Sara Ann (Zimmerman) Sweeney of Boonsboro was born March 3, 1941 to Jean Smith (Shank) and Alfred Cook Zimmerman. At the time, her family lived at 27 N. Main Street (next to Pete’s Barbershop) in a home owned by Dr. Draper who was away serving in World War II. In 1936, her father purchased the business at 4 N. Main Street (currently Josie’s on Main) from Beauchamp’s Drug Store. Zimmerman’s Cut Rate drug store sold various medicines, sundries, candies, newspapers and lots more, including sodas from a fountain. The building was owned by Mary Shafer, who donated the land for Shafer Park.
At the time, the family attended Trinity Lutheran Church, where her parents were active in the church. She was part of the last class to “graduate” from the old school building that was located where the senior housing apartments are located now on School Campus Drive. The building housed elementary through high school until the new current elementary school was built.
She recalls having to go to class in a bus in 4th grade, all the businesses on her side of N. Main Street, the fun she had growing up, the places they would shop and visit, how she worked hard picking raspberries to earn enough money to go to the carnival.
Audio Clips
Pick audio clips of Sara’s memories below OR just continue listening as each clip will play one after another.