Quite a few names have been mentioned of those who lived in Bellflower during those early years. Each one of them is a story in itself. But its not just their names, but who they were and a part of what family, also how they played a part in someone’s life during that particular time. Jim Oden comes to mind as a member of one of the elders and certainly a cornerstone of the town of Bellflower. It was not unusual for many to seek the sage advice from Mr. Jim Oden, for his opinion was well respected. Many of us from that period remember Jim Oden and his general store that was located in the heart of town, which consisted of the Post Office, Hicks Store, Jack Adam’s Barber Shop, Ed Carvers Tavern, the Service Station, Bill and Ann Harris’s Tavern, the Telephone Switch Board and probably a few more that escape me right now. Jim Oden’s General Store was a gathering place for many, especially if it was rainy day and the farmers couldn’t get in the fields. In the winter it was sitting inside around the cast iron pot belly stove toward the back of the store with a card table nearby for those wanting to play Pitch or Dominoes to past the time. In the summer months it was outside on a bench in front of the store, where one could wait for a cool breeze while discussing anything and everything, but mostly crops and farm machinery. Inside the store, one could look in Mr. Oden’s glass front fresh market case near the front door as you walk in, for it contained large blocks of cheese and tubes of baloney that he would cut to the thickness you desired. He carried fresh meats and also whole chickens, but most customers grew and butchered their own chickens, fresh beef and pork. There were always goodies on a rack to want and cold sodas inside the old cooler (a Pepsi with a bag of peanuts inside) One could buy groceries at “Oden’s” and “put it on the Tab,” that was a running bill to be paid at the end of the month, which Jim was always lenient if payment was late. Jim was a kindly man, he once loaned me a pair of crunches to use when I sprained my ankle, with no charge. When not busy Mr. Oden would take time and sit with customers and join in the tale telling or discuss current news about the town. It was also not unusual for them to stretch a tale or two to catch our interest, when they knew young ears were listening. Much could be learned by listening to those older gentlemen with such vast experiences of days gone by. Ben Hudson, Brain Holloway, Jim Gilbert, Gene Parsons and Bernie Donaldson come to mind as some of the regulars, to mention just a few. They always took an interest in us young lads and let us sit and listen to their conversations. On one such occasion, while I was sitting on the bench in front of the store listening to some of the older gents which was always a treat, Mr. Oden came out of the store with a gallon jug and began filling it with apple cider vinegar which he drew from a cask that he kept out front. The barrel had a wooden spigot at the bottom to open and stop the flow of vinegar. When the jug was almost full the vinegar stopped and a slimy substance began to slowly pour out, then one of the older gents reached over with his coffee cup and captured a cup full of this mysterious goo. He then quickly drank it down, wiping away some of the goop that had clung and was hanging on his wide mustache. I have that picture still vividly imbedded in my mind today. Thinking back, I do believe I was in a mild state of shock, for I just stared….But, I think he understood my surprise and explained to me that the unsightly jell was “mother” that develops in the bottom of vinegar containers, and it is a good drink!!! Mr. Oden looked at me and smiled….I then quickly headed off to another part of town….. The old store has been gone for some time now, as well many other business and homes, and so are the people that made them such a part of Bellflower. From those early days I would always manage to return to my home town of Bellflower to visit and would see Jim Oden periodically from time to time. The last time I seen Mr. Oden on one of my visits to Bellflower he was taking a walk, and a mighty brisk walk at that, and I decided not to bother him. Thinking back, I wish I had.
Posted on: Tue, 02 Sep 2014 14:31:35 +0000
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