DO YOU REMEMBER? Aug 07

August 26th, 2007 | webmaster | Memory Lane

By Gene Norton

I was born in and grew up in Bladenboro and never wanted to live anywhere else. Other than serving I the Army from 1965-1967, I have always lived in the ‘Boro.

I have a lot of good memories from the ’50s, ‘60s and later. In my early teens, I went to school and worked part time at the Amoco Station operated by Mr. Albert Thompson and his wife. We called Mrs. Thompson, “Miss Daisy”. That experience turned into a passion for cars, new and old, their repair, painting, and restoration that has lasted over 40 years.

Do you remember when there were ten service stations in Bladenboro and 13 places to purchase gas? I have already mentioned the Amoco Station then located where the Bladenboro Fire Department is now located. I spent a lot of time there. How about the Pure Oil Station operated at the time by Buddy Ludlum? That location is now a vacant lot located at Sunset Park and highway 211. There was a service station where the Medicine Shoppe parking lot is now.

Do you remember the little Etna Station operated for years by S.G. Packer. The Etna offered gas, oil, and free air (you have to pay for air now). The Kangaroo is at that location now. Do you remember that L&J’s Car Wash was a service station for years? How about Short Thompson’s station located at 410 & 242 which is now the Time Saver. Remember the little Atlantic Station on the corner that was operated by Tater Shaw? We can’t leave out Bridger Motor Company, owned and operated by James Albert Bridger. The gas pumps there were almost out in the street. Robert West’s Auto Service is at that location now. Don’t forget J& E Texaco, owned and operated for many years by Mr. Jabe Frink and Mr. Edgar Evans. They were also in the tire recapping and sales business. The tire recapping was located in the rear part of the service station. CW’s Auto Service is now in that location, owned and operated by Charles Wiggins. CW’s is the last service station to sell gasoline in Bladenboro.

My, how things have changed! Bladenboro was going full blast back then. You could get anything you needed and didn’t have to go anywhere else. Do you remember when you could purchase a new Ford, Hudson, Buick, or VW Beetle, or one of three makes of new motorcycles, all right here in Bladenboro? As today, you could purchase used cars as well.

Yes, you could get about anything you wanted no matter if it was hardware, clothing, food, gas, heating oil, coal, shoes, building materials, appliances, auto parts, auto repairs—you name it you could get it right here in Bladenboro! There were plenty of jobs to go along with the places to shop. Seems like everyone worked back then. Most people worked in the Bladenboro Cotton Mills. Many of the mill employees lived on the “mill hill”.

Do you remember when there were 10 food stores in the ’Boro? The Company Store, located at the Cotton Mill, provided a place to purchase a lot of stuff, including ice from the ice house. J.Z. Hinson’s Super Market operated for years. There was also Milligan’s Trading Company, now Milligan’s Music, located next to the old mill hill. Gone, but not forgotten!

How about Bridger Corporation? They sold a lot of different goods way back then. Herbert Stanley’s Market, downtown on 211, sold fresh seafood and other goods. You cannot overlook Tom Hales Market, Taylor Store, Red & White on Main Street, Lena Bryant’s Store on 211 (now a laundry), Bud Edwards Store which is now Benson’s grill. There were many other small stores around the area.

Do you remember all the places where you could get a burger or a hot dog, even a full meal? Allen Cox’s Grill and Pool Room – can’t you smell the burgers on the grill? You just had to get one, if you went to town. How about Cain’s Grill, across from White Oak Church? These were good places to eat. Then there was Pelo’s Grill, Berry’s Grill across the bridge on 242, and Dick’s Drive-in or 211 Grill east of town, and Willis Nance’s drive-in on 211 west – the best barbeque sandwiches in the area were sold there. How many people remember Pait’s Boarding House on back street? You could get a home cooked meal at lunch time. All you had to do was go sit down at the table and eat your fill. These were all good places to eat – gone but not forgotten!

I remember that every building in town had a business of some kind in place. There were clothing stores like Freeman’s, Collins Department Store and The Company Store. You could get a hair cut at any of three shops. There were a 5 & 10 store, two movie theaters, plus a drive-in theater. There were Doctor’s offices, Drug Stores, Insurance offices, Dry Cleaning shops, and Feed & Seed stores. There was a saw mill in the area. There were funeral homes available.

Bladenboro has had a lot of jobs over the years, to be such a small town. Bladenboro Cotton Mills was a big employer for along time. But just think of all the small stores and shop owners and employees that were here in Bladenboro area at the time.

I am a small business owner and I know how hard it must have been for many of the area business to make ends meet yet all these people worked hard and made a living at what they did best. They raised a family and provided a needed service to the town. Things were a lot different back then. It did not take a lot to live on and most people were happy with what they had and thankful for what they received.

Can you remember when the ‘Boro was a slow paced, laid back little town where everybody knew everybody? People took the time to visit each other, whether it was for a spell on the porch or a visit to the neighbor’s place. There was concern for each other and a willingness to help where you could when there was a need.

Bladenboro was and still is a good place to live and work with a lot of good people still in town. Bladenboro has a number of churches to attend and many of them have been here a long time.

As far as the pace at which we live our lives, I guess that has always been up to the people living here and what they have going on. Take the time to look around the town and the area. You just might find it to be still the laid back town we knew with a lot of life left in it. Yes, most of the old stores are gone, but the spirit of the town remains.

You can still get a good burger or hot dog in the ‘Boro or even a good meal. You can see a Doctor or get the medicine you need. There are hardware stores, food stores, gas stations, LP gas stations, heating oil dealers, appliance and TV dealers, used car sales, car repair shops, fresh seafood, clothing, house and auto insurance dealers, funeral homes and a nursing home. You can have a new house built by local contractors or buy an existing home from local agents. You can get expert civil engineering assistance right here in the ‘Boro, as well as take care of your banking needs. Support our little town if you will and help keep it growing back to the times we remember. It is still a good place to live and raise a family.

I have been here 62 years, minus the time away in the Army, and I will never forget the many people who have touched my life over the years with their wisdom and wit, and many are still around. Thank you for that. Last, but not least, do you know that there are only five businesses in town that are still owned and operated by the families that started them in the ’40,s and ’50,s? Walane Gas was started in 1947, Hester Trucking and Tire was started in 1961, Hickman Insurance in 1964, Lewis-Bowen Funeral Home in 1968, and Gene’s Body Shop in 1969. The others have all been sold or closed down.

A big “thank you” for all the continuing support over the years that has kept these business operating in and around the Bladenboro area. If you need to purchase something or get some kind of service work done, don’t be surprised to find it right here in the good ‘ole ‘Boro.