KILGOROUND

"IT WAS considered the WalMart of its times back in those days," said Hugh "Foofy" Sparkman. "It was called the Harrell Brothers Store and it was located in the Monroe community. Everybody that lived in that area shopped at the store and it had everything from clothing to food. As a small kid, I could remember seeing meat hanging, large rounds of cheese and oh, yes, a cracker barrel. "That store was later sold to Homer Conner and after that changed hands several times," he said.

"Many of us forget there are those who do not realize those areas around Kilgore were actually thriving communities. There were other stores, too, that did not sell as much merchandise as the Harrell Brothers like Mama Jo's Pantry, Hawkins Grocery located off Farm Road 2276 and Sanders Grocery across from Crossroads Methodist Church.

"My grandfather, Joe Sparkman had his own grocery store, too," said Foofy. "He was a carpenter by trade but developed inner ear problems and could no

longer climb the ladders. So, he bought a store at Danville then and sold it to put in one closer to the Sparkman home site.

The first store was sold to Bobbie Hearell's parents, S.K. and Janie Greene. "We had gas, feed for cows and chickens, meat and groceries," said Bobbie. "And there was a little room in the back where the adults would gather to play dominoes.

"Grandfather bought an old building and put it out on Dudley near the home place," said Foofy. "It was between the Crossroads Community and Kilgore. One of his best calling cards to the business was his own home made sausage. A lot of people traveled from all over for his sausage. And then his second calling card was his

hand-dipped Borden's ice cream. You could get two dips for a nickel or four dips four a dime.

There was no Baskin Robbins Ice Cream at the time.

"Everybody called grandfather, "Uncle Joe" for some reason," he said. It was a good country store and he had a large credit business. He let local people charge food and gas. He used the honor system and considered it his service to the community. They would bring their paychecks in and he would cash them and take out what they owed him and give them the rest. Then they would start all over again. If he thought they were going to charge too much that would extend over their paychecks he would warn them it was getting a little high.

"He ran that store until his health got bad and then my Aunt Mary Joe Allen and my sister, Martie Mason helped him with the store until he died in 1984.

It left us without a store in the area until Jakey's Four Way Stop opened up," said Foofy.

And we thought the WalMarts and Baskin Robbins were of a new generation. Fancier buildings with air conditioning perhaps, but theidea of offering those in the community that "little extra something" has been with us for a long, long, time.

+++

About 40 residents have sent in letters in support of the Main Street Project and City Clerk Karen Custer said, "the City is most appreciative." However, more support letters are needed

and deadline for submitting them is tomorrow, Thursday, July 7. Persons wishing to submit should contact Karen Custer at Kilgore City Hall 903-984-5081.

+++

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS TODAY are Caitlin Quinlan, Mickea Anne Smith, Yvette Craig, Billie Lee, Sean Kennedy, Lynn Haily, Leticia Ortiz, Cindi Michelle Wade, Margaret Wilson, April Ward Johnson, Dan Taylor, Max Neel, Elmer Leighton, Wayne Honnsel, Mrs. Pearlie Rossum, Donnie Paul Franklin, Danny Presley, Reggie Daniels, Rachael Lindsey, Adrian Williams, Carson James Lenoir, Jonn Pool, Kelby Free.

CELEBRATING ANNIVERSARIES are Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Monroe, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Merritt.