Jenai May

We’re getting ready for Easter around here, so I think this calls for a Throwback Thursday post dedicated to the Bunny himself!

Historians believe that early German immigrants brought the story of the Easter Bunny to Pennsylvania in the 1700s. He played the role of a judge, evaluating whether children were good or disobedient in behavior at the start of the Spring season, similar to the “naughty or nice” list made by Santa Claus. As part of the legend, the creature carries colored eggs in its basket, as well as candy, and sometimes toys, to the homes of children.

The first picture is from 1985 and features four-year-old Alicia Weatherspoon whispering with her new furry friend outside Paddington Station, where he was giving some Easter treats to young passersby. Pictures with the Easter Bunny at Paddington have been a tradition for many decades, and Pam Hammond has the following fond memories:

“When she handed over the business, [former owner] Judy asked Don and I to keep the memories coming from the magic of the Easter Bunny photos. In the early days we took the pictures on film and developed them at Frodsham’s or Rocket Photo- a big undertaking keeping them all straight and communicating with our guests for photo pickups! In the early years I wore the costume and one year when our son, Nick, was around 3, Don brought him to sit on my lap for a photo. Nick took one look at me screamed and ran away- oh those family memories! We do actually have a picture of Nick on the bunnies lap a year later…”

At first glance, this may look like just another furniture store. But if you look closely at the structural details, you’ll recognize the interior our beloved Paddington Station! This picture, from the J. P. Dodge and Sons Furniture era, shows the original layout before renovations. You can also see a picture of the store blueprint modern updates.

Our beautiful historic building was built in 1904, and quickly became an Ashland landmark- though at the time it was built, townspeople remarked that it was “too far from downtown!”

Over the years, it has gone through several changes, while retaining its old fashioned charm. Check out the transformation of the exterior of the building and the different businesses it has housed for the last 119 years:

1904 – 1945: Dodge Furniture
1945 – 1975: Herndobler’s Furniture
1975 – Present: Paddington Station

When Pam and her business partner, Don, did renovations in 2005, they wanted to pay homage to some of the original details of the Dodge Building. If you look carefully, you’ll see a very similar design in the cornices coming down from the roof. They also installed a new awning to match the original one from 1904. What you don’t see in the modern picture is the 80 solar panels on the roof that provide full power for the store!

Who remembers Herndobler’s or the adjacent businesses from pre-Paddington times? We’d love to hear your memories!

Judy Patterson opened Paddington Station with her family in 1973. The original address of store was 268 E Main Street- where the Music Coop is currently located!

On June 1st of 1976, Judy and her family moved Paddington to its new location with far more space- the J.P. Dodge and Son’s Building at 125 E. Main Street, where it has remained ever since.

Judy’s son Jeff has the following fond memory of the relocation:

I [still] remember when my parents told us boys they found a new spot for the shop. My dad got into real estate in the area once mom started up the shop, since they would no longer be ranchers. [But] …The first walk through the big empty former furniture store was fun as a young boy. We ran up the old ramp to the upstairs. And down. And back up. And to discover old “display model” headstones in the basement meant this was the place of adventure! Once you take a look at the old shop space and imagine how was that supposed to fill up the large building? That is why we sold furniture upstairs for a while because it took up space!

Two weeks before the move, there was a big sale on many of their most popular store items and brands. The ad boasts Beatrix Potter books for $2.00, a 5-pc. set from the Pfaltzgraff museum collection for $12.95, 1/2 price off on Holly Hobby items, and Betsy Ross flag kits for $5.00 to name a few.

Do you recognize any of the names or brands on this ad? Do you remember this big move? And how cute is this hand-drawn art with Paddington the bear and the signature train leaving the old station to head for the new?!

Today we’re featuring an ad for Paddington Station published in the local newspaper way back in 1995 (which may not seem like a throwback, but can you believe that was 28 years ago?!)

Ophelia: Could my lord have better commerce than with these honest merchants?

Hamlet: Alas, virtue cannot inoculate this old stock. I love it not.

Ophelia: I too wish there had been more received.

Hamlet: Get thee to an eclectic emporium.

Who has read the delightful story of Paddington Bear?

Paddington Bear first appeared on October 13th, 1958 in the timeless children’s classic, A Bear Called Paddington. Since then, he has been featured in more than twenty books, numerous television shows and two recent movies. The author, Michael Bond, based Paddington Bear on a lone teddy bear that he noticed on a shelf in a London shop near Paddington Station on Christmas Eve, which he bought as a present for his wife. He is one of the most popular British fictional characters and in 1994, a Paddington Bear soft toy was chosen by British tunnelers as the first item to pass through to their French counterparts when the two sides of the Channel Tunnel were linked.

In the original story, the Brown family finds Paddington Bear at Paddington Railway Station in London. Paddington is sitting on his suitcase with a note attached to his coat that reads, “Please look after this bear. Thank you.” Paddington arrives as a stowaway coming from Peru and claims, “I came in a lifeboat, and ate marmalade. Bears like marmalade.” He tells them that no one can understand his Peruvian name, so the Browns decide to call him Paddington after the railway station in which he was found. He is always polite and kind-hearted but has an endless capacity for innocently getting into trouble. He frequents the nearby Portobello Road market, where he is respected by the shopkeepers for driving a hard bargain!

Published on:
February 17, 2023

How many people remember that the basement of Paddington used to be a restaurant named The Gourmet Underground Delicatessen??

Opened in 1977, the name of the restaurant was a play on words referencing the original Paddington Station in London. The Underground, or the “Tube” as it’s known casually, is a subway system that services the London metropolitan area. Operation on this first electric underground railway began in 1890, with a uniform fare of twopence (do you know how much that is in US currency). A map of this railway can be found on the menu of Gourmet Underground Delicatessen, along with some pretty nostalgic prices for food and drink!

One of the specialty items served by the restaurant was called “Warfres,” with flavor choices including banana, pecan, and bacon. The menu described this item with the following story:

The first waffle is said to have been made in 13th century England. A crusader wearing his armor accidently sat in some freshly baked oat cakes. The cakes were flattened and bore deep imprints of the steel links. However, he spread butter on the cakes and ate them. His wife, delighted in the way the butter stayed in the imprints from the armor, made him put it on once a week and sit on fresh oak cakes. They were called “warfres” meaning flat honeycomb-like cakes.”

We’re turning the big 5-0 this year! To celebrate, we are digging into our archives to showcase the evolution of our beautiful historic building, share stories of our past and honor those who have helped us become the business we are today.

Taken in 1898, this picture shows off the interior of what is now Paddington Station! Did you know that our building used to be home to J.P Dodge and Son’s Furniture?

John Page Dodge arrived in Ashland in 1883 and operated a successful furniture company in partnership with two sons, Louis and Will. Active in civil affairs, he served on the City Council in 1892-93 and was elected Mayor in 1896.

Construction of J. P. Dodge’s new building on East Main began in 1904, the first of a group of three new business blocks built adjoining the Opera House (now home to Three Penny Mercantile, More Fun Comics, Sew Creative and other businesses). Construction of the building was largely completed by August at a cost of $5,500. In 1947, as an element of the modernization of this area, the Dodge building was stucco-clad, obscuring some of the original detailing. Today, the first floor storefront substantially reflects the 1947 remodeled appearance, although some of the elements of the original 1904 design remains.