Then and Now: 45th and Burke

An anonymous benefactor dropped a packet of photos of historical Wallingford on my porch over the weekend. I have my suspicions as to who it was, but until the culprit comes forward, I’ll just refer to them as Deep Tote.

I’ll post them all hear over the next couple of weeks, but this one’s the first, along with a photo of the same area from earlier this week.

You’ll recognize that big front window fronting Landon’s Real Estate as now showcasing the Lawless Financial Group office, although it appears the lovely double doors on the corner have been replaced, as has the cornice work along the top. Most of the windows remain in their original location, but the transoms over the front have gone, as has the more attracting siding.

I wonder what the price tag on those listings in the window are.

It’s interesting to see that Fainting Goat isn’t the first frozen confection shop to occupy that location, either. I found a little bit about that now defunct shop in a history written by Thomas Veith:

The Mountain Creamery opened September 1, 1933 at 1903 N. 45th but within a few years moved to 1814 N. 45th where it remained until displaced by Foodland in 1950. It was announced that ice cream would be manufactured at the creamery and that the operators planned “to churn their own butter and bottle their own whipping and commercial creams, and buttermilk.” The creamery also planned to “handle milk, eggs, cheese, cottage cheese, light groceries, and delicatessen and bakery goods.”

Judging from this (as well as the banner announcing the year next door), this photo was taken around 1936.

Further down, we’ve got the Z-D Radio Corp. I couldn’t find much background on that shop, except that it’s mentioned in this ad from the Town Crier, February 11, 1933:

The ad copy is a curious snapshot of the time: “We wanted to get a new radio…it’s the economical thing to do now that we have cut down on other entertainment…but we both thought we couldn’t afford the kind we’d like.” The unemployment rate peaked in 1933 at a stunning 24.9%.

That $104.50 the RCA Victor is selling for is equivalent to about $2,000 in 2020 dollars, but I’ll bet whoever invested in one heard some amazing news and entertainment from it. Maybe there’s a unit still gathering dust, but functional in someone’s basement?

If you know anything more about the businesses here, or have memories to share, we’d love to hear them.