I was off work today and badly in need of a haircut. I needed as well to go to my sisters house and pick up something, so I decided to leave the big city this morning and drive up to Canton. For those that don't know me well, Canton is my hometown, the place where I grew up.
I don't know why, but somehow, driving up there this morning seemed somewhat different from normal. I mean, I go to Canton several times each year. I wouldn't put a number on how many times, but I would say very often. I may skip a few weeks, but then two weeks will go by where I'll be up there 3 or 4 times. But still, today it seemed somehow nostalgic. I went and got my haircut, then went to my sisters house. On the way to her house I drove though Old Canton. My how things have changed. As I passed Academy Street I remembered the the old hotel that stood where a bank stands now. Kinda funny, I don't even know the name of the bank, but it was Etowah Bank at one time. As I passed The Chamberhouse, I remembered the car dealership that was there on the right. Then of course, before Etowah moved across the street, they were there on the corner just passed the old Townhouse Restaurant, now home of R & M. Then on through the intersection on the left was the Jones Building. Sometimes I'll find myself thinking about the days when as a teenage boy getting dressed for a date on a Friday or Saturday night and would leave my house without a shirt on because I didn't have one that I could or wanted to wear. I would drive to Jones, go inside, shirtless, and Bobby Mullinax would help me find and purchase a shirt. Funny to think about it now, but I really did do that.
Right across the street from Jones was The Bank of Canton. I do miss that bank. Of course right beside the Bank was the old Canton Theatre. I saw Jungle Book when it was first released in that theatre. Almost across the street from the theatre was The Greenrail. My buddy Greg Henderson had a thread over on Facebook recently where we all reminisced about our favorite restaurants when we were growing up. Lots of people mentioned The Greenrail. Then there was Mid-city Pharmacy, Key's Jewelry, Kesslers, Rosenblums, and how many people remember Fambros I wonder? Across the street from Kesslers was Worley's Shoes. I had many pairs of shoes that came from Worley's as a boy growing up in Canton.
I passed the Old Library, and cruised on out East Main Street and finally came to my sisters street, and went on to her house.
When I left her house I drove back through the old town square area and as I passed what was the library and started down the back street of Canton, I laughed a little because suddenly I remembered when the street that drives around the old square area was not one way. I ended up making the complete circle again, but this time after I passed Darby (Huey) Funeral Home, I turned right and headed down the hill. For those that really know Canton, you know that I drove down through Happy Hollar......
At the stop sign at the bottom of the hill, I turned left and headed south. I drove all the way up to the top, turning right on the backside of the "V". At the intersection that crosses old highway 5, I went straight onto 205, Bells Ferry. Not sure how many will remember, but at that intersection there once was Fowler's Grocery Store. That place was owned by my Uncle Alonzo Fowler. As a kid, that is where we bought our groceries. And almost every time that we went there, I would go thru the door begging Momma to let me get a "dimes worth". A dimes worth would be a small paper bag with penny candy. Alonzo sold penny candy up by the cash register. I know that memory tends to change some facts, even if it is just a little bit, but I have distinct memories of getting that paper bag and filling it almost completely with candy. Alonzo would empty the bag and count it out. It was always a dime.
I drove on down to the old 4-way stop and turned right on Butteworth Road. I went out to see my old friend Randall Page. It's always good to see Randall. Randall's Dad and my Dad were buddies, and Randall was one of the Paul Bearers at my Dad's funeral. He's kinda like another older brother to me. It was good to see him. Like you might imagine, we talked about old times. After about 30 minutes I knew I had to go.
I left Randall's and made my way back out Butterworth, then right on Old 5, and on down the road to 575 south. Forty Five minutes later I was coming up on Northside/Howell Mill Road. I made my way on into downtown, but traffic was not good. So I used the home field advantage, and took Williams Street Exit and winded my way thru until I finally was back at what I call home. Well, it's where I sleep anyways............
I want to believe someday that I'll come back to Canton to stay. You know the old saying, you can take the boy out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the boy. I guess that's true. And I do love the peacefulness of the country. But if I'm honest, I have to call myself a city boy too. You get use to it I guess. I have my Breeze card (for MARTA), and I use the train often. Twenty five dollars worth of gas will last me about three weeks. I enjoy the city. Lots of conveniences. But someday, whenever someday is, I believe I'll come back.
Anyway, that's my walk down memory lane. It was good to be home. And as crazy as it sounds, I get a better haircut in Canton.............
Until next time......
G
