 |
| Looking down Jubilee Street - Taxi Stand on the left |
 |
| Looking down Jubilee Street - Taxi Stand on the left |
 |
| Taxi Stand Sign |
It's difficult to imagine that at one time on the end of Jubilee Street, taxis would park, waiting for customers to come along for a drive to their destination. I remember it, though I was quite young. If you are on Main Street and look up Jubilee Street, the taxis would be parked on the right hand side along where Royal Bank is located now. Ferris "Bobby" Cross, Asa VanNorden, Archie Croft, Robert "Bob" Balcom were well known taxi drivers in Liverpool though I personally don't recall Archie Croft and Bob Balcom. Asa or Acey as he was more commonly known as, was a real jokester. He always like to carry on and laugh with his customers. Bobby Cross's taxi I remember always spotless. There wasn't a speck of dust anywhere and it always smelled clean and fresh - like it was a brand new car. If you were in town and had finished running your errands, you could just walk to the taxi stand, grab a cab and get a drive home. You didn't need a cell phone back then because you didn't need to call a cab The taxi drivers would stand around chatting with one another. When a customer would come and get into the taxi parked in front, it would drive away and the cabs would all drive forward. This way the cab that had been second was now first to get the next customer. There was a bench actually on the property of the Dewolfe House (now site of the Royal Bank) and Henry Hensey would sit there on a daily basis. No doubt he was talking to the cab drivers or people who walked by. I'm not sure when the taxi stand became history but I would guess around 1980 or so. Walking by Jubilee Street today, you would never know this little piece of Liverpool History ever existed.
You missed Earl Gerhardt and Doug Wolfe in your list.
ReplyDeleteThanks Hugh how could I forget them. I remember them both well.
ReplyDeleteHarry Hartlen from Milton drove a taxi too. Don't think he had a real taxi permit or parked at the Taxi stand but he did drive a taxi.
ReplyDeleteTim I was showing these pics to Marion Paine...she said that the cute little house across the street belonged to her relatives, Blanche and Georgie Harrington, school teachers. She has lots of interesting stories of Liverpool
ReplyDeleteTim.....I remember Jubilee Street being called "Taxi Lane" or "Taxistand Lane" more often than Jubilee Street. I think the name Jubilee started being used more once the taxi service was no longer there. That was so convenient for shoppers or anyone for that matter. Also, there is yet another taxi driver you missed...a big guy by the name of Bill Rector. Perhaps you don't remember him. Do you Hugh? Harry Hartlen took me into Halifax a few times for doctor's appointments. That was before I had a license and neither one of my parents ever drove a car. I think he charged $60 round trip. Now you wouldn't even get to Bridgewater for $60 one way!
ReplyDeleteTim, the guy in the beige outfit looks like Gary
ReplyDeleteYoung. He has that distinctive look, the way he stands.The guy beside him, might be Wally Miller who played in the same band. I sent it down to them. The hair style fits Gary, looks the same now, as back then. Yes, you did forget Uncle Doug. He passed in June and I do miss his sense of humor. I'm sure, if I am wrong about that looking like Gary, I will be corrected. Wouldn't be the first time, I have been wrong.Shirley
I wonder, if the little guy leaning up on the cab, is Nelson, then Gary , Wally and Owen?
ReplyDeleteI was wrong, it wasn't Gary, but he and Danna think they know who they might be. I am sending
ReplyDeleteher this and will put a short cut on her desktop for her. She is a wealth of info from time past,as is Gary.
Does anyone remember Henry Hensey who used to sit on the bench just about every day and chat with the taxi drivers. He always had a little straw basket with him and we would always ask him what he had in the basket. His classic response was "that's for me to know and you to find out" followed by a big smile and a hearty laugh. Brings back great memories...................
ReplyDeleteBut, you could call for a Taxi. They had a phone installed on the side of the shoe store and answered it in turn. The drivers took turns as per their position in waiting. If you wanted a particular driver, ask and whoever answered would call out his name. They did have phone service, thus.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up in Liverpool, this was a common site that was always there....always thought it would always be, and then it was not. With the bench handy, it was a spot to gossip as was the barbershop, the Post Office Lobby, and some favorite stores. A small town pastime for many, and faster as a news provider than the weekly Advance. The Taxi Stand was in the middle of town and from there one could watch the "going-ons" east and west.
ReplyDeleteWell-written blog. Keep blogging and sharing.
ReplyDeleteAll the best,
Cabhoo Minicabs