LOOKING BACK AT WAYNEDALE HISTORY
NOBLES HOME STORE-
part 2
In 1925 we added a room that housed a large cold storage area for fresh meat. It had a display case and a huge round butcher block. Fresh meat in a store was a very new concept and this was a built-in, commercial sized “ice box”. We were wide-eyed as we watched the Moran Ice man come every other day, bringing in a 100 lb. block of ice. Everyday a lot of Grade A milk and milk products were brought in from Schranks Dairy and Ruhl Buskirk’s farm on Smith Road. As adequate electricity came into use, the add-on cold storage room was changed to a full-fledged ice cream parlor.
Dad added a bar from some tavern, an ice cream table and chairs, and best of all he hired a smiling young waitress that made lollipops. Lucille (Lee) Slater would take a scoop of vanilla ice cream, stick a tongue depressor in it, dip it in hot chocolate, hurriedly wrap in wax paper, and then pop it into the freezer. She would sell them for 5 cents each. The best bargain was a free lollipop to anyone who got a pink (strawberry) lollipop. Lucille was the only person who knew where the pink ones were. I tried to find them, but to no avail.
Lucille and her sister Evelyn (Lee) Carsten and my brother Jim and I worked part time. The full time employees were Bessie Dennis, Pat (Hilbert) Ginther, Carl Pape and my hard working parents. In the 1920s business people lived with their clientele. Customers expected and got warm friendly service. It was often quoted “The customer is always right.”
My brother Jim and I were the people that kept the grocery shelves filled, sugar and potatoes sacked for customers, and we pumped gas in between sacking. Mother was the cashier, whether the money was coming in or going out. Her charge file of customer accounts bulged with people who had no money but had a lot of promises. All orders were filled and she never refused anyone. Dad was a typical storeowner who ran a work routine from 7am to 11pm. He, like others had little time for play but was always there when needed. Dad was a joiner. He belonged to every organization in Waynedale and built the business by offering no pay ’till the weekend, expecting everyone to clean the slate by the end of the week.
In the 1920s everyone was closer to their neighbors, sharing work and play. In 20 years at the location of McArthur and Ideal, they were never vandalized, burglarized, or treated badly by anyone. Everyone truly loved their neighbor, their community, and their way of life.
Next issue, Waynedale’s first library.
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