| 12/06/08 08:46 PM |
#373
|
|
Tom Held
Well, well...........the girls in the Freelandville YouTube video really, really irritated me. (Except, they did purchase pop from my RC Cola machine) They keep repeating how "there is nothing here", etc.
Maybe there is "nothing here" as far as they are concerned, but to me, "everything is here" !!
The building they are standing in front of (W. R. Kiixmiller Red & White and Dry Goods) was once the cornerstone of the Freelandville business communiuty. With this being the holiday season, I especially have fond memories of Christmas at Kixmiller's in the 1950's / 60's. My mother worked at Kixmiller's around 1956-57. I recall going with Dad to pick her up on Saturday night during the Christmas season. The town was decorated with colorful lights. Finding a parking place was difficult, due to all the people doing their grocery shopping. I can still see Santa Claus standing on the corner infront of Kixmiller's Dry Goods storefront. When Dad, myself and my brother would go in to get Mom, W.R. "Rhiney" Kixmiller would always tell us boys to pick what we wanted from the "candy case". "Rhiney" was a rarity in today's world....a merchant who actually cared about his customers. In later years, he never changed. He died in 1984. When I go out to the cemetery to visit my parents, I always try to stop and say hi to Rhiney.
In the YouTube video, the building that the girl runs across the street to, is still in business as the Dutchman Cafe. This young lady should have more respect for this treasured old structure...it was built by businessman/ former KC Sheriff John Wolfe in 1920. It was Albert's Drugstore from 1920 to 1955. I remember it as Ernie Wagner's Drugstore (1955-62). Recall going in there as a very small youngster and seeing coffee cups hanging behind the counter with customer's names on them...guess the "regulars" had their own cups.
Sharon Jones speaks fondly of the "teen club" that occupied the upper floor when she was in high school in the late 50's.
Later, it was Art & Freida Moreland's Dutch Cafe. It was "the place" to meet after a Freelandville High School basketball game in the early 1960's and Jr. High games in the late 60's / early 70's. It was also where we kids could get a cold bottle of pop and a bag of chips after school (remember Grab ?).
There was a small building just behind the Dutch Cafe.....it is gone now, but the empty lot (visible in the YouTube video) still brings back memories to all who grew up in Freelandville. It was Bluhm's Barber Shop. Paul Bluhm was about as "gruff" of an old geezer you could ever want to meet. But, he had a soft spot in his heart for the kids in town. He had school pictures of all the kids above the mirror in his shop. He lived across the street from the ballpark...I don't think he EVER missed a game. I can still hear that gravely old voice holler out "fire that damn ball in there, Tommy" (while he chomped on his cigar) !
He inspired me to "put a little extra" on each pitch. I miss him.
The building on the other corner from Kixmiller's was Pielmeier's Hardware. Built in 1911, it was home to Pielmeier's until 1968. I bought my first Hula-Hoop there around 1958 or 59.
The building in the YouTube video that is "kat-a-corner"
from Kixmiller's is now home to the Widner Mutual Insurance company. It is probably best known as the Bank Building, having served as home to various financial institutions from 1921 to 2002.
Before that, it was Charlie & Mary Pielmeier's Grocery from about 1900 to 1920. I remember Mary very well, as she was still living on Happy Street when I first moved there in the mid 70's.
Also, in the video, the girls were "poking fun" at our caution light and intersection in the middle of town. That hurts me..........as it is much more than "just an intersection" to me.
It's the place where the Dutch lads of several generations (1940's. 50's. 60's 70's) "hung out" over the years. So many good times for so many of our community. (Granted, as youths, many of those good times were on the mischievious side)
In the late 60's, when Hwy. 67 traffic was detoured from Westphalia through Freelandville, the rebelious youth of the day turned the detour signs to point north, instead of south to Bicknell. Some confused "out of towners" never turned around and came back and the ones who did were greeted with hoots and hollers from the boys on the corner.
It was a long carried on tradition to block the intersection on Saturday night on Halloween with farm equipment from the IH lot. Pat's Dad was manager of the IH dealership....he can tell you some good stories.
The best memory of that intersection and caution light was when it was about 2:00 am on a Sunday morning (Sat. night). When most everyone had called it a night and went home, if you sat there and listened, you could hear the caution light blinking off and on....click...... click....click........and maybe you could hear a car far off in the distance on Hwy. 159 making it's way into town. The most peaceful quiet you could imagine.
Yes, YouTube girls, it is much more than just a smalltown intersection.
I will bore you guys no longer.....I could go on forever with a complete history of every former and present business building in town.
Hope I have made my point. The YouTube girls may see "nothing here", but in my mind......I see much.
|
|
