Volume 10 , Issue 24

NW Oklahoma Memories

"Isn?t it strange how one event can cause such a chain of memories. These being long term memories, they are more easily remembered. All of this due to having seen in the Courier the obituary of ?Hap? Pearson at the age of 100.

My memories of ?Hap? and lemon ice cream are one and the same. When he was operating the Mitten Ice Cream Parlor, I was introduced to lemon ice cream. It was the best lemon ice cream I have ever eaten, and to this day lemon ice cream, all though not nearly as tasty, causes a remembrance of ?Hap.? While attending Northwestern, when I would happen to see ?Hap,? there was always the remembrance of lemon ice-cream. I originally remembered the ice cream parlor as being Minton?s, but in his obituary it was listed as Mittens. I read Jim Barker?s column in the Courier, and he wrote it as Minton?s.

In the rememberence of the Minton's Ice Cream Parlor reminded me that, in Bill Barker?s journey around the square it was not mentioned. I believe it was before his family moved to Alva. Its location was just west on Flynn from 4th street. There was the pool hall, the barber shop, a cafe, then Minton's, complete with a long marble soda-fountain and the ice-cream parlor chairs and tables.

Reading Bill?s account brought to mind a number of other businesses around the square, not all of them operating at the same time, however.

IXL Barbershop, McLellan?s Variety Store next to the Rialto. Fredericks Studio, a Firestone store. Jetts, TG&Y, and what later became the Pix Theater was a USO during days of the POW camp south of Alva.

Bill mentioned about the Lodge located over the Courier office. Before it was the Lodge, it was a skating rink. If my memory serves me correctly, it was operated by Gene Reiman, who also worked at the Golden Krust Bakery.

Vern Henderson?s barber shop, Hester Drug, which later became Holder-Southern Drug. During the war, I believe Warrick?s Shoe Store was located on the south side of the square. They sold Buster Brown shoes and had, I guess it was a fluoroscope where you could stick your foot in and look to see how the shoe fit. It was also possible to see the bones in the foot. During the war, while it meant nothing to me, nylon stockings were a rarity. One day, must have been a Monday as my Mom was doing the laundry which was an all day chore, word came some way that Warricks had received some nylons. The laundry stopped, we were off to Warricks to get in a really long line to try and buy a pair. I don?t recall if my Mom was one of the ?lucky ones,? but more than likely NOT as I?m sure Warricks did not receive enough pairs for every lady in that line.

Where Pennys was later located was once the Stiles-Howerton Funeral Home. Then the office of Dr Qwast, an optometrist, I believe. The main thing I recall of his office was in the window was a radiometer, which I hadn?t a clue as to what was going on, but I was fascinated watching it spin. Next was, I believe, the dental offices of Dr Ball.

There is another memory which I have been working on, and not being very successful, that I will send more information about later. You may be able to come up with the ?story.? -- Marvin Henry
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