Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

for you city folks...........

hillbille
there are still a few places in rural WVa that remind you of some of the old tv movies. I was coming home from the cabin yesterday it was the last day of deer season. stopped at a small local gas station in a town of about 100 folks, in the back was an old potbellied wood stove and 3 guys sitting there shooting the bull, one spitting in an old 3lb coffee can and a beer in one hand. one of them noticed my hat and the marine corps emblem and asked if I served, turns out he was a vietnam vet, and the other two were korean vets, I talked with them for about 10 minutes and told em my old eyes had to be getting home, I don't see the best to drive after dark, they ask me if I wanted a beer for the road, I thanked em and headed home, for you big city folks you will never know the pleasure of simple folks and no matter what they may look like how nice they are underneath the looks. and NO I did not hear any banjo music, but I did ask the gal behind the register if she was learning anything, and motioned towards the 3 guys in back, she just rolled her eyes and smiled........ I think the one older gent was her grandpa
0

Comments

13 comments

Date Votes
  • bullshot
    Some of my fondest memories from my childhood are of old country stores like that, the soft drink machine that was horizontal and you had to work the bottles through a sort of maze to get them out, bottle opener on the side of the drink box or screwed to the front of the counter, the huge jars on the counter full of Moon Pies, bubble gum, malted milk balls and Fire Balls.

    These wonderful icons of the old South are all but gone now but the great memories will last a life time.

    Thanks for the memory jog.
    0
  • nononsense
    These wonderful icons of the old South are all but gone now but the great memories will last a life time.

    There can always be drawbacks to continuously working state to state, constantly traveling back and forth for competition and contracts. But the most consistent findings I can offer are the small town USA people and businesses. I have never had a bad experience when interacting with businesses or people in small towns, well maybe just at first... ;) I have found that stopping in the local Post Office under the auspices of buying stamps or some such, can result in some of the best engaging conversations with the Post Master or Mistress when they immediately recognize that you aren't a local. Work the conversation around to other local businesses then ask about gunsmiths and gun stores. There have been a couple of occasions where the local gun store is still the local hardware store. ;) Always the information is friendly and down right pleasant and I have found some amazing things still for sale.

    My tiny hometown doesn't have the wood stove gathering place anymore but the area farmers, retired or active always seem to seek out the grain elevator for a spot to congregate. I've been traveling through that area several times and on a whim decided to stop to see a few relatives. The family farms are miles apart so I just head to the elevator where I'm sure one of my Uncles will be, sometime several are there! I get re-introduced to most of those present and explain whose son I am (they all know my parents). No beer as this is a teetotaler area of the country. Sweet tea, coffee or soda pop still in bottles, no cans. Stories about childhood things and who knew who in high school are most common. It's difficult to pull myself away from these excursions into the past because of the comfort and warmth which exudes from the gathering. Laughter is pervasive, very little seriousness, just honest enjoyment and camaraderie. I make sure my Uncles let my Aunts know I stopped in and to pass along any family news I've imparted to them, then move on. I hope this type of gather never disappears!

    Best.
    0
  • bustedknee
    I'm at my cabin now.

    Sitting by the widow...waiting for the sunshine to warm the outhouse.

    Anyone remember?
    0
  • hillbille
    bustedknee wrote:
    I'm at my cabin now.

    Sitting by the widow...waiting for the sunshine to warm the outhouse.

    Anyone remember?

    I can remember everyone sitting around after breakfast waiting/looking at each other wondering who would be the first one to outhouse, that first guy had to melt frost off the seat......... :o :shock:

    and yes this is from experience, it has only been in the last 4-5 years we put in an indoor toilet in the cabin, closed in the backporch added/made bathroom... mainly because of the womens/wives persistent requests
    0
  • redhawkk480
    There have been a couple of occasions where the local gun store is still the local hardware store. ;)

    if you ever come thru Black River Falls Wi.

    stop down town at Moe's Hardware Hank it's one of 2 hardware stores in town and probably the one of the largest gun shops in WI..

    open 7 days a week and still ran by the same family over 100 years
    0
  • He Dog
    I saw Deliverance, I am staying in the desert! :o:lol:
    0
  • JimmyJack
    Bought many guns at Moes. Bill sold out. Not much has changed.
    0
  • KenK/84Bravo
    I remember a small grocery/gas station about 1 mile from my Grandparents house here in very rural NE TN. We would walk the road with little tar bubbles coming up from the road. (We would usually be barefoot.) Same potbellied stove in the back, several older dudes conversing around it. We would buy Mtn. Dew or Coke in the large glass bottle for around 10 cents. Moon Pies, RC Cola w/peanuts. Thick sliced bologna sandwiches w/cheese and crackers for work lunches later on. (Putting up hay/cutting hanging tobacco, etc.)

    I know about 3 places within 10 miles of me today, very similar. I really, really love being located in a Small town/rural environment.
    0
  • 11b6r
    Before I retired, was doing safety inspections in mining operations, including underground coal in VA/ WV/ KY.

    Talking with the equipment operators when they were taking a lunch break- usually laid out on a continuous miner, bolter or transfer car (48 inch coal). These folks had never met me before, but it never failed- if one noticed I did not have a lunch pail (I was only going to be underground a couple of hours)- I WAS going to be handed something to eat out of THEIR lunch pail. Simple courtesy by simple working men.

    And you say thank you very much, and take the half sandwich, sit down beside the transfer car, and talk with the miners. Bunch of die-hard deer hunters, and fans of local high school football.
    0
  • asop
    WAY back most of of my purchases were at a gun shop in Milwaukee called "Casanova's". Turned out I believe the hand gun that killed Robert Kennedy was purchased there. Closed up shop not too long after that.
    0
  • austin20
    He Dog wrote:
    I saw Deliverance, I am staying in the desert! :o:lol:
    :lol::lol:
    0
  • kimi
    hillbillie, do you know where Ivydale, WVA, is? I' have an old Marine buddy from there. We were in the infantry together in 3/4. I hope to get back there and see him should he still be with us.
    0
  • hillbille
    kimi wrote:
    hillbillie, do you know where Ivydale, WVA, is? I' have an old Marine buddy from there. We were in the infantry together in 3/4. I hope to get back there and see him should he still be with us.

    while I've never been there that I recall it is only about hour and half away at most, I am 70 miles from charleston in Parkersburg area, if you happen up this way to visit him let me know and I would love to try and make it down to meet you.......
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity