Darlingtonians only: Remember when?
(This is a reprint of a Bill Shepard column that appeared earlier in the News & Press.)
By Bill Shepard
Do you remember when:
— “Galloways,” at the end of Cashua Street, was a popular swimming place during the summer months, bath houses were furnished, and all for a dime?
— “Doc’s Place” was the fun place to be on weekends; while the jukebox played, the teenagers danced to the jitterbug. Who was your favorite dancer?
— The best hot dogs this side of anywhere could be purchased for a nickel at Doc’s Place?
— You could buy a hamburger for a dime, and add lettuce and tomato for a nickel?
— “Lessie’s Place” on the Lamar Highway would be filled with servicemen every Saturday night. Some home on furlough, others from nearby places where maneuvers were being held?
— Coston Young worked at the mill all week and served as “Cop” on weekends?
— “Tent Revivals” drew larger crowds than can be found in most modern church houses today?
— The “Smiling Troubadour” could be seen sitting on someone’s porch and signing the blues? He was a popular performer at radio station WOLS during the late 1930s. Do you know his name?
— “Gone With the Wind” first played at Liberty Theater in Darlington, and the crowd lined the street? I could not afford the 75-cent fee.
— Battery F returned home after three weeks’ maneuvers in Mississippi, Louisiana and elsewhere?
— Bill Hursey, assistant postmaster, held auctions at the Post Office to sell baby chicks?
— “Williamson Park” was built by WPA workers?
— An “old plug horse or mule” could be bought for a dollar at the livery stable on Exchange Street? Talk about horse-trading!
Metropol’s on the square sold three dips of ice cream for a nickel? What a treat that was!
— Did you ever go “snipe hunting”? Were you left holding the bag?
— Did you ever play “stick frog” for a pastime? Mommy-peg? Puff tobacco stamps? Do you know what tobacco stamps are?
— “Checks” were bought at the “Grab All” and spent there only?
— Haircuts were a quarter at the YMCA by a barber with the last name Nance?
— Mr. Shearin would engage you in a game of “chess or checkers” at any time?
— School for the mill-village children was held in rooms upstairs at the YMCA?
— There was a “first advance” for children who were not good enough for second grade, but too good to remain in first?
— The Coca-Cola Co. was on Pearl Street and gave away free caps advertising Coca-Cola several times a year?
— Black Creek was a fun place to be on a summer’s day, especially a Sunday afternoon; was the spot called Coggeshalls’?
— Angus Gainey taught violin lessons for free to selected students from St. John’s School? Lessons were taught upstairs in an upstairs room at the “old barn.”
— You could purchase pencils at the “old barn” with those words printed on them? Don’t you wish you had kept a few?
— A place called “The Diamond” was the place to be on a Saturday afternoon to watch the Milliken Nine play ball against the teams from Oates, Lamar, Mont Clare; remember Saffo James passing the hat for collection for the players; no entrance fee was charged?
— The scream of a siren could be heard on the Florence Highway – the motorcycle cop was chasing a speeding motorist? Was the cop’s name Privette?
— Word spread that John Dillinger was headed toward Darlington, and a policeman could not be found anywhere near the square? Do you know who John Dillinger was?
What was your score? Sound off! Show your age.
