There probably is no way to appropriately pay
tribute to the presence and history of the Goldblatt's Department Store
in downtown Hammond, Indiana.
The four-story retail department store, complete
with a lower-level basement, was the largest retail department store in
the state of Indiana and had everything that the public could possibly
want in a department store.
Goldblatt's was located on the west side of
Hohman Avenue between
Sibley (on the north) and Rimbach (on the south).
Before the intercom system, Goldblatt's
used a bell with
a distinct sound to communicate within the four story
complex. To listen to the Goldblatt Bell, press here.
Above is a photo of the Goldblatt's
Department Store in Hammond, Indiana. Behind the car making a right hand
turn below the Walgreen sign and across the street, is the window for
their annual Christmas display.
Now famous photograph of
Goldblatts Department Store, looking south on Hohman at Sibley.
Early 1950s when women wore skirts and life was simple. This corner window at
Goldblatts
always presented the newest toys for the Holiday Season as featured in Jean
Shepherd's Christmas Story.
It is where Ralphie first saw the Red Ryder BB Gun. They always had electric
trains on display.
Here is the assortment of "Little Boys"
toys, suggested by one of the local department stores just in time for
Christmas.
We have the
Lincoln Logs, a wooden toy train (remember it was during WWII and metal
was used in the war effort); some Jumbo Stencils, and other creative
toys...
"Going up...."
And then, of course, after selecting your
favorite toys for your "Wish List", you had to pay a visit to Santa in
order to let him know that you have been "good" and thus deserve to
receive what is on your list. This picture was taken with the
Goldblatt's Santa during the late 1940s...
The Higbees Department Store featured in Jean Shepherd's movie "The
Christmas Story" was really supposed to be the corner window of
Goldblatt's Department Store on Hohman & Sibley in Hammond, Indiana. The Goldblatt's Christmas window is where kids
lined up each year to pick out their favorite toy to put on their
Christmas Wish List. In the movie, the Red Ryder BB gun was displayed in
this Christmas window and started the storyline that always ended with
the warning:
