“A New Era for Collegetown” in our September/October issue looked at the construction boom that is changing the neighborhood. We asked for your comments, and memories of your favorite Collegetown haunts.
A whole generation of Cornellians doesn’t know that Collegetown Bagels was next door to where it is now and that Oliver’s was on the corner. Also, there was the Egan’s supermarket down on College Avenue, Cravings ice cream beneath Sheldon Court, Turk Brothers for Cornell gear, two record stores whose names escape me on College Avenue, the liquor store next to the record store, and the Chinese restaurant underneath Eddygate.
Andrew Wong ’89 New York, NY
Andrew posted a pretty good list from my era, but he left out Cabbagetown Cafe on Eddy Street. You can still get a Wings of Life salad made to your liking at Wegmans, sometimes even prepared by Julie Jordan ’71 herself (though that last detail is probably lost on today’s students).
I think there also used to be a pizza place in Sheldon Court next to Cravings. And don’t forget the Collegetown Motor Lodge across from Fire Station #9. It was great to sit on the ramp in front of the station (or the Nines patio) and watch the sunset. 312 College Ave. now blocks that view, but the liquor store next to it is still as busy as ever.
Dan Maas ’87 Ithaca, NY
I guess this means I couldn’t get that apartment I had on Linden Avenue (1969–70), about equidistant from the Palms and the shortcut path to the IGA, for $90 anymore. Granted, it was cozy: to open the oven in the galley kitchen one had to stand in the living room; the fridge door at the other end opened into the bedroom, which had no closet; and in the miniscule shower one stood under the home’s visible central staircase. But the main room had space for a table for two, a University desk and chair, a small bookcase, and a comfy reading chair. A tiny closed-in porch door gave shelter as one prepared to descend the in-winter icy and treacherous rear-entrance steps. With a view out over the valley, it was to me 250 square feet of heaven. Hands off Linden Avenue.
Mark Budwig ’69 New York, NY
Making a Difference
Thank you for publishing “In Memory of Elizabeth,” the story of my daughter’s struggle with the leading viral cause of birth defects, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and my work with the State of Connecticut to prevent these disabilities through legislation.
I shared the article widely. The doctor who was instrumental in getting the bill passed in Utah was very excited to read it, and a doctor in Massachusetts wrote to say, “It motivates all of us to keep going on a seemingly uphill battle.” The California professor who founded the Congenital Cytomegalovirus Foundation offered help should I desire to pursue legislation in other states such as hers.
I’m glad you reported how the bill is raising awareness and making a difference in Connecticut, and that I began the legislative process with the dog license office. I hope it will inspire others to start a bill in their own state.
I believe your article may spare many children across the country from the suffering our daughter endured.
Lisa Avazian Saunders ’82, Mystic, CT