by Cathy Slade

Everyone knows the story of how Roslindale was named by its first settlers. The area resembled the landscape of Roslyn, Scotland and was full of hills and dales, thus "Roslindale." Quite appropriately for the late 19th century, the business district was originally referred to as "the Village."

During the first revival, the local residents didn't want to seem old-fashioned. They wanted Roslindale to project the image of a modern neighborhood. To that effect, the business district became known as the "Square." During the latest revitalization of Roslindale in the 1990's and due to the influence of the Main Streets Program, the central business district in Roslindale has again become known as the Village.

At a recent meeting of the Roslindale Historical Society at Roslindale House, which was the former Roslindale High School, members reminisced about the Roslindale of their youth. Just as today, there were plenty of places to go shopping, have your hair done, drop by for coffee, and more.

The anchor store of the current Village is the Village Market. Over the years residents have done their food shopping at Lodgens, Corey's, the original Roche Bros. Supermarket on Corinth Street, and Stop & Shop once found at the site of the closed Ashmont Discount on Washington Street. If they had a car, they could shop at A&P over on American Legion Highway or drive to the top of Washington Street to the First National Supermarket.

Specialty food items were available at Kennedy's Butter & Eggs, Claus's Delicatessen, Tony's Market, Rose's Fish Market on Birch Street, and the Roslindale Fish Market on Poplar. Also, every little corner had a little variety store where your mom sent you for bread and milk, including the Nationwide on Washington Street near Metropolitan, the Red Ferris Market on Kittridge between Cornell and Glendower, Tony's at the corner of Beech and Kittridge, Louie's at Canterbury and Hyde Park Ave., Bustoff's at the curve on Florence Street near the Blakemore Bridge, and Henry's Variety across from the Longfellow School. Though many of us remember these stores, how many bought candy seconds, which had to be dusted off, from Schrafts at the corner of Birch and Corinth? If you were a treat lover there were many places to stop in the Square of old, including Brigham's, Dorothy Muriel, and even Fanny Farmers. In those days, children stopped at their local drugstore's soda fountain for a dish of ice cream or a glass of vanilla cola.

There was a drug store on practically every corner from Archdale to Beech and all the way up Washington Street. Did you go to Archdale Pharmacy, Hailer's Drug Store, the Parkway Spa, Hill Pharmacy, Cornell Drug Store, Walworth Pharmacy, or perhaps the unremembered one at Albano Street? I would be remiss in not mentioning the Rexall Pharmacy in the Square at the corner of Birch and Corinth. All these drug stores were quite different from today's modem ones, such as Brooks and CVS. Thank goodness we still have one neighborhood pharmacy in Sullivan's.

Although most mothers baked birthday cakes in those days, there were numerous bakeries throughout Roslindale then, just as there are today. In those days, we stopped at Cuddy's for donuts in the Square, Swensons on Cummins Highway, Aggie's on Washington near Met. Ave, and Pagliarulo' s or Santoro's Bakery in the Square. Today Diane's Bakery, John's Bakery and Boschetto's Bakery are in the same locations as they have been for the past forty or so years, and are joined by relative newcomers Fornax Bread on Corinth, Vouros'. Bakery offering Greek delicacies, and Bob's Pita Bread on South Street, offering the freshest bread and Lebanese pastries.

You've always been able to sit down and get a meal in Roslindale, whether at the counter of Woolworth's, in Serino's Restaurant, King Pyrrus Restaurant, Syl's for breakfast, the Lunch Box, the Spa for burgers and frappes, or an evening at the Casa Beirut. Today you can go to Village Sushi, Birch Street Bistro, Delfmo's, Gusto's, the Blue Star, Wapo Taco, and the soon-to-be-op Sofia's Grotto and Bangkok Cuisine.

Star Pizzeria is the latest incarnation a corner of Corinth and Washington. It joins the Roslindale House of Pizza, Jo Bakery, and Boschetto's, all of which serving up slices. Drop by Derna's on South Street for the Breakfast Special or Break the House, no menus need. Chinese food available at Dragon Chef, Imperial Kit and Triple Eatery on Cummins Highway however, there are no Chinese laundry available any more! Who remembers ping off their shirts for extra starch at I Goon's Chinese laundry on Washington Street?

Shopping for that special occasion brought children of all ages to Althea's, Cannel Sikora's to pick out stationery, cards, or a little knickknack. Mom went into Surman's for that dapper suit for Dad, and he stopped by Cummings to pick out the latest fashions for her. Everyone shopped in Parke Snow and visited Jay the Jeweler to pick out a special gift. Jay's son John carries on the family tradition at the store on Corinth Street.

Variety items were available at Woolworth's, Kresge's and Grant's department stores. More specialty items were available at Maxim's Dress Shop and Ann's. Today the fashion-conscious shop on Birch Street at Zia's, and Joanne Rosman. 18 Birch offers unique articles for the home. For everyday items, you can find whatever you need in JAX Liquidators and the. new Nancy's Boutique, (replacing Closeouts on Poplar Street).

An article about then and now in Roslindale wouldn't be complete without reminiscing about the missing entertainment in the Village. In our youth, We walked to the Rialto Theatre for double features on Saturday afternoons, and once we got there, our feet stuck to the floor from all the spilt soda.

Below the current Harrison Refrigeration, there was a bowling alley where many strikes were made.. Back then, we stopped in the Municipal Building to play basketball and run around the elevated track, hoping not to fall off. Teenagers were always welcome at the soda fountains, and at Brigham's where they shared a soda or fries before they went shopping at the record store or browsing in Woolworths at the parakeets, goldfish and turtles.

As for the banks in Roslindale, they have played hopscotch all over the Square (never mind changing their names to confuse us), but that's a story in itself. If you can fill in the blanks in this story, visit the Roslindale Historical Society. Click on the "I Remember" page and send your reminiscences.