cinema theater, morris motors in tuscumbia, rambler dealer. trailways bus station, up from greyhound. racetrack at underwood. moody chevrolet. new 1968 ss chevelle for $3200. when service stations cleaned windshield,check oil,air pressure and gave you green stamps and dishes at some of them. drag racing on gunaford rd. lock six.
[quote]
OOOOHHHHHHHH, now I see!! go ahead and brag y'all had one of the automatic things!!hahahaha.We had to go outside and turn our antenna!!!!! hahahahahhah[/quote]
Hey, that was my job!!!!! Rain sleet and snow. Waited on dad to yell "That's good right there".
OOOOHHHHHHHH, now I see!! go ahead and brag y'all had one of the automatic things!!hahahaha.We had to go outside and turn our antenna!!!!! hahahahahhah[/quote]
Hey, that was my job!!!!! Rain sleet and snow. Waited on dad to yell "That's good right there".
Plowboys in Sheffield. When it burned, many rats went homeless.
Kennemer Coal in Sheffield. I see their office finally fell down.
Kennemer Coal in Sheffield. I see their office finally fell down.
Remember Minnie Pearl I think fried chicken in muscle shoals across from the old walmart building now the call center. Hardee's is now in the minnie pearl location.
Boy, do I have a list for this one:
Earline in Story Land on Channel 15
Monkeys in the cage of the sign at the old shopping center on Hatch Blvd (don't remember the shopping center, but do remember the monkeys)
When Southgate Mall was the THE mall (and actually had business!)
Deer Forest in Tuscumbia
When Hardees were all shaped like pagodas.... and when there was one by O'Neal Bridge and N Florence (where Wok and Roll is now)
The Strip in Florence
East Florence businesses... Bob Dabney's store, Lucille's Cafe, Mary Snow's beauty shop, Tucker's Variety, E Florence Drug store, Checker Cab stand, E Florence Fire Dept where the battery place is now)
The Yellow Cab stand on Tennessee Street, not to mention Turning Point Records and Sunshine Alley
4-Lane shopping center when A&P was there
Kent's Dollar store (Rosie's Cantina now)
The names of the "long-term" waitresses at The Shanty (Arline, Maggie, Gigi, Frances, Jeri, Bertie, Gladys)
When Sam Phillips (who was the brother of the afore-mentioned Earline in Storyland) actually worked at WQLT and when the sister-station was WXOR; The Saturday Night Oldies show on WQLT hosted by "The Wolf Dude"
Wolfman Jack and The Midnight Special
The "old radio-days" type late-night programs on WVNA (hosted by E.G. Marshall)
Watching first-run episodes of MASH (heck, when EVERYTHING on TV was first-run... no reruns until summer time), Wonderful World of Disney, and when they showed Cinderella (with Leslie Ann Warren and Stuard Damon) every fall
Having to go outside to turn the antenna for the T.V. and/or having to actually get up and walk across the room to change the T.V. channel, then having to fine-tune the vertical and horizontal
When Martin Park (behind Royal Avenue pool) had a duck pond where the playground is now (and climbing the fence to walk the bridge to get to the middle "island" of the duck pond.... not that *I* ever did that
)
Going to shop at K-Mart with your parents and them letting you sit in the t.v. department and watch t.v. while they shopped (and not having to worry about leaving you alone there because there were at least 10 other kids there for the same reason)
The old Brandon School and Appleby Junior High School (loved those creaky wooden floors!)
3C Grill and Liberty Supermarket at N Florence intersection, and TG&Y at the N Florence Shopping Center.
Eating at the TG&Y in downtown Florence
Anderson's Bookland and the rotating coin case
And finally... for a certain somebody (you know who you are... hehehehehehehe
)... When Sheffield swim coach JM was a lifeguard at Royal Avenue pool (along with another certain "guy").... Speedos never looked better 
Earline in Story Land on Channel 15
Monkeys in the cage of the sign at the old shopping center on Hatch Blvd (don't remember the shopping center, but do remember the monkeys)
When Southgate Mall was the THE mall (and actually had business!)
Deer Forest in Tuscumbia
When Hardees were all shaped like pagodas.... and when there was one by O'Neal Bridge and N Florence (where Wok and Roll is now)
The Strip in Florence
East Florence businesses... Bob Dabney's store, Lucille's Cafe, Mary Snow's beauty shop, Tucker's Variety, E Florence Drug store, Checker Cab stand, E Florence Fire Dept where the battery place is now)
The Yellow Cab stand on Tennessee Street, not to mention Turning Point Records and Sunshine Alley
4-Lane shopping center when A&P was there
Kent's Dollar store (Rosie's Cantina now)
The names of the "long-term" waitresses at The Shanty (Arline, Maggie, Gigi, Frances, Jeri, Bertie, Gladys)
When Sam Phillips (who was the brother of the afore-mentioned Earline in Storyland) actually worked at WQLT and when the sister-station was WXOR; The Saturday Night Oldies show on WQLT hosted by "The Wolf Dude"
Wolfman Jack and The Midnight Special
The "old radio-days" type late-night programs on WVNA (hosted by E.G. Marshall)
Watching first-run episodes of MASH (heck, when EVERYTHING on TV was first-run... no reruns until summer time), Wonderful World of Disney, and when they showed Cinderella (with Leslie Ann Warren and Stuard Damon) every fall
Having to go outside to turn the antenna for the T.V. and/or having to actually get up and walk across the room to change the T.V. channel, then having to fine-tune the vertical and horizontal
When Martin Park (behind Royal Avenue pool) had a duck pond where the playground is now (and climbing the fence to walk the bridge to get to the middle "island" of the duck pond.... not that *I* ever did that
)Going to shop at K-Mart with your parents and them letting you sit in the t.v. department and watch t.v. while they shopped (and not having to worry about leaving you alone there because there were at least 10 other kids there for the same reason)
The old Brandon School and Appleby Junior High School (loved those creaky wooden floors!)
3C Grill and Liberty Supermarket at N Florence intersection, and TG&Y at the N Florence Shopping Center.
Eating at the TG&Y in downtown Florence
Anderson's Bookland and the rotating coin case
And finally... for a certain somebody (you know who you are... hehehehehehehe
)... When Sheffield swim coach JM was a lifeguard at Royal Avenue pool (along with another certain "guy").... Speedos never looked better 
"Vacuum Operated Cash Cylinder"...basement of JC Penneys, Fascinating to a child! Put money in a cylinder, place in the tube...swoosh! It's gone!
Long before the Banks had them.
"Moe! Larry!...cheese!"
Long before the Banks had them.
"Moe! Larry!...cheese!"
I was telling this to my child a while back and he couldn't believe it. Remember when you couldn't stay up all night and watch television because at a certain hour the channels all went to that multicolored screen????
you can remember: Saturday movies at the Strand Theater. Two movies, cartoon, chapter of a serial and you could stay all day if you wanted to.
Cave Street School and Deshler was on Main Street.
SSL stores, VJ Elmore 5&10 Store. Mr' Perry's newsstand, (10 cent comic books).
Cave Street School and Deshler was on Main Street.
SSL stores, VJ Elmore 5&10 Store. Mr' Perry's newsstand, (10 cent comic books).
Western Auto in 7 points Shopping Center
**** and Bull Restaurant.
Pioneer Restaurant
Morris Dodge on Florence Blvd
Hibbett Sporting Goods on Florence Blvd(great store!
WRCK 106.3(I think)Best rock station we ever had
Gusmus Bike Shop
Norwood grill
Norwood Cinemas
When Compac's opened and for 24 hrs
Zippy Marts
DIPPER DAN Ice Cream at 7 point Shopping center(WHO REMEMBERS THAT ONE!?!?!?)
**** and Bull Restaurant.
Pioneer Restaurant
Morris Dodge on Florence Blvd
Hibbett Sporting Goods on Florence Blvd(great store!
WRCK 106.3(I think)Best rock station we ever had
Gusmus Bike Shop
Norwood grill
Norwood Cinemas
When Compac's opened and for 24 hrs
Zippy Marts
DIPPER DAN Ice Cream at 7 point Shopping center(WHO REMEMBERS THAT ONE!?!?!?)
The railroad bridge lift and all the graffiti on it
The goats at Martin Park, Florence (and I've been
told there was a kiddie train there at one time)
The goats at Martin Park, Florence (and I've been
told there was a kiddie train there at one time)
[quote]I was telling this to my child a while back and he couldn't believe it. Remember when you couldn't stay up all night and watch television because at a certain hour the channels all went to that multicolored screen????[/quote]
Yes...and I remember when MTV actually played music videos.
Yes...and I remember when MTV actually played music videos.
10 years ago my daugher called some of my LPs "big CDs".
lynnblount,
Before that the TV station showed a "test pattern."
Before that the TV station showed a "test pattern."
[quote]And finally... for a certain somebody (you know who you are... hehehehehehehe )... ....Speedos never looked better[/quote]
Ohhhhhyeaaaa......
Ohhhhhyeaaaa......
[quote]DIPPER DAN Ice Cream at 7 point Shopping center(WHO REMEMBERS THAT ONE!?!?!?)[/quote]
I DO!
I DO!
When I was a kid I remember a school desk in a dime store in downtown Florence. I had not started school yet so that was always a treat to get to "act " like I was at school while Moma shopped.
Also, I loved going on the elevators at Rogers Dept. store.
The pet store at Southgate Mall with its humongous talking bird.... And throwing pennies into the wishing well.
And Woolco had that snack area with the grape drink fountain. YUMM!
Also Sears had a candy counter..with the best fudge ever!
Also, I loved going on the elevators at Rogers Dept. store.
The pet store at Southgate Mall with its humongous talking bird.... And throwing pennies into the wishing well.
And Woolco had that snack area with the grape drink fountain. YUMM!
Also Sears had a candy counter..with the best fudge ever!
You guys make me feel young. 
The only ones I remember from this thread are
Morris Motors in Tuscumbia
Woolco (they had a rotating coin case over in the hunting/sporting goods department that I was always fascinated with as a kid)
Southern Sash
The WOWL owl sign just after you crossed O'neal bridge
Channel 15
Does anyone remember the King Frosty in downtown Russellville that you walked up and ordered at? I remember loving their fries and ice cream.
How about TG&Y in the Franklin Shopping Center?
How about The Dime Store downtown? All the merchandise was in wooden bins seperated by glass panels. I still remember the way the store smelled.
Clarks Department Store? Where the downtown mission is now.
The only ones I remember from this thread areMorris Motors in Tuscumbia
Woolco (they had a rotating coin case over in the hunting/sporting goods department that I was always fascinated with as a kid)
Southern Sash
The WOWL owl sign just after you crossed O'neal bridge
Channel 15
Does anyone remember the King Frosty in downtown Russellville that you walked up and ordered at? I remember loving their fries and ice cream.
How about TG&Y in the Franklin Shopping Center?
How about The Dime Store downtown? All the merchandise was in wooden bins seperated by glass panels. I still remember the way the store smelled.
Clarks Department Store? Where the downtown mission is now.
Hi all,
FOR THE OLDER CROWD!
Okay, how about the public swimming pool near Spring Park in Tuscumbia. This is where I learned to swim.
The only thing is Spring Park then was the lake; the sandstone tennis court where my cousin, Christine and her friend, Virginia, used to play tennis during World War 2; and some picnic benches.
Or the thriving community of Keller Court between Sheffield and Tuscumbia. We lived there, and my brother and I, and our Keller Court friends, used to play sand lot football. There was one family named Patton who were part of the gang. James Arthur joined us; but we would not let his little brother, George, play because we were afraid we would hurt him. This is the same George Patton who was an All-American guard on the Georgia football team a few years later.
I remember when the Helen Keller home was not a museum and folks could just go visit. My brother and I used to play down there, actually went inside the little house where Helen and Ann Sullivan stayed, played by the water pump. And, picked pecans from the house across the street.
When only a handful of people had televisions -- 5 inch Dumonts, etc., My cousin, Eddie, in Tuscumbia had one and his living room resembled a theater every evening -- and Eddie had to sit right in front of the television so he could adjust it every five minutes.
When I walked to school at Sheffield High, one home near the school had a television antennae which looked like it was built on top of a fifty foot oil derrick.
I recall when the first pizza cafe came to the Tri-Cities. My good friend, who was like an older brother to me, Blake Whitesell (who founded Whitesell Corporation) and his new bride from Boston took my mom and dad out for pizza. My mom was a good Southern gal -- and was not really impressed with what they then called "pizza pie."
Does anyone recall when there were only three high schools in the Tri-Cities (Shoals) area: Sheffield High, Deshler, and Coffee High? Other schools such as Central, Rogersville, Russellville, etc., we consider country schools. But, those country boys sure were tough when it came to basketball and football. I think I still have bruises from some of the games.
Does anyone remember the Pop Warner football teams in Sheffield? We had the Blue Devils, the Green Hornets, the Red Rockets, the Silver Jets, and a bunch of others.
The Colbert Theater was the class act in Sheffield -- and the Ritz showed double feature westerns every Saturday.
In 1954, a group of us used to go the the Sheffield Community Center after school and dance all afternoon. One day, the community center director brought out a new 45 rpm record he had just received and played it for us. It was "That's All Right, Little Mama" by some guy with a really weird name, Elvis Presley. A few months later, he and two side men (bass player and guitar player) came to Sheffield and did a one night concert. We kids went wild -- and then he asked my classmate, Carol, for a date. Yes, I am sure she was on Cloud 9.
I graduated in 1955 and joined the Air Force right away. A few years later, my brother told me that my friend, Hollis Dixon, had started a band and was playing around the Shoals area. I figured it was like another classmate who, while still in high school, used to sing at some local beer joints on the weekend. I only found out in recent years that alumni from Hollis' band had been instrumental in birthing the Shoals Music Sound. Surprise, surprise, surprise. As I told my brother, when we were in high school, I don't even remember Hollis singing.
Does anyone remember swimming at Whippoorwill Hollow? Or the fantastic hot rolls served every during lunch at the Spaldings Walgreen Drug Store cafe? Touches of heaven.
One last moment of nostalgia and I will shut up. In the early 1980s, I worked for the American division of a British company and had to get a passport to travel to England. I sent to Montgomery for my birth certificate -- and when it arrived, I found a real surprise: In the space for the attending physician's signature -- there was an "X" and someone wrote in "for Ms. Susie." I was birthed by a midwife who could not write her name and had to sign with an "X" -- I love it! How many folks can show a birth certificate where the attending physicians signature is an "X"?
These are some of my memories of growing up in the Shoals area. Of course, not everyone was privileged to grow up in Sheffield. Just joking!
Below is an old photo of Sheffied from the 1950s and I am proud to say it is my home town. There is the old First National Bank on the right, with the Colbert Theater beside it. And, across the street is the pharmacy where we all hung out in the evenings. To some, the looks of a small town. To me, a treasure of wonderful memories.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
FOR THE OLDER CROWD!
Okay, how about the public swimming pool near Spring Park in Tuscumbia. This is where I learned to swim.
The only thing is Spring Park then was the lake; the sandstone tennis court where my cousin, Christine and her friend, Virginia, used to play tennis during World War 2; and some picnic benches.
Or the thriving community of Keller Court between Sheffield and Tuscumbia. We lived there, and my brother and I, and our Keller Court friends, used to play sand lot football. There was one family named Patton who were part of the gang. James Arthur joined us; but we would not let his little brother, George, play because we were afraid we would hurt him. This is the same George Patton who was an All-American guard on the Georgia football team a few years later.
I remember when the Helen Keller home was not a museum and folks could just go visit. My brother and I used to play down there, actually went inside the little house where Helen and Ann Sullivan stayed, played by the water pump. And, picked pecans from the house across the street.
When only a handful of people had televisions -- 5 inch Dumonts, etc., My cousin, Eddie, in Tuscumbia had one and his living room resembled a theater every evening -- and Eddie had to sit right in front of the television so he could adjust it every five minutes.
When I walked to school at Sheffield High, one home near the school had a television antennae which looked like it was built on top of a fifty foot oil derrick.
I recall when the first pizza cafe came to the Tri-Cities. My good friend, who was like an older brother to me, Blake Whitesell (who founded Whitesell Corporation) and his new bride from Boston took my mom and dad out for pizza. My mom was a good Southern gal -- and was not really impressed with what they then called "pizza pie."
Does anyone recall when there were only three high schools in the Tri-Cities (Shoals) area: Sheffield High, Deshler, and Coffee High? Other schools such as Central, Rogersville, Russellville, etc., we consider country schools. But, those country boys sure were tough when it came to basketball and football. I think I still have bruises from some of the games.
Does anyone remember the Pop Warner football teams in Sheffield? We had the Blue Devils, the Green Hornets, the Red Rockets, the Silver Jets, and a bunch of others.
The Colbert Theater was the class act in Sheffield -- and the Ritz showed double feature westerns every Saturday.
In 1954, a group of us used to go the the Sheffield Community Center after school and dance all afternoon. One day, the community center director brought out a new 45 rpm record he had just received and played it for us. It was "That's All Right, Little Mama" by some guy with a really weird name, Elvis Presley. A few months later, he and two side men (bass player and guitar player) came to Sheffield and did a one night concert. We kids went wild -- and then he asked my classmate, Carol, for a date. Yes, I am sure she was on Cloud 9.
I graduated in 1955 and joined the Air Force right away. A few years later, my brother told me that my friend, Hollis Dixon, had started a band and was playing around the Shoals area. I figured it was like another classmate who, while still in high school, used to sing at some local beer joints on the weekend. I only found out in recent years that alumni from Hollis' band had been instrumental in birthing the Shoals Music Sound. Surprise, surprise, surprise. As I told my brother, when we were in high school, I don't even remember Hollis singing.
Does anyone remember swimming at Whippoorwill Hollow? Or the fantastic hot rolls served every during lunch at the Spaldings Walgreen Drug Store cafe? Touches of heaven.
One last moment of nostalgia and I will shut up. In the early 1980s, I worked for the American division of a British company and had to get a passport to travel to England. I sent to Montgomery for my birth certificate -- and when it arrived, I found a real surprise: In the space for the attending physician's signature -- there was an "X" and someone wrote in "for Ms. Susie." I was birthed by a midwife who could not write her name and had to sign with an "X" -- I love it! How many folks can show a birth certificate where the attending physicians signature is an "X"?
These are some of my memories of growing up in the Shoals area. Of course, not everyone was privileged to grow up in Sheffield. Just joking!
Below is an old photo of Sheffied from the 1950s and I am proud to say it is my home town. There is the old First National Bank on the right, with the Colbert Theater beside it. And, across the street is the pharmacy where we all hung out in the evenings. To some, the looks of a small town. To me, a treasure of wonderful memories.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
Bill! You ARE old!
Anyone remember the "Civil Defense Bomb Shelter" signs?
They were posted around.
And..."School Inoculations". You took a paper home for your Parents to sign, so you could get a shot at school? I always "forged" NO.
Plus! The "Sugar Cubes" at school, that you took to prevent Polio?
Anyone remember the "Civil Defense Bomb Shelter" signs?
They were posted around.
And..."School Inoculations". You took a paper home for your Parents to sign, so you could get a shot at school? I always "forged" NO.
Plus! The "Sugar Cubes" at school, that you took to prevent Polio?
Hey, here's one. How bout that curved mirror in the boys dept, 3rd floor in Rogers Dept store? I used to stand there and flex my arms, look like Hercules for what seemed like hours. Entertainment!(I hated to shop!)
in Russellville how about the White House Cafe? and the White Rock Cafe? and hillcrest drive in, Kents Cafe, people would go in there just to listen to him and his Wife, they had a open ended fuss going all the time, I remember them Constructing Hwy 43 and helped build Florence Blvd from helton Drive out to old Wilson drive in, I drove a Dump truck and hauled dirt
now if you want to really get old I have bought 20 cents a gallon gasoline, and Cigarettes for 20 cents a pack. there was Chesterfield, lucky strike, camels, Sunshine, and Phillip Morris, and bull Durham in a sack to roll your own. 10 cent metal box of Snuff, and also a 25 cent six ounce Glass of Snuff, will be 76 in 20 more days.
I remember the Presidents all the way back to FDR, all I remember about him was I remember them saying that he was Dead, but remember Harry Truman well, harry was easy to set off and when he got mad everybody knew it
now if you want to really get old I have bought 20 cents a gallon gasoline, and Cigarettes for 20 cents a pack. there was Chesterfield, lucky strike, camels, Sunshine, and Phillip Morris, and bull Durham in a sack to roll your own. 10 cent metal box of Snuff, and also a 25 cent six ounce Glass of Snuff, will be 76 in 20 more days.
I remember the Presidents all the way back to FDR, all I remember about him was I remember them saying that he was Dead, but remember Harry Truman well, harry was easy to set off and when he got mad everybody knew it
Somewhere about '65-I remember once, at a crossroads just south of Moulton on 33, a gallon of gas was 12 cents. I was pretty young, about 4, but that stuck in my mind.
[quote]Hi all,
FOR THE OLDER CROWD!
Okay, how about the public swimming pool near Spring Park in Tuscumbia. This is where I learned to swim...
...I graduated in 1955 and joined the Air Force right away. A few years later, my brother told me that my friend, Hollis Dixon, had started a band and was playing around the Shoals area. I figured it was like another classmate who, while still in high school, used to sing at some local beer joints on the weekend. I only found out in recent years that alumni from Hollis' band had been instrumental in birthing the Shoals Music Sound. Surprise, surprise, surprise. As I told my brother, when we were in high school, I don't even remember Hollis singing.
Does anyone remember swimming at Whippoorwill Hollow? Or the fantastic hot rolls served every during lunch at the Spaldings Walgreen Drug Store cafe? Touches of heaven... [quote]
My husband (born in '41) hung out at the old Spring Park pool, and also learned to swim there. He went to Sheffield, swam at Whipporwill, and his mother worked at the "Good 'nuff" (sp?) cafe.
Hollis Dixon and my father and uncle were very good friends. I had one of the first 45's he put out called "The Little Paperboy." I think this was around '64.
FOR THE OLDER CROWD!
Okay, how about the public swimming pool near Spring Park in Tuscumbia. This is where I learned to swim...
...I graduated in 1955 and joined the Air Force right away. A few years later, my brother told me that my friend, Hollis Dixon, had started a band and was playing around the Shoals area. I figured it was like another classmate who, while still in high school, used to sing at some local beer joints on the weekend. I only found out in recent years that alumni from Hollis' band had been instrumental in birthing the Shoals Music Sound. Surprise, surprise, surprise. As I told my brother, when we were in high school, I don't even remember Hollis singing.
Does anyone remember swimming at Whippoorwill Hollow? Or the fantastic hot rolls served every during lunch at the Spaldings Walgreen Drug Store cafe? Touches of heaven... [quote]
My husband (born in '41) hung out at the old Spring Park pool, and also learned to swim there. He went to Sheffield, swam at Whipporwill, and his mother worked at the "Good 'nuff" (sp?) cafe.
Hollis Dixon and my father and uncle were very good friends. I had one of the first 45's he put out called "The Little Paperboy." I think this was around '64.
Hi Albert,
Yes, I remember Old Harry also. Do your recall the time he got angry over people's comments about his daughter's piano playing? In the 40s, after the war, we lived in Sheffield but used to drive on Sundays to visit my step-dad's family in Russellville. Seemed like it took all day to get there. His folks, Tom and Laura Arthur, had a farm in Russellville and I loved visiting them. All the men, including we small men (my brother and me) would go hunting for rabbit and squirrel -- then, bring them home so the ladies could clean and cook them for lunch.
And, on Memorial Day, we would go to a small church and cemetery in Russellville for an [i]"All Day Singing And Dinner On The Ground"[/i] -- the greatest food one could ever imagine -- and we could eat from any table, wagon bed, or truck bed. Go in the church and sing; decorate the graves, EAT, sing some more, EAT, visit with friend for a while -- EAT -- getting hungry just thinking about it. When I try to describe this event to friends in California -- they just look at me and smile.
In the 1940s, we could go to the Colbert Theater, get a box of popcorn, and a box of Raisinets or Goobers -- all for a quarter. My brother and I always had a contest. Each would eat our popcorn one kernel at a time and our Goobers or Raisinets one piece at a time -- the goal being to still have some left when the other had eaten all of his. Then, whoever had some left could gloat and make sure the other knew how good these treasured last bites tasted.
Many folks growing up in the Shoals area do not know how lucky they are -- to be able to call this home. I treasure every memory of growing up in the Tri-Cities (Shoals) -- and all the adventures my brother and I had as young Alabama boys. Memories of going to the creek to swim, spending time at my grandfather's farm outside Tuscumbia, visiting my Uncle Ed and Aunt Ola when he was Fire Chief in Tuscumbia and their home was on the hill above the fire station. In the house, one closet which was not a closet, but a slide pole for him to quickly get to the station -- my brother and I loved to slide down it. Sunday afternoons spent with my older cousins Eddie and Brent; when they would take a bunch of us young kids to Spring Park and play tag football all afternoon. Learning to swim in the Tuscumbia Swimming Pool -- and finally getting up enough nerve to jump or dive off the ten foot platform. Fishing with a cane and fishhook on the steps at the lake in Spring Park.
My brother, a friend, Jackie, and I all had big baskets on our bicycles and would ride along the highways looking for soda and beer bottles which had been thrown away. We would spend all day doing this, then take our cache of bottles home, wash them, and then take them to a small market on Main Street by Deshler High School. If we had a good day, we would earn about three dollars for our day's work. But, hey, a dollar bought a lot back then -- especially for a young kid.
Looking back, I treasure the years spent at Sheffield High; breaking my arm in Spring Football practice and later switching to basketball; playing varsity basketball for Sheffield High -- and especially the games against Russellville who had two twin towers, cousins who were 6 foot 6 and the other 6 foot 8 -- while I was the tallest on our team at 6 foot 3. Nothing gave me such a thrill as watching my brother run the 440 yard dash for Sheffield High. There was no one in the state who could beat him in a one on one race. The only one he lost was in the Conference Championship meet when two runners from another school boxed him in -- and when he got around them, their star was 20 yards ahead and there was only 40 yards to the finish line. My brother caught him and lost the race by one tenth of a second. In a one on one race, he could have beaten this guy without breaking a sweat.
Young people growing up in larger cities will never know the thrill of growing up in North Alabama, in the Shoals area. I realize that growing up in Northwest Alabama today is not like it was for us growing up there in the 1940s and 1950s -- but, it is head and shoulders above growing up in large cities. If you have children or grandchildren living there -- tell them how lucky they are to be Alabama born and bred.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
Yes, I remember Old Harry also. Do your recall the time he got angry over people's comments about his daughter's piano playing? In the 40s, after the war, we lived in Sheffield but used to drive on Sundays to visit my step-dad's family in Russellville. Seemed like it took all day to get there. His folks, Tom and Laura Arthur, had a farm in Russellville and I loved visiting them. All the men, including we small men (my brother and me) would go hunting for rabbit and squirrel -- then, bring them home so the ladies could clean and cook them for lunch.
And, on Memorial Day, we would go to a small church and cemetery in Russellville for an [i]"All Day Singing And Dinner On The Ground"[/i] -- the greatest food one could ever imagine -- and we could eat from any table, wagon bed, or truck bed. Go in the church and sing; decorate the graves, EAT, sing some more, EAT, visit with friend for a while -- EAT -- getting hungry just thinking about it. When I try to describe this event to friends in California -- they just look at me and smile.
In the 1940s, we could go to the Colbert Theater, get a box of popcorn, and a box of Raisinets or Goobers -- all for a quarter. My brother and I always had a contest. Each would eat our popcorn one kernel at a time and our Goobers or Raisinets one piece at a time -- the goal being to still have some left when the other had eaten all of his. Then, whoever had some left could gloat and make sure the other knew how good these treasured last bites tasted.
Many folks growing up in the Shoals area do not know how lucky they are -- to be able to call this home. I treasure every memory of growing up in the Tri-Cities (Shoals) -- and all the adventures my brother and I had as young Alabama boys. Memories of going to the creek to swim, spending time at my grandfather's farm outside Tuscumbia, visiting my Uncle Ed and Aunt Ola when he was Fire Chief in Tuscumbia and their home was on the hill above the fire station. In the house, one closet which was not a closet, but a slide pole for him to quickly get to the station -- my brother and I loved to slide down it. Sunday afternoons spent with my older cousins Eddie and Brent; when they would take a bunch of us young kids to Spring Park and play tag football all afternoon. Learning to swim in the Tuscumbia Swimming Pool -- and finally getting up enough nerve to jump or dive off the ten foot platform. Fishing with a cane and fishhook on the steps at the lake in Spring Park.
My brother, a friend, Jackie, and I all had big baskets on our bicycles and would ride along the highways looking for soda and beer bottles which had been thrown away. We would spend all day doing this, then take our cache of bottles home, wash them, and then take them to a small market on Main Street by Deshler High School. If we had a good day, we would earn about three dollars for our day's work. But, hey, a dollar bought a lot back then -- especially for a young kid.
Looking back, I treasure the years spent at Sheffield High; breaking my arm in Spring Football practice and later switching to basketball; playing varsity basketball for Sheffield High -- and especially the games against Russellville who had two twin towers, cousins who were 6 foot 6 and the other 6 foot 8 -- while I was the tallest on our team at 6 foot 3. Nothing gave me such a thrill as watching my brother run the 440 yard dash for Sheffield High. There was no one in the state who could beat him in a one on one race. The only one he lost was in the Conference Championship meet when two runners from another school boxed him in -- and when he got around them, their star was 20 yards ahead and there was only 40 yards to the finish line. My brother caught him and lost the race by one tenth of a second. In a one on one race, he could have beaten this guy without breaking a sweat.
Young people growing up in larger cities will never know the thrill of growing up in North Alabama, in the Shoals area. I realize that growing up in Northwest Alabama today is not like it was for us growing up there in the 1940s and 1950s -- but, it is head and shoulders above growing up in large cities. If you have children or grandchildren living there -- tell them how lucky they are to be Alabama born and bred.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
Hi Razgunarph,
I was born in 1937, so your husband, born in 1941, would have been coming into Sheffield High probably the year I graduated. Hey, I may have his picture as a freshman in my Sheffield High Demitasse yearbook -- maybe even hung out with him at the pharmacy in Sheffield -- or the pool hall down the street.
Hollis was one year ahead of me at SHS. The funny thing is, when we were friends at SHS, I had no idea he had any musical talents -- and was surprised when my brother, a few years later, told me Hollis had started a local band. I was even more surprised to later learn of the impact he and his band had on Muscle Shoals music.
In 1970, I was flying home because my step-dad had died. On the plane I sat beside Leland Rogers, Kenny Rogers' brother and, at that time, his manager. When the flight attendant asked if I was getting off in Muscle Shoals or going on to Nashville, I told her Muscle Shoals. Leland Rogers asked me, [i]"Are you are musician?"[/i]
I told him, [i]"No, that is my home town."[/i]
Then, I asked him why virtually every singer in the industry has come to Muscle Shoals to record. He told me, [i]"In Los Angeles, New York, Detroit, etc., all they do is party. In Muscle Shoals, there is nothing to do but get your work done and get out."[/i] But, then he told me the real reason is that everyone loves the Muscle Shoals Sound, the sound that they can only find with the studio musicians in Muscle Shoals.
Say hello to your husband for me.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
I was born in 1937, so your husband, born in 1941, would have been coming into Sheffield High probably the year I graduated. Hey, I may have his picture as a freshman in my Sheffield High Demitasse yearbook -- maybe even hung out with him at the pharmacy in Sheffield -- or the pool hall down the street.
Hollis was one year ahead of me at SHS. The funny thing is, when we were friends at SHS, I had no idea he had any musical talents -- and was surprised when my brother, a few years later, told me Hollis had started a local band. I was even more surprised to later learn of the impact he and his band had on Muscle Shoals music.
In 1970, I was flying home because my step-dad had died. On the plane I sat beside Leland Rogers, Kenny Rogers' brother and, at that time, his manager. When the flight attendant asked if I was getting off in Muscle Shoals or going on to Nashville, I told her Muscle Shoals. Leland Rogers asked me, [i]"Are you are musician?"[/i]
I told him, [i]"No, that is my home town."[/i]
Then, I asked him why virtually every singer in the industry has come to Muscle Shoals to record. He told me, [i]"In Los Angeles, New York, Detroit, etc., all they do is party. In Muscle Shoals, there is nothing to do but get your work done and get out."[/i] But, then he told me the real reason is that everyone loves the Muscle Shoals Sound, the sound that they can only find with the studio musicians in Muscle Shoals.
Say hello to your husband for me.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
Scotty's restaurant where the WOWL sign was on the corner.
[quote]Say hello to your husband for me.[/quote]
He is no longer with me. Were/are you familar with "hoodlums's corner" ? The city put a plaque there about 15 years ago. My husband isn't listed as one of the "hoodlums" but he was part of their group.
He is no longer with me. Were/are you familar with "hoodlums's corner" ? The city put a plaque there about 15 years ago. My husband isn't listed as one of the "hoodlums" but he was part of their group.
Petersville Dirty Socks
did any of you ever play Basketball at the "Bloody Bucket"? I went to La Grange School and all county Schools played at the Bloody Bucket.
Remember the bait and tackle shop where Foodland and the strip mall is in Sheffield? They had small ponds to grow minnows and other bait. Cows would graze on the strips between the ponds.
[quote]He is no longer with me. Were/are you familar with "hoodlums's corner" ? The city put a plaque there about 15 years ago. My husband isn't listed as one of the "hoodlums" but he was part of their group.[/quote]
Hi Razgunarph,
I am not familiar with this. Please tell me more about it -- and this group. What was your husband's first name?
My misspent youth was spent in the pool hall on Montgomery Avenue in downtown Sheffield. There was a cafe in the front part of the pool hall and a nice lady who worked there. And, she made great hamburgers.
When my mom died in 1994, this lady was at her viewing. I had no idea she was my mom's friend. At the viewing, she told me, "I always made sure your mom knew you were okay and not getting into trouble." Can you believe that? This was 1953-1955 -- and in 1994 I find that she was my mom's eyes and ears while I was hanging out.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
Hi Razgunarph,
I am not familiar with this. Please tell me more about it -- and this group. What was your husband's first name?
My misspent youth was spent in the pool hall on Montgomery Avenue in downtown Sheffield. There was a cafe in the front part of the pool hall and a nice lady who worked there. And, she made great hamburgers.
When my mom died in 1994, this lady was at her viewing. I had no idea she was my mom's friend. At the viewing, she told me, "I always made sure your mom knew you were okay and not getting into trouble." Can you believe that? This was 1953-1955 -- and in 1994 I find that she was my mom's eyes and ears while I was hanging out.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
[quote]Remember the bait and tackle shop where Foodland and the strip mall is in Sheffield? They had small ponds to grow minnows and other bait. Cows would graze on the strips between the ponds.[/quote]
Hi Interventor,
I remember this more as a fish farm where they raised fish to stock the local lakes and rivers. But, they most likely sold bait and tackle also. Am I wrong in this?
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
Hi Interventor,
I remember this more as a fish farm where they raised fish to stock the local lakes and rivers. But, they most likely sold bait and tackle also. Am I wrong in this?
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
My daddy worked at southern sash when I was little. My mom and sister worked at trailways bus station in the little cafe there and mom also worked at scotty's in Muscle Shoals.Anybody in here ever know a man referred to as "Pete" or "Milkcow"? My mom was Rebecca or Becky.I was just a kid and kept very sheltered by my family.
[quote]Hi Razgunarph,
I am not familiar with this. Please tell me more about it -- and this group. What was your husband's first name?
My misspent youth was spent in the pool hall on Montgomery Avenue in downtown Sheffield. There was a cafe in the front part of the pool hall and a nice lady who worked there. And, she made great hamburgers.
When my mom died in 1994, this lady was at her viewing. I had no idea she was my mom's friend. At the viewing, she told me, "I always made sure your mom knew you were okay and not getting into trouble." Can you believe that? This was 1953-1955 -- and in 1994 I find that she was my mom's eyes and ears while I was hanging out.[/quote]
It was a neighborhood hangout corner for a group of guys, Jack Voorhies and Mutt McCord are two that come to mind, and it was nicknamed Hoodlum's Corner. Some of them got together and had the paque put in place to commerate an easier way of life. It's located off second street (close to the fire station?) and, due to an apartmant complex being built and part of the atreet), is no longer on a corner.
The lady that made the good hamburgers and kept an eye on you may have been my mother-in-law, Nancy. Short woman, prominent nose, and black hair. I think part of her burger secret was green peppers.
At the time of your mother's death she would have had silver hair done up on the top of her head.
(I wish they still had PMs on here...)
I am not familiar with this. Please tell me more about it -- and this group. What was your husband's first name?
My misspent youth was spent in the pool hall on Montgomery Avenue in downtown Sheffield. There was a cafe in the front part of the pool hall and a nice lady who worked there. And, she made great hamburgers.
When my mom died in 1994, this lady was at her viewing. I had no idea she was my mom's friend. At the viewing, she told me, "I always made sure your mom knew you were okay and not getting into trouble." Can you believe that? This was 1953-1955 -- and in 1994 I find that she was my mom's eyes and ears while I was hanging out.[/quote]
It was a neighborhood hangout corner for a group of guys, Jack Voorhies and Mutt McCord are two that come to mind, and it was nicknamed Hoodlum's Corner. Some of them got together and had the paque put in place to commerate an easier way of life. It's located off second street (close to the fire station?) and, due to an apartmant complex being built and part of the atreet), is no longer on a corner.
The lady that made the good hamburgers and kept an eye on you may have been my mother-in-law, Nancy. Short woman, prominent nose, and black hair. I think part of her burger secret was green peppers.
At the time of your mother's death she would have had silver hair done up on the top of her head.
(I wish they still had PMs on here...)
[quote]My daddy worked at southern sash when I was little. My mom and sister worked at trailways bus station in the little cafe there and mom also worked at scotty's in Muscle Shoals.Anybody in here ever know a man referred to as "Pete" or "Milkcow"? My mom was Rebecca or Becky.I was just a kid and kept very sheltered by my family.[/quote]
My husband was good friends with a "Milkcow" and surely there wasn't two of them? Dyed black hair, didn't always wear his teeth, loved to play guitar and sing, and worked at Southern Metals. He died in the mid/late 90's ?
My husband was good friends with a "Milkcow" and surely there wasn't two of them? Dyed black hair, didn't always wear his teeth, loved to play guitar and sing, and worked at Southern Metals. He died in the mid/late 90's ?
Anyone else remember when Chazz'z package store used to be an antique store? 
My Father did not always wear his teeth but he did not dye his hair. He was bald on top with black hair down the sides.He loved to play guitar and sing.He died on Sept. 3rd 1997.
*Earline in Storyland (yeah, I know she's already been mentioned).
*Getting out of school early on Friday to go to the Fair.
*Triangle Grocery store.
*The Llewellyn's big, unpainted Victorian house on the corner of Locust and College Street.
*Camp Woodhaven.
"The towers of flowers in downtown Florence.
*When Anderson's was on Mobile Street.
*The Hotel Negly (sp?). (I never went inside, of course, but it was a big, imposing building...).
*Getting out of school early on Friday to go to the Fair.
*Triangle Grocery store.
*The Llewellyn's big, unpainted Victorian house on the corner of Locust and College Street.
*Camp Woodhaven.
"The towers of flowers in downtown Florence.
*When Anderson's was on Mobile Street.
*The Hotel Negly (sp?). (I never went inside, of course, but it was a big, imposing building...).
Miss Earline was a distant cousin of mine. I took my daughter to her house for ballet,tap, and piano lessons about 30 years ago. She still had the old pink caddy parked in the front yard, and had a LOT of cats. She had the space heater by the piano and the window air conditioner on at the same time. There were MANY cats in the house, especially the kitchen. She was a talented lady but many could not understand and disliked her habits and lifestyle. Earline had a good heart!!!
quote:Originally posted by Just_:
You know you are Really old, if you attended Main Street School and walked to "The Tuscumbian" theater to watch the Saturday matinee...lol
Which of the 2 was it?- The one where the bank was which went at one time to all 3-D movies, or the one kinda across from Coldwater book store ?
I remember both !
Yes Earthmama, I remember Exa's Rolls !
> the A&P Grocery store in Sheffield (where Fathers Harvest was)
>No Woodward Ave
>No Hwy 20 Bypass
> BBQ chicken at the Kroger in Sheffield