If you grew up during the 1960s like I did, then you will probably remember how your downtown looked at that time. If you're from Mooresville, Indiana, you might vividly recall the stores that lined the heart of downtown. If you're like me, however, and did not live around these parts in those ancient times, then you'll appreciate the photograph we've used in our "treasure trove" flashcard and postcard below. In the mid-1960s, this was how the north side of West Main Street looked, although the girl in "hot pants" may have been a little ahead of her time, as "short shorts" became much more popular in the late '60s. For "boomers" (i.e., baby boom generation, 1946-1964), this photo recalls idyllic times of small town businesses centered in historically established downtown areas. Those days were numbered, even in Mooresville, as edge-of-town shopping centers (like the Village) and "bypass" business islands (such as those arising along State Road 67) arrived in the latter part of the decade. The old fashioned "Main Street U.S.A." type of downtown exists today in museums (like the Children's Museum in Indianapolis) and amusement parks (like Disney World in Florida), but for anyone over 50, it was a reality. Now it's a fond memory, which we can all enjoy, thanks to photographs such as these.
MPL "Treasure Trove" Flashcard: North Side of West Main Street, Downtown Mooresville, IN (mid-1960s)
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MPL "Treasure Trove" Postcard: North Side of West Main Street, Downtown Mooresville, IN (mid-1960s)
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