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Friday
March 19, 2010 Since 1922 |
Mr. Floyd shares Pelly memories
By Wanda Orton
Baytown Sun Published March 26, 2006 In search of local history, let’s consult with Robert W. Floyd, whose memories of Pelly cover a time frame from the late 1920s through World War II.
He described his birthplace as “deep Pelly,” the vicinity known as Duke’s Hill along the east bank of Goose Creek Stream. He was born at home, delivered by Dr. L. A. Hankins.
Historic Duke Hill lies north of West Main and west of Barrymore in present-day Lee Heights. A big, white house stands on that site now. “We lived in a three-room, shot-gun house that was built on land that my parents leased from Gulf Oil Co. for a dollar a year.” Robert said.
“One of my most vivid memories as a child was that in 1927 my dad bought a Hupmobile car from his boss, Mark Walker, who owned the Union Truck line. ...
That car was a classy thing in those days. It was in the big-car class like the Pierce Arrow and others.
“My dad drove a truck for Mark. The business was later sold to Reuben Wright and became Wright Motor Freight Lines. My dad worked for Mr. Wright until 1943, then went to work for General Tire & Rubber Co.”
By that time, Robert was working for Uncle Sam, serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
He said he has a “pretty good memory” going back to when he was four or five years old, but adds the caveat that not every recollection should be taken as “gospel.”
Some of his spelling may not be correct and he is sure he has missed some places.
With that said, let’s turn back the calendar and venture into the past with a self-proclaimed “true Pelly boy.” You may be surprised, as I was, at how much territory Pelly covered.
Robert’s list starts with that section on South Pruett across from the old Horace Mann school. Carroll’s grocery store, located between Denby and Harding, later became Hollaway’s. Willie Hollaway, with his brothers, went on to open a large store on Highway 146 near East James.
Robert also listed Massey Electric, at Pruett and Stimpson, and Swilley’s Plumbing on Pruett between Stella and Riggs. The Swilleys had twin daughters, Shirley and Geraldine.
Williams grocery store stood at the northwest corner of Pruett and Nazro.
At the corner of Pruett and Neal was the Hutchins grocery store, a “mom and pop” business. Robert said the owner was a “one-legged man who hooked his leg stump in a wooden crutch and got around as fast as any one.”
B.C. Littlefield ran a grocery store on the southwest corner of Pruett and Neal. Hines Gulf Service Station did business at the southeast corner of Pruett and West Main.
A stucco building at the northwest corner of Pruett and West Main included a service station, feed store and other tenants, but Robert didn’t recall the owner’s name.
Another business at that busy corner was Crain Auto Repairs and Towing.
H.A. Goldstein greeted customers at his Good Luck grocery store on the north side
of West Main. Next door, Robert said, Mulligan’s Café provided “a great place for a plate lunch or a burger.”
Next to Mulligan’s was Purvis Meat Market. Robert said the owner had a son named Fox Hunter, who was born while his dad was fox hunting.
Holleman & Havis grocery store stood at West Main and Carlton. The Havis branch of the family relocated the business to Wooster and eventually operated a feed store.
Smith’s East Texas Gas Station on the south side of West Main at Thibodeaux later became Sherry Faulk’s Humble (Exxon) Service Station. Faulk gained recognition statewide for selling the largest volume of Exxon brand tires year after year.
The Kaiser hardware store, on the north side of West Main, was located across the street from the owner’s home. Partin’s used furniture business later replaced the hardware store.
Oops — we are running out of space and we haven’t even arrived yet at the Alamo Theater in old downtown Pelly. Look for the sequel to “Robert’s List” next week.
Baytown Sun Published March 26, 2006 In search of local history, let’s consult with Robert W. Floyd, whose memories of Pelly cover a time frame from the late 1920s through World War II.
He described his birthplace as “deep Pelly,” the vicinity known as Duke’s Hill along the east bank of Goose Creek Stream. He was born at home, delivered by Dr. L. A. Hankins.
Historic Duke Hill lies north of West Main and west of Barrymore in present-day Lee Heights. A big, white house stands on that site now. “We lived in a three-room, shot-gun house that was built on land that my parents leased from Gulf Oil Co. for a dollar a year.” Robert said.
“One of my most vivid memories as a child was that in 1927 my dad bought a Hupmobile car from his boss, Mark Walker, who owned the Union Truck line. ...
That car was a classy thing in those days. It was in the big-car class like the Pierce Arrow and others.
“My dad drove a truck for Mark. The business was later sold to Reuben Wright and became Wright Motor Freight Lines. My dad worked for Mr. Wright until 1943, then went to work for General Tire & Rubber Co.”
By that time, Robert was working for Uncle Sam, serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
He said he has a “pretty good memory” going back to when he was four or five years old, but adds the caveat that not every recollection should be taken as “gospel.”
Some of his spelling may not be correct and he is sure he has missed some places.
With that said, let’s turn back the calendar and venture into the past with a self-proclaimed “true Pelly boy.” You may be surprised, as I was, at how much territory Pelly covered.
Robert’s list starts with that section on South Pruett across from the old Horace Mann school. Carroll’s grocery store, located between Denby and Harding, later became Hollaway’s. Willie Hollaway, with his brothers, went on to open a large store on Highway 146 near East James.
Robert also listed Massey Electric, at Pruett and Stimpson, and Swilley’s Plumbing on Pruett between Stella and Riggs. The Swilleys had twin daughters, Shirley and Geraldine.
Williams grocery store stood at the northwest corner of Pruett and Nazro.
At the corner of Pruett and Neal was the Hutchins grocery store, a “mom and pop” business. Robert said the owner was a “one-legged man who hooked his leg stump in a wooden crutch and got around as fast as any one.”
B.C. Littlefield ran a grocery store on the southwest corner of Pruett and Neal. Hines Gulf Service Station did business at the southeast corner of Pruett and West Main.
A stucco building at the northwest corner of Pruett and West Main included a service station, feed store and other tenants, but Robert didn’t recall the owner’s name.
Another business at that busy corner was Crain Auto Repairs and Towing.
H.A. Goldstein greeted customers at his Good Luck grocery store on the north side
of West Main. Next door, Robert said, Mulligan’s Café provided “a great place for a plate lunch or a burger.”
Next to Mulligan’s was Purvis Meat Market. Robert said the owner had a son named Fox Hunter, who was born while his dad was fox hunting.
Holleman & Havis grocery store stood at West Main and Carlton. The Havis branch of the family relocated the business to Wooster and eventually operated a feed store.
Smith’s East Texas Gas Station on the south side of West Main at Thibodeaux later became Sherry Faulk’s Humble (Exxon) Service Station. Faulk gained recognition statewide for selling the largest volume of Exxon brand tires year after year.
The Kaiser hardware store, on the north side of West Main, was located across the street from the owner’s home. Partin’s used furniture business later replaced the hardware store.
Oops — we are running out of space and we haven’t even arrived yet at the Alamo Theater in old downtown Pelly. Look for the sequel to “Robert’s List” next week.