A REPRINT Here is a part of my contribution as a member Of Remembering Tarboro for Tarboros 2014 Christmas Crawl. Watching the Christmas parade Sunday brought back to mind my own participation some 50 years ago, but it also made my mind wonder back to another Christmastime, a personal vignette of my own past... Of FOOTSTEPS IN THE SNOW.....December, 1977 when I was 20 years old. I had moved into my first apartment at 1210 Main Street in August. I was ironing and hanging drapes one night as the evening news told of Elvis Presleys death. This Christmastime of 1977, I had punched out at the funeral home for the evening since I was not working a layout and was not on call for the night. Some snow had fallen for two days and it was just enough to look pretty as people say. I decided I would walk back uptown to look at the snow, get something to eat, do some Christmas shopping and walk back home. For warmth I kept my suit on and over that I wore my cashmere overcoat bought from All Hull At Aldens in 1976 which I still have and hangs beside my new one. So, suited up I headed down Main Street to its business end of things. The Pilot Club Tree was ablaze in the common with color (then located where the large cedar is planted today which the town has stopped putting lights on. It was lit for quite some time even thou the permanent Pilot Club tree was planted near what is The Veterans Memorial. I had in mind to stop at Dixie Cafe for supper and visit with Helen and Chris Pistolis. I decided on ordering hamburger steak, vegetables, pie and ice tea. Finishing my meal my first stop was Creech The Florist. Mr. Creech had relocated the florist across the street in the old NCNB building. Everyone was working as we had two funerals the next day besides their other orders.....Grace, Rachael, Betty, Mr. and Mrs. Creech. One thing I know I purchased was a white and pink poinsettia all mingled together to be delivered. I left there and walked on to Roses and picked up wrapping paper, bows, tags and the like. Then crossed the street to stop in at Roberts Jewelry Company. I was to pass approval of a diamond ring Daddy was giving Mama for Christmas and I bought her a mahogany jewelry box with a brass plate on top and her initials to be engraved. Then next door to Marrow Pit Hardware in the old Belk Tyler building, moved there from their former location due to the fire almost a year ago. My first attempt to make cheese straws was about to happen and I needed a cookie press. When I left Marrow Pitt out of one of its front doors, I caught a glimpse of the cardboard fireplace that was ALWAYS in the window of Moores Pharmacy at Christmastime...a red light bulb with a circular piece of moving foil, simulating flames. I crossed the street and saw Adlers and Shugars Department store were both open, as well as Video TV and Appliance and Benton Furniture Company. Or as some old times say Benton-Green/e. And if one looked well and studied, you could see a light on in Mrs. Maude Leggetts detached kitchen. Now, I started in the direction of home after window shopping at the stores mentioned above. Both sides of the street other stores were open; Williams 5 and 10 which I went inside and made a purchase or two, Bryan Drug was open as well as Rex. I decided to back up a bit and go inside W. S. Clark and Sons. A few purchases were made on first floor with the help of Anna Charles Baker, Mrs. Taylor, (Jet Taylors mother) and Alice West. I picked out a lamp I wanted. That fall Mama had won the 500.00 Clarks Anniversary gift certificate. She gave me 100.00 and Daddy 100.00 to spend. Sammy or Frank Alford in the mens department would give assistance with a purchase. Upstairs.......lets say you needed a housecoat for your mother, you would see Dot Daniels, Blanche Baker or Mattie Jackson. Leaving Clarks, I find myself walking back home ... approaching the big house I look up and see my 12.00 Optimist Club Christmas tree lit with large color bulbs in the corner window of my living room. One night taken for granted of ones surroundings ... the years come and go as does tangible evidence and existence of what it used to be like. If standing at the intersection of Main and Church Streets and look towards Tar River, it goes without saying that certain Christmas is indeed the epitome of The Ghost of Christmas Past. Mark Edward Rogers December 10, 2013
Posted on: Sun, 09 Nov 2014 01:52:32 +0000
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