Courtesy of – Daryl Ray on Sunday, September 26, 2010 at 7:43pm

Daryl Ray, one of my facebook friends, is such a great story teller and he loves to tell stories of Pickens County. Here is one that I’m sure most everyone who visits my site can relate. Enjoy and please, post your comments, I’m sure Daryl would love for you to share your memories of Tate, Georgia!!!

Driving home from my brother’s house in Marble Hill today, I passed the old depot at Tate, and noticed the signs saying they were moving the Depot across the street. That got me thinking about how much I miss Tate. The Old Tate as I knew it. I was born behind the Depot at Tate Clinic. Back then, that, along with Roper Clinic in Jasper, was the closest thing we had to a hospital. Mama had three of her six children there. It’s now the local Doctor’s office. We lived down the road a mile or so in what I guess may have been one of the Company houses, for the most part all just memories now. Someone correct me if I’m wrong.

I have vague memories of the cafe/gas station that was where the fruit stand is now. We used to pick the papers up there when Mama & Daddy had a paper route. It was a big deal to go along with them and put in the additional sections, then roll and rubber band them.

Across from there was Patterson & Fitts, or Fitts & Patterson, I can’t remember. I seem to recall we got appliances from there. And then there was the gas station on the corner. It’s a Fina now, but way back then, I believe it had the big green dinosaur. I believe some of the O’Shields ran it at one time. Going back up the hill was the little post office, where my cousins had PO Box 1. I’ll bet they still have it.

Next to the post office was Marble Valley Grocery. It was the BIGGEST store I had ever seen. Why, I bet they had 4 isles in there. Bill Hugh Bryan was in the back cutting meat, and I believe it was Willie Maude at the register. There were others who came and went there, including my brother Larry. He’s come a long way since then. Later, I recall the Whites running it. We’d go in there on the way to school, some times. After I moved, the grocery store eventually closed and was converted to a junk store. The Pink Marble Pig’s Head disappeared from the top of the building. I wonder where he wound up?

Going on up the hill was Allred-Jordan Drug Store. Perhaps this is what I miss most. Everyone seemed to have their favorites from the soda fountain, mine being a Cherry Coke and a Liverwurst Sandwich. Don’t knock it ’til you try it. Arthur Allred and his son Marion, along with son-in-law John Jordan filled many a prescription for our family. And we’d tell them to “put it on our bill.” Back in the day, this place was as busy as any chain drugstore. Later, someone made an attempt at making it a sandwich shop, trying to draw back at least the soda fountain crowd. It missed the mark by a mile, as far as I’m concerned.

Across the street was a little shack where Shorty Turner would give you a hair cut. And, yes it was pretty much a hair CUT. There wasn’t much styling back in those days. You might get a splash of Witch Hazel, or some other cologne afterward. I guess some people even got shaves in there. I was WAY to young for that. The thing that stood out to me most was a picture of Shorty sitting in his barber chair getting his hair cut by, well, Shorty. That is actually one thing that got me interested in photography at a young age.

The other business that I can remember was Red Fountain’s Shoe repair. I do remember Red, but I don’t remember having much business there. After all, a pair of Sunday shoes would last me ’til I out grew them, and you really didn’t do much repair on tennis shoes.

That’s the main memories I have of Tate. It’s small, and sad to say, a bit run down these days. It’s not the “thriving metropolis” of years ago. Most of the businesses are gone, the buildings slowly deteriorating from lack of use. But regardless of what it is, or even what it was, it is the place of my birth. It will always have a piece of my heart…  D-Ray

If you feel you have anything to add or detract from this, please feel free. Would love to hear your opinions. Thx, D-Ray

Great memories brother. And to think, I just rushed through there without even a glimmer of thought of days gone by. . . shame on me 🙁 Also, don’t forget Tate Day on Nov. 6th, starting out with a parade through Rabbitown, I believe and out by the old Tate Drug Store, Piggly Wiggly, etc. Uncle Will is usually in charge of it, so be sure to take your camera for pics and go on to the Tate Gym for other festivities. I’ve missed it in years past, but hope to go this year.

Miss the Tate Drug Store! Used to walk up there everyday after school. They had the best hot dogs and sandwiches and of course had to have a comic book!!

I haven’t travelled much over the years. I can recall goin thru Tate and thinking that it was “way” out in the country. My, how my views have changed as I’ve aged. Now its just a hop, skip and jump down the road!

Wonderful story/memories Daryl…I remember some of these things.

I was born at Tate Clinic too. Dr. Boswell delivered me. My granny, Clara Hammontree, worked at the clinic for years and was there when I was born. I remember the post office, the Piggly Wiggly, and most of all the Allred-Jordan drug store as well. Whenever I was sick and Papa would pick me up from school, I always got a butter pecan ice cream from the counter there. Tate has certainly changed!

Tate was home until I was 11. We roamed those streets and woods from daylight til dark, during summer breaks. My beloved Grandmother was in walking distance…..oh, how I miss those days and wish more than anything that my children could have been raised among such fine people, in a world that was so very safe. Thank you, for the memories.

I remember Allred-Jordan and the egg salad sandwiches at the counter. Loved them and butter pecan ice cream was my favorite too!!!

I miss Tate Drug Store, and having a grocery store so close. Funny how when you’re a kid you don’t think about changes like you do when you’re an adult. I also remember thinking, when I was a kid that when I went to Marietta I was “somebody”..LOL

I can remember my brother jumping on the train in front of the house and ride it down to the drug store. He got in trouble every time but it didn’t stop him. I also remember James H. Bryan’s parents running “The Pig”…and we can’t forget the Patterson’s Drygood Store at the foot of the hill. Got several pairs of Buster Brown shoes there. Funny the things we remember