Archived Comments
| 8/10/2007 10:39:39 AM | swohio75 | | Middletown. A city with much potential. The 60s and 70s concept of "urban renewal" were detrimmental to the core area. Hopefully, it will be able to reverse itself. | | 8/10/2007 11:50:26 AM | Bill Rogers | | What a great video. Middletown has changed a lot since those days I guess, I couldn't put a name to any of the places shown in the old photos. | | 8/10/2007 3:40:36 PM | Central Sam | | Don't you recognize Central ave? | | 8/12/2007 10:02:56 AM | arwendt | | What I love most about the old photos is seeing all the people and businesses downtown. When you look at old photos you really get the feel for the amount of commerce that once went on in our downtown are. It was our economy that made this city great and brought many of our fathers and grandfathers here for a better life. Without a rebirth of the economy there will be no rebirth of the city. | | 8/12/2007 10:10:14 AM | Joanne Whitaker | | | 8/12/2007 10:12:30 AM | Joanne Whitaker | | Beautiful. I recognize a lot of the old buildings. Middletown was truly a wonderful city to grow up in. No regrets. | | 8/15/2007 8:34:54 AM | Betsy | | What a great video with many contrasts between the past and present. Middletown was a great place to grow up. | | 8/28/2007 1:35:11 PM | Bill Rogers | | Central Sam, the only thing that would tell me that is Central Avenue is that we lack buildings of that size lining the street anywhere else in Middletown. If someone didn't tell me that was Middletown, I wouldn't recognize it as such though. Those pictures of Central look nothing like the Central I've grown up to, I guess I'm too young. | | 8/29/2007 5:23:36 PM | Bob Hall | | I just watched this video on "Middletown USA", and you have no idea how sad this makes me feel. I grew up there, and graduated from MHS in '65, when there was a THRIVING downtown, and not the deserted, dilapidated ghost town that is NOW downtown! I left after school for a militayr career, and never returned to live there, but I have visited on & off for the last 40 years, and I have watched it steadily go down the drain, visit after visit, until I no longer can stand to even drive thru old downtown anymore. I remember places like The Central Store, Reed-Klopp, Murphy's, Kresge's, Gallaghers and Castell Drugs, Middletown Federal, The John Ross Store, etc., etc., which are now all long gone and are just faded memories of a once bustling downtown area. What you have now is "progress", mismanaged progress staring you in the face every day. It's really sad to see, and city officials should be ashamed, but, they won't be, because they are no different than their predecessors, incompetent, arrogant politicians and "good ol' boys" walking around patting each other on the back. Where do I live? Las Vegas. Not an ideal place to reside, but, at least it is moving, not stagnant and dying like Middletown. I'll stay here, thanks. Good luck, Middletonians....you need it! | | 9/2/2007 3:46:46 AM | DAN PHILLIPS | | I LIVE ON THE PUGET SOUND IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON-- A LOVELY PLACE- RETIRED SETTLED AND HAPPY! I OFTEN THINK OF THE WONDERFUL LIFE I HAD IN MIDDLETOWN, BEING BORN THERE AND GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL THERE-- I AM SO PROUD TO BE FROM OHIO AND THE TOWN I ONCE KNEW- ALL THOSE MEMORIES FROM BOB HALL ARE MINE TOO AND MANY MORE- THE MOVIE THEATERS. STEWART ORTMAN BUSS LINE AND STATION WHERE AFTER THE MOVIE YOU COULD BUY SNAKE MATCHES AND COOL STUFF LIKE THAT BEFORE GOING HOME-LIBERTY RESTAURANT(CHILI DOGS) FRISCH'S AND THE COUNTRY KITCHEN-THE JUG AND SUNSET PARK , GOLDMAN PARK AND ARMCO-- GOSH THE COLD WINTERS SHOPPING DOWNTOWN FOR PRESENTS FOR MY MOM AND DAD AND LOOKING IN RICHI'S PAWN SHOP THAT WAS ALWAYS GOING OUT OF BUSINESS- THE WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS OF TOWN- ALWAYS BUSY DAY AND NIGHT- I REMEMBER THE ICE ON THE TREES AND TELEPHONE WIRES AND THE WARM DAYS OF SUMMER AND ALL THE PLACES FOR KIDS TO HAVE GOOD FUN IN MIDDLETOWN-- THE 50'S AND 60'S WERE A GREAT TIME IN MIDDLETOWN FOR ME AND ALL MY FRIENDS- PEOPLE WERE FRIENDLY AND IT WAS SAFE TO SLEEP IN THE YARD AND LEAVE YOUR DOORS OPEN-- WE ALL TRIED TO SPEAK ENGLISH PROPERLY AND WERE PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN GROWING UP-- I, LIKE THE PREVIOUS COMMENTS FROM BOB HALL, AM SADDEN AT THE PIECE OF JUNK MIDDLETOWN HAS BECOME FROM THE SELFISH , EGOTISTICAL, HILLBILLY LORDS OF THE CITY AT PRESENT-- MY FAMILY THERE ARE SO DISAPPOINTED WITH WHAT MY TOWN HAS BECOME- THE HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLASTICS AND TEACHERS ARE SHAMEFUL ALONG WITH THE HILLBILLY SLANG TALKING MORONS THAT ARE ON THE BOARD AND THE INFLUX LAZY BUTT GOOD FOR NOTHING BRIAR HOPPERS WHO WON'T WORK AND LET THE CROOKS RUN THE TOWN! SHAME ON ALL OF YOU! I WILL KEEP MY WONDERFUL MEMORIES OF A ONCE PRIDEFUL TOWN, AN ALL AMERICAN CITY , THE MIGHTY MIDDIES AND THE BEST PLACE ANY KID COULD GROW UP AND I WILL SHED SOME TEARS THAT IT HAS DIED! | | 9/2/2007 4:42:53 PM | Don Rumford | | The times are changing guys, there is new momentum to bring the downtown back. There is an election coming in November and people are speaking out about what they want in Middletown. I own the building on Central in between the old Cynergy building and the job and family services across from Fifth Third and Rogers Jewelers. Just down from me is the new Governors Square which you can see in the video during its ribbon cutting ceremony and Wednesday Bash video. Directly across the street is a beautiful building that has been resotored by the Moormans and is home to the BeauVerre/Riordan Sudios. Don't give up on your town just yet, there are many things happening and a sincere attempt by many to bring back the downtown to something people want to be a part of. It will never be the bustling center of activity seen in those old pictures but we do think it will become an artistic community with people living down here which is what we do and will become a destination. It didn't get this way overnight so it will take time to rebuild, but we are here, and we are making progress! | | 9/7/2007 10:31:31 AM | Bill Rogers | | A series of pictures from a drive through downtown Middletown on Central Avenue have been added on the front page of MiddletownUSA.com. Maybe those of you who haven't been in Middletown for awhile can see what it's like today. | | 9/10/2007 7:03:55 PM | Bob Hall | | I was in Middletown just last September for my mothers burial. I saw what it was like, thanks! I stick to my previous comments. I HOPE that things can turn around for the place, but, I'm not holding my breath. One of my old classmate said it best, I think, when he stated that "Middletown was the PERFECT place, set in the PERFECT time, for us to grow up in. It was JUST as perfect to leave it when we did." Like I said, I wish the best for M-Town, but, I'm not optimistic. I'll stay out West. | | 9/11/2007 10:42:18 PM | Bob Hall | | To Mr. Rumford: Sir, I have NO idea what buildings you are talking about. None of that existed when I lived there. I believe I saw Roger's Jewelers in what used to be the Middletown Federal Building. Across the street was The Men's Store, and the other two corners of Cenral & Main were occupied by The First National Bank, and the Oglesby-Barnitz Bank. Maybe we are talking about the same general location, but I'm not familiar with your descriptions. I don't know when the old photo of downtown was taken, but, judging by the cars, I was about 7-8 years old, and downtown was a FASCINATING place in those days! No, you are correct.....you will NEVER be able to restore it to it's old glory, simply because you can't relive something you never lived to begin with. I once loved M-Town, and am still proud to say to people that I'm a Middie (still have my purple wool jacket!!), and that, yeah, it's the same town that Jerry Lucas, Todd Bell, and the Carter brothers are from. I'm proud of that, and the "rep" that M-Town once had in sports, music, and scholastics. They were "All-American" years, and I was lucky enough to have grown up there in that era. During my military career (21 years), I came across a lot of Buckeyes, and they ALL knew of Middletown and the Mighty Middies. Those days are gone, I know, for my daughter also graduated from MHS (not the old one.), and my grand-daughter is currently attending MHS. Nope, those days are long gone, and so are the old traditions. It's just a damned shame!! But, it's like this all over the country, not just M-Town. "Progress" is not necessarily a good thing. | | 10/1/2007 2:25:11 PM | Mary Beth | Bob,
I'm glad you are out there and not in Middletown. I too, have grown up here and went to the private schools and Miami University. It's attitudes like yours that have contributed to the "reputation" people outside of Middletown have. Stay out West. We don't need you here to help rebuild our city. It takes time to gain weight - it takes time to lose weight. We will rebuild the city, but it didn't happen overnight. Rebuilding won't either. But with attitudes like yours - i'm glad you no longer live here. | | 11/29/2007 3:44:04 PM | Terry Wills | | Bob and Dan- I too graduated in 1966 from the old high school. I left Midd. in 1968 to go into the Air Force. Got out- lived in Columbus and Newark Ohio , then returned to Midd. in 1985. Left Midd. again in 2004 to take family to live in Tucson Arizona. Terrible job opportunities out West. Came back to Midd in 2005 and will probably die here. Drive around town and see buildings and locations that being back great memories. How about the Intruders at the Inferno in the basement of the old YMCA which is now gone. How about cruising from the Jug to Frisches on South Main and back all night. The Dixie Cruise-In which is also torn down. The Oh and Ahh Drive-in on Jackson Lane before they tore it down to make room for a Cassano's Pizza King. Boehne's Greenhouse where Dorset Drive and Grand Ave. is now. Armbruster's is still there on Grand. Wilson, Wildwood, McKinley schools which have been torn down and replaced. Remember when Briele Blvd ended at Central Ave to the north and at Grand to the south? The Burger Chef on Grand at Gideon. The RAX roast beef place which is now a bar called The Grand. Jerry Lucas Beef and Shakes which is now a used car place on Verity by the skating rink. Aeronca by the airport which is now torn down. Yep, the town has lost it's character and personality.New people in elected rolls like school board and city council making poor decisions have ruined it. Mary is correct in that there are some in town that are trying to make it better but they are being hindered by the wrong ideas of the people that never knew this town and can never capture the "flavor" of Middletown as we hve known it. All the Best! | | 12/28/2007 3:54:53 PM | Carol Meredith | | Well, I got on line today just to see if I could find some "old" pictures of the Middletown I knew and loved, are you ready for the date, 1950 to 1962!! I left Middletown when I was 12 years old and my memories go something like this: Armco Park was there and what a beautiful park it was. We lived on Barnett Street, which backed up to the Park, what a great location for kids. We would climb under the fence and spend hours and hours in the park all day every day. I remember the Central Store, my Mom bought our clothes there. I remember The Jug and Sunset Park and the swimming pool. I remember Roosevelt School and the big Library which I think was on Central Ave. I remember the Frishe's Big Boy! I still have family there on Monroe Street and have only been back one time in the past 50 years. I was surprised to see downtown and how rundown it was. We used to live on Queen Street. Another thing I remember was the Chili Dogs at the Liberty!! I remember the Elite Ice Cream Shop. I loved the wide streets and the huge trees meeting each other over the streets. We were left to run all over town on our bikes and on our roller skates, stayed gone from morning till night, it was a great time and I will always cherish my memories. I remember the Andrew Sisters were born in Middletown and here is something none of you may know, but Middletown was elected the most beautiful town in Ohio at that time!! Things do change and sometimes those changes are very sad. A small town like Middletown should be a place where people are ONE and are proud of their little town. Big cities will never be able to compete with the small town and the closeness it can bring and the memories that can be shared over the years. One more thing, we used to Trick or Treat on the Alameda Circle, they were the "more ritzy" homes at that time, they gave out the HUGE Hershey Bars!!! Still have my memories, no one can take those away but for the residents of Middletown, collect your ideas, make a change, numbers can do wonders, take back the town!!! | | 1/4/2008 3:35:51 PM | Uncle Fester | Besides the funeral dirge soundtrack and the derivative Ken Burns sleight-of-hand production values, there is nothing wrong with this video. However, there's nothing right, either.
In that respect, I suppose it is a realistic portrait of Middletown, OH circa 2007. | | 1/11/2008 11:16:12 PM | Don Rumford | | Ahh I see I did not make myself clear about trying to revitalize the downtown area. By revitalize I don't mean it should be made like it was in those old pictures when I did not live here....what I mean by revitalize is adding new engergy to the place, new people mixed in with those who have been here and continue to stay here, new ideas, yes very much this year not those older years gone by. Seems people don't appreciate what they have or don't realize it until it is gone. When we see pictures or video of the way people in third world countries live, Middletown looks like paradise. Home is where the heart is and I DO live here now. When I look around I see a place with a lot to offer. It doesn't help to whine about what has past, it helps to worry about today and tomorrow. Enjoy the West Coast Mr. Hall, we'll take it from here. | | 1/17/2008 1:31:41 AM | Shame on Everyone | I hate Middletown, all you old idiots and your dumb ideas for the future...your lucky AK is still here. But it wont be forever and as towns like Monroe and Franklin pass us by there will be nobody and nothing. Thanks for making Middletown the rundown and sad city it is..
Middletonian for 26 years, and ready for the move | | 2/22/2008 1:38:46 PM | Sara | I'm only 27, so I don't really remember Middletown as a great town, but I do remember Elites Ice Cream (I used to love to get his "rejects"), the Sohio on the corner of Nelbar & University (my dad worked there), and driving through the tunnels with my dad honking the horn the whole time. I think nostalgia is a wonderful thing - and it causes everyone's childhood town to seem great.
I now live here again with my 3 kids, and I hope the town can one day be a town that I'm proud to call home, like the town everyone is describing.
Do you think there is hope for the new "Renaissance District"? | | 11/8/2009 12:29:25 PM | don isbel courey | bob hall,
i too, live in las vegas for past 45 yrs.class of '55.
my mom lives on university blvd.
i lived on main st over the horseshoe bar across from western auto and sears.also lived in sorg mansion, and over ulrich's cleaners across from anchor bar on central ave.ahh, yes. it was the place to grow up. | | 11/11/2009 1:56:58 AM | rose reynolds | | I remember when I was a little girl I would go downtown and walk thru Murphys ten cent store. Everyone was so full of life.Middletown was full of life and it was actually beautiful. Middletown was beatufil at night. What happened? Where did all the love and life for our town go? While all the surrounding areas are growing, we are setting back whinning and complaining about it. Instead we need to bind together as a community and take back our town. If we would just help each other. Our town looks like it does because we are to sorry to pick up after ourselves or pitch in and help a neighbor thats not able to.You were all worried about this cassino thing. All worried about gambling, divorces, and prostition. Take a good look people and open your eyes. Its already here. Drive down Central Ave.of a night and take a real good look. I don`t like it any more than anyone else does, but I do want our money to stay here in our own town. I want to watch it grow again and become beautiful one more time. We need more businesses to come back. when they do,you eant to complain about how it will ruin your houses and depreciate the value of your home. I didn`t see no complaints about Armco. It at least put Middletown on the map. Half the people in Monroe had jobs there. It helped to pay off their homes, provided jobs for so many. This coke plant can`t possibly do any more damage than Armco or AK. Whatever you want to call it, has already done.Take a good look people. We need help. | | 7/14/2010 7:16:47 AM | ruth harris | i too grew up in middletown and graduated hs in '65. i remember walking up and down central ave getting donations for the optomist,
going back and forth between frisch's and the jug, swimming at sunset, the old forest hills pook in the beautiful old armco park, and verity pool. who could forget liberty hot dogs, the dixie drive in, the manchester hotel and all the hs dances, norris music store, the huge library on first ave, hagasis after school....walking miles rather than riding the bus,shopping at filson's and mcalpins, all those winning basketball games, the big parade down 14th ave on memorial day,,,,and on and on. those were the good ole days...i live in nj now, but treasure those middletown days | | 4/16/2011 10:03:16 AM | Bill Terry | | All those pics brought back fond memories. Saw a Picture of the Paramount theater where I would go to the cartoon carnivals on Saturdays. Manchester hotel just behind it. I remember how Central dead ended at Main St. I sure do remember Elites and those delicious carmel apples that they made for a dime. I remember my very first date took gal to Paramount. Had many special nights at The Dixie Drive In forget what was playing. Liberty hot dogs were a jewel. I loved playing pin ball machines at Eggbert Reed Minature Golf on Dixie where the Driving Range was. Spent many a night cruising at the Big Boy, back in the 50s that was the in place. Nothing stays the same but just think Middletown today will be somebodys good ole days. |
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