Just read "Bill Graham's visit to Elderly..."

[Patrick Market]

Great article, and a great photo of an Odd Fellows hall.

As a fourth generation member of the IOOF, it is astonishing the sheer number of old lodge buildings in small towns that have been transformed into something completely different. Rock solid buildings.

Now I have 2 reasons to visit Elderly.

[Steve Ostrander]

I have lived in the Lansing area most of my life (50+ years) I remember when Stan started out in a very small sub-level store on Grand River Ave in East Lansing. I have spent a lot of $$ there over the years!

[Dave Hicks]

Two hours drive is just about right - it's not too hard to get there, but it's not too easy to spend a lot of money.

D.H.

[JeffD]

I used to look forward to the Elderly catalog, and Andy's Front Hall, as much as the fly fishing outfitters' catalogs I used to get.

[jjboone101]

Yes, great article indeed.

Talk about a missed opportunity...I went to school at MSU for 4 years but was not yet into music.

Now I live in Chapel Hill, NC but any time I'm back up in Michigan to visit friends & family, I do my best to swing by Lansing for a visit. It is almost like a religious experience!

[Hillsdale Leroy]

When I visit home(Hillsdale, MI) my dad and I always make time for a trip to Elderly's. It is easy to spend the whole day and a whole lot of money there. A great place to be sure.

[bones12]

For several years I lived within sight of the East Lansing Elderly store and I visited often. I now visit on line and when in Michigan. It is always a special trip that raises my pulse rate. Doug in Vermont

[mandolirius]

<Yes, great article indeed.>

I thought the article was not so great. In fact, I found it a bit bland. It certainly doesn't measure up to the kind of writing you find in Fretboard Journal, for example.

[JEStanek]

Well, I enjoyed the piece. It certainly transferred me to the shop that I've only experienced via the Web and catalogs. I would like to make a visit to Elderly and Mandolin Brothers sometime in this life.

Jamie

[RichM]

Jamie-

If you're in Pottstown, you're not more than two hours drive to Mandolin Brothers. I can't believe you've never gone!

[MikeEdgerton]

Elderly is on my list, I've been to Mandolin Bros and Gruhn's several times. It was interesting to hear a little bit about how Elderly started. I have Janet Davis and First Quality on my list as well. I've bought from all of them at one time or another. As for the article, I get it. The Sears catalog came to my house when I was a kid as well.

[JEStanek]

Between a wife who works every other weekend and a tight budget, I've had to hold off, Rich. My visit to Fred Oster's shop was a great time. I gotta make the time!

By the time I was a kid in Virginia, the Best Products catalog mapped out my Christmas wish list. Now it's the Elderly catalog!

Jamie

[8strings]

.... and I thought this was a retirement place.

[Mark Walker]

I live only an hour away - just south of Grand Rapids - and I've only ever 'been to' Elderly's via their catalogues or website! :disbelief: I probably should meander over there one of these days!

Nice article Bill! Had I known you'd be in the area, I'd have bought you a coffee! :mandosmiley:

[Gerard Dick]

It's about 6 hours one way for me. That makes it almost a pilgrimage. Been there twice now. Second time I got bushwhacked by a Weber Yellowstone. It just jumped me and made me take it home.:))

[JeffD]

After about an hour of furious fiddle tunes with a friend, and a couple of beers, I just showed him the column. He is a long time musician and folkie who avoids the computer like some folks avoid lima beans. We had a long chat about Elderly and our past and recent experiences purchasing instruments and instrument parts from them. He had introduced me to Elderly when I first came to this town, and within a year or so I bought my first non-junker instrument from Elderly.

Eldery is one of the threads that holds our musical community together.

Bill, great column, as always.

[Mark Walker]

It's about 6 hours one way for me. That makes it almost a pilgrimage. Been there twice now. Second time I got bushwhacked by a Weber Yellowstone. It just jumped me and made me take it home.:))

That would be one of my fears - some instrument would accost me and I'd be forced to bring it home under a lampshade or something and say, "Look honey - a mandolin-shaped lamp I found at a rummage sale!" :))

[woodwizard]

I thought it was a nice read and sure would like to visit there sometime ... that's for sure. Another pickers candy store for real!