Once again thinking back
Christmastime Martins Ferry
Shopping list inside my gray wool mitten
Trudging through virgin white knee-deep snow
The walk uptown
Past Teare’s Drug, the rowdy Antler Bar
Finally down South Fourth Street
Woolworths, the Fenray Theatre
Emptying my Christmas Club account
All seven dollars and nine cents
At the old Citizen’s Bank
Just north of Isaly’s, best ice cream in town
In 1958, seven bucks bought a lot
Presents for Mom, Dad, my sister, both grandmas
Magically, the right gifts always appeared
With at least a dollar to spare
Arms full, the walk home
Along South Fifth Street
But first a stop in the library
Then a browse of candy at Tidbit’s
The snow started again
A week till Christmas
I hoped, prayed it would last
Ensuring Santa’s on time arrival
Poetic Alchemist 
I remember visiting my grandparents at 911 Pearl Street. in Martins Ferry…. The fire house on the corner where they gave me all the pop I wanted because my grandfather was Harold Michael. The candy store across the street from the fire house. Trips to Islay’s Ice Cream. The smell of a nearby bakery. Trips to Oglbay Park. Swimming the the pool there. It was the mid 50’s…Life was good.
merry Christmas
Great nostalgia stop. Of course, I know every one of those places in your poem, and the feeling, too.
Thanks, Don!