General Stores

by Dale Grubaugh

Nowadays we have big, super, one-stop shops like Walmart and Target. But before these super stores showed up, the countryside was dotted with the original one-stop shops.

We called them general stores.

The general store was the heartbeat of the Ozark farm community.

Most folks didn’t run to town two or three times a day like we do now. When I was a youngin’, trips to town only happened once or twice a month. If anything else was needed, folk headed to the nearest general store.

The general store usually carried gasoline, (primarily for farm equipment). At the Haeflings Store (the junction of Hwys 19 and CC) you could also get a flat tire fixed and minor machanic work done.

Most of the general stores carried stock feed either in sack or in bulk. Armen Kraeter over at the Bem Store had a big grain truck for carrin’ bulk feed out to the farms.

All of them carried farm tools and basic equipment for around the farm, baling twine, steeples, nails (and the hammer to drive them).

You could also buy basic veternary needs.

Grocery items were always available: Coffee, flour, sugar, salt and all kinds of canned goods. They even had eggs, butter and milk for that unfortunate farmer whose cow had gone dry or chickens had stopped layin’.

If’n ya had left home without yer dinner bucket you could stop by the store and they would fix you up with a nice blogna sandwich and a bottle of cold soda pop.

As I recall, there wasn’t much you couldn’t buy at the general store. There were clothes: Jeans, shirts and of course bib overalls; toys, ammunition. And my favorites: candy, soda, and tater chips!

Most of the store keepers were farmin’ folks just like everbody else. They opened early in the mornin’ and stayed open ’til early evenin’.

Closed on Sunday of course. However, if there was a need, they would open their doors to help folks in an emergency.

There were four such general stores round where I grew up:

The Haefling Store. The Bem Store. The Red Bird Store. And the Jakes Prairie Store.

When I started school, the bus route I was on was a long one.

Ever’ evening, the driver would stop at the Haeflings Store (which was half way through his route).

If’n we had a dime we could get a soda or candy bar. Once in a while he would treat us all to bubble gum.

Those of us who were on the end of the route thought we had the best bus driver in the world (wasn’t ’til later that I figured out the reason we stopped was so the driver could use the restroom).

The Jakes Prairie Store was my favorite.

The store was owned and operated by Les Collins. A big man with a big nose, lips — and an even bigger laugh — Les was one of Uncle Jones’ huntin’ buddies. We stopped there a lot. It was there I had my very first taste of Whistle Orange sodie and my first “store bought” balonie sandwich.

Uncle Jones, Les and other fellers would just set and tell stories about huntin’ and fishing. They’d tell jokes (most of them were clean). And they would visit and catch up on the news of the community — all while Les was behind the counter, ringin’ up the purchases.

I miss the general store.

I miss the smell of the cold gavanized metal that lined the sodie box (the smell wafted up when ya opened the lid).

I miss the smell of sweet feed mingled with the other smells of the store when ya came through the door.

I miss the sound of the little bell that hung on the door and rang as folks went in and out. I miss sittin’ on the feed dock, danglin’ my legs over the dock while drinkin my orange sodie.

I miss the stories.

I miss the people.

Most of all, I think I miss the sense of community. The general store brought people together and held them together.

Now that’s somethin’ our modern super stores can never do.

’Till next time,

Elias Tucker

March 27, 2011