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capes &c. Head-quarters for fine, latest style clothing for men, boys, and children. Merchant Tailoring

a specialty. Men's and boys' fine shoes. Fine furnishing g'?ods. Cheapest and finest goods in the state. Kaplon's offered good quality merchandise items bearing well known brand names. They were also willing to obtain items by special order. One of the daughters, Fanny, made seasonal buying trips to New York. The preparation of the window displays for Christmas was always eagerly awaited, as were the Friday the Thirteenth "Black Cat" sales. Kaplon's store was not only a family oriented business but a social center for the community.

She got $10 her third week and thought she was rich! In January 1944, Harwood went into the army, and Bertha managed the store until he came back from World War II in December 1946. During the war various items were in short supply, especially cigarettes. When they came in on Tuesday of each week, the line would run from the counter, out the door and around the comer on Maryland A venue, down to Kam's Lumber. Customers over 18 were allowed two packs each. The cost was 19 cents. Some may find it amusing to recall a sign over the fountain which read -- "We'll make you a banana split - if you bring your own banana!" Bertha's tenure at the store covered more than 20 years, fulland part-time, and sometimes substitute manager, and involved all aspects of the business from making sodas from syrup and carbonated water to a "Dusty Road" sunday - chocolate sundae sprinkled with malt. They shaved ice from SO-pound blocks and used hamburger ground daily in a local market. She claims their coffee was the best around, but "Doc" never told anyone he put salt and eggshells in it. The morning "coffee club" consisted of Roscoe Rockwell, manager of Potomac Edison; Harry Nicholson, salesman for PE; Ed Herring and Ralph Stauffer of Karn's Lumber; Rodney Darner, a Jefferson farmer, Amos and Myer Kaplon; and John Sell, B&O foreman. They hashed the news, told stories, and teased each other as they drank their coffee, for about 15 minutes; then back to work. Bertha also remembers several female "snuff" customers whom she obliged by bagging the purchase under the counter. Another daily customer was Kitty Shaff, who owned a beauty parlor in the area now occupied by The Brunswick Citizen. She and many of her customers bought lunch at the Cut Rate. About once a month, according to Bertha's recollection, Kitty would come flying in the door, get a 6-ounce bottle of castor oil, pour it into a 14ounce glass at the soda fountain, fill it up with rootbeer syrup and "fizz" water, and drink it straight down. Bertha can't stand the smell of rootbeer to this day. The store was sold in August 1962 to Robert Moler, who continued the lunch/soda fountain• business along with his Prescription Arts Pharmacy for some time before relocating to the Medical Center on Ninth Avenue.

S - Brunswick 1896 Directory W -WHH

WA TSO N'S CUT RATE In the early 1930's, the store in the old Red Men's building, on the corner of West Potomac Street and Maryland Avenue, now occupied by Brunswick Office Supply Store, was known as "Cauftman's Cut Rate." It was rented by a Mr. Cauffman of Hagerstown who also had a similar store there. The Cut Rate carried patent medicines, home remedies, toilet articles, cosmetics and perfumes, the most popular being "Evening in Paris" and "Yardley." Also, various paper products were sold along with cigarettes, cigars, other tobacco products, greeting cards, boxed stationery, and "Norris" candy from a cooled case. At that time Harwood Watson was manager and Jean Howie (Younkins) was the clerk. Harwood bought the store in the late 1930's and the business became Watson's Cut Rate, or more often, just the Cut Rate. Although he was neither doctor nor pharmacist, Harwood became known as "Doc," a term apparently applied to anyone dispensing patent medicines. More clerks were hired when a soda fountain and grill were installed in 1941. The fountain served hot and cold drinks, Hershey ice cream in sundaes, sodas, and shakes, soup and a great variety of sandwiches, the most popular being the grilled cheeseburger. Working at various times were Bertha Best (Haller), Mary Danner, Louise Bess, Norma Simons, Thalia McGaha, Frances Grams, Fred Albert, and Gertrude Arnold. Bertha recalls making $9 for her first week -- 9 or 10 hours a day, six days a week.

S - Mar y Jane Watson - Bertha Best Haller W -BLC

- B RH

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