Messenger Staff Writer **Note: Several years ago (‘70s), when I was busy trying to stamp out “ain’t got no” and “them books” and “Me and her are going” and “The dog got spaded” and “She come and eat some biscuits,” a fellow teacher said as she was exiting after a long day in the classroom, “Themer, we eat out every night; do you want to come with us?”
I replied, “no thanks,” in disbelief and wondered out loud whether her husband and she really “ate out” every night. She answered in the affirmative, adding they just did not have the time and energy to go home to cook, eat, and clean up after; she was being honest!
Most of my friends (and I) then only “ate out” on special occasions or during really pressing circumstances.
So, let’s take another look back into some Jackrabbit annuals and note some of the local “dining” establishments; you might see that several served Forney for quite some time!
1947: NICHOLS CAFÉ… MARY’S EAT SHOP…PINK ELEPHANT CAFÉ (total eating ads) 1948: MARY’S EAT SHOP…CHRIS CAFÉ (Terrell)… NICHOL’S CAFÉ (total eating ads) 1949: NICHOL’S CAFÉ… PAW & MAW CAFÉ…PINK ELEPHANT CAFÉ (total eating ads) 1954: ANNIE’S EAT SHOP…DAIRY QUEEN (Terrell)…NICHOLS CAFÉ (total eating ads) 1964: CHRIS CAFE (Terrell)…DAIRY QUEEN (Mesquite)…RAGSDALE DRIVE-IN (Sunnyvale)… MOON’S DRIVE-INN (Mesquite)…STUCKEY’S PECAN SHOPPE…JOHNSON’S DRIVE-IN (Terrell)… RACHEL’S EAT SHOP…JACKRABBIT DRIVE-IN…CHRIS’ STEAK HOUSE (Terrell)…MILLER’S CAFÉ (Mesquite)… SHAMROCK SNACK BAR (Mesquite)…BILL’S DRIVE-INN (Terrell)…F. & G. CRE-MEL DRIVE-IN (Terrell) (total eating ads) 1965: FORD’S SNOW CONEANDSNACKSHOP… RACHEL’S EAT SHOP… GRIFFIN’S DAIRY MART (Terrell)…JIM’S RESTAURANT (Kaufman)… GRIFFIN’S DAIRY MART (Terrell)…FRED’S BARBECUE (Kaufman) *some new ones* An extra reading treat from Sarah Lois Kelly: “Hey, Don, I realize I’m older than you, but not by THAT much! In 1950, I was three!”
The earliest eating establishment I remember was when I was very young! It was on the corner, across the street from what is now the SPELLMAN MUSEUM. Where the museum is now was the old Western Auto Store (first floor), and on the mezzanine was Marie Robertson’s (my cousin) Beauty Shop. I remember one day my cousin, Nancy, and I came down from the beauty shop to run across the street (from between two parked cars, almost causing a wreck) to the café to get chocolate malts! I think the store was called “PARKER’S.”
Another early café was called RACHAEL’S and was located in the same building as CECIL’S GARAGE. CiCi’s PIZZA is there now. The café was close enough to the Elementary School (Themer– called GRAMMAR SCHOOL then) that I could run over there and get a hamburger at lunch!–a special treat for me! Mom nearly always made our lunches for us (Mike and Pat and sister, Kathy) to carry to school. When I was still in “grade school,” Aunt Edna Feagin had a café (I don’t ever remember visiting) located in the building next to the old Post Office. (the same place Gossett’s café was later) **Themer: This description fits the location where earlier George and Verda Mae had their café–(Nichols)–where my Dad took most of his meals after moving here from Oklahoma, before marrying my Mom.** In my teens, Bob Futrell had a café with a long eating counter along one side of the room and bar stools and booths along the other wall. It was next to the Funeral Home. **Themer: I believe this was what I remember as “City Drug,” which was a combination drug store and café. We Jr. High guys would congregate there after school and get the best lime/cherry limeades–large (10 cents), medium (7 cents)–and in my memory, Sharon Kinsey (later Sharon Martin) was one of the counter clerks. I remember, also, a very popular pinball machine near the entrance.** Chris Café in 1980s Terrell was the best place to take my banking customers for business lunches. It was known for good steak and baked potatoes. They always had clean tablecloths and a great waitstaff! Although I did not know the owner personally– Chris Cacus–he had the reputation of being “quite a character!”
In 1989, when I opened the Forney Branch of the American National Bank of Terrell, Mary Gossett’s Café was the place to go for lunch. The food was always great homecooking, and amazing pies were made daily by someone locally (Betsy Garner, I think, but am not sure!) There were booths around the perimeter and tables and chairs in the center of the room…..also long tables. When the individual seating was filled, people would sit at the long tables next to strangers–a great way to meet people of the community from all walks of life! It seemed to be a more friendly time compared to today’s Forney of so many new people.
Thinking back, I remember looking around one day and counting four multi-millionaires in the room; the average person could not have spotted them just judging by their clothes! The RETIRED GOVERNOR OF TEXAS was in khakis, while a land developer was in faded blue jeans, shirt with a “worn” collar, and well-used WalMart tennis shoes! Another land developer was in old jeans and a plain plaid shirt, and a local business man was in cut-off blue jean shorts, t-shirt, and red suspenders! **Themer: I’m pretty sure I recognize these three descriptions.** Many thanks to Sarah, who closed with the following: “I hope this helps; If not, I won’t get my feelings hurt. It was nice to take a stroll through my memories.”
And thanks to all the rest of you who sent information for the “eating places of older Forney.” And, I’m sure a few of you out there have somewhat differing memories, for nearly every month some faithful reader stops me in town and says, “Themer, are you sure it happened that way.....or “Don, are those the exact names and locations..... or “Why didn’t you write about this person or that event?”
My answer usually is, “Thanks for reading; if you have differing information or new contributions good for Forneyites to consider, please leave the information at the Messenger office; I will get in touch! I LOVE discussing Forney and its history!”
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