By HELEN SUE JOHNSON
Times-Leader Correspondent
When passing by the World War II memorial on the Hamilton County Court House lawn during Memorial Day exercises each May, I see the memorial to Bertis Prince, killed in World War II, one of the handsomest graduates of McLeansboro Township High School — or any school for that matter — and I remember.
Bertis was the son of Ralph Prince, a very popular businessman in McLeansboro for many years.
Well, Bertis developed a crush on my sister, Vada Fay, and wrote her a note asking for a date, instead of outright asking in person.
My dad got the note sent in the mail and it remained in his pocket a long time without Vada Fay knowing about it. When discovered, it was embarrassing, for much time had elapsed and Bertis had gone off to war. Very sad.
Moviegoers during the 1930s may recall the popcorn machine cart near the Capitol Theatre and Mr. Womick, the proprietor, filling sacks of delicious popcorn for added enjoyment for those attending the movie.
One evening, during the movie running, there was a loud noise outside, and people in the theater got up and rushed out, not knowing what on earth had happened. It was Mr. Womick’s popcorn popper, which had exploded for some reason.
I do not remember if he continued his business or not, but he was a good businessman, ahead of his time; today no theater exists that does not have a popcorn machine.
Charlie Sneed, popular funeral director, had his business on the east side of the square, and I recall going to the parlor when two children at Dale were killed during a tornado in the early ’30s. There was a disinfectant odor in the funeral home; when smelling it even now, my mind goes back to those two little children killed at Dale.
When visiting McLeansboro, I miss the old rooming house across the street from where I was raised on West Market Street. During the Great Depression, one could rent a room there for about $2.50 a week.
Long before, the building had served as a college; yes, a college in McLeansboro!
The Laborers’ union now has a new building where the old rooming houses — the Arlington Hotel, the building used to be the Barter hotel, and two across the street — used to be.
I was saddened when a former neighbor passed away recently, Charles Wheeler, whom we called “Beast” and/or “Bat.” His family lived in the building which later Dr. Vickers developed into a hospital serving the community a number of years before leaving for California.
Stay tuned! There is even more.
• Helen Sue Johnson is a former McLeansboro resident.
Features
Note asking for a date was never delivered
- Features
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Remember When? Dad had regular calls from Sloans
I enjoyed a trip to McLeansboro over the New Year’s holiday and met up with Geneva Sloan Nipper and her sister, Hattie, at McDonald’s.
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Remember When? Tie-On Roofing did business on square
In 1958, Tie-On Roofing was one of the businesses on the north side of McLeansboro’s downtown square.
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Remembering old movies, former neighbors
I admit it. I love the old movies we see on television.
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Remember When? Dennison Grocery, McLeansboro
A local woman's father worked in a local grocery store when he was a teen-ager, his daughter says.
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Remember When? Lawman William Perry Brewster
John Brewster of Fremont, Mich., seeks help in identifying people in this photo, which includes his grandfather, William Perry Brewster (seated next to the woman behind the steering wheel).
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Remember When? Mom’s popcorn balls were delicious
I recently read a recipe for making popcorn balls in a local newspaper, and it occurred to me — too late — to thank my mom for making delicious popcorn balls back during the Depression when my sisters, brothers and I were just kids.
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Hospital auxiliary kicks off Christmas Tree Project
Hamilton Memorial Hospital District Auxiliary is inviting the public to participate in its annual Christmas Tree project.
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Remember When? Broughton HS basketball, 1934-35
Hazel Clark of McLeansboro submitted this photo of the Broughton High School basketball team of 1934-35, including the players’ names and positions and the team’s won-loss record.
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RLC products try their taste for entrepreneurship
Rend Lake College culinary arts products Katie Karcher and Troy Ray are putting their training to the test.
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Remember When? Elder Mftg., 1946
Workers at the Elder Manufacturing Co., a onetime shirt factory in McLeansboro, are shown in this photo from 1946, submitted by Karen Vinyard of Grand Junction, Tenn.
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