Some would say this is just an old wooden screen door.. and it's an ugly one at that.. It's attached to the back of an old store building that sits on our property. Now by store I don't mean that is was a storage building.. It was literally an old Store. There were 5 here in our little town when husband was a boy. This one sits next to the road and was right next door to the School. (We own the old school property)
Husband says that it was the only store in town that had a 1/4 lb. Baby Ruth candy bar for a nickel.. you could get foot long peppermint sticks for a nickel. bubble gum was 2 for a penny and all the pop was a nickel. A child's dream come true and right next door... after school, many a child would beat feet over to the store with a precious and hard earned penny or nickel.. I can hear that old wooden door now.. whap, whap, whap.. listen to that door slap..
Hubby says the old folks would sit out front of the store and eat sandwiches and drink cokes. some would sit on the old wooden coke cases.. many a story was told and I'm sure many of the world's troubles were solved on in the front of that old store. I would bet that a pocket knife or two was traded there too.
There is an old maple tree that sits next to the store building.. it's not much longer for this world. We think it's at least 100 yrs. old. Straight line winds and this last ice storm has taken a heavy tole on it.. For many years it shaded folks who visited the old store. The owner lived in the house right next door, that old tree shaded his yard. A man used the tractor barn that sat adjacent to the store for a car repair shop.. We have found many a spark plug and wires.. in the barn, some of the old advertising things were still left..
The shelves of the store are filled now with things we store in that old building. Husband took out the front door and blocked it in.. (an effort to keep some curious folks out of the building. see the photo below..) The old pot belly wood stove still sits near the back. Many a cold body was warmed by it's heat in the winter times past.. Now the old stove sits silent.
I'll bet that old door whapped a million times.. It still does every time I go out to get any number of things we store out there now.. flower pots, Christmas decorations, paint brushes, etc. I love to hear it whap.. the old spring on the door is still tight.. and it really whaps good...
I will confess that sometimes I just go out there and let the door whap.. I love the sound.. I love to imagine little boys and girls running to the store after school.. looking at the wonderful assortment of candy.. dreaming of foot long peppermint sticks and the day that will have a nickel to spend.. Yep, It's just an old wooden door.. full of delightful memories..
The Front of the Old Store Building.. the pavement you see in the front is the road..
Posts
