Okie Without Borders: Growing up Okie in L A.

Wilson Oklahoma continued,

Last time as you may recall we took a blueprint/utilitarian look at my grandmother’s humble home. Plus, if you recall, we became acquainted with her street neighbors living nearby. The Morgans, Banker Wilson, and the Peffers. All adding their own peculiar dynamics to the neighborhood. Just plane old hometown folks. Norman Rockwellish, homespun, and just Red earth people. As a reminder, this is important historical background for this Okie kid and his parent’s Oklahoma roots.

Now, let start our walk north to downtown Wilson. My grandma lives about a half mile from downtown. Even though there are sidewalks going downtown, it was best to walk in the street. A street that seldom saw much car traffic. However, every once in a while you might see an old farmer gentlemen with broad brimmed straw hat would ride his horse drawn wagon up the street. An old creaking wooden wagon with rubber tires and pulled by a gray sway back horse. His wagon would be filled with watermelons and an assortment of his fresh picked garden vegetables. All sitting in a bed of hay behind the farmer. Certainly a staged scene portrayed in many a Hollywood movie about the old south.

Nonetheless and as I had mentioned, it is best to walk in the street. As you approach the creek bridge near the railroad tracks, you will encounter very tall grass. Something like prairie grass. Most folk called it Johnson grass. A thick and ever present useless weed. Anyway it’s to your advantage to avoid walking the sidewalk between head tall stands of Johnson grass. You never know what critter might crawl out and give you a sudden surprise.

But anyway, after you pass the railroad tracks going north you will come upon the town’s firehouse. Just a low open garage looking structure positioned out at the sidewalk. I seldom if ever remember passing this facility without encountering three or four firemen in blue denim tilted back in cane backed chairs against the fire house wall. Leaning back while spitting tobacco and whittling. “Howdy boys,” would be their greeting. “Going to town? You could always count on some exchange when passing the Wilson firehouse. Certainly adding to the town’s unique personality.

Just north and passed the alley way at the corner of Sixth and Main was Fred Jones Ford. A retail space with large windows facing out to both Main and Sixth. I must admit, all the many years visiting Wilson, I seldom ever saw anyone in the dealership showroom looking at Fred Jones new cars. However, you would sometimes see a car in the repair garage being serviced.

Now, straight across from Fred Jones Ford on Main was the Post Office. One of the first stops for my grandmother and many other town’s inhabitants. There was no home mail delivery so Wilson citizens more than likely visited the PO several times a week. And in the process of picking up mail, town folks exchanged greetings, news, and rumors. Something like Facebook but inside a brick and mortar facility.

Never the less, my grandmother would visit the post office about three or four times a week. Gussied up in her best going to town dress and sturdy black low heel lace up shoes, she would walk about a half mile or so from her little home to the post office, to the grocery store, and back. An outing not very easy for her to walk. She didn’t own a car and as far as I can remember, never drove.

Anyway back to Main Street, going west past the Ford dealer and the post office you would shuffle down a wide swath of concrete about ten or twelve feet from curb to store front. A side walk appearing to have been laid by the WPA in the late 1930s. Moving on down the walk pass Pratt Foods a small hometown grocery store you would find Peffers Drug store. A typical Mayberry like store complete with soda fountain, magazine and paperback bookracks, a prescription desk, and numerous sundries scattered about. If you were to enter the pharmacy shop someone would immediately ask if you need help. Even if you dismiss the help, he or she will stand at attention until you either buy something or leave. Customer service beyond customer service.

Next down the way is the town’s domino and pool parlor. Smoky, smelly, and subject for a future story. On down further passed a dry goods store is the town’s movie theater. Theater complete with Marquee and waving canvas banner notifying the moviegoers it is “Cool Inside.” And to condense you of this fact the lettering on the banner was capped with frosty snow. One of the few establishments in town air conditioned by water evaporation. Pretty cool huh? A picture show charging we kids only ten-cents a pop. My cousins and myself saw the “Thing” and screamed all the way through the crazy scary flick while my girl cousin squeezed my hand blue. Ouch!

Now, this might be a good place to stop and rest so we will continue our town tour next week. Hope you are having fun. See you next time. Chuck Ayers