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Memories of growing up in Perry A hoys adventures in the 30 s and 40 s By Charles Irby Shelton Special to the Home lournal Growing up in Perry was good, even if it was during the Great Depression and World War 11. I was born 1930 in Virginia and moved to Perry when I was very young. My first recollection was living in the Wells Hotel (Swan Court location). The hotel was owned and operated by Mrs. Wells and her daughter, Mrs. Roughton. During our stay at the hotel, I would sometimes ride my tricycle up to the next corner and buy a nickel chocolate milk and show the owner how I could turn on two wheels. Little did the owner, Robert Tuggle, realize that I would become his son-in-law a quarter century later. By that time, he owned a dairy and I was drinking all the free milk I wanted. As time passed, I began to ven ture out and learn more about Perry and who lived where. In the 1930 s we only had three main streets: Swift Street, US 41, and US 341, plus a little extra paving around the courthouse. Carroll and Ball Streets were part of the highways and had paved sidewalks. The only other place with a paved sidewalk was the home owned by Penn-Dixie Cement Company (now Watson- Hunt Funeral Home). It was on this sidewalk that most young boys and girls learned to skate. We were wel comed to skate at anytime, and I do not think anyone ever got into trou ble or destroyed anything. There were plenty of large mud holes during the rainy weather to ride our bikes through or sail a homemade boat. There was one puddle on the edge of Commerce Street (by the ACE side parking lot) that was so big only older boys rode through it. In dry, hot weather, the streets would get really dusty which the dear little ladies didn’t like. So with great wisdom, an unmarked tank truck loaded with used motor oil would sprinkle the streets (now an EPA no-no). The grown folks were glad to see this, but they sure got mad i( we tracked oil in the house. Honesty mattered I remember how people would come by our house and offer to work for food. They seldom wanted a handout without giving some thing in return. Mr. Tuggle often told me how honest the travelers were who came by his gas station which was open 24 hours a day dur ing the mid 19305. Many times he would let people sleep in the station until they could catch a ride north or south. There wouid only be one attendant on duty, but he never knew of anyone stealing a thing. They were honest. Houston County was a farming area back then, and we had small country stores scattered throughout the county. On Saturday afternoons, the country people would come into town to do their big shopping. The local stores stayed open until mid night or whenever the people finally left. They came in wagons, Model As, Model T’s, and by foot. The towns people would go down and join in these weekly gatherings. The streets were crowded, but no one seemed to get angry. They had a lot to talk about and laughter was all around. However, there must have been some back street trouble, . because the doctors were most always busy on Sunday morn ings. Doctors also made house calls which are now a rarity. My entire school life was spent in one brick building that is now occu pied by the Houston County Board of Education. It was there that 1 spent twelve years of my life (should have been eleven, but that’s another story) «k===~-~~ —————— . MW Jem | Jpife Photo contributed by Charles I. Shelton A classroom scene from the 1940’5. Bobby Tuggle is the bright eyed boy at the front of the classroom. /77/J The PerF^ookstore 919 Carroll Street, Perry 987-0600 (A/ yon anmt to /moot more a/xmt {/terry ,V /tovtory? HPe we yot t/»e ftoo/us f and learned much more than the three R’s. I learned about people: teachers, classmates, janitors, and others. We obeyed the instructor, not because we feared her, but because we respected her. We knew she cared for us and what became of us. Her word was law, with our parents’ backing, and we knew it. I often thank God for the good teachers that I had. It’s strange how we don’t recognize things like that until we’re older. When I was very small, my favorite thing to do was to blow the whisde at the mill. Of course, 1 had to be lifted up by Oskar Pate, the fireman, to reach the rope. Another whistle was next door at Tolleson Lumber Company. There was friendly competition among the firemen to see who was the best whistle blower. Each fireman had his own sound that had been perfect See BOYHOOD, Page 8 City of Perry 175th Birthday, Nov. 17, 1999, Houston Home Journal J fig r JH 'flfc. Photo contributed by Charles I. Shelton James Duggans Texaco gas station was a popular stopping place in Perry in the mid-1930’5, and Charles Irby Shelton got his first job there after graduation. Mr. Duggan is shown with his hand on the hose. The small boy in the photo is Buddy Tolleson. A'so shown is P.C. Strother. MARTIN SENOUR PAiNTS CONNER’S i/liPln nUUI • Carpet • Vinyl Flooring • Ceramic Tile • Hardwood • Paint • Wallpaper • Blinds • Decorating Service H m m Original Hartoo supfrgo Quality Wood Flooring IHIII ml\ww waverly. HuntaPouqlas WINDOW FASHIONS Armstrong SERVING MIDDLE GEORGIA SINCE 1986 1812 MACON ROAD, HWY. 41 N. PERRY, GEORGIA 987-1112 7B