William Marshall owned and ran a store in Springlake in the late 1920s and early 1930s. His son, William Marshal Jr. is sharing many memories of those days and some Marshall family history. I thank him for his time and my dear friend Ruth Wethey for bringing us together. I am grateful for e-mail and long-distance plans #- communication has never been easier!

The Marshall family lived on a farm on Maiden Lane in Port Byron - an infamous story of a tractor stuck in the mud that then froze there along with his severe reaction to the cold may have given impetus to William's retail industry. His brother Herbert and family ran Marshall's store in Port Byron for many, many years.

Young William, his older sister Ruth and younger sister Mary lived with their parents over the store. He remembers the outside staircase and the trips back and forth bringing up water from the pump.

“In the winter, those steps were very slippery and it was hard to keep your footing, but as children this was something we did to help out.” He also shared thoughts of the big cement porch where townspeople would gather.

All families associated with the Springlake stores remember hard work by all #- Marshall's were no exception. “My mother, Jane Colesen Marshall, was a hard-working farm girl from Chittenango. She clerked in the store and took care of the children. Even after the store closed for the evening, there was still work #- one of the summer night-time tasks was sorting through berries to make sure only the good ones were offered for sale the next day,” Bill remembers.

“My father was a big man who didn't like the cold - my parents saved and saved until we could sell the store and move to California and then on to Florida.

On our family trek west we children were told to look for free ice and policemen.

“However, we always returned to central New York in the summertime. We split our time between family in Port Byron and Chittenango.

I clerked in Marshall's store helping Aunt Adelaide, Uncle Herb, Grandpa Joe and met Skippy, Gary and Mamie - wonderful memories. One of my fondest recollections was an acquaintance with foundry owner and eventually mayor, Mr. Ben White.

He and I had both spent time in the South and experienced segregation and in our section of central Florida, even lynchings. He always chuckled when he introduced himself to me #- 'I'm Ben White #- but I'm black now!

“When we were in the Orlando area, my sisters and I wanted to go to the Lincoln Theater. The sign outside said: ‘Colored' - we thought that their movies were not in black and white!”

I will be soliciting even more stories from Bill about the five or so years spent in Springlake and am always collecting memories of our area. Please call if you would like to share.

Joni Lincoln is the town of Conquest historian