gearing up to go to Summer Camp and vacations,
(trust me, you did NOT want to mess with the
Camp Counselors.)
LOL
Bu, what saddens me the most, is that I cannot share the
simple pleasures that we experienced.
Such as taking the red wagon with my sister, walking to the
store,picking up refundable glass bottles along the way,
and selling enough to buy Moon Pie’s and RC Colas.
The fact that I was as young as 5 years old and my sister was
10 years old, and my Mama felt safe enough to allow us
to do that.
I won’t even allow my grandson’s to play in the front yard
without supervision.
If you’ve never experienced the glorious taste of a Moon Pie
and an RC Cola, I am truly sorry.
While an RC Cola is similar to a Coca Cola, there is nothing in the world like the taste of a Moon Pie.
Its a pair of graham cracker soft “cookies” filled with an ooey-gooey, but lighter than the heavens marsh mellow cream center,
and covered in a dark, rich chocolate.
I imagine it is calorie and fat free. In fact, I’m sure it is.
(Another great thing about back then – you had not even heard of the terms “calories” and “fat-free.”)
For two siblings, it was a chance of feeling grown up and
responsible. I’m sure for our Mama, it was an hour or so
of peace and quiet. LOL
A friend sent me an email today with pictures of old
“filling stations.”
Anyone remember that term?
I love these old relics of buildings you see all over America,
butI especially love the ones in the South.
BecauseI know that many a Moon Pie and RC Cola was
sold inside those doors, while outside on the wooden
benches, the World’s problems were solved.
Well, maybe not the World’s but definitely
the local community.
The Filling Station is as much a staple to us Southerners
as Fried Chicken and Grits.
There are a few of these beautiful old buildings still around
here, and I would love to own one.
Just look at these lovely stations.
Look at this darling little “cottage” building.
I love the flying flag. Look to the right of the station at the clock.
I am imagining a small town square and this is the town clock.
A one-pumper station. LOL
Being a farm girl, I know the other one is either fuel oil
or tractor fuel.
Anyone remember Esso?
Look at those gas prices.
Sadly, something else my grandkids will never know.
Remember the flying horse? 🙂
This one, below, is one of my favorites.
It just makes me think that a sweet, older couple owned and operated this station, for some reason.
This is the kind of place that when you pulled up with your Mama,
someone – usually in overhauls and wiping their hands on a white rag – filled your tank, checked your oil and cleaned your windows.
Rain or shine. Without even asking.
I love that many of these old buildings resembled more of a “home”
feel than a station. That was also the type of service you received.
Compared to today’s
monstrous and contemporary buildings, where you are lucky to
get a smile with that $80/tank of gas.
Located in Anytown, USA
Look at that truck!
(My brother has restored a truck that looks exactly like that one.
I drool over the pristine, custom paint job each time I visit him.)
Filling Stations.
As American as RC Colas…
… and Moon Pies.
I hope you have enjoyed this little stroll down memory lane as much I did writing about it.
I think I am making a run to the grocery to buy me a box-o-pies.
xxoo, Barb
Shirley@Housepitality Designs says
Barb…this is a great post….I remember walking with my sister and brother with a dime and buying candy at the local “fillling” station…RC cola…loved it so much better than Coca-Cola…We always had a box of moon pies in the cupboard…no pantry!….Yes, times have certainly changed…no longer are the days that we kids would leave the house in the summertime early in the morning…go to the park with many activities and make sure that we were “home before the street lights came on!”….
View Commentcarolina nana says
OH! What memories you have stirred,I think it is such a shame that our kids and future generations missed that way of rural NC life. There are still a few old filling stations around where I live but they are leaving fast. So sad to see them go.
View CommentBlessings and thanks for the memories
♥ Sonny ♥ says
Barb, you sure brought back some memories.
View CommentI lived in manhatten 9 months of the year and came to NC for the summer where my granddad farmed tobacco every summer.
I was always a Hander- never got good enough to advance to a stringer. every morning 4:30 get up and out to the “tobacca barn” by 5:15. 15 or 20 workers, mules hooked up to wagons ready to go to the field with the pickers. I can still smell the clean air and hear the sounds.
You are so right, we cant pass on these times to our kids and thats a shame.
We had nabs and pepsi’s as our mid morning snack at 8 am lol..
thanks for the stroll down memory lane..
✿ⒹⒺⒺ✿@ A Lapin Life says
Great memories! I loved seeing the pictures. I grew up looking at apartment building in NYC and getting Cracker Jacks for my glass bottle returns 🙂
Dee
View CommentKathy Olson says
I feel homesick! Thanks for the memories. I love old gas stations, too. I loved those pop machines where you put in the money and pulled out a bottle of pepsi, too:)
View Commentsusie lavender says
My summers were also spent at home in the garden in rural Virginia. My great grandparents owned their own Texaco station–it was a log cabin. On the other side of our upper garden was a small store. My siblings and I would walk barefoot up the dirt road with our nickels and Mr. Ellett would help us choose our candy. He often slipped in extras….I wish my daughter could’ve been brought up with some of these experiences. Thanks for bringing back the memories.
View CommentKathysue says
What a fun walk down memory lane, such a wonderfully written post Barb! xo Kathysue
View CommentJo Ann says
Wow-talk about memories! I grew up in South Arkansas around El Dorado and Camden and my favorite drink was the little Grapette! Anybody remember them. They were such cute little bottles and I loved and still do moon pies!I related to so much of your post. But we picked cotton. I can still remember so vividly pulling a big old cotton sack on my shoulder and trying to fill it up! I’m the oldest of six and I loved my childhood. Thanks for reminding me of some sweet memories!
View CommentNanaDiana says
Oh- That is a post that makes me homesick. I grew up in an area with all those things, too…even though it was in PA. The thing there was french fries served with a side of gravy. Can you imagine that? lol And Shoofly pie which was pure sugar!
Love all those old gas stations. We still have ONE of those here that operates and they pump your gas and wash your windshield for you…gas is the same price as anywhere.
What a great post, Barb- xo Diana
View CommentLife on Royal Lane says
Oh lawd, that brings back precious memories. I was born and raised in Florida, and that was the best ever! Nothing was as good as RC cola! I always liked to buy a package of 5 cent salted peanuts and pour in mine too. Was soo good! Thank’s for the memories.
View CommentConnie says
What a treat you’ve provided me in all these wonderful old pictures. I remember how fascinated I was by the gasoline that you could see through the top glass of the pump.
I loved reading all the stories above. Thanks for sharing.
View CommentAmes says
We used to collect pop bottles and turn them in for the money. Those filling stations are a quaint blast from the past. We have an old one just north of my hometown. I always thought it would make a neat boutique but for a house they are just too close to the road for me.~Ames
View CommentSuzy says
Loved the trip down memory lane, Barb! I too find it sad that our grandchildren will never know the quiet innocence of those days. I sure do remember all of those great old filling stations and the service that was provided. The only place that you see that kind of service these days is if you watch Goober on the Andy Griffith show!
View CommentJenny Page says
I lived these stories. We lived in a middle of nowhere community in southwest Virginia. Our filling station was called Lizzy Bee’s because the woman who owned it was named that (probably a nickname for Elizabeth, but who knows?). I remember that you could get bologna sliced there, fill up your tank, and catch up on local news. It was the only gasoline for MILES. Thanks for the walk down memory lane. My dad used to own a filling station when I was an infant. I don’t remember it but wish that I did! Jenny Page
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