Page:Brunswick 100 Years of Memories.pdf/111

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into a Post Office, which served until the present

one opened on Brunswick Street in 195i. It always had apartments above the Post Office. John Foster's Taxi stand offered other services than taxis. Sometimes called the Wiener Joint-for the limited food service it offered - it was also a pool parlor. In a small one-story building on lot 10, Mr. Jones conducted his insurance and real estate business. AU these buildings were transferred to Weil Brothers in January 1961 by members of the Howard Marvin Jones family. The five lots became a filling station and service center. In August 1978 Weil conveyed the property to Phoenix, from whom L. S. Inc. acquired it in 1986.

FLORISTS Donald Darr and Doris Bennett pioneered the florist business in Brunswick. They first started their business in the basement of Donald's grandfather, T. A. Sigafoose, on East "A" Street in 1946. In 1948, Doris Bennett bowed out of the business and Louise Porter went into partnership with Donald; they opened a shop on Potomac Street at the upper end of Meadows row, adjacent to the Cincotta building which housed the American Store. The Brunswick Florist progressed and they needed more space which necessitated a move to a storeroom between Kaplon's Store and the Reformed Church. Donald owned a double garage across the street from his grandfather's house and he eventually converted one of the garages for his florist shop location. Donald and Louise remained in that location until the 1960's when they moved the shop to 25 West Potomac Street and they continued there until they sold the business to Ann Oden Marshall in the early 1980's. Ann continued in that location until she needed more room and then moved to a large building on Petersville Road across from Feete Funeral Home. Ann closed her business approximately in 1987 when Patricia's Florists opened in the Brunswick Shopping Center.

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GOODWILL Good Will offers a much-needed service with their recycling of men's, women's, and children's clothing. Their stock also includes knick-knacks, cooking utensils, pictures, jewelry, books, purses, shoes - anything except furniture. This enterprise opened in Brunswick around 1977, and Catherine Cooper of Knoxville has been with the organization since it opened here. The business has operated at the following locations: Hovermale building in the 200 block of West Potomac Street; 111 We~t Potomac Street; Kaplon's basement; and its present location at 17 West Potomac Street.

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BRUNSWICK GAS AND GO/ Land S FUEL COMPANY

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Brunswick Gas and Go, on the 100 block of East Potomac Street, occupies five lots that once held three businesses: Potomac Hotel (the two west lots), Foster's Taxi Service (next), then Howard Marin Jones' real estate and insurance business, and finally a vacant lot before the recently burned Cage's Garage. The hotel was first named the Yardley. Walt Ambrose had bought lots 7 and 8 in April of 1921. He owned and managed the hotel, including his own barber shop. An article in the Frederick NEWSPOST of February 18, 1924, states that $15,975 was paid for the building at public sale. Howard MarvinJones bought the property with the intention of making it into a fine hotel with a quality dining room. He renamed it the Potomac Hotel. These plans did not materialize as expected. Next the building was used as a "transient camp" during the Depression. Finally, it was transformed

GRAMS' GARAGE Grams' Auto Service, whose founder and lifelong proprietor was Garland Grams, was located at 302 Petersville Road. This auto repair business began about 1947. In addition, Garland was a Buick dealer and, for a brief time, also sold Opels, a car imported from Germany. The Grams operation expanded when the owner acquired the property next door at 218 Petersville Road from Mr. Bill Willard. Mr. Willard had conducted a Chrysler Plymouth dealership at this site before moving to the west end of town. At Garland's death in 1960, his brother William (Bill) continued the business at 302 until 1972, when Rene Grossnickle took over after Bill's health forced

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