Back in the Day
by Kegler

One dozen answers must be modified before being put into the grid, as described by the unclued central entry.

Across 2 Just hack around the lady's store with a cleaver? (2 wds) 10 Indian's belief, nearly 11 Argue vehemently for tool 12 Lamb's cry starts to become awfully annoying 13 Wintry greeting originally benign? Learn differently 15 Studio is large, frequently 16 Sponsors leave five hundred and one thousand more 18 Policeman has rally's commencement cut short 20 Reportedly puts down island chains? 22 Thousands protecting one South American state 24 Go off end of the railroad 25 Initially forges little old lady's name 32 Shelter Civil War leader 33 Extremely nice, Sue accepts each $5 bill 34 Peer into pub at day's end 36 Plants laced with iodine on two of these tiny pieces 38 Grand gold rush 40 Bakery workers rejecting part of famous recipe 42 Found cold tea spilled 45 Read aloud piece covering Ava's debut 46 Same bizarre landscape feature 47 Brat tips looms

Down 1 In favor of Cherry's examination 2 Ship's second-rate equipment 3 Shirt's starting point 4 Sounds like Mr. Reiner needed to repay vehicle's occupants 5 Vandal with one type of Chinese food 6 Leers, staggers and spins around 7 Cable channel to finally reach McComb, Ohio 8 Shy foal I startled, stupidly 9 Harmful agents' gone off amongst trails 14 Expresses disapproval about new incorrectly logged wasteful projects 17 Maverick Marine pilots 19 Discussed one who lifts blade 21 Rude remark about shortstop 23 Lower small hood 26 In the past, number contains trace of chloroform 27 Short spasm involving head of one impassive person 28 Again prepare a needle from gnarled hard tree 29 Sorry set oddly carouses 30 Quicker baserunner's initially better 31 Northern people sense losing time 35 Polish the French coin 37 Watch over, he leaves; the end 39 Couple I met on the way back 41 Give up rank when audited 43 Eggs buried in samovars 44 Atty.'s sad upon reversal

Solution