09/21/2015
The buildings forming the heart of the Maplewood business district have served the community well. As I researched information for my book, Kennedy Music, I found information on a very curious event that happened to one such building.
Many of the old brick retail buildings have been standing since Maplewood was incorporated way back in 1908. One of them, the Maplewood Bank Building, survived some unusual challenges. It was located at the corner of Manchester and Oakview Terrace for over half a century.
One interesting fact about the Maplewood Bank Building is that it did not serve as a bank building for very long at all. For reasons unknown to me, the bank moved west to the intersection of Manchester and Sutton around 1925.
Throughout the 1930’s and 40’s this two-story, sprawling building at Oakview Terrace housed Kennedy Music School and Store, along with several other Maplewood businesses (Greenlea Ice Cream, Globe Shoe Repair, Dr. Sapian Optometrist, Johnny Ray’s Beauty Shop). My uncle,Tom Kennedy, also set up a photography studio in the building. My parents, my grandmother and my uncle and his family all resided there as well. Dad and Mom (Ray and Mae Kennedy) simply set up a partition in the upstairs area near a large stage, near a fire escape stairway, and that partitioned area served as their very first apartment. Although the partition gave them a bit of privacy, my mom later commented how strange it felt sleeping in a large, open recital hall with tall windows and high ceilings.
One Saturday morning, in 1945 or thereabouts, the western wall of the Maplewood Bank Building shifted and cracked. It was not the result of an earthquake. It was not brought about by the heavy pounding of tap dancers on the second floor. My cousin Chuck was about 2-3 years old at the time. Although he was really too young to recall it first-hand, our grandmother certainly reminded Chuck over the years of the scolding he received, after his heightened sense of curiosity and adventure had led him back into the building while it was evacuated.
An excerpt from Kennedy Music:
“A crowd of passersby had gathered. Part of the fire escape in the back of the building came loose and caused part of the metal rungs to sway.
“Tom looked at Ray. “‘Is everyone out?’
“‘I think so . . . where’s Chuckie . . . ‘
“Tom suddenly took off toward the back of the building, looking for his son. Ray made his way around the other direction. They yelled toward one another as they ran.
“Ray bounded up the steps, back through the studios. He frantically called out Chuck’s name. He pulled each door open, praying he’d find him.
“ Suddenly he heard something. At the end of the long hallway, Ray could see a little figure peering outside the partially open door of the big dance studio. Little Chuck had snuck back into the music school. Uncle Ray just hadn’t been listening closely enough. When they had heard the loud noises, Daddy whisked him up in his arms and took him outside. Chuck called out as loudly as he could, ‘Bring my bugle outside, Uncle Ray!’ After all, if he was going to “wreck the band” later, he had to have his shiny, new bugle. But Uncle Ray forgot — so Chuck had to find it. After sneaking back in, the building started to shake, so Chuck hid in the corner of the dance studio. He hoped his family wouldn’t forget about him, but he was too frightened to move.
“Chuck’s Uncle Ray spoke gently as not to scare him. ‘It’s okay, Chuckie. Come to me.’
“I’m afraid. Am I in trouble?”
“‘Chuck, run to me now. Let’s get out of here.’
“Ray was afraid his own weight could cause the compromised second floor to collapse underneath them both. The hallway looked very long and steep to Chuck, but he took off running toward his uncle anyway. When Chuck got close enough, Ray lunged forward and scooped Chuck up into his arms. They both walked down the front steps and safely outside.
“‘Hooray!’ The crowd waiting outside was overjoyed.
“The whole family stayed with Tom and Mary at their house on Lohmeyer that night.
“‘What a day,’ Ray exclaimed, as he collapsed into a comfy chair at Tom’s place. ‘What a weekend,’ said Mae.
“Mr. Fishman, the landlord, worked with the City of Maplewood to begin a process of renovations, repairing sections of this prime location at the northeast corner of Manchester at Oakview Terrace. A building facelift was long overdue.”
I’m hoping you are wondering what caused this unlikely event in downtown Maplewood. In order to find out, feel free to check out my book, “Kennedy Music,” from the Maplewood Public Library, or go to The BookHouse in Maplewood to purchase your own copy.
