A Concerned Citizen Of Carterville, What Happened?
By Concerned Citizen
May 14, 2006
Once again I wanted to reflect on and post some of my thoughts about
some of the happenings that are going on there in Carterville. I apologize for not
posting as often as I would like.
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of being contacted by my brother for
the chance to eat out and we decided to go to Carterville and try something there.
Since we were both from there we got to reminiscing and talking about how things were
and all of the businesses there and things to do right downtown when we were young
and growing up.
After our meal we took a little walk downtown to see just what
businesses were in each and every building and mentioned what used to be in each
one.
Quite honestly we were both quite appalled to see what wasn't there.
Even a few buildings that looked as if they were about to fall down and probably
should be demolished for safety reasons.
We got to talking and naming each business of our past and while naming
each one we also got to counting. Let me reflect just a bit, 8 gas or service
stations which by the way were all full service and 5 of which were close enough for
walking distance from downtown; I'd like to mention a few just by the service -
Spiller's Mobile, Corbett's Texaco, Gulf, another Texaco, Corder's DX/Sunoco, and let
us not forget Holmes's garage which sold Phillips 66: all of these downtown and then
at the highway there was a Standard/Amoco, a Shell Oil, Jeff's Gulf, and another
Texaco.
There were 2 furniture stores, both downtown, Frost's & Heckels. A
jewelry store, 3 restaurants, of course there was Rushing's 5 & Dime, a shoe
shop, a pool hall, a paint store, a western shop, Hampton's Drug Store, Doc Fine's,
Hancock's, the Eagles, Hooker's Apparel where you could by clothes and shoes, a
hardware store, a donut shop, a pizza place, a baby store - The Tiny Tot Shop, of
course the bank, 2 Grocery stores - Midtown & Foodland, and several other
businesses such as barber shops, etc. All of these right downtown. There was also
another supermarket down the road - Reynolds's Tom Boy, and there were 3
Laundromats.
Seems every building held a business and the business was good.
Whatever you needed or wanted to do you could find downtown or just a
little bit down the road.
A few of the business mentioned are still in business but in another
town.
I.E UPS, Tiny Tot Shop, Western Store.
There were 3 funeral homes, a few insurance agencies, an antique shop,
the dentist office, and of course there were a couple places for our veterans to
socialize.... VFW, etc.
There was even a small grocery in "Johntown", and Spiller's sold
groceries also. You didn't have to go far at all to get what you needed!
My question is, "What Happened"?
I realize that people pass on and retire but why wasn't there much of an
attempt to replace all these businesses?
Why the closing of places like the VFW and now they want to be "wet" but
limit that to only businesses that are already serving alcohol?
Why the want and need for a strip of land that most likely serves
absolutely no purpose or use for them but would have been very beneficial to
Carbondale?
I am beginning to think you may be right Jim on your thinking..... your
place is spic and span yet others around you look terrible....... could be someone or
many may have an interest in your place for some unknown reasons and might be trying
to force your hand.
Hmmm? Let's see here.... a piece of land they don't need and desiring
your place.... Yep! Sounds like a possible "Land Grab" to me.
I mentioned in my last article about some hiring practices. What I meant
was that there seems to be a lot of nepotism...... family hiring family... lot's or
relation working for the same place... I am sure this is still the case. But as
someone who has worked in management for many years, the first rule you are taught
and told to live by is to never ever hire family no matter what qualifications they
have. And please forgive me, as I am not trying to insinuate in any matter that this
type of practice is illegal, as it is quite common not only in other small
communities and other businesses (family owned being an exception), it is just not
morally proper, practical, nor business savvy.
It nearly always never works, causes conflicts and hard feelings. And
yes, does at times cause lawsuits.
Thank you for the great reading material you provide and I will keep
watching and posting my thoughts and comments as I see the need.
© 2006-2008 James Vaughn