COLUMNS

The day I met Rob Hayes and Calvin Coolidge… By Ken Welborn I have said in this space on several occasions how much I enjoy old things. To that end, I have surrounded myself at work with an odd assortment of "treasures" I have ran across and bought through the years. Speaking of running across things, the "hunt" is often almost as much fun, and as interesting as the find. This was evidenced by a trip I took in early December to beautiful downtown Millers Creek to see Rob Hayes at the Hayes Serve-U Grocery. Mr. Hayes had called me to talk with him about an advertisement he wanted in The Record. He had decided, after nearly 60 years, to close his store and retire. After talking on the phone with Mr. Hayes, I asked The Record’s editor Jerry Lankford if he would like to ride up to Millers Creek with me to see the store. It was late on a Monday afternoon when we stepped into the Serve-U Grocery store - and back in time. It didn’t take very long to figure out that this old country store was better suited for a feature story than an advertisement. In a matter of minutes, Jerry was taking pictures and Rob Hayes was giving him the history of the store, which opened shortly before the United States became involved in World War II. While they were talking, I browsed around the store, looking for treasure-or junk. Mr. Hayes had known for some time he would be closing up to take care of his wife Berta Mae, and the stock in the store was very low. It was, however, still fascinating to see the old and the new right next to each other. For example, a big, red chest-type Coca-Cola drink box still sits beside upright coolers most often seen in newer convenience type stores. Calendars hung on the wall that featured various sheriffs from Dane Mastin all the way back to Fred Myers. Speaking of calendars, there was also a presidential calendar from Gaddy Motor Company that went back to Ronald Reagan. Car parts sat on shelves next to household supplies and groceries, reminding me that the store was there long before there were so many places to shop and of the Hayes family’s effort to offer as much variety as possible. I guess you could say the Hayes Serve-U Grocery was one-stop shopping, fifties style. The first thing in the store that caught my eye was a Queen Bess clock hanging from one of the buildings support posts. The clock isn’t all that old, but there is no more Queen Bess Dairy. She has long since gone the way of many brands, swallowed up by mergers and consolidations. If I am remembering correctly, Queen Bess became Dairyman, Inc., and then Flavorich. At any rate, the clock caught my eye and I shuffled on over to where Mr. Lankford and Mr. Hayes were talking about old times and, when they caught a breath, I asked Mr. Hayes about the Queen Bess clock. His eyes twinkled a bit as he smiled and told me that I wasn’t the first one to notice that clock. We talked a bit more and I gave him a business card with my opening bid written on the back, and he filed it away. I was bit disappointed that I hadn’t been able to instantly close a deal on the Queen Bess clock, but when you’re hunting treasure, the rule is to always keep looking, and I did. It was amazing the variety of items still available for sale in that little store. Spark plugs, patent medicine, peanut butter, school supplies, shampoo, plumbing pipe and fittings, and spray paint. There were even bottles of brake fluid and an old display of Monkey Grip patches for inner tubes. When is the last time you bought a tire with a tube in it? I kept looking. I turned right at the Sheriff Fred Myers calendar and there was a sheet of pegboard with old license plates hanging from several hooks. I’m not a collector of car tags, but I have occasionally looked through stacks of tags at flea markets hoping to find one in good shape from 1949. People who know me will find it very hard to believe, but 1949 was the year I was born, officially becoming Cary Welborn’s blue-eyed baby boy-a wonderful place to be, I promise. Everyone has heard the saying "a diamond in the rough." There, nestled alone among those old tags from the 70s, was the item that was going to make a great day wonderful. As I pushed through the pegs full of license tags, I noticed an odd sized one among them. Thinking it might be a small city tag that used to be very common, I again slid around the others to get a better look. To my amazement it wasn’t a car tag of any kind, it was an old advertising sign. From 1924. From the Presidential Election of 1924, no less. I could not believe my luck. In my hands I held a piece of history. The sign read: "1924 - Cal Coolidge." I feel sure everyone has heard of President Calvin Coolidge, but, to be safe, I’ll catch you up just a bit. Coolidge was Vice-President during the administration of Warren Harding. When Harding died in 1923, Coolidge became President. He ran for re-election in 1924 and received over 15 million votes. I haven’t found anything that tells how many times the votes were counted in that election. A sign from the re-election campaign of Calvin (Silent Cal) Coolidge. How lucky could I get? Actually, I had no idea how lucky. It was with great anxiety that I carried "Silent Cal" up to the desk where Rob Hayes was sitting, still recounting in colorful detail the history of the Hayes Serve-U Grocery to Jerry Lankford. I had already gone through my pockets to see how much cash I had with me. It wasn’t too much, so I was hoping he didn’t know much about me and would take a check. I was almost afraid to put the sign on the counter, fearing he would snatch it up and say "Not for sale." I stammered out something to the effect of "What would you like to have for this little tin sign?" Mr. Hayes studied it a moment as it lay in front of him and replied, "Well son, just what would you give?" I was pleased he seemed to willing to sell it at all, but still I gave him my stock reply that my daddy taught me-never price the other man’s merchandise-find out what he’ll take. Rob Hayes looked up at me and smiled again. He could tell I really wanted to give that little Coolidge for President sign a new home. "Just give me ten dollars," he said, and, before I could even get the money out of my pocket or say thanks, he went on, "…and son, I know I might as well be giving it to you for this little bit of money." I didn’t know what to say but "thank you" over and over. I wanted the Queen Bess clock, but the Coolidge sign was real piece of history. In my mind, I already had a place for it at my office, just under a holder that John Cashion had given me which came off an old gravity fed gas pump in Florida-advertising gas for 7 ½ cents a gallon. Come to think of it, that was probably from the Coolidge Administration also. And, just so you know for sure that things are really never any different, five cents of the 7 ½ cents was tax. I had never met Rob Hayes or been in the Serve-U Grocery until that afternoon in December. However, he treated me as though I had been his friend my entire life. I have a feeling that Rob Hayes was good to everyone he met. When the Serve-U Grocery closes later this month, his friends and neighbors are truly going to miss him, but in talking with some of them during the past few weeks, they seem to understand. They all know that Rob’s place is to help take care of Berta Mae. God bless them both.