Butch Relates Childhood Memories of Marta Jeffries

   Marta Cox Jeffries was the daughter of Cecil and Mabel Cox, who owned the Darlington Cafe back in the 30’s and 40’s. She had three sisters, Margaret, Jane, and Judy, and the four of them had some fun (and mischievous) times growing up. In 1999, Marta wrote about some of her childhood memories…

   “I remember in grade school, country kids bringing lunch to school wrapped in newspaper and fastened with a straight pin. How I longed to do that…instead I had to go to the restaurant every day! I also remember leading yells in the subway at recess and being chased all the way to the assembly by Mr. Miller, the 6th grade teacher, who could  dish it out, but not take it. (I was a sassy kid.) And I remember going to his homeroom the next morning and saying, ‘My mother said I had to apologize,’ and leaving. Who in my class could forget Bill Dale (who was a senior I think) coming to our room when the teacher had to be gone, and jumping over the wastebasket! How we loved that!

   “Tony Endicott would turn off all the street lights at 11:00 pm, but our wonderful baseburner put out a cheery glow in the winter and the cob incinerator at the elevator did the same…In the summer, Jane and I would be out on our bikes checking out the town just as the birds were waking…The school kids would get out of school to look for milkweed pods, which were used to make parachutes during the war…I remember Joe McClaskey delivering milk and one day having to get the crank out of his truck to kill a blue racer snake in our yard…And the wonderful Omar man! My sisters always got what they wanted. I finally learned to wait on him up the street to get what I wanted–cinnamon twists…

   “Saturday nights were really fun. Everyone came to town. Our restaurant, the Cox Cafe, was so busy serving our regular Saturday night folks, we could hardly keep up. Fred and Mary Butler, along with Eddie, were regulars all week. Fred didn’t want ‘horse slobbers’ (meringue) on his pie, so of course Eddie didn’t either. Wally Cox was an awful tease. I was his waitress at noon one day. I wanted to get back at him for all the teasing I had endured. When I took him his water, he took a big drink and immediately spit it out all over everywhere. It was fizz water. Needless to say, I never did that again.

   “After ballgames, you could barely walk through the restaurant. The ball boys were allotted a certain amount of money to spend, and when Linden came to play they also came in, because Uncle Alex (Cox) was their coach. We’re talking one milkshake machine here, folks! It was hectic, and it was fun. The kids going to the consolidated schools today don’t know anything about this type of camaraderie.

   “I mustn’t forget the ‘Sunshine’ (theater). The same show played Sunday through Tuesday, closed Wednesday, with a new show Thursday through Saturday. I don’t think I missed a one…And how I wish I had all the comic books my sisters and I bought for a dime at the drug store. Decoration Day, as we call Memorial Day now, was a wonderful celebration for the entire community. People who had moved away would come back to visit with old friends and pay respect to their dead. There would be a band concert and so much love and caring in our little community. How I miss the Darlington of my youth!

   Marta married Harvey Jeffries in 1951, and they resided in Ladoga, becoming the parents of five children, Jaye, Jewell, Joe, Holly, and Jon. Together they built Roachdale Building Supplies, which they ran for 40 years. Their home was a welcome gathering place for family and friends. Marta also volunteered at Lane House, and touched many lives with her friendly smile and caring attitude. Harvey passed away in 2003, and Marta passed away in 2016. Thanks, Marta, for your great memories!

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.