Luke W. Cloran, 519 Vernon, remembers John Campbell as the elderly gentleman who used to walk along Railroad Street almost daily.
At that time, Luke, a young man just out of school, was an “Ace” in dipping a scoop into a cracker barrel, and getting an even pound of soup crackers, just as he is an “Ace” today with his Irish wit, was working for Cloran Brothers grocery. Railroad Street, in about 1890, was made famous by the Clorans in the grocery business. For many years and even today, people who shop on Railroad Street have dealt with the Cloran’s.
Owen P. and Matt A. Cloran conducted a big store at 137 Railroad, and Martin F. and Joe J. Cloran’s grocery was in the same block at 129 Railroad Street.
It was really a case of Cloran vs. Cloran. Cloran Bros. vs. M. & J. Cloran, who were also brothers, “but we all were friends and worked in close harmony,” recalls Luke W. Cloran, who worked at the corner store known as Cloran Brothers.
The newspapers during the gay 90’s often printed items about prominent businessmen, calling them Mr. Hill, Mr. Steece, or Mr. Moulton. Still, when it came to the Clorans, they had to use double initials, as too many liked the grocery business, and the newspapers could not merely print it, “Mr. Cloran, the grocer.”
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