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Boone's Grocery.
On the left, You are viewing just an ordinary photograph. Well, maybe
somewhat less that ordinary, as it is just not a good, nor an interesting photo.
The picture is a part of just an ordinary curve in a small road somewhere. Well,
to a few people, this area is a very important area and to a lot of people, it is
a part of their history. I have driven around this curve, going generally southeast
on Highway 1245, hundreds of times and can vaguely remember driving around this curve
when the road was gravel. The curve is in the Echols Area that once was considered
"Pumpkin Ridge". John Boone, years ago, operated a Grocery Store, in the area in
the picture, where the gravel driveway is located. I can visualize the small store
with a single gas pump in front. I have been in the store a few times, but don't
recall much about those visits. Seems that all of us go about our daily lives and
take all for granted. What person would think about taking a picture of the front
of John Boone's Grocery? I wish that I had that picture now.
The following was written by John Boone's granddaughter. She was just reminiscing
with me about her experiences of her grandfather's store.
John Boones' Grocery.
In my mind's eye it is there in great detail, from the "Good Gulf" gas pump out front
to the little kitchen in back where my grandmother cooked up some fine southern dishes.
My memories are from the late 30's through the war years. I worked in that little
store from the time I was 7 or 8 years old. Collecting the groceries, bagging them,
and writing up the customers bill. I don't think cash sales were very common, because
I was always writing up those bills. Can remember questioning my spelling of baking
powder. Seemed to me at the time, that there should be a "c" somewhere.
The most fun for me was Saturday night. That's when families like the John Fulkersons
would come by to do their weekly shopping, and of course they brought the kids. Hooray!
For a lonely kid that was the height of the week for me. As I got older, I was thrilled
when Loften Stewart and his wife and boys came by occasionally. .....more to visit than
to buy. (My grandmother was related to them somehow.) One evening still remains a
part of my teen years memory. I remember there were several kids there besides, Jimmie,
Glen and Buckie. We were out in front of the store when the moon rose from behind the
barn. Never before or since have I seen such a huge moon. It seemed to take up the
whole sky. Heavy stuff.
I was always there listening as my grandfather, in his big desk chair, "held forth"
with the county agent, or anyone else who would spend some time. Sometimes I thought
"the store" was more for the social side than the grocery side.
During the war years, we had to collect ration stamps and put up OPA signs on all
the canned goods. Candy was a rarity, and occasionally my grandmother would manage
to save a bar or two for my brothers and I. If we were lucky we wouldn't find a
worm in them.
Once in a while my grandmother would let me ride up to Burden's store with the bread
man. I loved the smell of the van.
There were always fresh eggs. Many a farm wife got her "egg money" from John Boone's
cash drawer. Or she bartered for "light bread", and maybe some snuff.
As I look back now, one of the best "happenings" was meeting an old woman that my
grandmother told me had been born a slave. Maybe she was part of Pet Renders family?
Thanks Jac, for sharing some of your memories. Well said.
See you.......
jrd
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