I always enjoyed going to ‘guitar pickings’ on Saturday nights. We would sit and listen as the ones with their stringed instruments played and sang along. We had no indoor plumbing at that home, but there was an outhouse. I also enjoyed going to the ‘drive-in’ to watch the latest movie from our cars. There was a concession stand, but we usually brought our own snacks. Our family never went out to eat, because it was too expensive. Except, we would make a quick stop on the way back from visiting my grandparents in Washington, Ga. Dad would pull the 49 Chevy into the parking lot beside a big plane that had become a restaurant and he’d go inside and buy us a milkshake. We did take a day trip to the mountains and came back home, way after dark. We three Rooks kids would be sound asleep in the back seat as we rolled into Jackson, Ga. We would draw straws to see who had to sit in the middle, and it seems like I lost most of the time. There were no seat belts back then, and the family car didn’t have a radio either. Instead, we took turns identifying cars. I still play that game and saw a neat one last week … a Ford Econoline pickup. Whoa!

  Later on, as a Henry county resident, the stores would close on Wednesdays and my three sons would do all the chores and laundry so I could take them out to Davis Brothers to swim in that neat pool. Holiday Inn let us swim there too, and then a Baptist home for older people let us pay a small amount to use their pool. McDonough also had a park with a pool and I was so sad when they closed their water fun, paving it over for a tennis court. I enjoyed shopping at the Colonial Store, then Zack’s for my groceries. I used to catch the Greyhound bus from the little building next to what is now the Brown House. I was a teller at the bank on the Square, and since then it was a pawn shop, now closed. I would buy shoes at the store right next door, and walk up to Ward Drug’s for a sandwich if I happened to have enough change. I relied on John Frank Ward to provide health care if something happened to one of my boys on the weekend. He was good too! 

  We bank employees always counted the paper ballots after elections and sometimes we’d be up all night with that project. We also knew all of our customers which was a good thing, because checks didn’t have account numbers. There were no parking fees on the Square, but no restaurants, just clothing stores, Hammock’s Hardware, a doll store, our bank and Ward Drugs. Dixie Motors was in town, plus plenty of gas stations. PJs was a furniture store where I bought my upright piano. I did enjoy dining at Jackson’s down Griffin Street and now that empty building is for sale. There was no air conditioning there or anywhere on the Square. None of our cars had air conditioning, nor power steering! The Henry Hilton had no air conditioning when I bought it, nor for years after. We just got by with open windows and big fans.  

  So, I’ve seen a lot, experienced a lot, and learned a lot too. I’m grateful that we still have a local radio station (WJGA) I can enjoy, as that was a family pleasure from our first days in Washington, Ga. I love learning something every day too, via that media. I’m glad that we also have a couple of local newspapers that keep me informed. Well, another trip in time. LOVE going back!