How Well Do You Know Essex-Middle River History?

With this past week being the last week of the school year, my thoughts drifted toward “final exams."

My mind sometimes plays games like that on me. Anyway, reminiscing about exams like that reminded me that I have not given our readers a test in awhile. So put your thinking caps back on, because it's time for another test to see how well you know our community's history.

This is not a contest. There are no winners or losers, nor are there any prizes to claim. This is just a fun quiz to gain bragging rights on who knows the area the best. Send me your guesses and I will print the correct answers next week. Here we go…

1) What was the name of the restaurant located in Golden Ring Mall that gave “a pickle” with every sandwich, and a free sundae on your birthday?

2) What was the name of the restaurant located at the corner of Eastern Boulevard and Margaret Avenue that gave you a free hat with the purchase of a family-sized pizza?

3) What was the name of the sporting goods store located at the corner of Eastern Boulevard and Riverside Avenue (Hint: It eventually relocated to Eastpoint Mall)?

4) Uncle Eddie’s Restaurant was originally known as (blank) All American Restaurant.

5) What was the name of the first large department store located in the Country Ridge Shopping Center on Back River Neck Road?

6) What political distinction did Hyde Park resident Joseph L. Schield hold?

7) In what year did the new Kenwood High School located on Stemmers Run Road (not the one on Philadelphia Road) open?

8) What was the name of the drug store located at the corner of Eastern Boulevard and Taylor Avenue?

9) What was the name of the “five & dime” store located right next to that drug store? (Hint: It was named after a founding father.)

10) In what year did "The Great Essex Fire" happen?

11) What was the name of the grocery store located in the Victory Villa Shopping Center at Martin Boulevard and Compass Road?

12) What was the name of the movie theater located in the Edgewater Shopping Center on Eastern Boulevard near Mars Supermarket?

13) Name at least one of the three original large anchor stores located in Golden Ring Mall.

14) The (blank) department store was at 602 Eastern Boulevard (currently the site of Green Insurance).

15) Fast food restaurant (blank) Hamburgers was located at the corner of Back River Neck Road and Homberg Avenue (currently the Exxon Gas Station).

16) Besides Bengies Drive In, name at least one of the two other drive-in movies located on the east side of Baltimore County.

17) What was the name of the first grocery store located in the Hawthorne Shopping Center?

18) What was the name of the first pharmacy located at the corner of Eastern Boulevard and Mace Avenue? It was operated by Leon Lazarus.

19) Name at least one of the two bars that were located at the corner of Eastern Boulevard and Marlyn Avenue.

20) What service-related organization occupied a building at the current site of the Boys & Girls Club during WWII?

21) What supermarket chain had a store located in the Carroll Island Shopping Center?

So there is your final exam of this school year. Hope you do well.

As always, I want to thank everyone for all the kind words and comments about this column. I am always open for suggestions. Keep reading Patch!