20th Century Places

Many of the Fairfield’s small businesses— its diners, movie theatres, and favorite stores—are remembered as teenage “hangouts” or family destinations. Stopping to get doughnuts at Devore’s after church on Sundays, hanging out at the Fairfield Diner after school, skipping class to get a hot dog from Kuhn’s, buying candy from Mrs. Barske’s house on Valley Road, and finding just the right toy at Blinn’s helped to create a childhood experience particular to Fairfield.

“It seems strange to think of a department store as home, but that is what the Fairfield D. was.” (Geraldine Baum, 1991)

“In the ’50s the diners in Fairfield Center, long gone, were the gathering places for high school kids as soon as they could drive! After homework, around 9:30, we’d pile in a car and head to Holiday for tea and toast and see who else was there!” (Jeanne Reed)

“[I remember] hanging out at the beaches at night with boom boxes (Penfield) and dancing and no cops bothering us.” (Laura Rossi)

“[I remember] driving through the Duchess on Friday and Saturday nights to see what was going on, walking TO and FROM Fairfield Beach, having neighbors that watched out for as we did them.” (Maureen Kiley Delaney) 

 

20th Century Places