It was an ordinary day. Heading through the small town known Neffsville, Pennsylvania. The building where I went to Junior High as well as High School is located in Neffsville as is the building in which I taught High School for 30 years. If you are coming northward from the city known as Lancaster, you would find Neffsville which is located on Route 501N. My story today has to do with a small candy shop that at one time sat on the east side of 501N, about 100 yards from the original Manheim Township High School that sits on East Valley Road. The candy shop was operated from 1979 to 1994 by a woman known to everyone who entered the store as "Oma," which is Grandmother in German. She was actually a dressmaker who learned the craft in Goppingen, Germany. Her consignment shop in Neffsville was called "Petra's Variety Shop," but to those youngster's who had not interest in sewing, she was known as "The Candy Lady." Before school or after school...it didn't matter, since her shop was filled with children looking for their favorite candies. Petra died November 9, 2014 at Lancaster County's Conestoga View. The building no longer stands, but that's probably the best since the store will never be the same after a few generations of "The Candy Lady." Before "Oma" ran the store, another woman by the name of Betty Krick was "The Candy Lady." She ran the store when I was a student at the Jr. High in 1956 and was still there when I graduated from Manheim Township High School in 1962. Betty ran the "mom and pop" store until she sold the store to "Oma." I can still remember looking in the front door or big window to see how long it might the before I could get my candy choices. As a child, I had my favorites and I knew she would have them waiting for me in her glass cabinet inside the front door. The original store was called "Kricks" and everyone who went to school with me knew where it was located and who Mrs. Krick was. I know I probably rotted a few of my teeth on the sweets, but you're not a child if you haven't rotted a few of your teeth eating candy. Well, the candy store no longer sits along Lititz Pike. It was demolished and is now a plot of green grass. Why would someone do that to a perfectly good candy store? Don't they know that kids like me or like my children need candy from time to time? I'm not sure where you can buy loose penny candy anymore. And, you will never replace Petra Long and later Betty Krick. And, every time I pass that open spot on Lititz Pike in Neffsville I will shed a tear for the many times I visited the store to buy candy for myself and later for my children. Somethings are never forgotten...and this is one of those things for me. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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I spent a good portion of my youth growing up in a house in the subdivision behind the Manheim Township High School. I attended the Middle School, then the High School for one year before my Dad picked our family up and moved us to Georgia (that was over 40 years ago).
ReplyDeleteMy fondest memories are from my youth living in Neffsville; and as I was feeding my nostalgia online, I came across your "Candy Store" post. Many wonderful memories going to Kricks - I think my friends and I aged Betty prematurely (or maybe she was already aged, I can't remember!). The reason why I say this is because I remember her almost always telling us "Hurry up, I haven't got all day," then we'd snicker. That's how I know we were more than likely challenging her standard patience.
You've articulated an experience that reminds me of how idyllic I hold my youth, and that area during that time in my life - thank you!