TLC #89: Sept. 12, 2006
Dear Hearts & Gentle
People:
Having just returned from 10 days
in Ireland, I'm still catching up on news in Lexington. But two events
stand out and must be reported immediately. Other things are churning here
as well.
First of all, Lexington now boasts two
newspapers! The first edition of The Lexington Express hit the
streets last week. The Lexington News is still in business, though in
the process of re-locating to different quarters. Please understand that I will
not comment on the quality or content of either paper, since I could hardly be
objective, but I will pass along suitable commentary by others. Most of you know
my father published The Advertiser-News for many years. I simply wish
we had a daily paper again.
The other new event is The Sounding of the
Drums. It is a brand new tradition presented in cooperation by Lexington
and Wentworth. Most Saturdays at noon there will be a Parade by the entire cadet
corps or a combination of the Honor Guard and the Drum Corps from the
campus to the courthouse. A brief ceremony pays tribute to our country's
veterans. Three drumbeats signify honor to Wentworth's veterans, Lexington and
Lafayette County veterans, and the nation's veterans.
Judging from the turnout Saturday, which was the
first Sounding, the unique event will be quite interesting for
visitors to town as well popular with local citizens. He probably won't like it,
but I'll tell you that Jean Beyer (husband of Janis Ray Beretta) conceived and
implemented the idea. Maybe someone will send photos so I can share them with
you.
Now some history from Harry Dunford about
a local landmark:
In the early 1930's, my uncle and aunt, Roscoe
and Maybelle Sheets, had a restaurant at the 18th and Franklin street
location of what is now Simonetti's. The Lexington Creamery was in the east
side of the building and Uncle Roscoe's restaurant was in the west side. The
creamery and building was owned by Ernest Hoffman. Mr. Hoffman was father-in-law
to Con Barron who was a brother to Maybelle Sheets. Con Barron had a
grocery at the northwest corner of 16th and Franklin. I don't recall what name
Roscoe used; perhaps it was Tasty Lunch which was what it was called in later
years. However, it was popular, particularly with Wentworth Cadets.
During the election of 1932, I recall, Uncle Roscoe
had in the east window a picture of Herbert Hoover; in the west window was a
picture of Franklin Roosevelt. Roscoe was not about to offend any customers and
at that time people were very strong on both sides.
While I was quartermaster at Wentworth from 1981
to1988, oftentimes Old Boys from the 1920s and 1930s would be around the snack
bar and I would ask them if they remembered Roscoe and they all
did.
I believe that Roscoe sold the business to Bill
Giblin. It was called Tasty Lunch. At other times as you indicated it was known
as the Slop Chute (a Marine term) or the Slop
Shop.
The cafe was also known as the Dragons Den for a
long time.
Helyn (Mrs. Ray) Beretta was a daughter of Ernest
Hoffman and Janis Ray, of course, was her daughter.
Norman Vialle and I worked for the Giblins during
one football season. We were candy butchers and worked the crowd at Wentworth
Alumni stadium. Norman recalled we got 2 cents for each candy bar
sold.
Everyone nowadays recalls Dave's Cafe and the great
hamburgers and milkshakes Dave put out along with a lot of friendly hellos when
you walked in the door.
That is about it for
the restaurant. I also wanted to comment on the first photo in the recent TLC. I
do not believe at all that the dwelling was on Main Street. It appears to me as
a very early photo of what is now Langdon's home on Highland. I may be wrong
though.
The Lafayette County Veteran's Memorial is coming
along well and may be dedicated in October if not sooner. More than $200,000 has
been raised with no taxpayer money involved. This will be a unique
addition to Lexington as there will be nothing else like it
in the
state.
From Marge
Butherus:
Thank you for your newsletter. I loved learning
about all the old and new things happening in our beloved
Lexington.
Shirley Guevel was also puzzled by the
house pictured in TLC #88:
I don't know where that house was or is but I don't
think you will see any banks with an address of 1908 Main St. today! Just
couldn't resist commenting. Keep up the good work.
Thanks, Shirley. Several people wrote,
commenting on the "bank" at 19th & Main. I believe the reference meant the
terrace, or raised area, rather than a financial
institution.
Quite a few people mentioned the terrific
website for the old Lexington bridge. Thanks to Bob Hall who sent that
in.
Joe Anton wrote:
Thank you so very much for your efforts on this
one. The facts and photos on the bridge
were great.
Has anyone told you about the 1947 class reunion in
August 2007 in Lexington?
Good to know Norman Vialle is still with us. Hope I
can make it to 80.
No, I know nothing about the 1947 reunion.
Someone send me details!
Here's an acerbic comment from Shirley
Briggle, and they deserve it:
I notice the Poets Club talks about everything . .
. except poetry! But where are the
women??
Where indeed? Three of their many rules are: No
poetry, No Rules, No Ladies.
Hmmmph.
And now, for your reading pleasure, Those Grand
Old Burma Shave signs.
For those too young to see any of the Burma Shave
signs, here is a quick lesson in our history of the 1930's and '40's.
Before there were interstates, when everyone drove the old two-lane roads,
Burma Shave signs would be posted all over the countryside in farmers'
fields. Five signs, about 100 feet apart, each containing 1 line
of a 4-line couplet......and the obligatory 5th sign advertising Burma
Shave, a popular shaving cream of the time. Here are some of the actual signs:
SHE KISSED THE HAIRBRUSH
BY
MISTAKE
SHE THOUGHT IT WAS
HER HUSBAND JAKE
Burma Shave
TRAINS DON'T WANDER
ALL OVER THE MAP
'CAUSE
NOBODY SITS
IN THE ENGINEER'S LAP
Burma Shave
DROVE TOO LONG
DRIVER SNOOZING
WHAT HAPPENED
NEXT IS
NOT AMUSING
Burma Shave
DON'T LOSE YOUR HEAD
TO GAIN A MINUTE
YOU NEED
YOUR HEAD
YOUR BRAINS ARE IN IT
Burma Shave
BROTHER SPEEDER
LET'S REHEARSE
ALL TOGETHER
GOOD
MORNING, NURSE
Burma Shave
CAUTIOUS RIDER
TO HER RECKLESS DEAR
LET'S HAVE LESS BULL
AND MORE STEER
Burma Shave
SPEED WAS HIGH
WEATHER WAS NOT
TIRES WERE THIN
X MARKS THE
SPOT
Burma Shave
THE
MIDNIGHT RIDE
OF PAUL FOR BEER
LED TO A WARMER
HEMISPHERE
Burma Shave
AROUND
THE CURVE
LICKETY-SPLIT
BEAUTIFUL CAR
WASN'T IT?
Burma Shave
NO MATTER THE PRICE
NO MATTER HOW NEW
THE BEST SAFETY DEVICE
IN THE CAR IS YOU
Burma Shave
A GUY WHO
DRIVES
A CAR WIDE OPEN
IS NOT THINKIN'
HE'S JUST HOPIN'
Burma Shave
AT
INTERSECTIONS
LOOK EACH WAY
A HARP SOUNDS NICE
BUT IT'S HARD
TO PLAY
Burma Shave
BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL
EYES ON THE ROAD
THAT'S THE
SKILLFUL
DRIVER'S CODE
Burma
Shave
THE ONE WHO DRIVES
WHEN HE'S BEEN DRINKING
DEPENDS ON YOU
TO DO HIS THINKING
Burma Shave
CAR IN DITCH
DRIVER IN TREE
THE MOON WAS FULL
AND SO WAS HE.
Burma Shave
PASSING SCHOOL
ZONE
TAKE IT SLOW
LET OUR LITTLE
SHAVERS GROW
Burma Shave
And so
ends your walk down memory lane for now. Write soon! Send me
pictures!!!
Your
devoted scribe,
Susan
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