Picturing the Past 16: The low rent corner

Wow, I had never seen this picture before David. Notice where the Hoover tractor and trailer are sitting. This alley way ran all the way to Atkinson just below the bridge. That would probably be West Holland. In the left of the picture you can see the building that has been earlier described as being the home of Hoover Furniture among other tenants. It appears there is a "Y" painted on the front of the building. I would have to do some thinking to determine who had a business at that time. Also, note the parking meter just to the left of the light pole.

Thanks again, David.The building at the extreme left in the picture is the old Hoover Furniture building.

A photo encompassing the fire dept. and Hoover, with basically this same angle of Fred's place in the background, can be found on the web at the following address:

www.shelbyvilletnfire.org

Scroll down to the link labeled Historical Picture Page, then scroll down to Fire Day 1956 photo.

leeiii. I think the "y" in the picture is the last letter in the word "company" as in Hoover Furniture Company.

Thanks ilikeoldsongs, that makes sense to me.

ilikeoldsongs, thanks for the link to the Fire Departmant. Some of those photos I had never seen before. There is a lot of history in those photographs with buildings, vehicles, and people as well.

David I remember Fred's store. My grand daughter has an bedroom suite that my parents purchased from Fred about 1947.

If we come back across the square, to South Spring St., Chitwood Jewelers was on the left, in part of the basement of Knox Pitts at one time, as were some other businesses that I can't put a name on right now. Across the street was the "boys" pool room, as opposed to the men's pool room on the square. Next door down was Neese's Linoleum Service, best I can remember.

Wonder if anybody remembers Woodson's Cafe, just off the square on the left, on Depot St. It had a pretty short life span. This was probably in '57.

Also just off the square,on the left, on Holland St., was a clothing store named Hereford's. (Next door to Martin & Price.) I know it was there in '58 'cause that's where I met my future bride.

I may be a little bonkers on this next one, but I've got it in my head that Model Sportswear was farther down Holland, across N.Jefferson, on the left, before they built the large plant out near Watco. If I'm wrong, please rebuke gently, as I'm not a young man anymore.

Between there and Deery St., on the right side of Holland, Dr. Cooper built an office, don't recall the year on that.

Also on the right, near Dr. Coopers office, was a monument company, I can't recall the name right now.

ilikeoldsongs, I remember Chitwood's well. Carl had a reputation of being one of the finest watchmakers or clockmakers around Shelbyville. My Dad bought an Elgin pocketwatch while he was aboard the USS Arkansas during WWII. I still have that watch today and inside the back Carl inscribed the info of every time he had worked on Daddy's watch. On down S. Spring past Neese Linoleum was a building that housed the Civil Defense at one time and a building where Shelbyville Power stored some of their supplies. I remember the Civil Defense because I was a volunteer "plane spotter" shortly after WWII. I was told when I was a young boy that pool rooms were trouble. You know, "trouble--that starts with T and that rhymes with P and that stands for pool".

Woodson's Cafe has a ring of familiarity to it but I can not remember ever going in there.

I have been in Martin & Price many times and in the bus station as well, but I can not say that I ever remember going in Herefords. As a matter of fact I do not remember it ever catching my eye.

Yes, I remember Model Sportswear being in that location, but I had completely forgotten about it. Thanks for the memory.

Yes, I remember Dr. Cooper's office. Somehow in the back of my mind I want to say that Crab Orchard stone was used in that building's construction, but I am not sure. As for the monument company, try an see if Hummell is a fit.

leeiii, you should appreciate whoever told you that pool rooms are trouble. Hanging around those places can easily result in "Feudin' And Fussin' And A Fightin".

Woodson's was located close to the square, either in the rear of the corner building, or in the next building for sure,(it was torn down recently.)It was owned by a city policeman, but can't ever recall his first name when I want to. Anyway, it was in and out for sure.

And Hereford's wasn't there long either, and after it left Martin & Price expanded into the area it had occupied, as I recall.

Thanks for vindicating my memory of Model Sportsware, and Hummell, dont't know if that one would have ever come back to me.

You are right about the Crab Orchard stone and Dr. Cooper's office.

Speaking of Crab Orchard, I'll bet a lot of folks on here remember the Weather Lady from up that way.

Wonder who remembers Guffey's Highway Market just past White Castle, on the opposite side of the road? And the junk yard behind it on Green Lane?

ilikeoldsongs, I hope that bloggers are not getting tired of you and I dominating the conversation on here, but I am really enjoying it and I always look forward to your input. Again, I want to thank David for providing us this forum.

I am sure that the policeman's name will come to me later. I can see his face but can not recall his name.

It was after Shadow and George expanded their floor space that I bought my first hand gun from them, and I still have it today.

Yes, a lot of us remember the weather lady from Crab Orchard even though her name escapes me at the moment. It seems to me that Prentice Cooper introduced Crab Orchard stone to this area in some of the buildings that he built, such as Mittwedes Super Market on the corner of Depot and Thompson, the apartment building on the corner of Belmont and Thompson, his new house on his father's property on East Lane, and I am sure if I thought a little bit I could come up with several more.

I remember Guffey's well. Later Morris and Larry Dickens had the first D and D market in that building. As for the junk yard I can not remember the name of the man who owned it at the moment but I do remember that his daughter and her husband ran it. It seems to me that her name was Mary and her married name was Goss. When I was an electrician I used to save up scrap copper and sell it there every year just before Christmas. It seems to me that I can remember getting as much as thirty-five cents a pound for it.

"ilikeoldsongs, I hope that bloggers are not getting tired of you and I dominating the conversation on here, but I am really enjoying it and I always look forward to your input. Again, I want to thank David for providing us this forum.

Posted by leeiii on Wed, Jul 8, 2009, at 9:14 AM

leeiii, you bring up a point that honestly has become a matter of concern to me in recent days. I look at the various blogs on this site, and time after time I see my signature attached to a post. More often than not my posts seem to pertain to the 1950's, 1960's, an era that most folks, say 50 and under, might not identify with, and certainly are unlikely to have any direct memories of. By placing myself in thier shoes, I can easily see how they might feel "left out" of a blog that is focused on that time frame.

If anyone has felt, or does feel that way, please accept my personal apology, as I feel responsible. The information and memories that each generation acquires is just as valuable, and just as wanted as that of any other generation. And just as necessary to the whole picture. After all, time didn't start in 1950, and end in 1969.

I feel that I need to back away from these blogs for awhile, as an active poster, and just observe and enjoy the posts that I hope will be forthcoming from some of our younger members. Again, if I have been the cause of anyone not participating, please accept my apology.

David, again I join leeiii in saying thank you for both the opportunity afforded by these boards, as well as the time and effort you have invested.

And leeiii, that vein of 24 carat information you carry in your head is simply too deep and wide to walk away from, so I look forward to returning from time to time, and mining a nugget or two.

Hey, guys, I'm enjoying all of your comments. I'm learning a lot I didn't know about my hometown. I've always wished I could jump into a time machine and see Shelbyville (and other places) before I was born or was old enough to remember.

Younger people may not be posting comments, but I'm hearing quite a few of them making positive comments about these blogs and what you're saying.

I'm also still planning to post some photos from the 1970s and 1980s, so there will be plenty of chances for younger generations (and you, too) to comment.

Drive down any main street in Shelbyville (especially North Main) and compare what you see with what existed in, say, 1980. The city's changed so much.

Thanks David for the encouragement, and to you, ilikeoldsongs, no, no, no, please do not back away. I feel the same way about your comments as you seem to feel about mine. I am already looking forward to what you have to say next.

leeiii and ilikeoldsongs,

As someone who grew up elsewhere, but had connections here all my life, I have truely enjoyed both of you guys insight. I have now lived here(Bedford County) for 20 years and still am learning a great deal about the area. Please keep up the comments.

Sharon22, I have been gone for 33 years but we still have family and friends there so I am able to keep up somewhat with what is going on and the T-G also is a great help.

Even though we have been gone for a long time I will always announce to anyone who will listen that I am from "Shubvul" with a great deal of pride.

ilikeoldsongs, Helen Lane is the weather prognosticator in Crab Orchard.

I'm only 50, so I don't remember Fred's furniture store, but I do have memories of my grandmother taking me shopping for new (very stiff) jeans at the Fair Store and Parks Belks on the square. I do remember Martin & Price Hardware and H. Clay Martin's market out on North Main. The very first movie I recall seeing at the then Princess Theater was "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken", starring Don Knotts. This was shortly before they installed "rocking chair" seating. The old D & D Market was where I had my very first job earning a grand total of 75 cents per hour. As far as pool rooms go, if I'd spent as much time in school as I did hanging out at the old Brown's pool hall, I might be a little smarter today!

David, leeiii and Sharon22, thank you for your words of encouragement. This was not a decision that I made lightly, and frankly, was one of the most painful decisions in a long time. I have, in a very short time, come to look forward with great anticipation to the time I spend on these boards, just reading as well as intreacting with other members, and the thought of leaving was closely akin to saying goodby to an old friend.

Yesterday it seemed like the right thing to do for the board, in the hope that participation might increase.

Today, it seems like the height of stupidity to have even considered that my presence on this board was an influence one way or the other to the readers. I probably read a hundred posts on these boards for every one that I respond to, but I look forward to reading them all. Why should I think other readers would be any different?

I would consider it an honor to be accepted back into your good graces.

Welcome back ilikeoldsongs. This World Wide Web is a wonderful thing. If Al Gore had invented it many, many years earlier than he did, maybe I could have made it through high school in four years instead of the five it took me.

"ilikeoldsongs, Helen Lane is the weather prognosticator in Crab Orchard."

-- Posted by leeiii on Wed, Jul 8, 2009, at 4:56 PM

Right as rain.

"I'm only 50, so I don't remember Fred's furniture store, but I do have memories of my grandmother taking me shopping for new (very stiff) jeans at the Fair Store and Parks Belks on the square."

Posted by Tattoos & Scars on Wed, Jul 8, 2009, at 11:13 PM

Yes, I remember wearing those "concrete britches", would about as soon break in a new pair of shoes. Sure was glad when they started making those "already half worn out ones", a lot more comfortable.

Where was Brown's pool room? I essentially laid the game down in 1958 when I married, and didn't play anymore till about the early '80's, when my daughter and a couple of her friends wanted me to give them a few pointers at Funland on Madison St.

LOL. Yes I remember those britches well. My Mother and Daddy only bought me overalls, and finally after I had pleaded for blue jeans Mother finally began to buy me some "Flys" denim pants. It was only after I had earned enough to buy some clothes myself that I purchased a pair of "Levis". Trying to put them on for the first time was an experience that I will not soon forget.

Well on the south side of Chicago...

No, lets make that the south side of the Shelbyville square, about the middle of the block, where quite a few folks have gathered to see a demonstration of the new, 1957 Ford Retractable Hardtop.

Were you "A Face In The Crowd"?. I was.

Boy, I remember that car well. It seems to me that someone in town had a 1959 version of that car but I can not remember who it was unless it might have been Ray Ledbetter.

Are you quoting that from memory or do you have a picture made that day?

"Are you quoting that from memory or do you have a picture made that day?

-- Posted by leeiii on Thu, Jul 9, 2009, at 2:49 PM "

Strictly memory, but boy, would a picture be great! Best I remember the car was red and white. Not a lot of those cars were sold in Shelbyville, but you might be right about Ledbetter owning one, and it seems that I am wanting to think he had a red and white one,too. But I've slept too many times since then to be sure.

The Face In The Crowd reference was just a play on the old Andy Griffith movie from 1957.

ilikeoldsongs, the building that is pictured this week is one that I have a question about. Can you ever remember John C. Huffman Appliances being in that building? This would have been about 1936, or'37, or '38.

"ilikeoldsongs, the building that is pictured this week is one that I have a question about. Can you ever remember John C. Huffman Appliances being in that building? This would have been about 1936, or'37, or '38."

-- Posted by leeiii on Thu, Jul 9, 2009, at 5:07 PM

Nah,that would have been a little before my time, but still the name sounds familiar.

David,I was just given a book from 1969,Times-gazette sesqui-centennial historical edition,October 7,1969.This book has so many very interesting facts about Bedford county and pictures from 1819-1969.Also a calendar from Fly's drug store,1969,101 E. side square.If you would like to view these just let me know.

shrtckt2003@yahoo.com

Hey David just wanted to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed these blasts from the past over the past few weeks and especially all the comments that come up afterwards from everyone reminiscing. I think it has been funny to hear how people's memory wheels start turning when you show them one picture or mention a business name and then the fountain of knowledge just starts pouring out...

Along the same line of Tattoos and Scars comment from earlier...does anyone remember Southland Department Store...that was once in the building there close to the Capri Theatre, that they just tore down recently. I remember that well, my mother worked there before I ever started school...And another one I could throw out there for you Shelbyville History Buffs...how about Gene Parks Furniture Store, since we are talking about furniture stores this week...

David, just keep them coming every week and you people that like to comment, don't be afraid to throw out some new places in your chatting...it really has been fun...and you two that have been talking the most, don't ever think you need to stop and give the young ones a little room...they will jump in there when they have something to say...trust me...that does not stop them...

PinkPanther1953, thanks for the encouragement. You have surely noticed by now that it does not take much to encourage me to exercise my feeble recall on a regular basis.

Yes, I remember Gene Parks Furniture, and as I remember it I think that at one time it was on Holland Street just at the back of Bedford Cheese.

ilikeoldsongs, yes it was before my time as well. My Daddy and Mother bought their first electric ice box (refrigerator) from him shortly before my birth. I do not know how long the store was there, but as my Daddy described it to me I believe it would have been at that site. The refrigerator was a "Frigidaire" and all of my young life I thought all contraptions like that were "Frigidaires".

Tattoos & Scars, the first movie that I remember seeing at the Princess was "Gone With The Wind", then there was "The Egg And I", and several Ma and Pa Kettle movies.

Pink Panther 1953, Gene Parks Furniture was on Holland in, I think, the building now housing Statum Cab. As I recall, it was still operating as late as the 1970s and possibly the 1980s.

David,

You may, or may not remember me, but I worked at the T-G for several years, many years ago and worked with your dad. You were just a little tow-headed boy and often rode around with us while we were taking photos throughout Bedford County. My primary hobby since I left Shelbyville is amassing, collecting and buying "all things Bedford County"--photos, postcards, paper items, newspapers, advertising items, on and on. I just ran across your Picturing the Past blog #16 and printed out all 16 of them. I'm like a child on Christmas morning. I haven't had a chance to read most of them yet, but it's already gotten my research and memory juices flowing. I enjoy the many comments and would like to know who they really are. A few I can figure out, for instance I know Cookie is your aunt, since we were both in the 1960 CHS graduating class. I'm sure as I read through your archive, I'll want to wade in with comments and questions...I assume that's permissible. I have a 1952 city directory of Shelbyville that identifies every street number whether business and residence, or vacant. It's a great resource when looking at businesses on the square or the old Bridge St., and Depot, Holland, and all the others. So, if anyone needs help in pinpointing a specific locale, I'd like to help.

Regarding Fred Phillips' "low rent corner" photo in your most recent blog. I have several photos that show a wider view that includes his store, the 1st Methodist Church and Hoover Furniture and the fire hall. I think that was called the low rent corner since it was technically not on the square, I'm not sure. I do think that when they moved to Holland St. they dropped the "low rent corner" verbiage.

I don't know about the Huffman store preceding Fred Phillips, but I have some phone books from the 20's, 30's and 40's, so I'll try to find out and report back.

Regarding Woodson's Cafe, I was going through some old photos last night and saw its sign in the background, but thought it was on the right of Depot St.....but I'll look again.

This is a fun adventure. While I clipped and saved most of Dick Poplin's "Scraps" columns, the opportunity for feedback from others makes this even more interesting and valuable.

I apologize for ramblin'.

"The refrigerator was a "Frigidaire" and all of my young life I thought all contraptions like that were "Frigidaires".

Posted by leeiii on Fri, Jul 10, 2009, at 7:52 AM

What! You telling me they are NOT all "Frigidaires?" My goodness, are you gonna tell me next that not all record players are "Victrolas?"

The first movie that I clearly remember would be "Lassie Come Home", and those Kettle movies were hilarious at the time.

I was really into war movies back in the 1940's, possibly influenced to some degree by patriotism, but more likely having to do with my own experience of having repulsed numerous attacks by both German and Japanese forces in my back yard, and other strategic locations around the neighborhood. Those were some sneaky enemies, but...

Yes, Gene Parks Furniture was where you're thinking on Holland St. It seems to me that he might have relocated later to the old John F's building on 231, but I wouldn't bet 2 cents, three eggs and a postcard on it. This may be one of those situations that calls for a younger,more recently oriented persons input. The closer you get to today, the weaker my memory becomes.

Kind of reminds me of Brother Dave Gardener's assessment of our military capabilities during the Cuban Crisis in the '60's."we got rockets that will go ten thousand miles, and blap, right on target. We got rockets that will go five thousand miles, and blap, right on target.We got rockets that will go a thousand miles, and blap, right on target.(A short pause) We ain't got nothin' that will hit that close!!

marnold1118, I remember you well -- I started part-time on the sports staff shortly before you left.

Looking forward to more of your comments on anything and everything.

"You may, or may not remember me...

Posted by marnold1118 on Fri, Jul 10, 2009, at 9:21 AM

Long time, no hear! How is everything with you these days? How long has it been since you checked out the Fairfield Pike? Lot of changes out that way, as might be expected.

Let me say a sincere "welcome home", and I know your presence will add much to these blogs.

Thanks David and ilikeoldsongs. Now, I am at a disadvantage...your moniker "ilikeoldsongs" doesn't give me any clue to your ID, but I'm sure I know you. Fairfield Pike has changed. I still get out they way quite often, since I have a brother and a sister whose homes are still on Fairfield Pike, and I'm active in the BC historical society, and still enjoy coming down and wandering about the county taking photos.

I'm like leeiii, I grew up thinking all refrigerators were Frigidaires, but earlier than that we had an icebox and "went to town" to buy ice from Albert Bailey--the master of the ice pick. In the late 40's there was TVA electricity out Fairfield Pike and out Webb Hwy., but not on Minkslide Road, which connected the two, which is where I lived the first 10 years of my life.

"Thanks David and ilikeoldsongs. Now, I am at a disadvantage...your moniker "ilikeoldsongs" doesn't give me any clue to your ID, but I'm sure I know you."

Posted by marnold1118 on Fri, Jul 10, 2009, at 10:02 AM

I ain't hard to figure out. Just think of "uncle" Moody's little rock house across the road from George, Ruth, Peggy and marcus.

marnold1118, as the others, let me say welcome to the blog. I am looking forward to your comments and I am guessing that you have lots of insight on the things we have been discussing. If you are who I think you are then you probably have a tremendous negative or photo archive to draw from, and I think that you are about 3 years younger than I am. That 1952 City Directory will be an invaluable resource as will the phone books from the '20's, '30's, and '40's.

I am glad that you clipped and saved the "Scraps of Poplin". I would die for a copy of a book that had all of Dick's column. I have asked around a little bit about the possibility of such a thing coming to fruition. I have asked David about it and I have asked Dick's girls but at this point I do not know of anything in the works.

Be sure to check out David's blog called "Looking back: Where was it?"

ilikeoldsongs, oh yeah, and then they came out with a thing called "stereo Victrola". I remember "Lassie Come Home", as a matter of fact I have a tidbit lodged in my head that reminds me that Claude Jarman, Jr. was from Bell Buckle.

Not only did we have to repel the Germans and the Japanese but do not forget the rustlers and the Indians.

Since you brought up Bro. Dave it made me remember Moms Mabley and her "you look like you been whupped with a ugly stick".

Okay, let me throw a line in the water and see if I can get a bite. Since we are on furniture stores, who can remember Williams Brothers Furniture down in the area we now know as the Big Springs Shopping Center. If I remember correctly I think it was on the corner of Atkinson and another street just across from my great-uncle's house that sat upon the hill.

marnold1118, as far as knowing my identity, both David and Bo know who I am. If you will just contact them, then they have my permission to let you know my identity.

Re: Simon Warner:

My '52 directory says that Simon Warner lived at 414 W. Lane St. (fairly close to Atkinson St.) and that his wife's name was Ruby and they had one child living at home. Warner owned the house, but I think Mrs. Pearl Vandergriff lived in part of the house.

His business was a dept. store named "Dixie Salvage Store" and was located at 422 N. Main St. That was in the same block as Comptons Hardware, Bud's Cafe, Greenfield's Matag, J.B. Cook Auto, Pyrdams Cafe and Grady's Mkt.

Seems like there was an illustrated story published about him. I think it was the Tennessean Magazine that came out in the Sunday paper many years ago. I'm not sure if I have it or not. I'll ramble through my stuff this weekend and see if I can locate it...and will scan it and share it.

I may get kicked out the first day I'm on the blog!

But leeiii is correct about Williams Bros. Furniture. It was at 204 W. Franklin St., near Pontsler's Groc. (which was mentioned in an earlier blog) and the Toddle Inn.

More on Simon Warner:

When I was looking through 1952 T-G negatives earlier this week I found photos of a cafe grand opening with Warner listed on the negative envelope as one of the owners. All the photos were of groups of people (including Warner, apparently). I didn't scan it, but can find it easily if anyone's interested.

I've also already scanned a negative of the front of J.B. Cook and Greenfield's, which I'll post in the next few weeks.

Wow, marnold1118 you are going to be a tremendous asset to the blog. I had completely forgotten about Grady's Market.

David this is getting to be funner and funner. I guess that iron really does sharpen iron.

It's still early, but it's looking an awful lot like marnold1118 may need to hire a secretary to keep up with all the potential requests that could be coming his way.

I had also forgotten about the Toddle Inn where you could toddle in and wobble out.

My '52 directory says that Simon Warner lived at 414 W. Lane St. (fairly close to Atkinson St.) and that his wife's name was Ruby and they had one child living at home. Warner owned the house, but I think Mrs. Pearl Vandergriff lived in part of the house.

Posted by marnold1118 on Fri, Jul 10, 2009, at 2:29 PM

Thanks for that information, tells me that I lived at 412 W. Lane in '43.

Got another request that goes back into the '40's. I'm trying to locate any information available for a Lonzo and Nancy Ellen (Ellie) Reynolds, who operated a grocery store.

The only address that I've been able to come up with so far is 516 "Norton" St., where she is said to have died "at home". Was this really Morton St.?(I haven't found a Norton St.) And was this address in close proximity to thier grocery store?(I've heard that they lived in the rear of the store, and also heard that the store was "attached" to thier house.) She died in November, 1948.

Any information of any sort, phone numbers, address etc. will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

ilikeoldsongs, let me ask you a question. Where would the 400 block of West Lane be located on today's lay of the land? Would it be about where the old Chevrolet dealership was located?

marnold1118 in your collecting have you collected any old Shelbyville street maps such as before Urban Renewal. I went out to Garland King's museum and made some pictures of his maps before Urban Renewal, but with the yellowing paper and the glare from the plexiglass covering them my results were not very satisfying.

ilikeoldsongs, let me ask you a question. Where would the 400 block of West Lane be located on today's lay of the land? Would it be about where the old Chevrolet dealership was located?

-- Posted by leeiii on Sat, Jul 11, 2009, at 8:43 AM

I think the dealership would be included in the 400 block, as I think the first street cutting through between W. Jackson and W. Lane was about where Richards Cafeteria is located, which would start the 500 block.

If you wanted to "pinpoint" the location of Simon Warners home, you could go to the D.G. Beers 1878 map, locate the colored church on the right side of "Lane" St., and follow the little drainage branch as it passes near the rear of the church, then crosses Lane street. Of course there are no houses there on the map at that time, but on the opposite side of the road from the church, my house in '43 was next to the branch on the town side, and Simon's house was across the branch toward the Chevrolet lot.

Thanks.

West Lane Memories

For whatever reason, West Lane St. and Simon Warner have drifted in and out of my mind for the past several weeks.I had hardly thought of either one since Urban Renewal changed the landscape, and have no idea why it seems to have assumed some degree of importance to me all of a sudden. However, I have experienced enough "unexplainable" events in my life that I no longer discount feelings of forboding, etc, and that is not said to start an argument, but simply to state a fact that pertains to my life, no one else's.

I have mentioned to several people through the years that I had lived next door to Simon Warner when I was a young child, but have never felt any need to go into any detail until now. I have no idea where this may go, as I have not written down any notes to refer to. I hope that it doesn't bore you to death.

One of the first things that I remember about meeting Simon was getting the "grand tour", I guess you would call it. He and his wife Ruby showed us what I have since decided must have been an in home office. One wall in this back room was almost entirely covered with newspaper articles, many of which had pictures of Simon. Of course I couldn't read at that time but I recognized him in the pictures. Then there was a whole bunch of photographs, many of Simon, and some of him and other people. If he wasn't an important person he certainly was trying to create that impression with that wall display.

The Great Snake Hunt

I don't recall who first spotted the snake in the branch that ran between our house and Simon, just remember wading around in water no more than three or four inches deep, i'm sure, poking a stick under rocks. Simon was up near the road looking, and my mother was admonishing me "don't you pick up no snake, you call simon if you see it."

Well, as luck would have it, I was the one that found it.I raked it out from under a rock with my little stick, and back under the rock it went.I raked that snake out three times and didn't know it was a snake, thought it was just a weed that I was pulling out. But finally, after that third time, my little child's mind realized that that "weed" was going upstream to get back under that rock, and weeds can't go upstream. I told Simon and he took care of the snake.Turned out it was a cottonmouth, a real small one, about 10" long.

I remember soldiers going by the house on several ocassions, sometimes marching in formation, but usually just walking along.I can't help but wonder now and then if any of them were lost in the war.

Then there was the time that I ventured into the business world, and engineered a tricycle for rabbits deal with Simon. He had three big white rabbits that I wanted, but I didn't have any money. His boy, who was younger than I, wanted a tricycle that I didn't ride anymore.So, after talking it over with my Dad, the deal was made. Don't know till this day what became of the rabbits.

Before I get away from Simon's boy, I should mention an incident that happened once which I'm not especially proud of. He was over at my house playing one day, and my mother came out with a soft drink and a glass, and proceeded to divide the drink between us. I explained to her that I didn't want to share my drink, but would rather have it all myself.This made no impression on her at all, so I showed her who was boss by pouring my half out on the ground. I didn't get a whipping for it, but I didn't any soft drink the rest of the day, either.

The lot that our house sat on was a fairly steep sloping lot, and as a result the lower side nearest the branch was high enough off the ground that I could bend over and walk under the house.I spent a lot of time playing under there. But one time I remember taking a nap, and when I woke up I was hurting so bad in both sides that I couldn't take a deep breath. I remember a Dr. coming out and examining me, and saying I had double pneumonia.I don't know how long I was in and out of my head from the fever, or how long the pain lasted, but it seemed like forever. But every time I would wake up enough to know what was going on, my Mother would be sitting beside the bed in a straight chair.

I have never spoken of this time in my life to anyone before, not even family, in this much detail, and as mentioned above, don't know why I was motivated to do so now.More often than not we do things because we know its the thing to do, but sometimes we have to do things because we feel its the thing to do.

ilikeoldsongs it is good to recall the times of our youth, both the good times along with the bad times. Let me encourage you to write down some of these things as they come to you.

A few years back my wife and I became involved in geneology and we soon discovered that we had missed out on a lot of good information by not listening when the "old folks" were talking. Now most all of them are gone and we are having to dig for everything we can get. I decided that I would write down a few things to leave for our kids so it would not be lost. I became so engrossed in the memories that I had recorded 70+ pages before I knew it.

As far as the snakes go, they are all cottonmouths don't you know. There are green cottonmouths, brown cottonmouths, black cottonmouths, multi-colored cottonmouths, etc. I have found that the best advice concerning snakes comes from the Bible. ".....and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it."

What an absolute joy to be reading all this local history and the stories accompanying them. This has brought back so many memories of growing up in Shelbyville. I too remember Gene Parks furniture store. I was having a conversation with a friend today and he mentioned the old Cooper Foods store located in the Big Springs Shopping center. If I'm remembering correctly, they gave out a horse racing card with your grocery purchase. My dad and I would watch those races to see if he had a "winning" card. I can also remember going to the old Day Brothers market, located where Vance Clay realty is today. Then there was the bowling alley where Shelbyville Supermarket is now. Like I said, this blog has been a lot of fun to read!

Oh, and I forgot to mention, the old Brown's pool hall was operated by a Tommy Brown, Sr., and it was located downstairs just underneath the building beside the Merle Norman store on the square.

ilikeoldsongs and leeiii, please keep sending your comments, I have enjoyed them so much. You've brought back many memories, some I remembered and some that I had forgotten. leeiii, your memory is remarkable to not have lived here for 33 years.

Hummell Monument Co.on Holland was started by my Grandfather. He put up the orignal statue of Jack Daniel in Lynchburg. It was ordered to the exact measurements of Jack except they had to enlarge his

shoe size for fear of the statue toppling over from the weight because his feet being so small. They use to send my Grandmother a case of sample bottles of whiskey every Christmas that she flavored her boiled custard with,...that was some

good boiled custard!

You also brought back memories with the old party

albums, was it Bro. Dave that had the story of Mr.Charlie and Ms.Baby and the Motorcycle Wreck?

Thanks too,David, for bringing all these memories back to light.

katydid, welcome to the blog. Please be sure to add your comments to whatever conversation is going on at the moment.

leeiii, decided to confirm my thinking on the old Cannon car dealership being in the 400 block of W.Lane St., and am now sure it is, although not by a whole bunch, maybe like 50-75 ft. inside the western end.

While out decided to follow up on our earlier discussion involving the old city golf course. You had mentioned Sam Moore's store also, during that discussion, and I wanted to see how the land lays in that area now.It's been a long time since I made the loop through W.Lane, Shelbyville Mills Rd., and W. Jackson St., longer than I realized.

I was not shocked, but was a little disappointed to find that the store itself was gone, as were, it appears, probably two dwellings immediately on the town side of the store site. In thier place is a 7-11 type store, which has been placed a little farther back from the road for better parking, I suppose.

Finding a farm shed type corrugated building representing the face of a neighborhood that one has known since the days of one's youth certainly gives you a glowing, fuzzy feeling, doesn't it? Really warms the cockels of your heart.

ilikeoldsongs: here's what I've found on the Norton/Morton St. issue and Reynolds gorcery.

I don't think, and cannot find any reference to a Norton St. in Shelbyville. But when I look under Morton St., there is a Groom's Groc. at 516 Morton St. in the '52 city directory. In the personal index I find no Lonzo or Nancy Ellen Reynolds. With the listing of Groom's Groc. @ 516 Morton St. there is also a Sarah Groom listed indicating what you said about someone living in the back, or above the store...but it's not the name you were looking for. Going further, I looked in my 1953 telephone directory an low and behold there is a listing for Sarah Grooms at 516 Norton St. I think it was a case of bad proofreading. The phone book has Thomas Gipson listed on Morton St., which is correct according to the city directory, but has Bedford County Training School on Norton St. while the city directory is correct in listing it on Morton St. Don't you think this stuff is difficult enough without having to factor in misspelled words? To add a bit more confusion, my 1936 city directory has a listing for "Grooms Food Store, 105 West Side Square.

While I'm on the subject of grocery stores, tatoos and scars mentioned remembering the Old Day Bros. store where Vance Clay Realty is now (in front of what used to be the old Central High School on Elm St.) I think that should be Shelbyville Super Market. Day Bros. was on Depot St. and had another store on N. Main. My wife's grandfather, W.M. Earnhart had a grocery many, many years ago at 412 N. Main St. in the Compton building and later moved to Elm St. and named it Shelbyville Super Market. He later sold it to Willard Baker, who sometime later moved out on Union St. in the old Primrose Lanes Bowling Alley space.

Referring to...

"marnold1118 in your collecting have you collected any old Shelbyville street maps such as before Urban Renewal. I went out to Garland King's museum and made some pictures of his maps before Urban Renewal, but with the yellowing paper and the glare from the plexiglass covering them my results were not very satisfying...."

leeiii...I do have some old street maps, but never as many as I would like. Here is what I've got:

--1878 D.G. Beer & Co. map. This is a great map of the whole county and identifies most of the homeowners, buildings, etc. When you consider the entire downtown area of Shelbyville, I think it is great. It lacks detail of the square and the major streets that comprise the core of our downtown. This is the map that filled 4 newspaper pages and was part of the T-G on the day we distributed the huge Sesquicentennial edition in 1969. A lot of the books have survived, but that regular newspaper issue with the map is harder to find. This is good for locating specific locales out in the county.

--U.S. Geological Survey maps. These are topo maps each showing a different quadrangle. I have all of Bedford and surrounding counties and I guess there are 20-30 of these. Some are old and date back to the 1940s and some are more current. I have used them to identify and mark where I've lived, gone to school, where cemeteries, churches, and things like that important to my genealogical files.

--My largest, and probably and helpful, group of maps were published by Sanborn and Perris Co. It takes several 2-ft. x 3-ft. maps to show all of Shelbyville. So, they are quite detailed. They identify alot--schools, churches, some businesses, etc., but they have houses and buildings drawn in street by street, but without identification. You'll see a building identified, for instance, as "furniture", but won't list the name of the furniture store. I have sets for 1887, 1894, 1899, 1905, 1910, 1921, and 1929. The Argie Cooper Library has these same maps in their history room, so anyone can go check them out. Just ask for the Sanborn maps of Shelbyville. They are loose in a large drawer.

--The oldest Shelbyville map I have is a hand-drawn map of 1826 Shelbyville. All it lists are a couple of mill dams and several street names. There may be a few others that I don't recall that are hiding in my files somewhere.

Again, I rambled on far too long.

"ilikeoldsongs: here's what I've found on the Norton/Morton St. issue and Reynolds gorcery."

Posted by marnold1118 on Sun, Jul 12, 2009, at 3:34 PM

First, let me say sorry for an incomplete post, which caused you to do some some extra looking that had no chance of success. I posted the wife's death in Nov.1948, but failed to include the fact that the husband died the following spring in California, where he had gone to stay with his daughter following the death of his wife. Again, sorry.

I agree fully about Norton St. being in error, I've never heard of it before, and certainly don't remember ever being on it.

The 516 address. It seems that this part of the address is pretty much agreed on by your references, and I have been hoping against hope that it would turn out to be something more like 716, since there is a house at that address with what appears to be an old store building absolutely jammed up against it, and part of the old building has already fallen down.

Is it possible that 516 could legally become 716 over the years?

I'm no map reading expert by any means, but just looking at a modern map it seems to me that the 500 block of Morton would have been across Elm St. down into what is now part of the Urban Renewal Project. What I'd give for a 1960 or earlier street map!

I'm really glad to get the Grooms name as it is likely the person who purchased the Reynolds store after the death of mrs. Reynolds.

I greatly appreciate this information, and look forward to the future with considerable anticipation.

Thanks again, and tell your brother and sister I said hello.

ilikeoldsongs, thanks for your effort in helping me to locate the general area of Simon Warner's house. I pulled out the D.G. Beers map and your directions helped me to nail it. I was thinking that it would be in the general area of Cannon's dealership and the Royal Crown Bottling plant. As for the glowing, fuzzy feeling about the West Lane/Sam Moore location, it is more like an itchy, scratchy feeling.

As for the 500 block of Morton Street being across the highway from BCTS. My Step Father-in-Law assures me that Sonny Grooms' Father had a joint (beer or groceries) down in that area shortly after WWII, and that later Sonny operated it. Now I am wondering if it could have been Sonny's Father-in-Law instead of his Father. I do not know what his name would have been. I know that later (after Urban Renewal) Sonny had a quick stop market on Lane Parkway and his son Jimmy had a clothing store (James G) attached to it. I agree with both of you that I also think Norton Street to be in error.

marnold, yes I have the 1878 D.G. Beers map. I will have to scour the internet to see if I can find a Sanborn and Perris Co. street map of Shelbyville in the '40's or '50's.

Holland and North Main are the only two streets that I can remember Day Brothers being on as well.

Yes, I have heard of a Grooms Food Store on the square but I never knew of it.

I am glad that you brought up the name Earnhart. I had forgotten that the store across from the high school was Earnhart's before it was Baker's.

I agree about misspelling being a problem. Even more so on the old Census reports not only is misspelling a problem, but misinformation as well. Sometimes I think people gave bad information, and sometimes I think the Census taker heard or recorded it wrong. Either way, I have discovered a lot of mistakes.

"You also brought back memories with the old party

albums, was it Bro. Dave that had the story of Mr.Charlie and Ms.Baby and the Motorcycle Wreck?

Thanks too,David, for bringing all these memories back to light."

-- Posted by katydid on Sun, Jul 12, 2009, at 11:51 AM

Yes, that joke is on his "Rejoice, Dear Hearts" album I think, while the Cuban Crisis joke (which I butchered) is on the "Ain't That Weird" album.

David or marnold1118, would either of you have access to a photo of the concrete pylon and traffic light that sat right in the middle of the intersection of North Main and Madison/Elm? I am not sure what year it was torn down, but I am guessing that it was late '50s or early '60s.

Not sure. For the most part I'm posting what I run across in the T-G files. I've been looking around in photos at what's in the background as well as what was actually the main focus -- so anything photographed there may have the light somewhere. I'll keep that in mind.

And on the subject of traffic lights, anyone remember the one the city hung illegally at the upper entrance of the hospital? The state made them remove it, but not before they collected a fine off me for making an illegal left turn into the parking lot at ten 'oclock one night.

LOL ilikeoldsongs. Looks like it served it's purpose. Evidently I caught them when they were not watching very close, because I violated that traffic light many times.

To leeiii: I don't think I have a photo specifically of the pylon you are referring to, it may show up in something else. Let me browse around and see if I can find it. I just vaguely remember it being there.

Do any of you know anything about the old hospital? I think it was somewhere near Hardee's, maybe across the street? I remember hearing the "old folks" talk about it when I was a child. I would like to know when it closed and the one out on Union Street opened. Thanks!

Yes grannybee I remember it well. My wife was born there in 1944. The first time I was ever in the hospital was 1959 and that was on Union Street so it was sometime between '44 and '59 that it moved. I have a picture of it in one of my books here. I will do some looking and try to come up with some answers for you. You are right about the location. The First Christian Church sits on the property that was once occupied by the old hospital.

The new hospital on Union St. opened for business on May 28, 1952.

Ref. Page 133 1969 T-G book.

Thanks ilikeoldsongs for saving me a lot of thumbing through the book. My old copy is beginning to show signs of giving up the ghost. An interesting sidenote is that W.O. Jenkins (a wealthy industrialist from Mexico and native of Bedford County) gave the first $100,000 to start the new hospital.

I was about 6-7 when Mr. Renyolds and Mr. Standley Henely had a grocery store on Dayton Rd. just off Union St. A little later Mr. Renyolds opened the store on Morton St. Some years later Sonny Grooms and his Mother Miss Sara bought it from him. I went to High school with Jimmy,He and Nancy June Brandon won nearly every talent contest. I heard Jimmy Grooms went to New York to teach dance or Be in plays, Mr Warner was also a fortune teller, and helped lots of people.He was murdered in his home at 825 N. Main about 1968.

Mr. Warner's store had almost anything you could want. We used to say if he didn't have it, you didn't need it.

"A little later Mr. Renyolds opened the store on Morton St."

Posted by Wilderness 68 on Mon, Jul 13, 2009, at 8:13 PM

My goodness, you've called up some memories Wilderness 68, everything from Tutu's to Pony League Softball. With the exception of Miss Sara, every name you mentioned is very familiar to me, and most have a particular memory associated with it. Thanks for the post.

Let me ask you about the Reynolds store and Morton St. Did Morton St. end at Elm St. beside Bedford County Training School, or did it cross Elm St. and continue into the Thomas School area? And if it crossed Elm St. which side of Elm was the store located on, the Training School side or the Thomas School side?

Again, thanks for all the memories this post has brought back.

The BCTS (we called it Harris High) was on the right side of Elm. Mr. Reynolds store was on the left,right behind Tittsworth Bicycle shop, on the corner of Elm and Morton.It was like south Morton, It was short and ended at Union or Thomas side. Miss Sara Grooms was Sonny Grooms Mother and she lived in the house behind the store. The Reynolds lived there when they had the store.

Wilderness 68,

Thanks so much for the information. All the information I have gathered so far indicates that Morton St. did in fact cross Elm St., and that the store was on the South side of Elm St. I can't thank you, marnold and leeiii enough for the input each of you had in helping me resolve this question. It's not the "Cinderella" ending I had hoped for at the beginning of this quest, but I am fully satisfied that it is the correct ending. And as Sgt. Friday might say "we're just here to get the facts,ma'am, just the facts.

Thanks to all.

A lot of good information everyone.

Before we go on to David's next blog topic, I have a bit more to add to the Norton/Morton St. mystery. I was looking at the Sanborn maps this weekend and while I don't have it in front of me here at the office, I think it was the 1921 map that lists it this way:

"Norton (Morton St.)" The earlier series of maps (1910), and the later series, (1929), only list it as Morton St. I have no idea why on this particular map it would list them both with one name in parenthensis.

Apparently, somewhere, sometime the Norton St. name got introduced, however temporarily. But now we know that whichever we see it is referring to the same street. I may try to scan this section and pass it along.

Thanks for the information, everyone. I would really love to see a picture of the old hospital. Maybe I can find one at the library. Thanks again!!

To grannybee: Photos of the old hospital are not hard to find. You'll find it in the 1969 Times-Gazette's Sesquicentennial edition, and probably most other local historical books. In the Bedford County Historical Society's postcard book there is a picture of a color postcard of it. If you can get your email address to me (through David), I'll scan a copy and send it to you. You might also try looking on the Internet via Google.

I wonder how many posters have ever watched a game of baseball, or perhaps played, at the Royal Ball Park?

Yes brother, I see that hand, and that one, and that one too. Hallelujah.

After I graduated from Little League we moved on to an organization called Little Bigger League and I played those years at Royal Park. I did not play American Legion ball, and we did not play our high school games there. We played on the football practice field behind the high school. When we began to organize Slo-Pitch Softball we played all of our league games and tournaments at Royal Park.

Before we completly close this blog let me throw a couple of names out to you. Hennings Jewelers and Rone Jewelers.

Right after the war my Dad went to the Practical Trade School and they had a fast pitch Softball team. They played all of their games at Royal Park.

'Yes brother, I see that hand, and that one, and that one too. Hallelujah."

Posted by leeiii on Tue, Jul 14, 2009, at 4:10 PM

I ain't knockin' the country by any means, but when you're too young to drive, and it's five or six miles to the ballpark, that can be a hindrance to one's viewing pleasure. Despite that handicap, a friend and I managed to get to the park a few times one summer, to watch a friend of his, Freddy Wheeler, play ball. Really pleasant times to think back on. You probably knew Freddy, if not from baseball, then likely from bowling.

Henning Jewelers and Rone Jewelers. The only two names you needed to know in the jewelry business. We never did a lot of business with Henning. Seems to me they had a store in Columbia when we lived there. But now all roads led to Rones, and we got on it and travelled for years.

I guess we could give honorable mention status to Harold L. Shyer, if for no other reason than his catchy saying,"If you don't know diamonds, know your jeweler, and if Harold says it's so, it's so."

ilikeoldsongs, yes I did know Freddie. He was a dear friend. I played baseball, and slo-pitch softball with him as well as bowling both with him and against him. I did not realize that a fast ball could have some movement on it until I tried catching him one time. I don't know if you knew or not but Freddie passed away a few years back.

I think I know where Henning Jewlers was. I think that it was one or two doors West of Knox Pitts, but for the life of me I can not remember where Rone Jewlers was located.

You know, I can't really place Where Henning was located. Now Rone was on the East side of the square,not far from the middle, best I can recall from this chair. I'm wanting to think they were next door or maybe two doors up from the drugstore, toward Depot St. By the way, I went uptown yesterday and parked where I could see the whole East side of the square.I stared at those buildings so hard that a couple of times I thought I saw a few bricks coming loose, and had to ease up on 'em. But I still could not get it into my head which one is the Scudder building. I'm 99.9 percent sure that it's on the East side, but it looks like I'm gonna have to swallow my pride and go in some of those stores, and say "looky here,now, what's this building called."

Wonder if I should alert the City Cowboys ahead of time?

Yes, I knew Freddie passed away, it was a shock at the time, couldn't hardly believe it. I don't know of anybody who didn't like Freddie, he was just a heck of a nice guy. There's a picture of Freddie in the '69 T-G book, page 138, I believe, a Josten's ad. After all these years of having that book around, I only noticed that picture about a month ago. Doesn't speak very highly of my attention to detail, does it?

-- Posted by ilikeoldsongs on Tue, Jul 14, 2009, at 8:18 PM

I have discovered that the more times we look at something, or watch something like a movie, or read a book, the smarter we get. We retain something new every time. Looking back I wonder why I did not grasp that truth in school.

Regarding the jewelry stores:

Rone's was definitely on the East Side of the Square...about mid-ways or so. Again, I'm at work, so don't have the photos in front of me, but when I look at those I can pinpoint exactly where it was.

Hennings was on the South Side of the Square, next to, or very near, Knox Pitts Hdwe. on the west end of the south side. Hennings met its demise on the final Friday night of the Celebration in 1974. I remember it well, because following the horse show every last Friday night the old Holiday Inn would host a big buffet (I don't know what you call a meal that's after midnight). I had asked my future wife to go with me after the show on our first date. However, after the show was over and before the buffet, Henning Jewelers caught fire and burned. Rather that getting to go to the buffet, I had to go to the fire and was high up in the power company's "cherry picker" bucket taking photos of the fire. When all that was over and I took my date home, we both reeked of smoke and her parents were none too pleased. But I persevered--in January of 2010 we celebrate our 34th wedding anniversary.

But I persevered--in January of 2010 we celebrate our 34th wedding anniversary.

-- Posted by marnold1118 on Wed, Jul 15, 2009, at 9:28

Congratulations, you are among a dwindling percentage of the population in which both parties are dedicated to the success of the union.

My wife and I would have celebrated our 50th this past Christmas Eve, but unfortunately, she passed away some four years ago.

Thanks for the tip, marnold, I did find a picture of the old hospital on the web. Here is the link to it if anyone else would like to see it: http://www.tennkin.com/pastpix/bcgh.htm

Congratulations marnold1118 on you and your wife's upcoming 34th anniversary. My condolences to you ilikeoldsongs on the loss of your loved one just a few years short of your 50th anniversary. We also believe that our commitment to each other should be for life. We will be celebrating our 50th in April if God is willing. When we went to get our marriage license we each had to have our parents sign for us and then Judge Mac Farrar had to approve it. He gave us the standard lecture and then told us that he had a good mind not to allow it because we would never make it. Thank goodness he had another mind that beat that one all to pieces.

grannybee, thanks for the link to the old pictures.

Thanks, leeiii, and congratulations to you and your wife. My wife and I also had to get a parents signature, since she was 19 and I was three weeks shy of 21.

We also had our doubters, a couple of her family members said we wouldn't make it two years, but we did and they didn't.

Do you think it is possible that their negative comments may have encouraged us to stick it out?

Back to the jewelry stores...I traded at Rones Jewelry Store as long as I can remember, at least on all of the important holidays when I wanted to buy a watch or ring for my mother...If I am not mistaken it is in the exact place that Heritage Jewelry Store is now. I think Wayne Hix worked for the owners of Rones Jewelry when he was in high school and then later he purchased it from them...

"Back to the jewelry stores..."

Posted by PinkPanther1953 on Wed, Jul 15, 2009, at 8:39 PM

I think you're right.

These comments are outstanding! I am the maternal grandson of Albert Bailey, "The Iceman." His daughter,(my mother) is 84-years old and I would love to find a copy of the Times-gazette sesqui-centennial historical edition, October 7,1969 to show her. Anyone know if more copies are available, and where?

"I grew up thinking all refrigerators were Frigidaires, but earlier than that we had an icebox and "went to town" to buy ice from Albert Bailey--the master of the ice pick."

bnewsman, thanks for blogging and adding to our memories of a very special time in the lives of many of us. Albert Bailey occupies a very pleasant spot in my memories. I can almost see him now. He was short of stature and always had that half used-up stoggie in his mouth, and his ever present railroad cap on. He always had a very large turned-up cuff on his overalls.

I do not know of any available copies of the Sesqu-Centennial edition of the Times-Gazette. However, I am almost certain that the Bedford County Library would have a copy that you could peruse.

Thank you leeiii.

I can still smell his cigar, and remember riding in the 1953 green Chevy with him from his home on Cedar Street to the ice plant on Deery. These childhood memories will never leave me. I spoke with my mother tonight about this blog and she is so excited that people still remember her dad.

This article has made my day!

bnewsman, you mentioned your Grandfather's '53 Chevy. I am not sure about this but somewhere back in the recesses of my feeble mind it seems to me that I remember him also having a restored Model A. Am I correct about that?