By Maggie Snyder for Vicksburg Historical Society]
Not much is known – for sure – about 106 South Main. We first thought John Long built this one as well as 108 and 110, but now we have our doubts. Though it doesn’t look like it today, the building was originally of frame construction. It was separated from 108 by an open staircase on the south side for access to the second floor. The first map of the downtown area in our archives shows a building at that spot in 1872. However, the 1884 Sanborn Fire Map indicates it being veneered in brick, though the open staircase was still there. Did John Long own the building and update it to blend better with his other two structures? Who knows? We now wonder if L. L. Smith, a real estate agent and developer of the village’s Smith Addition, was the actual builder. Does it matter? No. The building shows attributes of 1870’s design, and it IS an important part of our downtown for all the memories contained within its walls.
Several businesses occupied 106 in the early days, mostly drug stores, grocery stores and clothing stores. But one that appeared on the scene in 1933 and lasted until 1981 is still a pleasant childhood memory for me, and probably many others.
Homer Brumbaugh began Brumbaugh’s 5 & 10 Cent Store in 1930 at 107 South Main, but moved across the street to 106 in 1933. Brumbaugh was joined by his son-in-law, Tom Weeks, when Weeks returned from World War II in 1946, and Weeks & Brumbaugh was born. We suspect this was when the open staircase was enclosed and blended into the façade of 108. After its 1981 closing, Seth Geim kept it going as the Vicksburg Variety Store until1983. Around 1985 the Dinzik family’s Malt Shop moved in and lasted a couple years. John Hill and Dick Masse then expanded Hill’s Drug Store into 106 and it remained part of Hill’s until purchased by Paper City LLC in 2017.
But back to my memories: Weeks & Brumbaugh’s was truly a magical place for a child. Row upon row of brightly colored goods lined the walls and filled the aisles. Clothing, dishes and housewares, pictures, school supplies, books, lamps, knickknacks, fabrics…and TOYS! Miles and miles, so it seemed, of shelves full of toys of every imaginable kind. Balls, coloring books, little purses, trucks and cars, stuffed animals – it was almost more than a little girl could bear. And it was ALWAYS full of people, a treat to a rather isolated country child. And then there was the candy counter. Right up by the door where you couldn’t miss it. The smell itself was wonderful, but the sight was beyond description. It held every imaginable kind of candy in bulk, as well as a vast selection of candy bars and gum. I was not allowed to buy candy but did notice that few adults, including my parents, got out of the store without at least a quarter’s worth of something in a little brown paper bag
When I was thought old enough to be trusted with a little money, I was given an allowance of a nickel a week. I grabbed my prize and headed straight to Weeks & Brumbaugh’s. However, my parents were a little behind the times and didn’t realize you couldn’t buy much for a nickel in the 1950s except candy, so I was given an Immediate raise. In the following weeks when we made our Friday trip to town a quarter rode in my little purse for seven miles, then went directly into the Weeks & Brumbaugh cash register after Homer or Irma Brumbaugh or Tom or Mary Weeks had allowed me ample time to seriously consider my weekly purchase.
Years pass and things change and now Dollar General probably gets its share of kid’s allowances. But I’m grateful Paper City is giving this fine old building another chance to make more memories.
