You just might be from North Tonawanda if

You can remember when Division Street was just Division Street, and not just an access road off the "Highway".

You remember climbing up inside the unlocked Water Tower (on Erie Ave) and gain access to a panoramic view of Lake Ontario from on top of the water tower (man, was it windy up there!).

You remember that "hopping cars" in the winter and "kicking out streetlights" in the summer were about as dangerous as things got.

You remember Twin Fair, He & She's Nightclub, the I-290 Drive-In, and the Wild Mouse roller coaster ride on Young Street in Tonawanda, and knew that this was the only thing good about Tonawanda.(thanks Greg Lureman for the above memories )

You remember when the cow was stolen off the top of Thieles dairy and put on the top of the high school.

You watched (and smelled) the city spray for skeeters, and you never got bit. (cough...cough...I wonder how safe that was?!)

You enjoyed ice skating at the Farmers Market and Felton Field.

You celebrated achieving legal drinking age by NOT going to Oliver Street.

You cried when Francis' Home Bakery burned down.

You can name a BINGO hall for every night of the week.

You go to confession and the priest only speaks Polish.

You think "Tonawanda Sucks". bmoon.gif (27959 bytes)

You plan your vacations around the Canal Fest and the T-NT game.

You've been run over by a snow plow on the sidewalk.

You hate driving down Payne Avenue on Saturday mornings because of all the out-of-towners at the City Market.

Your daily itinerary includes reading the bowling scores in the Tonawanda News.

You avoid Oliver Street on Dyngus Day.

You go to Oliver Street on Dyngus Day.

You wonder why there are no pine trees in Pine Woods Park.

You know that ravioli is just small, imitation pierogi.

You made the mistake of ordering double cheese at Pizza Junction.

You've grown old waiting for traffic lights to change.

You remember the "fresh" air generated by International Paper.

You know the Carousel Apartments don't spin around. You've fished in Veteran's Park and visited the Veterans memorials in Fisherman's Park.

You remember the "red glow in the sky" each evening (Tonawanda Iron)

You remember the whistle at the waterworks (noon, 9:00 PM and fires)

You don't assume someone is talking about Minneapolis/St. Paul when they say "Twin Cities."

Deer have chased you from your own garden.

You remember the air raid sirens on noon Saturdays.

You've settled for haddock fish fry, because the yellow pike was all gone.

You've mowed the lawn and shoveled the driveway on the same day.

You know the red lights over the tracks, just off River Road, don't really count.

You know the ISLAND refers to Grand Island

You drove to Sanborn for "custard"

You know that eggs were hard to find on T-NT weekend

You remember waiting in line, around the block on a freezing Saturday afternoon,
to watch 46 color cartoons at the Riviera. (Pronounced Ra-VEER-a)

You coasted down Pekin Hill with the car in neutral.

You were a regular at Pasquale's on Delaware.

You knew that the exact number of bars on Oliver Street.

You can still smell the fragrance of "chicken chowder" on Saturday mornings.

You know the city market was open on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday,
starting at 6 a.m.

You remember that a trip to Tonawanda Island meant a visit to the paper mill.

You went to the Avondale for 15 cents because your couldn't afford the
quarter to see the movies at the Riviera.

You always rode on the full back seat of the bus.
(Carpenter Bus Lines... and watched the driver spin that crank handle)

You remember the gold fish in the pond at the Wurlitzer factory gardens.

You remember when Melody Fair was "just a tent."

You remembered that Pane's was your place on Friday nights.

You regularly give Platter's Orange Chocolate as a gift. (thanks Danny Alderman)

You remember Pee-Wee’s restaurant on Oliver Street as the first step in coming of age.
The second step was going to Louie’s down-a-ways on Oliver Street (before turning 18
for us oldsters, 21 for you younger folks).

The Peppermint Lounge was THE PLACE to go for under 18ers. And the last bus to the
“Circle” was at 1:00 a.m. (thanks Kathy (Hodgson) Glahe)

You remember Tony's Barber Shop, Bonks, Ziggys and Franks Pool Hall on Oliver
Street. (thanks David Thuman)

You know that Gratwick Hose was NOT something used to water your garden. (thanks Michael Burgin)

When you were playing, you knew it was time to head home for lunch when the
Durez whistle blew.

You remember summer afternoons at the swimming pool, broiled hot dogs at the shack
next door (Ken's Hot Dog Stand) and the fool who dove off the high slide. (Urban legend?)

and then stopping at the many corner stores to buy penny candy or 5 cent Fudgesicles.

A trip "downtown" meant taking a bus to Murphy's.

Going to Neisy's (sp?) Five & Dime with it's wooden floors and counters on Oliver
Street to buy a rabbit foot or toys. (thanks Sherry Bernier Heimiller '74 & Jane Bernier-Tran '77 for the above memories)

You remember going swimming at 2nd slip on Memorial day after the ice stopped
flowing down the river.

You remember jumping the fence to go to the Lumberjacks football game.
(and tearing your $10 pants to save the 50 cent admission)

You remember sticking pins at Miller's bowling alley.

You remember being set on the fountain when you were a freshmen at N.T.
(thanks Richard H Luberacki) for the above memories)

You remember ice skating at the Farmers Market and Felton's Field.

Going to the "Crows Nest" after basketball games.
(thanks Old Friend and Family Physician.......Dr. Ted)

You remember when McDonalds was built on Meadow Drive.

You remember "Field Days" at the fire halls like Gratwick and Rescue.

You remember when Memorial Pool had a platform, a high and a low divingboard,
a high and a low slide. And you couldn't wait to grow out of the
"Duck Pond" scene.

You remember eating breakfast at Your Host Restaurant at Payne Plaza
(thanks Tim Pachla for the above memories)

You walked on the "high speed line" and ran through Burk Woods. (thanks Marti Metzger)

You knew which way to walk in the gym and study hall at Felton Grammar School.

You knew where Aunt Tillies Homemade Chocolates, Al & Gladys Ginthers Meat
Market (where you spent 10 cents to fill that small bag of penny candy) and Sloats's
Bakery (peanut sticks) were located. (thanks Ellen Martin Herrmann ( NT class of '72 for the above memories)

If you have more to add to this list, please e-mail me with your contribution!
Please include your name. I have published many memories whose emails did not include his/her name!

David (at) DavidFill.com

(Thanks to Steve Liwin for many of the additional memories)

Photos are now available from our 1965 NTHS class reunion...