Department Stores

Colonel: Litz and Wanamaker’s. These and one more were all the major stores at the time we were growing up. And my mother would take my sister and me into Philadelphia from Valley Forge and we would see Santa Clause and in the meantime, she was somewhere shopping in the store, having presents delivered to the house by mail.

Michelle: How old were you?

Colonel: I don’t remember. I might have been 10, my sister might have been 6, something like that.

Michelle: Did you ever go to the parade?

Colonel: Thanksgiving Day parade? Just once. It’s a great day! At the time it was sponsored by one of the Martin’s stores, but I’m not sure which one. It could have been Wanamaker’s – they were the biggest of the stores. January the 1^st – New Years Day, the Mummer’s Day Parade. It was great! All the bands, and everything, the fancy parades. They put a tremendous amount of effort into that parade. I think they’ve changed it somewhat, I don’t know. I think the fancy divisions are now held inside in the convention center or something of that nature, because of the weather. They put a lot of effort into preparing these fancy costumes. They use the convention center I think!