Butch Remembers Local Businessmen…Part IV

  In the last three columns I have told of the business men and women in my hometown when I was a youngster. Here are a few more “characters” who I will always remember…

   Henry Endicott owned a “filling station” (Does anyone use that term any more?) located in a concrete block building across the street from the Cox Standard gas station. Many teenage boys headed there each day after school and during the summer to grab a bottle of pop and talk about cars and girls. When Henry passed away in 1962, Thomas “Von” Timmons purchased the business. I knew him, as he had a daughter, Beverly, who was a year older than me. My folks bought her used school books every fall from her mother (another practice that no longer exists). In addition to gas, Von sold petroleum products, replacement belts, hoses, etc. and candy and cigarettes. Instead of stocking cigarettes in a glass display case, he put in a coin-operated, self-serve cigarette dispenser. Teenage would-be smokers had easy access to their favorite brand. A boy in my class, Kenny “Smokey” Krout, purchased his first pack there when he was in the 7th grade. Von sold another product that he kept behind the counter. Teenage boys very seldom used this product, but they kept one in their wallet…just in case…but mostly just to show their friends. I suppose you can guess what it was….

   Marvin Branstetter, my school bus driver, owned an auto repair business at the west end of Main street. He had a Phillips 66 gas pump out front, but I never saw anyone buy gas there. Marvin was an excellent mechanic and always had plenty of business. When he drove the bus, he often seemed somewhat gruff and grouchy, especially if some kid was horsing around or goofing off, but I guess a school bus driver has to be that way at times. Marvin’s wife, Claudine “Claudie,” was kind of “mannish” and had a gravelly voice. She sold Avon products to the ladies in town. They had three boys…Johnny, Jimmy, and Mikey, all of whom were intelligent and popular in school. Unlike most boys, the three of them never tried out for sports, and they preferred to hang out with the girls. Jimmy was in my class, and he became one of the cheerleaders for the basketball team, and did an excellent job.

   Although not a business, another popular stopping place on Main street was the post office. In the late 1950’s and early ’60’s, Marion “Runt” Maxwell was the postmaster. He was also my first baseball coach, so it was always fun to visit with him. My folks often played cards with Runt and his wife Phyllis, and my brothers and sisters tagged along to play with their children. When Runt switched to the rural route, Eugene “Beaner” Hampton became the new postmaster. Beaner was quite a character…very sociable and quite witty…and he enjoyed teasing all the little kids. Beaner loved the Chicago Cubs, and he and my Dad took my brother and me, along with Beaner’s son Bill, to see the Cubs play the Milwaukee Braves in the summer of 1961. I was thrilled! Little did I know at that time that both Runt and Beaner had served in WWII. Runt had won the Silver Star for bravery, and Beaner had been severely wounded…both having fought in the Pacific theater.

   One funny incident occurred to Beaner after he retired. He had been playing poker at the American Legion one evening with his buddies and had one beer too many. When he rode his little moped back to his home here in town, he had a minor accident and received a cut to his head. A neighbor, Gary Ryker, came to his assistance and helped him inside. That night, while Beaner was soundly asleep, Gary and a buddy attached bicycle training wheels to Beaner’s moped. Everyone got a big laugh out of that one, including Beaner himself!

John “Butch” Dale is a retired teacher and County Sheriff. He has also been the librarian at Darlington the past 36 years, and is a well-known artist and author of local history.

   Stay tuned to Part V….