I Remember
By Tina Maxwell Riddle
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When our telephone number was just three #s 619, then it became 7169, then 924-7169
When our telephone number was just three #s 619, then it became 7169, then 924-7169·Every light in our house was turned on with a pull string
Every light in our house was turned on with a pull string·Every house on our street had a screen door and Crews Grocery and Jack Spencer’s Market had wood floors and screen doors with Holsum bread emblems
Every house on our street had a screen door and Crews Grocery and Jack Spencer’s Market had wood floors and screen doors with Holsum bread emblems ·Going to the Big Lake Store and Mrs. Allie Mae Watson fitting us for school shoes. And who could forget Mrs. Raneri helping us with Bobbi Brooks shorts and Lazy Bone Saddle Oxfords for cheerleading andMrs. Sheppard at Kahn’s
Going to the Big Lake Store and Mrs. Allie Mae Watson fitting us for school shoes. And who could forget Mrs. Raneri helping us with Bobbi Brooks shorts and Lazy Bone Saddle Oxfords for cheerleading andMrs. Sheppard at Kahn’s·I bought my first 45-speed record at Jack Spencer’s Market – “Home from the Hill”
I bought my first 45-speed record at Jack Spencer’s Market – “Home from the Hill”·When Pahokee got a radio station WRIM – “Where Radio is Modern.” It was in a glass front concrete building next to the Dixie Hotel
When Pahokee got a radio station WRIM – “Where Radio is Modern.” It was in a glass front concrete building next to the Dixie Hotel·The Dixie Hotel that had Mr. Gene Butler’s barber shop and Peggy’s Beauty Shop downstairs and across the street on the corner you’d pay the telephone bill at Miss Nola Dragon’s Dress Shop
The Dixie Hotel that had Mr. Gene Butler’s barber shop and Peggy’s Beauty Shop downstairs and across the street on the corner you’d pay the telephone bill at Miss Nola Dragon’s Dress Shop·Climbing stairs in the old courthouse to go up to the City Library and having to be very quiet so Miss Larrimore would not get on to you
Climbing stairs in the old courthouse to go up to the City Library and having to be very quiet so Miss Larrimore would not get on to you·The big fishpond in front of City Hall with goldfish and lily pads
The big fishpond in front of City Hall with goldfish and lily pads·My first ice cream cone that Daddy bought from Dr. Fletcher’s Drugstore in the Dixie Hotel. Years later we took dancing lessons there from Mrs. Franks
My first ice cream cone that Daddy bought from Dr. Fletcher’s Drugstore in the Dixie Hotel. Years later we took dancing lessons there from Mrs. Franks·The big town Christmas tree next to the Western Auto
The big town Christmas tree next to the Western Auto·Mr. Lair helping us with our bicycle chains and Santa Claus coming to town on the fire truck with Marvin Levins and Uncle Leo bringing him
Mr. Lair helping us with our bicycle chains and Santa Claus coming to town on the fire truck with Marvin Levins and Uncle Leo bringing him·Mr. & Mrs. John Bolton letting us sit all afternoon and read the comic books and then put them back in the rack
Mr. & Mrs. John Bolton letting us sit all afternoon and read the comic books and then put them back in the rack·Wing Dings and Dixie Cups- ordering a glass of water with ice and a knife to put the lime in we’d brought to make a lime sour
Wing Dings and Dixie Cups- ordering a glass of water with ice and a knife to put the lime in we’d brought to make a lime sour·Mr. Malar who didn’t have any legs and scooted on a board with wheels always in front of the show and had a hat in his lap for people to drop coins
Mr. Malar who didn’t have any legs and scooted on a board with wheels always in front of the show and had a hat in his lap for people to drop coins·Mrs. Moran’s café – a juke box next to the door and buying wax lips and teeth for Halloween
Mrs. Moran’s café – a juke box next to the door and buying wax lips and teeth for Halloween·How many times at the Prince Theater did Mrs. Angel and Mrs. Pugh shine a flashlight and tell us to be quiet. Candid Camera- if your picture came on the screen you’d get a silver dollar. When mine was on the screen they said, “And this little girl’s daddy drives toothpicks in the ground.” The talent show with all the local people singing and playing instruments
How many times at the Prince Theater did Mrs. Angel and Mrs. Pugh shine a flashlight and tell us to be quiet. Candid Camera- if your picture came on the screen you’d get a silver dollar. When mine was on the screen they said, “And this little girl’s daddy drives toothpicks in the ground.” The talent show with all the local people singing and playing instruments·Coca Cola bottles with the name of our town, Pahokee Florida, on the bottom
Coca Cola bottles with the name of our town, Pahokee Florida, on the bottom·When Mr. Lair opened the ice cream shop and we could get soft ice cream out of a machine
When Mr. Lair opened the ice cream shop and we could get soft ice cream out of a machine·Annie Merle going across East Main Street to Mama’s little restaurant to tell her she was wanted on the phone – we were fighting at home and someone called to tattle
Annie Merle going across East Main Street to Mama’s little restaurant to tell her she was wanted on the phone – we were fighting at home and someone called to tattle·Big Royal Palm trees next to Annie Merle’s
Big Royal Palm trees next to Annie Merle’s·The Post Office and the Dime Store – buying school supplies there and planning what to wear the first day of school on Tuesday after Labor Day
The Post Office and the Dime Store – buying school supplies there and planning what to wear the first day of school on Tuesday after Labor Day·You could open bottles of Blue Waltz and Evening in Paris perfume and feel grown up when you smelled them
You could open bottles of Blue Waltz and Evening in Paris perfume and feel grown up when you smelled them·Mrs. Geiger sold Avon to all our mamas and Mrs. Sally Butler sold Stanley Cleaning products to them
Mrs. Geiger sold Avon to all our mamas and Mrs. Sally Butler sold Stanley Cleaning products to them·We’d pay 75 cents at the Trailways Bus Station for a round trip ticket to go to WPB to the Florida Theater on Saturday afternoon
We’d pay 75 cents at the Trailways Bus Station for a round trip ticket to go to WPB to the Florida Theater on Saturday afternoon·Saw our first elevator at Anthony’s Dept. Store and first escalator at Burdines’s
Saw our first elevator at Anthony’s Dept. Store and first escalator at Burdines’s·Fourth of July fireworks and Felix Slonaker were the same thought – as well as mosquitoes
Fourth of July fireworks and Felix Slonaker were the same thought – as well as mosquitoes·The Lake Drive In and the speaker sitting on a window portly rolled up – we’d light a PIC to keep the mosquitoes away and then could hardly breathe
The Lake Drive In and the speaker sitting on a window portly rolled up – we’d light a PIC to keep the mosquitoes away and then could hardly breathe·How good Louie and Jerry Gold were to provide hours and hours of entertainment and memories to all of us in “the Glades”
How good Louie and Jerry Gold were to provide hours and hours of entertainment and memories to all of us in “the Glades”·We would spend the whole summer at the park jumping on the trampoline, playing ping-pong and swimming
We would spend the whole summer at the park jumping on the trampoline, playing ping-pong and swimming·Walked everywhere day and night
Walked everywhere day and night·Played kick the can, dodge ball and pom pom pull away
Played kick the can, dodge ball and pom pom pull away·Sitting under a street light without a care
Sitting under a street light without a care·Friday night would always be “football night for the home of the Blue Devils”
Friday night would always be “football night for the home of the Blue Devils”·Sunday would always be Sunday school, church, MYF, church again and choir practice
Sunday would always be Sunday school, church, MYF, church again and choir practice·A lot of little notes during the sermon and we always squeezed the show in on Sunday afternoon
A lot of little notes during the sermon and we always squeezed the show in on Sunday afternoon·Baiting a hook
Baiting a hook·Run trot line
Run trot line·Watch for a channel marker
Watch for a channel marker·The smell of the sugar mill grinding
The smell of the sugar mill grinding·Cinders floating in the air and clinging to the clothes just hung on a line with wooden clothespins
Cinders floating in the air and clinging to the clothes just hung on a line with wooden clothespins·Rubber bands around the newspaper and trying to get it before it rained
Rubber bands around the newspaper and trying to get it before it rained·Metal garbage cans and wooden lawn chairs blowing down the street in a hurricane
Metal garbage cans and wooden lawn chairs blowing down the street in a hurricane·3-digit heat on the bank clock
3-digit heat on the bank clock·Smell of tar
Smell of tar·Sliced white bread in a cellophane bag
Sliced white bread in a cellophane bag ·Getting up early on Wednesday mornings to go to Prayer Cell and Mrs. Hundley patiently waiting for us to settle down
Getting up early on Wednesday mornings to go to Prayer Cell and Mrs. Hundley patiently waiting for us to settle down·Grapefruits, guavas, limes and a box of salt
Grapefruits, guavas, limes and a box of salt·Hearing a coconut fall from a palm tree and shaking a mango tree
Hearing a coconut fall from a palm tree and shaking a mango tree·Selma putting pant wires in Lon’s khakis
Selma putting pant wires in Lon’s khakis·Church bell ringing on Sunday mornings
Church bell ringing on Sunday mornings·Happy Helpers
Happy Helpers·Kool – Aid concentrate in a glass bottle
Kool – Aid concentrate in a glass bottle·Fans in the phone booth
Fans in the phone booth·Eating lunch at home during school and hurrying back
Eating lunch at home during school and hurrying back·Pin ball machines and learning to dance
Pin ball machines and learning to dance·Mama washing clothes at Mrs. Geiger’s washhouse
Mama washing clothes at Mrs. Geiger’s washhouse·Daddy putting chickens on the clothes line to drain
Daddy putting chickens on the clothes line to drain·Mrs. Agnes Davis making soap in a pot over a wood fire
Mrs. Agnes Davis making soap in a pot over a wood fire·Leon Guthrie and Frank O’Connor being ‘the law”
Leon Guthrie and Frank O’Connor being ‘the law”·Ronnie Jones painting, “Grady is a Bastard” on the pavement going up to dike
Ronnie Jones painting, “Grady is a Bastard” on the pavement going up to dike·Under the house because it was cooler there
Under the house because it was cooler there·Peashooters and ice cream lids with pictures you’d lick to see
Peashooters and ice cream lids with pictures you’d lick to see·The new playground equipment at the city park - sliding on wax paper or cardboard down the giant slide – boy were we in high cotton
The new playground equipment at the city park - sliding on wax paper or cardboard down the giant slide – boy were we in high cotton·The Woman’s Club with a wood dance floor and a little kitchen. Renting it for 7 dollars and having our first dance with a jukebox from Mr. Crosby
The Woman’s Club with a wood dance floor and a little kitchen. Renting it for 7 dollars and having our first dance with a jukebox from Mr. Crosby·Win or lose we would go to “the dance” after a home football game
Win or lose we would go to “the dance” after a home football game·The famous “Louie Louie” band came
The famous “Louie Louie” band came·Mel Tillis was our claim to fame; he grew up on Annona and “home” a lot
Mel Tillis was our claim to fame; he grew up on Annona and “home” a lot·The Pahokee water tower, Mr. Schroeder and Marvin Cowart taking care of the city
The Pahokee water tower, Mr. Schroeder and Marvin Cowart taking care of the city·Writing our names in the “new” concrete sidewalks
Writing our names in the “new” concrete sidewalks·Drawing a hop-scotch and throwing the little chain, playing jacks
Drawing a hop-scotch and throwing the little chain, playing jacks·The Pure Oil Station staying open all night and Mr. Gillis being so good to us about buying 50 cents worth of gas
The Pure Oil Station staying open all night and Mr. Gillis being so good to us about buying 50 cents worth of gas·441 Steak House and Royals Dept. Store coming to town
441 Steak House and Royals Dept. Store coming to town·Everybody’s Mama “put up corn” and shelled black eyed peas – the stickers on crates letting the world know Pahokee Florida had grown and packed the vegetables – we were a proud little town
Everybody’s Mama “put up corn” and shelled black eyed peas – the stickers on crates letting the world know Pahokee Florida had grown and packed the vegetables – we were a proud little town·The ice plant on the curb, Dead Man’s Curve, the migratory camp, Glades and Lido Club
The ice plant on the curb, Dead Man’s Curve, the migratory camp, Glades and Lido Club·Dr. Young and Amy Whidden that brought most of us into the world
Dr. Young and Amy Whidden that brought most of us into the world·Adams grocery, Ezzell’s produce stand, good fishing at Jones Pump House – great fireworks at Allen’s Fruit Stand
Adams grocery, Ezzell’s produce stand, good fishing at Jones Pump House – great fireworks at Allen’s Fruit Stand·Wooden steps, porch lights, Ray Peterson singing “Goodnight my Love” – then Alan Kortney coming from a car radio telling us it was time to be home
Wooden steps, porch lights, Ray Peterson singing “Goodnight my Love” – then Alan Kortney coming from a car radio telling us it was time to be home·Lair Field, Lola V. York Library, McClure Road, Frenchie Johnson’s Streamline, Rardin Ave and Barfield Hwy. all streets and roads that formed the pathways of a small town and our lives
Lair Field, Lola V. York Library, McClure Road, Frenchie Johnson’s Streamline, Rardin Ave and Barfield Hwy. all streets and roads that formed the pathways of a small town and our lives·Grant Averill taking pictures
Grant Averill taking pictures·Mrs. Letha Mole’s big smile at the post office
Mrs. Letha Mole’s big smile at the post office·Mr. Rice’s store across from the school
Mr. Rice’s store across from the school·Rock Around the Clock, the Fly and Peyton Place
Rock Around the Clock, the Fly and Peyton Place·Mr. Reeder picking up the clothes to be dry cleaned
Mr. Reeder picking up the clothes to be dry cleaned·Selling Girl Scout cookies and Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Hilyer helping us earn badges
Selling Girl Scout cookies and Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Hilyer helping us earn badges·Bertha, Pinky and Fannie Mae
Bertha, Pinky and Fannie Mae·Hula hoops, jacks, pea shooters, bean bags and Bo-Lo bats
Hula hoops, jacks, pea shooters, bean bags and Bo-Lo bats·We’ll never forget “the dike,” Boy Scout Beach, the T-Dock
We’ll never forget “the dike,” Boy Scout Beach, the T-Dock·“The lake” was our friend and sometimes even gave a rolling car a bath
“The lake” was our friend and sometimes even gave a rolling car a bath·The rivalry between the Pahokee Blue Devils and Belle Glade Golden Rams
The rivalry between the Pahokee Blue Devils and Belle Glade Golden Rams·The Bill Young memorial trophy and homecoming – real joy of winning and true sadness of losing.
The Bill Young memorial trophy and homecoming – real joy of winning and true sadness of losing.·Our parents having “reserved seats”
Our parents having “reserved seats”·We all had shakers of blue and white, glossy programs, little footballs flying through the air and pride
We all had shakers of blue and white, glossy programs, little footballs flying through the air and pride·We heard Mr. Lampi’s band and we saw bright lights
We heard Mr. Lampi’s band and we saw bright lights·C.R Wethington’s ambulance at the end of the field
C.R Wethington’s ambulance at the end of the field·Cheerleaders, majorettes, players, water boys, team doctor, coaches, townspeople and students all bonded together to “Win” on Friday night
Cheerleaders, majorettes, players, water boys, team doctor, coaches, townspeople and students all bonded together to “Win” on Friday nightAll these places and people had the excitement and sweetness of a street dance in front of the Ford Place on Saturday night when Mama and Daddy would dance and us kids would play until they’d roll the windows down and put us in the car with a pillow until they were ready to go home.
We will all go to places we call home, but home will always be Pahokee.
