OLD FASHIONED GENERAL STORE

My Grandfathers' General Store

During World War II while my Dad was in the Navy, my Mom & I lived with my grandparents in a small South Carolina cotton mill town. My grandfather owned a general store that sold everything. I remember sitting on the big seed bags next to a pot belly stove that heated the store. I would watch as the farmers would sit and play checkers, while their seeds & feeds were loaded onto their trucks. The farmers wives would shop for their household needs.
I would go to the drink icebox and get a 6 oz Coca Cola, and eat some hoop cheese and crackers  Grandfather had on the counter. Many of the farmers didn't have enough money for their needs so they would trade fresh vegetables and meat for their orders. That way we always had plenty vegetables, beef, pickles,country cured ham, and  jerky.


My grandmother had a small diner over in a corner of the store. She served hamburgers, hot dogs, country hams and eggs, plus a lot of vegetables and cornbread. Grandmother canned tomatoes, chow-chow, jams & jellies, bar bq sauce, beans, peas and so much more. We always had fried chicken, vegetable soup, biscuits, gravy at home that came from the diner.

What a wonderful memory as a boy, in spite of the War. I thank God that my Dad and all my uncles came home safely.

CAROLINA STYLE BARBECUE

As a young boy, I loved being with my grandparents in rural Carolina. On Friday's my grandfather would kill a pig and dress him. Part would be taken to the smokehouse for curing and the shoulder seasoned for the barbecue. The spices included salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, brown sugar, cayenne pepper, paprika and chili powder. We boys would dig a pit in the ground and burn Hickory wood. We left a place at the end of the pit to allow us to add more wood. We would slow cook that pork shoulder all night. Just before we took it off the grill we would brush on a sauce that was mainly vinegar, water, hot spices, ketchup, sugar or honey and salt. It was always the most special time when we would cook the whole hog & the ribs!