tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post8246609297374486313..comments2024-03-29T02:46:11.295-04:00Comments on Hell's Acres: The Trail of SwearsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-40600512775580987482023-08-13T06:48:51.039-04:002023-08-13T06:48:51.039-04:00Do you remember the name of the sports store next ...Do you remember the name of the sports store next to cherry webb & touraine?? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-68123513417038946822022-02-26T22:04:45.006-05:002022-02-26T22:04:45.006-05:00There WAS a PVTA bus to & from Eastfield Mall ...There WAS a PVTA bus to & from Eastfield Mall operating on Bradley & Plumtree Rds. I'm from Fall River but have tons of relatives in Springfield. An elderly cousin lived off Plumtree near Bradley & we used to catch the mall bus at Bradley & Plumtree. And I have two cousins who were long-time PVTA drivers. There were 3 PVTA bus routes operating on Wilbraham Rd. All began downtown at Boylston & Main and serviced Main, State, & Wilbraham Rd. The "401 North Wilbraham" operated into Wilbraham to Wilbraham Center then up Main to Route 20 to Eastfield AND Springdale Malls. This route operated very infrequently (especially on Saturday) & some trips serviced Tinkham, Stony Hill, & Dipping Hole Rds. The "402 Wilbraham Rd." terminated at Sixteen Acres Center. The "403 Eastfield Mall via Parker-Hillcrest" turned up Parker St. to the malls & ran every 40 minutes; every other trip operated via Bradley & Plumtree. So there was a bus by the Ursuline Academy every 80 minutes until around 6 p.m. Service on the 403 was extended to evenings eventually. I can remember the driver on the 2:00 p.m. 401 N. Wilbraham bus leaving downtown a few minutes early in the hopes of making it up State St. BEFORE the high schools let out! The PVTA's 502 route "502 Eastfield Mall via State-Boston Rd." was actually a Peter Pan Boston bus under contract to the PVTA to provide service along the eastern portion of Boston Rd. (The 107 State-Boston Rd. bus terminated at the old Boston Rd. Kmart). There was a sign in the corner of these Peter Pan buses saying "PVTA 502 EASTFIELD MALL VIA STATE-BOSTON RD." and PVTA fares/transfers/passes were valid. This bus didn't run too often either but it did run on SUNDAYS so State St. & Boston Rd. DID have some service on Sunday. One time the 403 bus broke down near the Ursuline Academy and the PVTA sent a replacement bus but the driver on the replacement bus didn't realize it was a "Bradley/Plumtree " alternate trip and kept riding up and down Wilbraham back and forth in the new bus trying to find the stranded passengers! The passengers were midway down Bradley and could see the replacement bus on Wilbraham but were just too far away to be seen. The new driver called dispatch who finally realized where the disabled bus was! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-86159712331008644472020-04-21T19:10:26.719-04:002020-04-21T19:10:26.719-04:00Hi Jacklyn,
Thanks for the comment. For some rea...Hi Jacklyn, <br /><br />Thanks for the comment. For some reason I happened to re-read The Trail of Swears this morning lolHell's Acresnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-91167527886677774042020-04-21T18:23:20.398-04:002020-04-21T18:23:20.398-04:00I miss Baystate West, Steiger's, the Tea Room,...I miss Baystate West, Steiger's, the Tea Room, Dr. Paul McKenna's office in Baystate West, then, 1979-81. He passed away last November. I didn't know about wax, yes, train track braces, my teeth were over-crowded. He fixed them. I had a great smile for years! <br /><br />Thanks for this walk down "Memory Lane." I miss Johnson's Bookstore, too! <br /><br />Jackilyn Pyzocha, April 21, 2020 I grew up in Monson on Bethany Road!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-86721071349801815012019-01-28T12:56:17.453-05:002019-01-28T12:56:17.453-05:00Thanks for commenting! I had forgotten about those...Thanks for commenting! I had forgotten about those editorial cartoons until I found them with some other old stuff. I remember the nuns really wanted to make detention real punishment, so they made us sit in chairs in the gym and stare straight ahead instead of doing homework or reading. WTF?Hell's Acreshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05450484353595627503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-4804885465416349252019-01-26T14:21:04.152-05:002019-01-26T14:21:04.152-05:00"Bob:"
Happened upon this blog yesterda..."Bob:"<br /><br />Happened upon this blog yesterday...never knew it existed but am certainly glad I found it.<br /><br />Aah, the memories of Ursuline - Sr. "Immaculata" and Garry Brown's Journalism class to name a couple! Even to this day, I think of everyone from our class, where they are now, and how much of an influence Ursuline has had on their lives.<br /><br />I, for one, will never forget how much Sr. "Immaculata" had it in for me in 8th grade, and I never let my mother forget - even as an adult - how much bullshit about me was spewed to her by Sr. "Immaculata" in their many parent-teacher meetings about me. She was a nun, and who was going to take the word of a nun over that of her own child!<br /><br />I had forgotten about your editorial cartoons until I saw them, and they still have me laughing my head off!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-67863368637968204912018-01-10T15:06:27.468-05:002018-01-10T15:06:27.468-05:00Wow just discovered this in early 2018! I lived wi...Wow just discovered this in early 2018! I lived with my parents and two younger brothers in Springfield from 1982-1985 on Wilbraham Rd! Here’s some landmarks I can remember. Duggan Jr HS. Freedman Elementary school where I attended 5th and 6th grade!(oddly this school hosted kindergarten 5th and 6th grade only) I was eventually old and enough to cross Wilbraham Rd with my friend from down the street. Either we walked or rode bikes to the BIG Y. Lewis and Clark drugstore. Carvel Ice Cream. Gateway Video Store and Village Pizza 🍕 All located in the same shopping area on Breckwood Blvd. Riverside Amusement Park. Mountain Park (R.I.P) Eastfield Mall. Dream Machine arcade. Johns Best Pizza. McRorys. Baybank indoor ATM off Wilbraham Rd.<br />AM/PM mini market off Wilbraham Rd. I’m in my mid 40’s now living in the Midwest since 1989. This really brings back memories!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-77811744687089566232017-01-13T18:56:27.104-05:002017-01-13T18:56:27.104-05:00"Orange drink waterfall aquarium" lol. T..."Orange drink waterfall aquarium" lol. That's a good one. Unfortunately the mall is pretty sad right now. Macy's closed and I can't believe Sears survived the company's latest round of store closings.Hell's Acresnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-57986430796485966642017-01-13T14:42:42.029-05:002017-01-13T14:42:42.029-05:00Just stumbled across this blog entry and I haven&#...Just stumbled across this blog entry and I haven't laughed so hard in ages. Grew up in Wilbraham and was reminiscing about Eastfield so I started Googling. I had no idea I'd be in such stitches. Hilarious writing and tremendous memories. I'd forgotten all about the birdcages at the big fountain. My aunt & her partner owned The Cutlery (she also owned the short-lived Jewel Box in Baystate West). I haven't been back in town since my Minnechaug 20-year reunion (class of 82) and even back then it was appalling how much the area and the mall had changed. The gangs of menacing hoodlums made me wish I was Dirty Harry armed with an Uzi. Right now I'm jonesing for an Orange Julius. Hell, I'd even gladly settle for a cupful from the McCrory “orange drink waterfall aquarium”. Thanks a ton for this awesome post and blog.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-80171051932399953522015-05-11T10:24:03.587-04:002015-05-11T10:24:03.587-04:00Thanks. Too bad the mall isn't doing too well ...Thanks. Too bad the mall isn't doing too well right now. They are going to tear down the vacant JC Penney (the old Forbes & Walace) and people are hoping an anchor store will replace it, but I wouldn't count on it.Hell's Acresnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-72588716207786254502015-05-11T10:16:37.640-04:002015-05-11T10:16:37.640-04:00Thought of a few more yesterday:
Ups & Downs ...Thought of a few more yesterday:<br /><br />Ups & Downs (can't remember if this was at Springdale or Eastfield Mall)<br />Foxmoor<br />Gantos<br />Caren Charles<br />Bakers Shoes (early 80's competitor to Thom McCan)<br />Lechter's (Kitchen & Bath)<br />Brooks (for men)<br />Merry-Go-Round (Eastfield or Holyoke?)<br />Parklane Hosiery (was in Fanny Famer spot at one time)<br />Barbara Moss (Eastfield or Holyoke?)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-83626828640575232322015-05-08T18:44:38.665-04:002015-05-08T18:44:38.665-04:00How about:
Mall Opticians
Fanny Farmer
JoAnn'...How about:<br /><br />Mall Opticians<br />Fanny Farmer<br />JoAnn's Nut House<br />Cherry Webb & Touraine<br />Casual Corner<br />Weathervane<br />AT&T Phone Center <br />Lerners<br />The Fireplace Shop<br />Dorothy Dodd's<br />Deb<br />Ormond's<br />The Gap<br />The Hallmark ShopAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-65020029709383983472014-10-28T09:01:27.490-04:002014-10-28T09:01:27.490-04:00Thanks for commenting. I would love to see a new t...Thanks for commenting. I would love to see a new tenant at JC Penny, but I guess it doesn't look good. Now I hear Sears is closing a bunch of stores, and I hope Eastfield isn't one of them.Hell's Acresnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-72059817258083262682014-10-27T23:48:28.883-04:002014-10-27T23:48:28.883-04:00You had me laughing out loud reading your descript...You had me laughing out loud reading your description of the nuns at Ursuline Academy! I didn't go to Ursuline, but did go to Cathedral/Class of 79, and grew up in 16 Acres. I've lived in 16 Acres, or the very near surrounding area, for my entire life,so I'm REALLY enjoying your blog. One store I recall at Eastfield that I don't think has been mentioned, was Fredrick's Of Hollywood---naughty lingerie. We'd walk by there and try and catch a glimpse of what they were selling thru the doorway and window (we were girls----not guys--but still fascinated. No cable tv or internet then, so we had never seen anything at all like the merchandise that was sold there). Across at the Springdale Mall, there was always crickets running around loose in the GAP ! I could never figure out where those crickets came from. Years later, I met my husband and he had worked at the Springdale Mall. He told me that The Animal House used to feed crickets to the snakes, and without fail, several crickets would escape each time and then be free to hop all over the Springdale mall---mystery solved. I believe the Cathedral chick in the photo working at the Mall Drugs, who someone identified as possibly being named Brenda/class of 78, "could" be someone who was a good friend of mine in high school. Brenda---and her nickname with us was "Weeks". Lived in East Forest Park off of Tiffany st. Sure looks exactly like my old friend, but I don't recall her working at the Mall Drugstore. Several times as teenagers in the 70's hanging out at Eastfield, we were approached by Moonies---disciples of the Reverend Sun Young Moon's, looking to recruit kids into the cult. The cops used to chase the Moonies away from us. Don't expect anything to replace the JC Penny Outlet anytime soon. The girls who work at the mall have told me that the place is so full of fromaldgahyde (sp?) that no one wants to lease it. Any renovations that a company wants to do, such as new flooring, would require tearing out the old, dangerous stuff, and it would be so much of an investment to remove it properly that it's not worth it for them. So the building remains empty---and an eyesore. Thanks for the blog---great stuff !AnyNameWillDonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-9968664306494989362013-11-22T15:39:41.467-05:002013-11-22T15:39:41.467-05:00Forgot about Pewter Pot!Forgot about Pewter Pot!Hell's Acresnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-34998413683425316532013-11-22T15:19:46.187-05:002013-11-22T15:19:46.187-05:00Such a great blog post reminiscing about "the...Such a great blog post reminiscing about "the mall." Growing up in Palmer, Holyoke was too far to go, so Eastfield it was. In the 80s there was a sticker store called Gee Wiz! There was also a Pewter Pot restaurant for a while -- I think that was down by Sears. And a Burger King used to be down that way too. There was also a Peerless (sp?) down by the big fountain. It's where my mom bought my 1st Communion dress!Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16655001796403152210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-6806200611312662012013-02-18T22:58:26.093-05:002013-02-18T22:58:26.093-05:00Too bad Khol's put a store further west on Bos...Too bad Khol's put a store further west on Boston Road (toward the hood), the JC Penny location would have been perfect for it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-34101880544000677912013-02-02T10:57:18.132-05:002013-02-02T10:57:18.132-05:00Midland Records! Why couldn't I remember that?...Midland Records! Why couldn't I remember that? There was a Princess Parlor in Springfale? Totally forgot. I remember the ones in Sixteen Acres Centrer and downtown.Hell's Acresnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-73493147621131922292013-02-01T21:03:53.397-05:002013-02-01T21:03:53.397-05:00What.. no Midland Records??? Then it became Natur...What.. no Midland Records??? Then it became Naturalizer Shoes, then it became... I forget.. I used to go to the Springdale and Eastfield Malls every Saturday night with my parents from the late 70's to the early 80's. We'd eat at the Bonanza at Allen/Cooley - or the Ponderosa just up Boston Rd from the malls, or even Specials! (Springfield's own version of White Castle in the early 80's). I actually liked the Springdale Mall as much as the Eastfield Mall. Lechmere at one end, Bradlees at the other - and Child World in the middle. The mini-mall area boasted Fava Shoes, a Booksmith (before it became Strawberries), a Puppy Center (and later Animal House), a Princess Parlor, S-Tone gifts and crafts, Deb (Women's Fashions), a Hallmark store - and my favorite, the Papa Gino's, which had those console jukeboxes in each booth. Before I would go back to meet my parents at Lechmere - I'd hole up at one of those booths and, like Rain Man - try to memorize all the songs on the jukebox. Then I'd get told to scram by a family with food who needed the table as I was just sitting there "doing nothing". Wow, the memories.. 2 plays for a quarter.. Heart Of Gold/Sugar Mountain. Don't Fear The Reaper/Tattoo Vampire. Last Child/Combination... I could go on and on and on. One classic memory was one night on the way home, I asked my parents who "Jy-Mee" Hendrix was (mispronouncing "Jimi"). Well, Purple Haze/Foxy Lady was on the jukebox and I was curious as all hell. You should have seen the looks on their faces - as if I'd asked them all over again where babies came from.<br /><br />GREAT SITE!!! I'm an ex-Springfielder in his 40's, now in Boston - and I just. can't. get. enough of all this content. Great stories and love your style of writing - you've brought back an aspect of my youth I thought was no longer possible!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-62358189920449150292012-08-20T20:25:02.066-04:002012-08-20T20:25:02.066-04:00I remember there was a drug store at the left of S...I remember there was a drug store at the left of Sears once you left the store going into the mall that had the porn magazines low on the magazine rack that you could read, which was real interesting to a 7 and 8 year old kid.I also remember the fountain in Eastfield, passing it on the way to Walden Books.Springdale wasn't a total waste, could go into Child's World while my mother went into the clothing store right across from it.Used to get a slice from Papa Gino's, pretty cool, now understand that they are not in the area no more.I think they built Mcdonalds there around 82, or late 81, in that time frame.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-45141534750064790942012-07-23T21:58:10.029-04:002012-07-23T21:58:10.029-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.kosherkophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15874216126066361631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-9163531899227360632012-07-23T21:56:35.126-04:002012-07-23T21:56:35.126-04:00i remember the asteroids table games at the flamin...i remember the asteroids table games at the flaming pit, because we used to sit down at them and try to break into them(with our trusty screwdrivers), while another one of my friends would be talking to his commerce wrestling coacsh getting soused at the bar...kosherkophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15874216126066361631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-81921016201302049542012-07-23T18:25:13.659-04:002012-07-23T18:25:13.659-04:00Wow this really brings back memories of a similar ...Wow this really brings back memories of a similar freezing cold day my friend and I skipped school. I think we were in 9th grade at Kiley so that would have been in 1982. Similarly we had no plan and no money. I remember trying to hang out in Caldor's on Cooley Street and then many hours behind there in that area off the Outerbelt that had the huge dirt piles where kids used to ride dirt bikes. That was a long day but still better than the torture of school. Incidentally, they NEVER cancelled school in those days. I think the superintendent's name was Donahoe and I still hold tons of animosity towards him - especially for the many times I had to trudge up State Street in an ice storm to get to Classical. <br />A side note - does anyone else remember being able to clearly see the lights from the Mt Tom Ski area on a winter night from behind Grants/Caldor's? <br />One final side note: wasn't there a kinda fancy Florsheim shoe store at Eastfield Mall - on a corner across from Baskin Robbims - you had to walk up like 3,carpeted steps to get into the store? <br />Anyways thanks so much for letting me reminisce!Jenn Gnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-56022032489705003842012-07-22T21:20:16.140-04:002012-07-22T21:20:16.140-04:00yes i remember the old mall I worked there in the ...yes i remember the old mall I worked there in the food court cleaning tables with the red polo shirts lol.but I do recall the mall well there was a pizza shop at the end of the hall where the movies and dream machine were located.Stan Earlynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8436846479279507747.post-41795277418266248912012-03-02T11:07:56.439-05:002012-03-02T11:07:56.439-05:00Thanks Sonya,
I wish they would find a tenant to ...Thanks Sonya,<br /><br />I wish they would find a tenant to replace the JC Penney Outlet. It is depressing to drive around that side of the mall, on our way to the movie theaters. The outside of the empty JC Penney looks like shit and it gives the mall a ghetto-like appearance.<br /><br />I heard rumors of a Target going in there, but I'll believe it when I see it.Hell's Acresnoreply@blogger.com