Manor Stories: Bygone Businesses
The Ravenswood Manor Centennial Oral History Project
The year 2014 marked the 100th Anniversary of the establishment of Ravenswood Manor Improvement Association (RMIA). The Centennial celebration inspired these oral history interviews conducted with long-term residents and led by Manor resident and historic preservation expert Jim Peters, and Manor resident and researcher Jackie Klein. The interviews were produced in association with StoryCorps, and are archived at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.
Select the links below to listen to short audio clips centered on common themes of the neighborhood. You can also listen to full audio recordings and read brief biographies on the main page. The other curated theme is At Play on its own page, click here.
Bygone Businesses
Click the links below, which take you to Soundcloud where the audio files are stored:
John and Peggy describe grocers Ben and Dorothy, and Mr. Tepper the tailor.
John and Peggy remember the Manor Ave locksmith and barber and commerce in the alleys.
Adrian remembers Little Al’s record store and the S&L.
Dick remembers phosphates at Izzy’s Drugstore.
Beth and Susan remember Ben the butcher.
Ruth remembers the shops on Montrose Avenue.
Ruth remembers Nancy Keith Chocolates.
Don and Eileen remember Ben and Dorothy at B&D Foods.
Don and Eileen remember La Bellet Petit.
Don and Eileen remember Mr. Tepper the tailor and Showmacher Meister on Lincoln Avenue.
Adrian remembers Pete’s Candy and Ed’s on Montrose.