I'm doing something a little different today. I was going to do a Hometown Tour post on Sheffield Alabama when I came across this poem. I really liked it so I am posting it instead. I think it does a better tour of the city than I ever could. I found this poem at My Hometown I hope you enjoy it.
I’m so glad it’s where my mother gave birth.
I’ve lived there nearly all my life
It’s the place where I met my wife.
I was raised with downtown just a few blocks away
I guess you could call it a small town USA.
We didn’t have television sets back then
We would just play all the time with a friend.
Rode our bicycles everywhere we went
Take big cardboard boxes and make us a tent.
Brocato’s Market was just around the block
After church on Sunday, it’s where everybody would stop.
Getting those good rolls by the dozen or two
All we wanted was some bubble gum to chew.
Skating on the sidewalk, skinning up our knee
Always had a hard time keeping up with the key.
The kids on Saturday went to the picture show all day
And to get in with a dime was all you had to pay.
We would go real early—it started at 10
A lot of Cowboys and Indians and you know who would win.
Two movies, a serial and, of course, a cartoon
We wouldn’t see daylight till 2 or 3 in the afternoon.
One time when I was just a small lad
I got woke up in the night by my dad.
He put us in the car and drove towards town
We watched the old hotel burn to the ground.
They built it right back without any haste
Only ‘way across the street in a different place.
Clement’s Barber Shop was on the first floor
Go in through the lobby or an outside door.
You would have to sit and wait for awhile
They mostly cut flat tops because that was the style.
The Community Center was behind the hotel
Over time, it’s a place we got to know well.
The center was used for more than one thing
You might have played basketball or heard Elvis sing.
The Tennessee River was right at our feet
Just go down Alabama Avenue to the end of the street.
There was the Naval Reserve and Ice Plant Road
A big crane unloading gravel by the barge load.
Going to the Ice Plant was always fun
Dropping blocks in the crusher, and we watched it run.
Then they bag it up all nice and clean
Take some with us for homemade ice cream.
Whippoorwill Hollow was our old swimming hole
To jump off those highest bluffs you had to be bold.
About 65 feet high was the tallest one
Down to about 20 where we laid in the sun.
Jump in the water and climb back up with care
Most of the time we swam in our underwear.
It’s because we had to sneak off to go
If we asked our mother she would just say no.
Downtown’s not what it used to be
But I can close my eyes and look back and see.
Saturdays were the busiest day by far
People could not find a place to park their car.
They would be taking care of business like paying bills
And going in the dime stores looking for deals.
They might have had shoes that needed repair
Around to Green’s Shoe Shop; it was always there.
If it was clothes they were looking for
They could go to Abroms or the Belk Hudson Store.
If a better line of clothes was what the seek
Then, they could go to Olim’s or to Otto Speake.
Into Best Jewelers for a really nice gift
Around to Pride’s Cleaners to get your shirts done stiff.
Timberlake Hardware was a favorite of mine
He had about anything you were looking to find.
If a good hamburger was to your taste
Then the Big-E-Nuff was just the place.
Sit at the counter or get them by the sack
We would shoot pool and play dominoes in the back.
If you had a roll of film that was ready to drop
Just take it on in to Crump’s Camera Shop.
I guess the old pharmacy without a doubt
Had to be our very first hangout.
Soda fountain inside; get a cherry coke
Go outside on the corner and hear a dirty joke.
Shug Sieman was a woman that everybody knew
Going through garbage cans is what she would do.
Pushed an old cart around in sunshine or rain
Whenever we saw her we would holler out her name.
Frederickson’s Tire and Appliances opened in 1946
You could buy nice new things or get your old stuff fixed.
Lucky’s Minnow Farm was a little kid’s delight
Ponds full of minnows and goldfish and a lot of frogs at night.
If getting groceries is where you need to be
Head out to Liberty Supermarket or down to the A&P.
The Grant Hotel was down by the railroad track
They say you could drive around and park in the back
Wait at the door for the bellhop to appear
Get you whisky or a woman—at least, that’s what I’d hear.
We bought bicycle parts at the Western Auto Store
You could also get appliances or a Wizard lawnmower.
Sometimes on Sunday, we would go out to eat
Down to Spalding Walgreen’s and look for a seat.
They had that good home cooking from the South
And Exa’s homemade rolls would melt in your mouth.
Another little place was Brewer’s CafĂ©
A black man went inside and ate one day.
Some unknown person went and got a gun
Blew the front window out just for fun.
Went to a lot of dances at the V.F.W. Hall
A bonfire in the parking lot for homecoming in the Fall.
There would be pep rallies in the middle of town
Doing that snake dance all up and down.
Going to Odell”s for a hamburger and coke.
Trade in your bottle for a cigarette to smoke.
We had the bowling alley and the WoodyMac Corral
And the telephones back then had a rotary dial.
Jackson Highway was the home of Muscle Shoals Sound
Music from there is heard the world around.
A lot of famous people would come and go
And nobody in town would ever know.
Like Bob Dylan and Sonny and Cher
And even the Rolling Stones recorded there.
I think a small town is the best place to be
At least, that’s the way it worked out for me.
I’m sure you think your hometown is the best
But, I’ll take Sheffield, Alabama, over all the rest.
Tucky Ginn
September 2000
2 comments:
My human tells me that Sheffield is a beautiful town! Maybe one day she will take me there. She loves your description-beautifully stated!
I want to quote your post in my blog. It can?
And you et an account on Twitter?
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