"The Good Ole Days!"

A few months ago, to create interest and excitement about the up-coming Centennial Celebration, our local paper, "The Courier", began a weekly "Ghost Business" section. Residents and ex-residents were asked to submit stories of businesses they remember from the past. Readers look forward to reminiscing about "the good ole days".

The following story was submitted by a classmate with whom I graduated....it's hard to believe...in 1957! "My, how time flies when you're having fun!"

With his permission, I am posting his story (and picture) because it triggered so many good memories of that time. My prayer is that my blog will "catch on" and will reach many ex-Munday people, bringing to them good memories of times past. I pray God's richest blessings on Dick and his wife, Joanie.

Here is the story as authored by Dick Morrow of Beaumont, Texas.

I have really enjoyed reading about the ghost businesses of Munday. I thought some residents of Munday might be interested in the history of the old Morrow Feed and Ice business. My parents, R.T. (Red) and Pauline Morrow, opened a feed and produce business in 1939 in a small building, no longer in existence, located between the original Sugar Shack Café and the Phillips 66 gas station across the highway from the cotton gin. The original name was “Banner Produce” and they dealt in eggs, cream, milk, chickens, cowhides and feed for all farm animals. You could also order baby chicks and get your eggs “candled” there.
In 1951, mom and dad moved into a new building just south of the old location on the curve of the highway towards Weinert. They renamed the business “Banner Feed and Ice” since the new location included facilites to store blocks of ice from Abilene as well as a milk storage vault. They expanded their service to include being wholesalers for three dairy companies: Banner, Foremost and Gandys. Dad suffered a stroke in 1960, but mom continued to run the business minus the wholesale dairy portion. The business was then known as “Morrow Feed and Ice”. Many will remember Dad sitting in a recliner in the office keeping mom company and advising her about business. Dad passed away in 1972, but mom continued to run the business alone. In 1978 the Abilene Ice Company shut down so block ice was no longer available. Mom installed smaller machines to provide 11 lb blocks and 10 lb bags of crushed ice from a different source. In 1980 mom’s heart problem did not permit her to continue working so I returned to Munday and persuaded her to close the doors for the last time. This was a difficult decision for her as mom loved keeping the business open and getting to visit with all of the farmers, ranchers and friends that stopped by to have a soft drink and just visit with other customers. The building was razed some years later and the lot is now vacant. Mom passed away in 1996 still regretting having to close the business that she and dad started in 1939.
I have many fond memories of growing up in our place of business. My nursery was the office, my playground was the feed store and the ice vault was my soundproof place to practice my trumpet. I learned math by running the cash register, chemistry by testing the cream for butterfat content and how to interact with the public by working there with my parents. My cousins, nieces and nephews spent many happy hours with Memaw at the “Ice House”. By the way, our large old sign can still be seen on the wall in “Memories of Munday”.