Darlingtonians Only: Remember When?
By Bill Shepard
Do you remember when:
1. “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?
2. “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?
3. The best hot dogs this side of anywhere could be purchased for a nickel at Doc’s Place?
Bill Shepard
4. You could buy a hamburger for a dime, and add lettuce and tomato for a nickel?
5. “Lessie’s Place” on the Lamar Highway would be filled with service men from the military every Saturday night. Some home on furlough, others from nearby places where maneuvers were being held?
6. Coston Young worked at the mill all week and served as “Cop” on weekends?
7. “Tent Revivals” drew larger crowds that can be found in most modern church houses today?
8. 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 thirties. Do you know his name?
9. “Gone With the Wind” first played at Liberty Theater in Darlington, and the crowd lined the street awaiting the doors to open? I could not afford the seventy-five cents fee.
10. Battery F returned home after three weeks maneuvers in Mississippi, Louisiana and elsewhere?
11. Bill Hursey, assistant postmaster, held auctions at the Post Office to sell baby chicks?
12. The “Williamson Park” was built by the W. P. A. workers?
13. An “old plug horse or mule” could be bought for a dollar at the livery stable on Exchange Street? Talk about horse-trading!
14. Metropol’s on the square, sold three dips of icecream for a nickel? What a treat that was!
15. Did you ever go “snipe hunting?” Were you left holding the bag?
16. Did you ever play “stick frog” for pastime? Mommy-peg? Puff tobacco stamps? Do you know what tobacco stamps are?
17. “Checks” were bought at the “Grab All” and spent there only?
18. Haircuts were a quarter at the YMCA by a barber with the last name Nance?
19. Mr. Shearin would engage you in a game of “chess or checkers” at any time?
20. School for the mill village children was held in rooms upstairs at the YMCA?
21. There was a “first advance” for children who were not good enough for second grade, but too good to remain in first?
22. The Coca-Cola Company was located on Pearl Street and gave away free caps advertising Coca-Cola several times a year?
23. Black Creek was a fun place to be on a summer’s day, especially a Sunday afternoon; was the spot called Coggeshalls’s?
24. 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.”
25. You could purchase pencils at the “old barn” with those words printed on them? Don’t you wish you had kept a few of them?
26. 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?
27. 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?
28. 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…
Mr. Shepard is a native of Darlington, S.C., and a current resident of Piedmont, S.C. He is the author of “Mill Town Boy” and “Bruised”. He has been sharing his tales of growing up in Darlington for decades, and we are delighted to share them each week. His mailing address for cards and letters is: Bill Shepard 324 Sunny Lane, Piedmont, S.C., 29673