West Milwaukee Street, Merchants and Savings Bank, Sears, ca 1952

Product Description

This 1952 view looks west on Milwaukee Street past the Merchants and Savings Bank clock, Sears Department Store and 1st National Bank to the Leath’s Furniture sign sitting atop the Myers (formerly Armory) Block at the Corn Exchange.

Businesses seen to the right include: Woolworth’s Dime Store, Reed Drug Store, and Kresges.

Milwaukee Street is seen carrying two-way traffic with parking meters lining both sides of the street. The city first installed meters over the objections of downtown businessmen, in January 1942 as a six-month experiment.

In June of that year Janesville officials decided to leave them in place.