‘Remembering Bedford’ on May 1 at the Bedford Historical Society

Submitted by the Bedford Historical Society

Hard to believe that there was a time, not so long ago, when Bedford had only ONE traffic light!

Remember the restaurant with the airplane on its roof?  Or the Bedford Woolworth 5 & 10?

Whether you have lived in Bedford for 1 year or for 50 years, everyone loves Bedford.  But what was the town like when life operated at a slower pace?  What was it like growing up in a small, semi-rural community?

A number of well-known and long-time Bedford residents will be the featured panelists for this interesting Society program, to be held Sunday afternoon, May 1, in the Upper Fellowship Hall at the First Church of Christ Congregational. The event will start at 2 pm with refreshments and a social period.  The guest speakers will begin after announcements at 2:30 pm.    

The program will lead off with local videographer Leslie Wittman’s video production, “Remembering Bedford,” which will run approximately one hour.  Following the video, a panel of Bedford’s most distinguished “super seniors” — Bea Brown, Lois and Brown Pulliam, and Doris “Mickey” Webber — will add thoughts and reminisces about the Town from their personal experiences or from stories passed down from their relatives.

The panel will be moderated by Historical Society Co-Vice President Bob Dorer, who will encourage audience members to add their own remembrances.  Some of the topics to be covered include:

• The old Woolworth’s.
• The old Friendly’s in the corner of the old shopping center.
• Sparta Restaurant.
• A&P grocery store where Stop and Shop is located.
• Restaurant with the airplane on its roof.
• Bowling Alley where CVS is located.
• A single stop light in town.
• Skating at Fawn Lake

This will be an entertaining program, full of personal narratives and historical memoirs. Planned by Society Co-Vice President Merri Lee Johnson, it also will be an opportunity for newer Bedford residents to interact with long-time Bedford residents who have lots of fascinating stories to share.