The "Steinfelt's...My Favorite Store"

It was a ordinary day.  Thinking back to when I was a young boy who sang in the St. James Episcopal Church Boy's Choir.  We had about 30 members ranging in ages from 8-12 years old.  Our choir director was Mr. Frank McConnell who held choir practice Monday afternoon, Thursday evening at 7:00 (this included the men's choir), and Saturday mornings from 10:00-11:00 am.  It was on those Saturday mornings that I would head downtown to Steinfelt's after choir practice to see what they might have that was new since the week before.  They had all types of candy which you could buy loose and which they would place in a small paper bag...all on top of one another.  A bagful of candy might cost you a quarter or at the most...30 cents.  They also had so many neat items geared to boys 10-15 years of age such as Mexican jumping beans, pens with invisible ink, rubber balls on elastic string, etc.  The list would go on and on and it was tough to decide what to buy when you usually only had a dollar or two to spend.  Many times after a visit to Steinfelt's, a friend or two might head either across the street or down the street to take in a movie at the Grand, Hamilton or Colonial.  I can remember many a Saturday morning taking in a Will Bill Hickok movie or something really scary that you only went to with a friend.  At times, one of our parents would pick us up from in front of Steinfelt's and drop us off at the King Theatre which was a few blocks from downtown on E. King Street.  Another great store to visit on Saturday morning was Hoetzel's where they had quite a few pinball machines.  My mom or dad would often give me a few extra quarters knowing I would head to Hoetzel's after choir practice.  Back then, buses were everywhere and at all hours of the day and night.  After a trip to the candy store or to the movies it was easy to hop on a CTC (Conestoga Transportation Co.) bus to head home.  Back then, parents' didn't have to worry that someone might grab their child since there were so many police walking around the town, keeping an eye on kids who were in town on a Saturday morning and afternoon,  If we were taking in a movie, my mom would usually pack a sandwich and chips for me and give me a few extra coins to buy a drink.  Back then the busses were everywhere downtown.  I would hop on the N. Queen St. bus and be home 15 minutes later.  And, as everyone my age would say..."those were the days."  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.