Oneontans got their first look at big supermarkets in 1952, the likes of which hadn't been seen yet in our area. By today's standards, what were the Victory Market on Chestnut Street and Grand Union on Main Street would be quite small. But for that time, these offerings were state-of-the-art, and within the city limits. Many grocery stores were still found in neighborhoods or at small storefront locations in the downtown area.
Some grocery stores that had been considered big for the time before these two had been an Acme Market on Ford Avenue, now a law firm next to the Wilber Mansion, or the A&P Market, once found on the street level of today's Dietz Plaza, the Dibble Block, 8-12 Dietz St.
The Oneonta Star reported Wednesday, Jan. 30, 1952, that Victory Chain Inc., based in Norwich, planned construction on Chestnut Street near the Star building of what was called "the largest supermarket in this area." Part of that building is now home to a Rite Aid store.
The two properties at 94 and 96 Chestnut St. would be occupied by the new store with a parking lot capable of holding 80 cars.
The Victory store of that time was found at 226-230 Main St. The two properties on Chestnut Street were moved to the rear of their respective lots and available for rental purposes.
"According to Charles A. Smith Jr. of Norwich, vice president of the chain, the new supermarket will include frozen foods, fresh vegetables, groceries, drug items and hardware among its sale items, and will also have custom-cut and self service meat counters." The store was set to employ 25 to 30 people, "and will incorporate the most modern streamlined fixtures."
The new store opened at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, July 1, 1952. The Star said more than 5,000 shoppers swarmed into the newly constructed $250,000 store, said to be "the largest and most modern of its kind in the state." Mayor Roger G. Hughes was the guest of honor to cut the ribbon for the opening. In a newspaper ad from the day before, part of the copy for the opening read, "See the Doors That Open Themselves."
Not to be outdone, Grand Union announced Monday, June 2, that the sale of the McMorris property at 332-340 Main St. was completed … as one of two main steps toward construction of a Grand Union supermarket. That was at the site of the current entrance and exit of the James F. Lettis Highway.
The old McMorris residence, a brick structure that then housed a small Grand Union store, was set to be razed for a one-story masonry building with about 12,000 square feet of floor space. This larger store would also absorb another Grand Union store, then found at 145-147 Main St.
The new store would be capable of accommodating 100 to 125 cars.
As the McMorris house was being taken apart, discoveries were made in the walls. This was said to be the first house in Oneonta to have running water. Workers found a contract to erect the house, dated January 1853. On the other side was a contract to employ a carpenter, Andrew Cogshall of Laurens, to work for eight months at $18.50 a month plus board, lodging and washing. The house was originally built for a Baptist minister, and Wellington McMorris and his wife, the former Lulie Emmons, acquired it later. Both died in 1948.
The demolition contractor in 1952, John Gaisford of Morris, was amused by that finding, noting that he paid his contractors $18.50 a day.
The supermarket opened later that year, with similar celebration and opening day attendance as the Victory opening in July.
This weekend: New home and other Oneonta building projects of January 1922.
City Historian Mark Simonson's column appears twice weekly. On Saturdays, his column focuses on the area during the Depression and before. His Monday columns address local history after the Depression. If you have feedback or ideas about the column, write to him at The Daily Star, or email him at simmark@stny.rr.com. His website is www.oneontahistorian.com. His columns can be found at www.thedailystar.com/marksimonson.
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Modern, streamlined supermarkets debuted in Oneonta in 1952
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