Alachua Main Street Memories

Main Street 1980 CSWaters-Mixon

With Bradford pear trees and historic lampposts lining its walkable streets, Main Street Alachua is the timeless heart of the city. Steeped in its roots as a rail road town, Main Street Alachua has been transformed through the decades and features an inviting and leisurely atmosphere with numerous shops, restaurants and beautiful streetscapes, all creating a thriving area for businesses, residents and visitors to enjoy.

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Main Street Memories:  

Pat Fields Thornton "I remember so much about Alachua and growing up here. On any given Saturday evening and night you could find lots of farmers and families in town. There was the Martin store, Thigpins drug store, Hastings store, Virgie 5&10 , Neal shoe repair, Bush's clothes and material, Beckham's store, the movie theater, Braswells store, Eddy's store, Western auto store, the bank, to name a few. Then a packing shed on the north end of town (where the bank is now, and across 441was a long red brick building where they sold Grayhound bus tickets and good grocery's along with feed and some hard wear, you could get Gulf gas and change your oil. There was also Throw bridges station and a little further down you could find Mr Buddy Walkers car repair shop. They tore down the gulf station during the time they widened us 441. That was my dad's store. Virgies 5 & 10 was where the private room is in Conestoags. The Hastins owned the store across the alley from Conestoags and the Beckhams had a store on the other side. It was turned into the bar pool room later. Neal had the shoe repair shop pn further down. The new fish place is where the western auto was." 

Betty Smith Brown  "How long ago was this. I remember the drug store on the corner across from the bank and Hitchcocks down on the right a little farther down on Main Street. I remember the theater that my Dad used to run the movies from the projection room on the second floor on the left side of Main Street." 

Diane Munn "I remember these too Pat. Wonderful memories!" 

Ray McDaniel, son of Clifton McDaniel "I remember Main Street looking like this growing up. My dad told us he also used to work at the theater and ran the projection when he was young before it burned , I also remember the First National Bank on the corner ( Mexican store is now) the western auto, the Five and Dime store, the packing sheds where Capital city bank is and the 2 on south Main by the RR tracks, spencer drugs up on 441 (with the Soda fountain) hitchcocks was on Main Street, Enneis ford motors. I could keep writing." .

Trish Mashburn Howard "I remember Main St like this." 

Pat Frazier "Miss it too. Rebel house on the corner, packing shed at end of main street. Virgies on main street. Ennis ford company. Old two story school house. Spencer's drug store. etc. hummm.." 

Myna Hague McCown "I remember, how many remember the only food store in town that had sawdust floors and it was on main st." 

Charlene Walker Blevins  "I really miss this Little town the way it used to be." 

Richard Bryan "When I grew up here, you knew everybody in Alachua, and everybody knew you. I remember going downtown when I was four or five years old. My great-uncle, E. D. Hague, used to sit out in front of Thigpen's, where they had some benches. He would always give me a dime, and I would go in and buy a Coke. Inside, Mr. Thigpen had a big black and white marble counter top, and if you could reach up to it you could get yourself a Coke. Mr. Martin's store was across the street on the corner, and the bank was on the other corner, and that was just about it. Around the corner there was a stable where the post office is now. Yes, what I miss most is that when I came up, everybody in Alachua knew you, and you knew everybody. Then I went to the University of Florida for four years, and then to Georgia for four years. Then when I came back, and I will be very honest with you, today I am very lucky if I know one of ten people. It used to be where most times I knew ten out of ten people. That is something we have lost, it is something I miss most - getting to know everybody, and everybody knowing me." 

Jim Willie Shaw "My family moved to Alachua area in the late 1800's. The beautiful rolling hills, rural settings, friendly genuine people and North Florida's four seasons were largely what drew them to Alachua. Four generations later, these are the same things that have kept us here. My business career has taken me to most parts of the United States, but I have never found a place I'd rather live. Now that I am back home, I focus my time and attention to helping make Alachua a better place to live. My real estate company is involved in several new projects that will provide Alachua's citizens and newcomers with new employment opportunities and residential houses that fit into the existing Alachua architectural style, and for new companies, state of the art corporate office park facilities. Come visit us for a week, and you will probably never leave". Jim Willie Shaw, First Street Group and Progress Corporate Park.

Bobbi Gentry "My litl' BB's roots were from. Alachua. Her relatives are: Spencers (Pearl Thomas Spencer; daughter; Mildred Spencer Copeland) BB's name was Exelma Thomas Rives. Her mom was Mary Alice Rievere. Ocsar Rievere was her 1st cousin. I''m sure there are more. My roots. are High Spgs."