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People and Stories
Soda Fountain Days: Issaquahians Remember the Honeysuckle and the Shamrock
By David Miller, Issaquah Historical Society / Summer 2004
Many of us remember the hit TV show “Happy Days,” which ran from 1974 to 1984
and concerned the exploits of a group of teenagers in the 1950s. When Richie,
Potsie, Fonzie and friends wanted to hang out, they went to Arnold’s soda
fountain.
The scene wasn’t much different during the 50s and 60s at Issaquah’s soda
fountains. Two of the most popular were located more or less across Front Street
from each other in the block just north of Mill Street (now Sunset Way). The
Honeysuckle was on the west side of the street; the Shamrock on the east.
Both were places where teenagers could do the things they like to do when they
get together; eat, listen to music, and chat about school, sports, cars, movies,
and who’s dating whom. Both of them served up such popular drinks as green
rivers (lime syrup and carbonated water), graveyards (a mix of syrups and
carbonated water), root beer floats and milk shakes. Kids from the high school
liked to drop into both of them at lunchtime or after school.
The Honeysuckle, which opened its doors in 1922, was operated by Tom Drylie for
36 years, and later by Rita and Dave Morris. It was a strict soda fountain /
candy shop for most of its existence and also doubled as the local depot for the
Greyhound and Trailways bus lines. The Shamrock, itself originally a soda
fountain named Jays, added short-order food and homemade pies when it was bought
by Mike and Rena Shain in the 1940s.
According to Marilyn Batura, Susan Cameron, and Chuck Olson, the Honeysuckle
tended to attract the “greasers” with their black leather jackets, while the
Shamrock was home territory for the “Soshes” or “socials” (although both had
adult customers as well). As a bus station, the Honeysuckle also attracted its
share of transients and out-of-towners, including a jewelry salesman who used to
dance around the floor by himself, swinging his sample case.
“My favorite soda shop was the Honeysuckle,” says Viola Petersen. “Mr. Drylie
was such a character. He always wore the tip of his tie tucked into his shirt
front, military style. He served the best lemon phosphates, green rivers, cherry
cokes, tulip sundaes and milk shakes you’ve ever tasted. He sold candy, too, and
had his own lending library.”
The Shamrock had its fans as well. Nancy Horrocks remembers that Rena Shain
“made the best chocolate cake in captivity,” while Bob and Lois Catterall state
that “no one has come close to Rena’s meringue pie.” The only complaint by some
was that you had to order 50 cents worth of fare to get a booth.
But no matter who you talk to who grew p in those times, those soda fountain
days were happy days.
