12/18/2021
Something always seemed familiar when you walked into Craighead’s Store. The remembered smell, the warmth of the wood floors or the timeless tin ceiling tiles. Maybe as a child you had gone there with your mother on a regular basis for all your family's daily needs: fabric, sewing patterns, roll up blinds, Ace or Lady Ace combs, razors, underwear, caps with ear flaps or Buster Brown socks.
Also inside was the comic book corner where you could find your favorite: Archie, Casper, Little Lulu, Superman, Westerns and more. The toy table was full of roll cap guns, porcelain baby dolls in diapers, balsa wood gliders, army men, and bags full of cowboys and Indians. The candy counter where you could fill a little brown paper bag for pennies with the likes of BB Bats, Banana Bites, Necco Wafers, Jaw Breakers, Double Bubble, Winner Suckers or a big red ball of candy apple gum.
Maybe you just dropped in for a new color of nail polish, movie magazine, newspaper or sheet music. Maybe a gift for someone which came with free wrapping service.
Maybe you had gone there once and found something you needed and couldn’t find it anywhere else.
Maybe you moved away and hadn’t been into Craighead’ for years but then you walked in and it just still seemed familiar to you. Maybe it felt that way because it felt like your store. Personal to you and more familiar to you than anyone else.
Maybe it always felt familiar to us because it truly was our store. Just inside the front door to the right sits the thread counter and taped under the top glass is a poem clipped from a newspaper. Most likely placed there by Maurine Craghead. It reads:
This is “Our Store!”
Let’s feel that way,
And let’s take pride
In the thought each day!
And let’s take interest
Always, too,
Whatever the job
We have to do.
Remembering always
A sunny smile
Can make hearts light
And work worth while.
Let’s create
Such an atmosphere
That folks will like
To come here
Let’s write “Welcome!”
Over our door
For let’s remember —
“This is Our Store!”
Our familiar feelings of our store are now our memories.
Craighead's Store 1938 - 2021
