Back in August 1941, my two brothers, Floyd (18) and Everett (15), and I (20) took a trip from our home in Macedonia down through part of the South, with the Grand Ole Opry being the climax of the trip.

We had never been in the South, so we wanted to travel around some before going to the Opry.

We had a 1926 Model T Ford four-door sedan car, and not very much money. We took along a few cans of sardines, a box of crackers and what tools we had to work on the car.

We left home on a Monday and headed south. We got over in Missouri the first night. We would find a place to pull off the side of the road and sleep in the car.

We went from there across Arkansas to West Memphis, then across the Mississippi River to Memphis, Tenn. From there, we went south on U.S. 51 to Mississippi.

We traveled through the Mississippi Delta quite a way, then turned east to U.S. 61; we came back to Memphis on 61. Then we took Route 70 going to Nashville.

We worked on the car several times to keep it in good shape. When it got to knocking too much, we would stop at some suitable place and tighten the rods.

At one place, we bought a new connecting rod and installed it. Floyd was head mechanic.

We got to Nashville on Thursday, and wanted to find out where the Grand Ole Opry was located while we were there that day. We located the WSM Studio and went there to ask about it.

We were told the Opry was only on Saturday night starting at 8 p.m. We knew that; we just wanted to know where it was held.

They told us it was held in the War Memorial Auditorium, and how to get there. We found the place, and looked it all over so we would know just how to get there when the time came.

We left there that day and went north to Goodlettsville. We spent some time there, then went on farther north out in the country to spend the night by the side of the road.

The next morning (Friday), Everett got out to crank the car. It kicked back and broke his arm.

He was jumping around with very much pain. That had us worried.

We got him back in the car, then I got it started and headed back toward Goodlettsville. We went a short way and came to a little country store and stopped there.

There were two men on the front porch talking, and I asked if there was a doctor anywhere close. One of them said, “I’m Dr. Rude.”

I thought, “How lucky can you get!” I told him our troubles, and he pointed out where he lived. You could see it from the store, up on a hill.

He said, “Drive on up there and I’ll be on up.” So we drove up there and he came in behind us.

It was a pretty place. He took us in the back door, then looked at the arm. He said, “He’s got a broken arm all right.”

I helped him pull on the arm to get the bone back in place. Then he set it and put the arm in a sling.

The next thing I was worried about was what it was going to cost, and if we had enough money to pay him. I asked what we owed him.

He said, “Well, being as you boys are having bad luck down here away from home, I’ll just charge you two dollars.” Boy, that was a relief!

He said, “I don’t think he will feel like going to the Grand Ole Opry, though.”

We thanked him very kindly and went back to the country store. There was a picnic area beside the store, and we spent the day there, also, in and out of the store.

We didn’t want to miss the Grand Ole Opry after getting this far. Everett said he could make it.

We talked to people who came there during the day. They were all very friendly.

We thought we might find someone who knew some of the Grand Ole Opry people, but we didn’t. They hadn’t even went to see it, just heard it on the radio. I thought, how strange, living so close and not going to see the Opry.

When night came, we drove a little way down the road and parked for the night.

A little while later, we heard someone knocking on the car door. I opened the door, and there were three girls there, along with three boys.

The girls told us they had a mattress we could have, and the man at the store said we could put it on a picnic table and sleep there that night.

They said they lived across the road from the store. We went and got the mattress, put it on the table and got a good night’s sleep.

We took the mattress back the next morning, and their mother had a good warm breakfast ready for us. She had hot biscuits and gravy with country-fried ham. It sure was good.

We visited with them awhile after breakfast and got acquainted with them as much as possible in a short time.

They were the Tinnon family. The mother and father were very friendly.

The girls’ names were Mildred, Mary and Georgia. Before we left there, their mother took a picture of us with the girls.

After that, we went to Nashville and to the War Memorial building. There were many interesting things there to see.

We were there until it was time to go up to the auditorium and wait for the doors to open. When they were open, we were among the first to go in.

We were anxious for the show to start. We had never seen any of the Grand Ole Opry stars, not even a picture of any of them. So it was even more interesting to see what they all looked like.

Back then, when you went to the Grand Ole Opry, you got to see them all. Wherever they were on the road during the week, they had to be back for the Opry on Saturday night.

When the curtain finally rolled back, there was Roy Acuff in front of the Smoky Mountain Boys and Little Rachel. They were a lively bunch back then and entertained the whole time they were on the stage, on or off the microphone.

I often wondered what all the laughter was about when I heard it on radio. I found out you had to see it to enjoy that part.

We stayed until it was over and enjoyed every bit of it. We didn’t leave until the judge signed off his usual way.

We then got in the old Ford and started for home by way of Kentucky to Illinois.

After that trip, I’ve always had a warm feeling for Southern folks, especially in Tennessee. I’ll always remember the Tinnon family, the doctor and the man at the store.

Since that time, I’ve been in 44 states, and halfway around the world and back during World War II.

But that one in ’41 is the most memorable and enjoyable trip I ever made.

• Claude Sullivan is a Macedonia resident.