Title
I Remember Old Tuscaloosa, July 15, 1971
Subject
History--Tuscaloosa (AL)
Maxwell, Fred (Frederick Richard Jr.), 1889-1988
Description
Fred Maxwell wrote "I Remember Old Tuscaloosa" for a weekly newspaper in Tuscaloosa called The Graphic from December, 1970 through December 1971. The Graphic was founded, owned and published by Maxwell's daughter Camille Elebash and her husband Karl Elebash beginning in 1957. It was sold to The Tuscaloosa News in 1976 and ceased publication sometime later.
To see the complete article enlarged click on the image.
To see the complete article enlarged click on the image.
Creator
Fred Maxwell
Source
Camille Elebash
Publisher
The Graphic
Date
July 15, 1971
Contributor
Brenda Harris (Description)
Tuscaloosa Public Library
Type
Document
Identifier
1818
Coverage
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Text
UP UNTIL I was about 10 years old my favorite hangout in town was my father’s and uncle’s wholesale grocery store located on the corner of University Blvd. and 23rd Ave., the site of the recent Belk-Hudson Department Store.
It may be hard for an elderly citizen to visualize just what fun could be derived in a visit to such an establishment, so I’ll outline some recollections that dwell in my memories.
There was a metal awning from the store front to the street curbing which was supported by a row of steel piping about 1-1/2 inches in diameter and about 15 feet tall. I liked to challenge any and all small boys that passed by to a climbing race to the top. I usually won since I kept in practice. I do not recall anyone who could beat me in a “hand-over-hand” (no use of feet) race to the top.
Of course the large stacks of baled hay, sacked corn and oats made wonderful climbing and jumping areas in the warehouse while the stalks of wooden cases containing jellies, preserves, pickles, syrup and canned goods made excellent hiding places with their orderly aisles and gaps between difference types and brands.
Not so elegant but very entertaining were the huge spiderwebs at the door facings of the large warehouse doors. The webs were works of art in their construction. But the most interesting thing in this connection was the spiders. By catching a fly (or other small insect) and throwing it into the spiderweb instant reaction resulted. A spider, usually very large, would rush out, pick up the insect and rush back out of sight in the crack between the brick wall and wooden door facing. The spider always dined in private. It was fun to throw several insects into the web in sequence – faster than the spider could devour his prey. The spider rushed out for each new insect to prevent its escape and tied it down to the exposed web for future reference by spinning a web around it.
One irregular event that was very interesting to me and one or two friends was the arrival of a carload of bunched bananas. There was no regular banana merchant in town at that time. A vendor would receive a carload shipment and with permission of the wholesale house park the hop car on the railway siding close to the avenue.
They delivered bananas by the bunch out of the freight car door. Where we boys came in was due to the fact that often a single banana would be knocked off the bunch and fall to the ground. We boys were camped under the freight car right under the door and any fallen banana was quickly captured and eaten. The vendor did not seem to object to our piracy since he paid no rent on the trackway and the customer had both hands full trying to manage a heavy bunch of bananas.
(Continued next week.)
It may be hard for an elderly citizen to visualize just what fun could be derived in a visit to such an establishment, so I’ll outline some recollections that dwell in my memories.
There was a metal awning from the store front to the street curbing which was supported by a row of steel piping about 1-1/2 inches in diameter and about 15 feet tall. I liked to challenge any and all small boys that passed by to a climbing race to the top. I usually won since I kept in practice. I do not recall anyone who could beat me in a “hand-over-hand” (no use of feet) race to the top.
Of course the large stacks of baled hay, sacked corn and oats made wonderful climbing and jumping areas in the warehouse while the stalks of wooden cases containing jellies, preserves, pickles, syrup and canned goods made excellent hiding places with their orderly aisles and gaps between difference types and brands.
Not so elegant but very entertaining were the huge spiderwebs at the door facings of the large warehouse doors. The webs were works of art in their construction. But the most interesting thing in this connection was the spiders. By catching a fly (or other small insect) and throwing it into the spiderweb instant reaction resulted. A spider, usually very large, would rush out, pick up the insect and rush back out of sight in the crack between the brick wall and wooden door facing. The spider always dined in private. It was fun to throw several insects into the web in sequence – faster than the spider could devour his prey. The spider rushed out for each new insect to prevent its escape and tied it down to the exposed web for future reference by spinning a web around it.
One irregular event that was very interesting to me and one or two friends was the arrival of a carload of bunched bananas. There was no regular banana merchant in town at that time. A vendor would receive a carload shipment and with permission of the wholesale house park the hop car on the railway siding close to the avenue.
They delivered bananas by the bunch out of the freight car door. Where we boys came in was due to the fact that often a single banana would be knocked off the bunch and fall to the ground. We boys were camped under the freight car right under the door and any fallen banana was quickly captured and eaten. The vendor did not seem to object to our piracy since he paid no rent on the trackway and the customer had both hands full trying to manage a heavy bunch of bananas.
(Continued next week.)
Original Format
Newspaper