Steve,

If you are referring to the store at Ritchie and 11th. (East side), I remember Cook's. Clark's does not resonate with me for some reason. I worked 202 post in the late 1970's, but seemed like I spent most of my time in 203 (covering both as 203 car was busy most of the time on calls/arrests).

When Cook's closed and they liquidated the stock, I remember taking my Dad up there and he must have spent $50.00 (which was a lot of money back then) on nuts, bolts, screws, wire, drill bits, etc. I kept asking him, "Dad...what in God's name are you planning on building or fixing?" He just could not pass up those little plastic packages of hardware that were marked down to a nickel.

Alas when he passed away a few years later, my Mother told me to take all his "crap" as she referred to it, to my house. Funny part is I still have some of those little packages, unopened, with the "orange discount stickers". When I die, my wife will most likely tell my sons in law, to take the same "crap" to their houses. Maybe that could be a new phrase..."generation crap". Has a ring to it...oh I mean "washer not ring".

My favorite place for "generational crap" was Law Brothers in Ferndale. If anyone needed something that was old and no longer available, you could find it there. I even remember the shop behind the store where they fabricated special bolts, nuts, screws, you name it.

If it was Clark's at some time, please refresh my memory, as I have no recollection of that name. I wonder when the building was opened, what it was first called.

Thanks for the memory!

Henry