Early Businesses along Boones Ferry.
Join this blue ribbon panel as the discuss the stores, cafes, gas station and other early businesses along Boones Ferry.
- Michael Hannegan, worked at family's well-known gas station
- Sandra Carlson, THS Co-Historian and grew up in Tualatin
- Art Sasaki, a THS board member who also grew up in Tualatin -
- Loyce Martinazzi, co-founder of THS and grew up here
- Larry McClure, moderator, THS board member
Examples from Don Silvey who was unable to attend:
Downtown business were great. Three gas stations. Mobil, Shell and Flying A. All three were kid friendly with free air for bike tires, monkey patch for flat tires and the great water-cooled soda pop dispenser. Flying A , also known as Johnnies, was kind in doing welding repairs for our bikes and go- carts for free. There were two grocery stores. Garrett Market and George Summers. Summers was located in the corner brick store next to the feed store which had a loading dock out front with stacks a hay. Garret store had a meat counter as you entered with a magazine display opposite. Garrett was always generous in letting us sit and read Archie Comics without buying them. 10- 12 cent . Spot tavern back door was always open to cash in the beer bottles found along side of the roadways in and around the city . 1 for small, 5 cents for the quart jugs. All this before the Oregon Bottle Bill.! Lastly was Mae's Café: always a smile on her face. Best hamburger ever and chocolate milkshakes. All for $1.25.
Thoughts from Sandra Lafky Carlson provided in advance.
I do remember shopping with my Mom at the corner brick store in the 1950’s when it was run by Claude Keys and his wife. They sold food there, but also other merchandise. I don’t know if it was a full post-office in the 50’s, but they did sell postage stamps for a while. That same brick building was Rich’s Kitchen restaurant for a time (in the 90’s?). It was an upscale restaurant with very good food. Upstairs was more of a bar and they had live music on weekends.
I remember Mae’s Cafe near that building on Boones Ferry. Good basic foods: spaghetti, hamburgers, etc. And a small TV repair shop. Also the Post Office was on Boones Ferry for awhile. The “Wanted” posters of criminals intrigued me.
The Garretts Grocery Store was a frequent destination. Owen and Roma Garrett ran it, and my Mom worked a short while in their meat department. Nice family with 4 children. They all lived in cramped quarters upstairs at first, until they moved to a spacious new ranch-style home a half-mile south on BF Road. Their store became the Milk & Honey Food Coop for a time. Earl Zuver made delicious peanut brittle that was sold there.
The C & I restaurant used to be a bar “The Spot”. My Dad and uncle occasionally went there for a beer. Then a motorcycle gang (Brothers Speed? ) frequented it and things got rowdy. Apparently a murder took place there (in the 60’s?) and it was closed for a time. (I hope Yvonne will be at the program; she can tell good stories about that!).
It was quite different then. Most of the businesses in the 50’s - 70’s Tualatin were small and locally owned, as compared to the large chain businesses that dominate now: Fred Meyer, New Seasons, Michaels, etc. Of course those stores are nearer the freeway now; not on Boones Ferry.
