My grandparents, Charlie and Letha Crow owned and operated
McKnight store north of Hollis in the 30's and 40's. Even though it was not located in Hollis, it is a part of Harmon county history. I know lots of people remember it. I've been told that the store was a community gathering place back then for a lot of people. On Saturday night, people would come from miles around to buy groceries and gas, play music and dance and drink sodas, etc.
My grandfather delivered groceries and ice to people, even as
far north as Vinson. He extended credit back then to friends and a lot of the neighbors he knew that had no money at the time, but needed food and/or gas. Most people were good about paying him back.
I remember that store when I was three years old. The house was right
beside the store and I remember burning my arm on an old wood stove inside the house. I still have the scar today.
I think most of the people left out of the McKnight and Ron communities in the 50's and 60's and probably most moved to Hollis. In 1960 my grandparents bought the Quickie Mart and ran it until 1972.I worked in the store part time while I was in high school and my brothers
helped out, too. We mostly put up stock, but sometimes worked at the counter up front to give our grandparents a break.
I remember my grandmother visiting with a gentleman that came into the store one day. I didn't know him or recall his name, but he had given her a $125.00 check that day to pay for credit that they had extended to him back in 1946. He was finally paying his bill. I will never forget that. It affirmed my belief that people from Hollis and surrounding areas have always been just basically good, honest, God fearing people.
When I was a Senior in high school I worked at the City Drug store for Judd Maxfield. I was in Distributive Education, so I worked there 4 hours after school,3 times a week. I worked behind the soda fountain. I remember some of the business men from town coming in and drinking coffee. Coffee was a nickle a cup and they drank as much as they wanted.
My grandmother had a charge account at Taylor's Department store across the street, which was my favorite store in town, and that's where I spent my money. They always had those cute "Bobbie Brooks" sweaters and wool skirts that we all wore then. I still have some of those outfits packed away in a trunk in my attic. They
are my memories.
