Memories shine when recalling growing up in Spruce Pine
Linda Vaughn Parmer recalls her memories of growing up in Spruce Pine.
With Spruce Pine Day just around the corner, I decided to share some of my fondest memories of growing up there. I really loved Spruce Pine. These are some of my early and precious memories of my childhood.
My mother and daddy owned and operated Joe Vaughn’s grocery store/ filling station on the corner of “main street.” Our family lived in the back of the store. Dad’s store was located by Mr. Scharnagel’s store on the north side and Mr. Moses’ store on the south side of the highway. This highway was the only thoroughfare connecting Phil Campbell, Haleyville and on to Birmingham.
There were no four-lane highways or interstates back then. Obviously, this was quite a busy little highway. The Greyhound bus also made a stop here. Quite often, my grandfather would come for a visit after riding the bus to our house.
Mother was always afraid one of us kids would get “run over” so she put the fear of God in us about trying to cross that highway or getting too close.
There was a post office across the highway from our store, in addition to a cafe in which we were occasionally able to enjoy a special treat. I can barely remember a hamburger with chocolate milk and how wonderfully delicious it was.
There was also a cotton gin with a creek running beside it. I remember my dad carrying my brother and me fishing quite often in this creek. I thought it was the neatest place. I don’t remember ever catching a single fish, but I think we “ caught” something much more important than fish.
Our store was located by Mr. Scharnagel’s store with barely enough space between the stores for us kids to build our playhouses. We had to make our own fun back in those days of no televisions, telephones or storebought toys.
The first TV in Spruce Pine belonged to our neighbor, and they invited us over to watch “Amos and Andy.” I was so disappointed because all I could see was “snow,” barely making out any images.
People came to our store for just about everything they needed in the way of food for themselves or their animals. There was also gas and oil, kerosene and other supplies for farms. My dad was also known for his ice cream.
Being the generous guy he was, he would see just how much ice cream he could load on a cone. The “drink box” was always loaded with ice-cold bottled drinks of assorted flavors. My favorite was always Grapette, but Orange Crush was good, too. Lots of people just came to our store to socialize, allowing them to visit with all their neighbors and friends.
Mom and Dad and the four of us kids lived in the back of the store. The old house was nothing to brag about, but I guess it was considered “nice” as compared to what others had since nobody had much of anything back in those days.
Times were hard for everyone. Neighbors helped neighbors however and whenever they could. Living in the back of the store, quite often we were awakened in the night by someone needing something from the store. Daddy was always there for people who needed something, even if it meant waking up four kids.
There were several churches in Spruce Pine, with the two main ones being the Baptist and the Methodist churches. Our family attended Spruce Pine Baptist Church, located about a mile from us.
The Methodist Church was located about a mile from us on the north of our store, nestled among the pine trees. I always thought it was the most peaceful place. I enjoyed visiting there quite often, especially for their Vacation Bible School which all of us neighborhood kids attended. We all always loved VBS at both churches.
Spruce Pine School is very memorable to me. The school was a large white frame structure which housed several grades. I only attended there through my fourth grade year, after which my family moved to Russellville.
I remember Miss Ira Underwood and Arrie Porter as teachers while Mr. Mooneyham was principal. I don’t remember there being many discipline problems, but teachers had to be very strict to maintain order with so many students in one room.
There have been many changes through the years to the landscape of Spruce Pine. Our store was torn down many years ago and replaced with another building. Mr. Moses’ store was torn down, and now a kiddie park is there. Mr. Scharnagel’s store is exactly as I remember it.
I wonder if the cracks are still in the side of the wall beside our old store where my brother and I would stand on top of boxes to watch the men play pool in the back room of his store. We always got into trouble with daddy for doing this.
“It takes a village to raise a child.” Truer words have never been spoken. This “village” shall forever be remembered and appreciated.
See page A10 for information about this Saturday’s Spruce Pine Day festival.
