Miami University - Recensio Yearbook (Oxford, OH)

Page 29 text:

ptown Old and New: More Of The Same, Only Different Mary McElvain Imagine walking down High Street and win- dow-shopping at Joe Hayden's gun shop, Nagelis wagon shop or the Kyger brothers' General Store. Those were some of the store fronts on High Street about 100 years ago. Samuel McCullough bought the first lot on May 22, 1810, and for several years his inn was the only place for entertainment. Once the economy of Oxford began to stabilize, the town grew. At one time Oxford was even a part of the Underground Railroad and had a trap door in the secret basement of the Schweeting Jewelry Store. Although these places seem very atypical of Oxford today, many things have not changed. The Miami Co-op store started in 1904 and supplied all the textbooks for the university, a service it still provides. At that time it was the only sporting goods store in town, and the Co-op also conducted ticket sales for many Miami affairs. Further down High Street was the Gillard Drug Store, which later became the Rexall Store. In the days of ilOld Miami, the Delta Kappa Epsilon frater- nity used the floor above the store to hold their chapter meetings. Snyder's Camera and Gift Shop began as strictly an art store and later added photography and a variety of mer- chandise. Those stores seem basically the same, but one thing had changed in uptown Oxford. Saloons flourished on a grander scale in the 18008. Names were more colorful, like Hole- in-the-Hedge and The Pigs Eye. There was even a saloon where the Purity was; now the Plasma Center exists in both their places. Dur- ing the 19305, Willis Bros. Restaurant was Mary McElvain considered iia regular he-man's hangoutlli Students and Oxford taverns go back to the beginning. More recently, Oxford has agreed to the construction of a new bar on the corner of High Street and Poplar to replace Al and Lar- ryls, which burned down in 1979. Under the same owners, Attractions, a combination bar- restaurant, would open in July. The unique atmosphere included a glass-enclosed greenhouse, a large, rectangular bar and sky- lights. Not only would the new restaurant pro- vide entertainment, but many jobs would be available as well. Additional changes uptown included God- fatherls Pizza, which moved into the Miami Cleaner's building. This restaurant, with its casual 19303 image, opened its doors Tues- day, April 20, and would start servingtbeer with the students return in the fall of '82. Bash Riprocks was another new addition to High Street this year. Its menu included Mexican food and their speciality, baked or ilbashed potatoes. Bashis became a popular night spot as well. There was speculation about the opening of a McDonald's on the corner of Spring and Locust. Due to the inability to meet zoning code requirements for parking spaces, constrution was delayed. When the ugolden arches do open, many students and Oxford residents will be able to satisfy their Big Mac attacks without a drive to Hamilton or Northgate. Though Oxford has undergone a drastic facelift in the past year, constant changes over the last century were nothing new to the Uptown area. It was more of the same thing; new stores and bars to replace or add to the old. a Anne M. Schuld Student Life 25

Page 28 text:

24 Oxford Whatever the special occasion was, Oxford merchants offered the merchandise. Even though the appearance of uptown changed slowly, the small town college atmosphere lingered on. lce-cream from Baskin Robbins highlighted the evening of students who needed a study break or desert. On this calm'spring evening Lori Elliot and Maynard Samgester relaxed in the park with two scoops. The new Godfathers Pizza proved to be very successful. Many faithful patrons of other pizza places soon switched their loyality to Godfather's delicious pizza. Maw McElvain

Page 30 text:

26 Weather Jack Frost Nippe The substantial snowfall continually brought out the cross country skiers. Students skied the scenic course on western campus or across Hueston Woods State Parks grounds. The maintenance staff concluded a superb year of Clearing stairs and pathways that winter layed upon the campus. Winter weather demanded different modes of transportation than those used the rest of the year. While bicycles collected snow, students waded through it in their heavy winter boots. Brian Connair Rrinn Pnnna;r