Red Neck Hunter's Advice

JUST AN OLD COUNTRY STORE BY JOHN BUTLER

Now I am certainly not trying to add to or take away from any of the history of this community. You see, I was born ten miles up the road from “the store”.,and also lived the greater portion of my life right here in this neighborhood.

I am 68 years of age and still enjoying every waking moment on and around my rural home which is located about 3 miles from the old store site.

My grandfather,William Wiley bought this store,the house across the road,the church across the street and quite a bit of land adjoining this property. This was in the early 40's. He then operated this store for the years up until 1955,when he sold out and moved to Dayton,Ohio where his son's had businesses. Grandpa[no doubt bored stiff] spent his remaining years there,just north of Dayton.

Now,things get interesting. You must understand that during the time my grandparents operated this business,my Mom,Dad,and several of my siblings lived in the rear of this old store.

My Great Grandfather,Thomas Wiley,soon built a fence around the backyard of that old store to try and keep me from venturing out into the road. At that time,I was around five years old,so it would have been circa 1947. Of course I climbed this fence every day and “snuck” off down the road to go fishing. So....every day he would add another 12 inch board to try and keep me inside. Now,I am quite sure,our readers know the fact that this DID NOT work. I still shinnied up and escaped daily. I was a “bluegill” and “creek chub” addict. At about age six,I was allowed to help out in the store. This was a great adventure for me. You see,I had an aunt {Betty Wiley]who had already taught me to read and count. So,I took to this clerking like a “duck to water”.! We sold twelve ounce bottles of Cold Wave and Bar's brands of soda for six cents per bottle. I remember the day this “pop” raise from a nickel to six cents. For about half a day I had sold it for five cents. Grandpa informed me about mid-day of the raise to six cents. I was devastated! He[grandpa] told me”Johnny,don't worry about this”. We also sold Standard Oil Brand gasoline and oil products. I can't remember selling any automotive accessories. This gasoline was “leaded” and ran from 90 octane in regular to 100 for “hi-test.” I believe the price for regular grade gasoline was around 17 cents per gallon. I know the public was enraged when the price had to be raised to 5 gallons for $1.00. Can you imagine getting gasoline that cheaply today?

Please,if our readers will allow,let me give a little history on the background of this old store. Having been built [probably] around 1820,the store was owned by the “Iron Barons” at that time. These old boys were from Scotland,Germany,Ireland,etc. Our neighborhood was and is known as OHIO FURNACE. Up on the hill behind the church in the accompanying photo there had to have been an Iron Smelter. There had to be a very big iron furnace located there. The reason I know this to be a fact is that up until a few years ago,there was a large “slip” of reddish ,burned,sand-like material there. Especially behind the church. There were also tons of cinders strewn about. These were large”apple-sized” 

I was not allowed to slice meat or cheese due to my age. But,rest assured,I sold nearly every other available item. This included:milk,soda pop,flour,meal,bread,candy,bubble gum,and yes we sold sacks of “penny candy”. Then there was the all important fishing tackle. The reader may laugh at this,but I sold a “fly” hook and three-four feet lengths of twine for one cent. I guess I had to promote outdoor sports like fishing even way back then. Naturally I didn't handle the ammunition,powder,etc. This was left to grandpa. We did sell nails as well as other hardware. If this sounds like the “good ole days”,remember there was a tremendous amount of manual labor involved in running a business such as this.

My grandparents also rented out living spaces in the upper part of this two story structure. I can only remember one other family living there,but my aunt[Betty Wiley]told me at one time there were as many as seven families living there. I guess people had to live somewhere. I remember there was a coal shed to the right of this store. At one time there was a “shoe cobbler” who made due with half of this shed as a shop. This old guy was partially crippled,but very talented in the leather-craft trade. I know he put “half soles “on a pair world war two combat boots that I wore. These boots were smooth and very comfortable leather on the inside,and boasted rough leather on the outside. They also had smooth leather tops with two leather straps,complete with steel buckles. The rough bottom part of these boots was treated with “shoe dubbing”. This material was very similar to our modern Mink Oil. It did make these shoes pliable and quite waterproof. I haven't seen a pair of these boots in years,but I certainly would love to own a pair today.

By the way this “shoe shop”was furnished with heat,light and other necessities,completely free of charge,courtesy of Mr. Wiley. The property for the church across the street was also donated to the community. Actually,during this time frame,I wouldn't be surprised if the Man of the family wasn't the only required signature on legal documents. The reader may remember that “woman’s rights” and community property didn't come into being until later years. Personally,I believe,this put way too much pressure on the man of the family.

This old business was sold to Bert Barber around 1955. Later it was sold to a man named Clinton Whitt. This complete structure was totally destroyed by fire around 1970. There are at least two residences on this store property today.

There have been four or five stores opened in this community since,but alas,they have been short lived. I believe their failure was due in part to extending credit to the wrong people. And [I hate to say this]but part of the problem was no doubt due to poor public relations.

Today,in order to buy supplies,I have to drive at least six miles to the nearest gasoline station. Also the closest hardware or larger grocery store is fifteen miles. These are now called super markets. Is this progress? I think not.

For the most part,the citizens of Ohio Furnace are good,solid people. I don't know of a place anywhere in this country which would be a better place to live. You see, I am fortunate enough to live ½ mile up a private driveway,off Disterdick Lane. I