Stromboli's Rolling Log: Day 112, Marquette area- Laundry, truck lube, haircut, chiropractor, groceries

**See Photo sequence at the bottom of the blog.

Do not think that the above activities are boring or mundane! It started with me and Jerry the oil change specialist, after I dropped Ruth off at the Superior Laundromat. Location sometime is important as if they can be found in similar areas and are of decent quality , then the better. The Laundromat was next to the haircut Salon, and the “Quik Lube” just a few blocks away.

Jerry was in charge of the oil change and introduce me to a “newbie” who had his first day. Hopefully his responsibility didn’t extend to any of the important work on the first day! He seemed to be with it and knew quite a about about the job already. They were very efficient and quick. Well, it was “Quick Lube”, so what would you expect? I was out of there in 20 minutes.

Ruth meanwhile, was at the Superior Laundry getting the clothes into the proper machines (front loaders) and applying the detergent (I guess we don’t call them ‘soap flakes’ anymore— anyone remember that?). Actually I don’t even remember laundromats in the ’40’s. Mom had a “ringer washer” and tubs in the basement and that was it. Laundry hung out on the line in the back yard. I guess we were fortunate to have that at that time after the depression. Dad’s white shirts were done by the folks that operated the Chinese laundry at the end of the street on Grand River Ave. That was done until they were no longer there in the early ’50’s. Actually the first laundromats came into general use in 1949 when the coin operated ones were established by Bendix. In 1934, TX had the first electric operated ones that were actually open tubs. So laundromats were not in the neighborhood in the early 1940’s.

After the lube on the truck, and the haircut next to the laundromat , we had time for a lunch at Hardee’s. (Also across the street). We are not customer’s of Hardee’s but tried their mushroom/onion burger and it was tasty with mozzarella cheese. Across the street was a Franklin’s store and Ruth spotted that. I gave her permission to go in there but not to buy anything. She was very obedient. It seemed like they specialized in large matted photos. All of their things were as we remembered the Franklin’s store. Ben Franklin’s goes back a long way. It began as the “Butler Brothers “in 1877 and when variety stores began to penetrate the market , the started the Ben Franklin stores in 1927 “A penny saved is a penny earned”. After a number of ownerships, they went bankrupt in 1990’s. Their stores went from 2,300 to 230 today that are still variety type stores.

Ruth’s chiropractor of the day was a gal named Tammy, who has a twin sister . They operate out of a home that has been converted into a chiropractic office and work rooms on the north end of Marquette. Ruth felt better after the treatment and we hope that lasts. Jim got a treatment too, for maintenance of the back.

Marquette has a very large “strip” at the west end of town that runs about 2-3 miles including a Meijer” store that was opened in May of 2018. It has a huge entry that allows many choices of which direction to go first , Fruits and vegges on the right and foods down the middle with Pharmacy and dry goods on the right. There is a cafe and short order section by the main door. It seemed quite quiet on a Monday afternoon.

Tonight I will walk over to the Lake Superior beach she across M 28 and see if the sunset adds anything to the day. My photos today (Not Meijer’s , the Salon, nor the Quick Lube nor the laundromat…but a sequence of photos from the last 12 months of the year. Hope you enjoy them.