By Nancy Knisley
Merchant Street has changed a lot since the 1970s. Most of the businesses from the '50s and '60s are gone. But if you look carefully, you can still see signs of a few of those businesses. Sometimes you just need to look down.
If you are interested in seeing these signs, act quickly, because more disappear with each passing year.
Of all the businesses shown in the photos in this post, the only one still open is Stangl's.
Merchant Street has changed a lot since the 1970s. Most of the businesses from the '50s and '60s are gone. But if you look carefully, you can still see signs of a few of those businesses. Sometimes you just need to look down.
If you are interested in seeing these signs, act quickly, because more disappear with each passing year.
Of all the businesses shown in the photos in this post, the only one still open is Stangl's.
Stangl's Bakery sign, 572 Merchant Street, March 30, 2014
Anderson's Candy was open until recently, but it looks as though it's now closed for good. The Baden store remains open.
Anderson's Candyland sign, 529 Merchant Street, March 30, 2014
Katcher's Furniture is gone, and when I was in Ambridge in March, the store was vacant.
The Sacks women's clothing store was empty when I visited. And while the sign was still there, it was hidden by a barrier across the front of the entryway. Fortunately, Bill Orlowski had taken a photo during his 2009 visit.
Sacks sign, 533-535 Merchant Street; July, 2009. Credit: Bill Orlowski, used with permission
I couldn't photograph all of the Fashion Hosiery sign because the entryway is now covered with a black mat, and the lower part seems to have been replaced by a sidewalk repair. But Bill got the best part of the sign. I always loved those little naughty dogs!
Fashion Hosiery sign, 551 Merchant Street; March 30, 2014.
Fashion Hosiery sign, 551 Merchant Street; July, 2009. Credit: Bill Orlowski, used with permission
Bill photographed the remaining bit of the Davidson's department store's sign. Good eye, Bill; I didn't even see it. A bicycle shop is in this part of the building.
Davidson's sign, 518 Merchant Street; July, 2009. Credit: Bill Orlowski, used with permission
Is the Terner's men's store sign still there? I missed it when I walked by in March, but it was there in 2009.
Terner's Men's Wear sign, 654 Merchant Street; July, 2009. Credit: Bill Orlowski, used with permission
Timney's appliance store was razed in the summer of 2013, and the Timney sign is gone. Now the Dollar General which used to be in the old G. C. Murphy's building is there in a newly constructed building.
Timney sign, 612-614 Merchant Street; July, 2009; Credit: Bill Orlowski, used with permission
Nancy Bohinsky Knisley grew up in Ambridge in the 1950s and 1960s. She is the author of Ambridge Memories, a blog dedicated to local history from 1950 to 1970. Visit ambridgememories.blogspot.com for more.
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