belonged to so many people. One person in particular still stands out in my mind: Ruth Loughran - she would spend many hours in that chair talking to my grandmother; people coming in and out, they always seemed to carry on a conversation.
I spent a lot of time in the kitchen. Late in the morning Mr. Guinan would come down after a long night of tending the bar, pour his tea from the tea kettle always left to boil on the stove and make his breakfast - most of the time a one min egg - then he would settle into his chair at the far end by the wall and read his paper or do his books. When Margaret was living home I always remember her with her Freihoffer bran muffins and tea.
As I have read the articles in the local papers and have heard the talk around town about Guinan's store closing and how an era has come to an end I can't help but smile and think about all the summers I spent in Guinan's. I wish Mr. Guinan (Uncle Jim) a safe trip to Ireland and warm days with lots of holes in one.
Amanda Walsh
Newburgh
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