Main Street Memories
A red-and-white striped pole traditionally marks this Main Street business.
What is a barbershop?
The storekeeper used this machine to total purchases and hold money in a drawer.
What is a cash register?
At this shared meal, each guest brings a dish for everyone to enjoy.
What is a potluck?
At a fair, the winning entry often receives a ribbon of this color.
What is blue?
This chair moves gently back and forth on two curved pieces attached to its legs.
What is a rocking chair?
This tall structure stores water and often displays the town’s name.
What is a water tower?
Residents visit this building to buy stamps and mail letters or packages.
What is the post office?
Children might spend a few coins on these small sweets sold individually from jars.
What is penny candy?
During this traditional community event, neighbors worked together to construct a farmer’s building.
What is a barn raising?
This tall carnival ride carries passengers in seats around a giant upright wheel.
What is a Ferris wheel?
Players toss U-shaped pieces of metal toward a stake in this yard game.
What are horseshoes?
Farmers store grain in this tall round structure.
What is a silo?
This open area near the center of town often surrounds a courthouse or monument.
What is the town square?
This large wooden container often held cucumbers preserved in brine.
What is a pickle barrel?
In many small towns, this emergency service is staffed by unpaid community members.
What is the volunteer fire department?
This musical group often leads a hometown parade while walking in step.
What is a marching band?
Two players move red and black pieces diagonally across a square board in this game.
What is checkers?
This old-fashioned crossing protects its roadway with a roof and walls.
What is a covered bridge?
This casual restaurant may serve burgers, pie, and bottomless cups of coffee.
What is a diner?
Fabric, thread, clothing, and similar nonfood merchandise were known by this two-word name.
What are dry goods?
New neighbors might receive this friendly collection of snacks and useful items.
What is a welcome basket?
Livestock, pies, carnival rides, and farm exhibits are common at this annual event.
What is a county fair?
Children may catch these glowing summer insects in jars and call them lightning bugs.
What are fireflies?
In this historic school, children of many ages learned together in a single classroom.
What is a one-room schoolhouse?
A lighted sign called a marquee once announced what was showing at this business.
What is a movie theater?
This person owned or managed the shop and often knew every customer by name.
Who is the storekeeper?
Neighbors close a street or gather nearby for food and fun at this kind of party.
What is a block party?
Contestants race to finish a dessert without using their hands in this messy competition.
What is a pie-eating contest?
This sweet-and-tart drink is made with lemons, water, and sugar.
What is lemonade?
On a farm, this structure uses turning blades to harness the wind, often to pump water.
What is a windmill?
People once gathered at the drugstore counter for milkshakes and treats served from this.
What is a soda fountain?
This weighing device helped a merchant measure flour, sugar, and other goods sold by the pound.
What is a scale?
At this old-fashioned gathering, people stitched pieces of fabric into a warm bed covering.
What is a quilting bee?
This honored person rides near the front of a parade and may wave from a special car.
Who is the grand marshal?
This hanging bench provides a gently swaying seat on many front porches.
What is a porch swing?
This large farm building traditionally houses animals, hay, or equipment.
What is a barn?
This store sells hammers, nails, paint, and tools for home repairs.
What is a hardware store?
Customers used this thick book to order items that the small store did not carry.
What is a mail-order catalog?
Residents attend this public gathering to discuss local issues with community leaders.
What is a town hall meeting?
Farmers bring cattle, pigs, sheep, and other animals to compete in this fair event.
What is a livestock show?
Players toss small beanbags toward a slanted board with a hole in this popular lawn game.
What is cornhole?
Flashing lights and lowered gates warn drivers that one of these is approaching.
What is a train?
This printed publication reports town meetings, school sports, weddings, and other community news.
What is the local newspaper?
This container of crisp snacks became a symbol of conversation around the old general store.
What is a cracker barrel?
This baked one-dish meal is traditionally taken to a neighbor who is sick or has welcomed a new baby.
What is a casserole?
This autumn celebration may feature pumpkins, hayrides, crafts, and seasonal food.
What is a harvest festival?
Children jump through numbered squares drawn with chalk in this sidewalk game.
What is hopscotch?
This roadside marker announces that you are entering or leaving a community.
What is a town-limits sign?