Bob Piper's Corner - July 6, 1986

July 6, 1986

A PARADISE FOR CHILDREN GROWING UP

In 1913 we built a bakery on our home lot. Before that for a short time, it was under the J. C. Flatt Ice Cream store. Flatt’s was where the east half of the Ben Franklin store stands now. The bakery was in the front half of the basement and the ice cream was stored in holding boxes in the rear, kept frozen by ice and salt. A bakery and ice cream storage didn’t go together at all. Father decided to move the bakery to the basement of our present store. It was here until 1913. This is where Code Shelton learned the bakery trade from Wally Murphy. Code was well-known in Chariton and later had a bakery right where Meyer’s law offices are at present. He told me personally with the advent of cake and cookie mixes the small bakery would be a thing of the past. Most all towns had a small bakery or two but Code was right, bakeries were doomed. Also large bakeries with trucks covering the area sounded the end of small bakeries. One Saturday the store was out of bread. Father borrowed a baby buggy from a customer. Someone held the baby. We lined the buggy with paper and I pushed the buggy two doors away into the basement and brought back a load of bread and that saved the day.

The bakery at home was to be at the back of the lot but Mother was back home visiting her folks and Father decided if it was built upon the front of the lot it would be handier. When Mother came back it was built, much to her displeasure. To soothe Mother’s feelings, Father built an addition to the house that Mother had wanted for some time. The bakery oven was a great help in our home cooking. Close to the fireboxes it was always hot. Remember we were cooking on a range at home using coal & wood.

Many times when company came Mother would send us children to the bakery to heat something. I remember one time Ladies Aid of this church was meeting at our home. Mother later learned that all were concerned as no preparations were being made for the lunch. Mother was in the group all the time. Little did the people know that my brother Joe and I had lined bakery pans with crackers sprinkled with cheese. Two big pots of tomato soup were heating also. When it was time and the cheese had melted, we carried it all to the house. Mother came to the kitchen and presto the luncheon was served.

George and myself didn’t ride together Sunday as he had nine of his family visiting and I had fifteen. Wednesday eve and Friday eve we did ride for a short time. Wednesday we checked out the town as to paving progress, new houses, etc. Friday we went to Red Haw. Rabbits are thick at Red Haw. Jack Coffey, state officer of the Colyn area, says this is a banner year for rabbits. Coffey’s special work is with rabbits. Why they were scarce last year and plentiful this year is a mystery.