Boston Store Records and Cameras

Boston Store Cameras & Records photo ©John E. Baker 2013. Used with permission.

The Boston Store held many treasures within the aisles of its many departments. The record and camera departments were side by side on the first floor of the Boston Store when John E. Baker captured this amazing shot around 1960-61. Elvira, the woman to the left of the post, was the manager of the camera department. Customers had a wide range of photographic products from Kodak, Argus and Polaroid, as well as motion cameras and projectors manufactured by Bell & Howell. Some of the records that are visible include albums by Wanderin' Mark Dinning, Brazen Brass, and the soundtrack to GiGi. You could purchase jazz, country and western and Rock 'N Roll LPs and 7" kiddie records. Pop hits were 88¢ per 45. I think there's even a rack of ViewMaster reels on the right side of the photo.

The Boston Store was a retail department store located at 718 State Street in Erie, PA. The building still stands and is on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Click here to see a photo of the Boston Store clock: http://oldtimeerie.blogspot.com/2013/02/meet-under-clock-at-boston-store.html

Enjoy more historic facts and photos of Erie, PA at: oldtimeerie.blogspot.com

Meet Under the Clock at the Boston Store

Old Time Erie photo of the Boston Store by John E. Baker, used with permission.

I'll meet you under the clock at noon. If you grew up in Erie, PA, you know the exact location of "The Clock." The clock was on the main floor of the Boston Store at 718 State Street. The ultimate retail shopping experience. A place where you could go with your mom or grandma. A place where you could meet your friends for a quick bite to eat. You could take the escalator to the mezzanine and watch all the people scurrying about on the main floor. 

The incredible photo shown above was taken by former Boston Store employee John E. Baker around 1961, looking east toward State Street. The Boston Store had multiple entrances, and when it was raining or snowing people often cut through the store to get to the opposite street. The main floor had a high ceiling with incandescent lighting, which is captured in the picture of the store. The pillars were identified by letter, starting with "A" near the State Street entrance. Each department had a sales person and a cash register.

The Boston Store is on the National Register of Historic Places.

What do you remember about the Boston Store? If you would like to leave a comment, click on the title of the post above. You can then type your comment into the white box near the end of the article. Can't wait to read your memories!

Here's an old Boston Store shopping bag: http://oldtimeerie.blogspot.com/2013/02/shopping-my-closet-boston-store-bag.html

Reminisce about Downtown Erie at: oldtimeerie.blogspot.com