Contents

Foreword

Introduction

 

I. The 1800s Club

 

Oldest Church

Oldest House

Oldest Business

Oldest Park

Oldest Newspaper

Oldest Cemetery

Oldest Church Building

Oldest Family-Owned Business

Oldest Tobacco Shop

Oldest Shipwreck

Oldest Funeral Home--North Side

Oldest Public Building

Oldest School--Private

Oldest Marked Grave

Oldest School Building 

Oldest Hotel

Oldest Stable

Oldest Funeral Home--South Side

Oldest School--Public

Oldest Drugstore

Oldest Bar

Oldest Statue

Oldest Liquor Distributor

Oldest Restaurant

Oldest Skyscraper

Oldest Reference Library

Oldest Camera Store

 

II. Food, Fun, and Entertainment

 

Oldest African-American Newspaper

Oldest Bathhouse

Oldest Nightclub

Oldest Film Studio

Oldest Bakery (Now an empire)

Oldest Bakery (Still a bakery)

Oldest Movie Theater (Now a venue for live theater)

Oldest Ballpark

Oldest Vertical Lift Bridge

Oldest Religious Goods Store

Oldest Ice Cream Parlor

Oldest Candy Shop

Oldest Bowling Alley

Oldest Breakfast Restaurant

Oldest Chili Parlor

Oldest Chinese Restaurant
Oldest Neon Sign

Oldest Soda Pop Maker

Oldest Magic Shop

Oldest Italian Restaurant

Oldest Slaughterhouse

Oldest Indoor, Olympic-Sized Swimming Pool (Now Junior Olympic)

Oldest Movie Theater (Still a movie theater)

Oldest Auto Repair and Body Shop

Oldest Hot Dog Stand

Oldest Diner

Oldest Pizza Parlor

Oldest Soul Food Restaurant

Oldest Tamale Shop

Oldest Drive-In Restaurant

Oldest Record Store

 

III. The Suburbs and Exurbs

 

Oldest Bar

Oldest Golf Course--Public

Oldest Golf Course--Private

Oldest Ice Cream Parlor

Oldest Ballroom

Oldest Diner

Oldest Hamburger Joint

Oldest Route 66 Roadhouse

Oldest Movie Theater

Oldest Barbecue

Oldest Drive-In Movie Theater

 

Acknowledgments

 

Index

 

About the Author