Used Car Lots
By Gene Norton
Do you remember the used car lots that were in and around the “Boro in the late 50’s, 60’s, 70’s right up until today? Here is what I remember.
How It Was—My Days in the ‘Boro’
By Johnny Lee, Jr.
Even at my age I can remember lots of stuff that Bladenboro had to offer. But most of it has made way for a better way of life, as some might say.
I can remember the old Spinner’s Court ballpark before the apartments came to be. The ball field was in bad shape but still it was there. Some of the field behind the old cotton mill was still accessible but most had grown up with weeds and trees.
I Remember When
Now that I’m “old” I sometimes reflect upon the differences in how things are today compared to “the good ole’ days.” The following are some of the more vivid memories I have of growing up in what was certainly a different day. A few of these might be nice to go back to but I think we are all glad that most of them are in the past! - Kelly Baldwin
“I Remember When”
By Kelly Baldwin
A soft drink cost a nickel. (All but Coke were twelve ounces, too! Coke was bottled in the classic seven ounce, green, hourglass shaped bottle. All drinks were in glass; plastic was in its infancy and no one had yet thought to put drinks in cans.) All were “high test” too; no Splenda, no Sweet-n-low. Drinks were delivered in sturdy wooden crates. People found all kinds of uses for the drink companies’ crates. They sometimes even used them to hold up an old car while they worked on it! And everybody liked to use them for a seat around the old filling station.
Do You Remember? Dec 07
By Gene Norton
Do you remember the old repair shops and mechanics that were around in the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s? Here are a few of them that I remember and where they were located.
Mr. Early Perry lived on what was called back street where he had a little shop behind his house. He liked the old flathead Ford engine. How about the garage operated by Cliff Anderson on 211 beside White Oak Church? Later on it was Lewis Building Supply until he closed down. That building was torn down and the property is now a parking lot.
Rite of Passage
By Larry Simmons
After reading Joyce Walters’ article ‘Working in Tobacco – A Positive Experience’ in the August issue of the Advisor, I couldn’t help but add my own observations to the memories her writing evoked. In the 1960’s, I always thought it strange to hear a ‘city kid’ talk of working in a grocery store or mowing lawns to earn money during the summer vacation from school.
After all, if you lived in the country, there was only one summer job and that was working in tobacco. I also never got used to the term ‘barning tobacco’ since my family always referred to harvesting as ‘putting in tobacco’ which wasn’t grammatically correct, but we knew what it meant.
Whatever Happened to Creative Toys?
(Things like hoops, marbles, and home-made toys you built yourself!)
By Kelly Baldwin
Mr. Baldwin wrote this article on March 24, 1999 during the time he worked at the seaport of Savannah, GA as a federal inspections officer for the USDA. It had been stored on his computer ever since. He expressed that he hoped that folks would enjoy reading it and perhaps even identify with it. He continued in his sentiments that he had “enjoyed reading the work of others who have contributed to the Bladenboro Booster Advisor.” Mr. Baldwin, we appreciate your contributing this story, very appropriate for our December edition. -HH
Homecoming
By J.E. Ransom
The smell of tobacco curing to golden brown, watermelons reaching the peak of ripeness, the last of the season’s tomato sandwiches, these are the things that bring summer to a close and usher in the fall season.
BRING ON BOB!
BY: CARRIE ARMSTRONG BANKS
It’s September and North Carolina is still struggling with drought conditions and oppressive heat. August brought way more than the typical Southern summer as many states, including where I live in Alabama, experienced successive days with heat indices nearing 110 degrees and higher. Were I not so grateful for air-conditioning, I would have had a stroke when I
opened my electricity bill last month. Judging from the amount, I’m quite certain the greatest invention of the 20th Century ran nonstop!
Do You Remember? Sept 07
By: Gene Norton
Do you remember when you could purchase a good used car in the 50’s and 60’s cheap? I paid $250 for my first car. It was a 1953 Ford, 2 door hardtop, in 1962, and it had a new paint job. You can’t get a paint job for that price today!
Working In Tobacco — A Positive Experience
By Joyce Walters
If you have ever worked on a tobacco farm, you will understand what I’m talking about when I say “a positive experience.” Even before this country was colonized, tobacco has
been grown. Working on the family farm has given many young people opportunities to aid their families in producing crops while earning money to buy their school clothes or other
things which their families couldn’t afford.
2nd Annual Beastfest `08