When I first came to Decatur in 1962, I couldn't believe my good fortune. Decatur seemed to have everything. Since I'd grown up in a small town where we owned the only store, Richards' General Store, the possibilities seemed endless.

My mother didn't drive, and I longed to go places. Now with the green city buses, we had all sorts of opportunities. We learned how to go all over town, using the schedule and transfers. Best of all, it was affordable as long as you had the right change.

One of the favorite outings was to meet my dad at Sears Roebuck when he worked late Friday night. We would plan the trip and spend the hour after school on Friday afternoon getting ready. We had to wear dresses, of course. My dad wanted us to look our best when we visited his workplace.

Promptly at 6:30 p.m. the green bus would pull up to the corner, and we were off. Sears was on North Street then, and it was a wondrous store of two floors with a waiting room on the landing.

I remember running in to see my dad in the shoe department. The smell of leather led me there. Dad always prided himself on being the manager of a shoe department where most of the shoes were leather and salespeople actually helped you find your size.

No one was hopping around on one foot trying to see if something fit. Lots of chairs were strategically placed so you could put your packages down and really concentrate on the purchase. I loved the shoe department. Surprisingly enough, I never needed to look at shoes. My dad always purchased my shoes when they first came in. Usually, I got one pair in every color that was available. He knew my ever-changing size and the styles I liked.

After a quick visit to the shoe department, my mom and I would look through every inch of the store. We always seemed to end our shopping just in time to go to the candy counter in the waiting area. I would select a few pieces of candy. It was never very much, just enough for 15 minutes.

The landing was also the place where customers smoked so a hazy odor of tobacco, perfume and candy lingered. We would sit and talk with people and wait patiently for the 9 p.m. ding that meant my dad would soon come proudly through the Employees Only door.

After riding the bus, shopping at the big department store and having candy, I had already had a great evening but it wasn't over yet. My dad always had his supper at 9:30 on those Friday nights and when we were with him we made it a family event.

There was no question about where to eat. We always took a brisk walk to Rango's for pizza. The owners and the people who worked downtown were on a first-name basis, so we were going for more than food. It was a celebration for employees who worked downtown that the weekend was finally here.

Unfortunately, things changed. I got older. My dad started selling big appliances which never had the same interest for me as shoes. Sears moved to Franklin Street and the city buses stopped running in the evening. Even so, the aroma of candy, leather and pizza always takes me back to the 1960s in Decatur.

Decatur businesses

I remember the businesses and facilities that were downtown. Here's a list:

Black & Co. Sporting Goods

Linn & Scruggs

Quigle's Furniture

Black & Co. Hardware

Cook & Myers Sporting Goods

Blondie Belles

Bachrach's

Richman Bros.

Folrath Shoes

Carson Pirie Scott

Hourans Florist

Empress Theatre

Carnegie Library

Block & Kuhl

Emerson Piano House

Roth Johnson Pharmacy

H. Post & Son Jewelry

Schudel's Dry Cleaners

Fannie Mae Candy

Grider's Cafeteria

Grider's Caf©

Macon Music

J.C. Penney Co.

Sears, Roebuck & Co.

WDZ Radio

DeWitt/Amdal Architects

St. Nicholas Hotel

Stauber's

Leath Furniture

Woolworth's

S.S. Kresge

Walgreens

Bachman's Furniture

Van Law Carol's

Pfile Photo Shop

Stewart's The Surrey restaurant

Illinois Caf©

Decatur High School

- BILL EICHENAUER