More from McCook 1950 phone directory

To finish up with the 1950 McCook-Culbertson Telephone Directory, I thought I would stir some memories for those who are a bit older than me. My last article mentioned the Coney Island at 501 West B Street and I got an immediate response from someone who had worked there.

When I was younger, I had the unfortunate attitude that McCook only consisted of filling stations and churches. Those were not bad things, mind you, just the thought process that repeats its self in the younger generation looking for “something to do”!

We did have a fair share of service stations, one of which was the Casford Skelly Service Station at 702 East B Street. They carried Firestone and U.S. Royal tires, repaired tires, sold gas, washed and waxed cars plus had a “Tank Wagon Service”. Otto Oil at 406 East B would pick up and deliver your car.

For hunting, fishing and athletic equipment you could shop either Champion Sporting Goods at 117 West B Street, or Joes Sporting Goods at 217 West 1st. Joe’s , Joe Moskal, proprietor, also sold cold beer and fine liquors.

If you wanted to see a movie you had the choice of the Bison Theater in the Temple building or the Fox Theater. In the summer you could “See the Stars under the Stars” at Jasper Giddings and Wm. Hanke’s McCook Drive In Theater.

“Roller Skate for Health’s Sake” was the drawing card for the McCook Roller Rink on West J street, but no listings were found for the dance halls from the past. Three clubs were found: American Legion at 118 ½ West B, Elks Club Room at 611 Norris and the Country Club at 1012 East 5th. You could bowl at the Bowl-Mor Alleys, 109 East 2nd owned by Pop Warriner and Guy Nelson.

Beer Parlors included Bruce’s Tavern, 113 Norris, Mick’s Bar at 118 West B, Randy’s Cigar Store, 202 Norris plus billiard parlors listed as Loose & Smith and PO & John’s Sport Center, 115 and 116 West B.

Need a place to stay? McCook had 6 Hotels in 1950. The Banks, located at 101 Norris, Cozy at 111 ½ Norris, Keystone at 402 Norris, Yale Hotel and Café at 110 West 1st, Claar situated at 114 West B, and Hotel McCook at 302 West B. Four of those buildings still exist.

McCook had several attorneys in 1950. Colfer, Russel & Colfer, 209 ½ Norris, Fred T. Hanson, 215 ½ Norris, Lafayette Hurley in the Penny building on Norris, Charles McCarl at 103 West C, Morrison & Gruver, 301 ½ Norris, Spencer & Spencer, 416 ½ Norris and Steven’s & Scott, 203 ½ Norris.

A map of the city of McCook is included in this book. There are no housing streets listed past West 5th and the Victory Addition is shown as “U.S. Housing Area” just north of the Auditorium on that street. No houses are shown to be above O Street and an Ice-Skating Rink is sketched in directly north of Weiland Field. A U. S. Trailer Camp is situated on East B Street two blocks south of Felling Field and is shown to be three blocks long.

Northwestern Bell inserted several “reminders” as advertising for their services throughout the book. One was entitled “Money Talks but does not tell who sent it “ telling people to be sure and put the statement stub in with their payments. Another asks, “Are you remodeling or building” to let people know they can have the advantage of concealed telephone wiring by placing a small pipe in the walls at the time they build so that they can draw the wires through later. Lastly, the one that was the bane of all teenagers at the time, party lines, reminds people to be courteous and not talk too long because they tie up the line so that other people can’t use it.

Seems impossible that November is just about gone. Our SWNGS Christmas party will be December 1, at 1 PM, 110 West C, Suite M-3. The public is invited to join us.