Robert ‘Bob’ Hodge was born in 1929 in Lawrence and lived there until 1947. He then went on to graduate from Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia. After living in a number of states, he moved to Emporia in 1992. While living in Emporia, Hodge spent hundreds of hours researching and indexing newspapers in Lyon, Chase and Greenwood Counties. The Greenwood County Museum has all of Hodge’s indexes for most of the newspapers printed in Greenwood County up into the 1950s. Some of these newspapers started in the 1860s. Hodge was an honorary board member for many years with the Greenwood County Historical Society. This series of ten articles written by Hodge is mainly, but not totally, about his life in Lawrence.
“It was 1942 and the war began. The young adults left, either for service or for “Support the war effort” jobs in defense plants. Kids, of which I was one, about 14 years old, took over the lesser positions like being drugstore soda jerks.
“Barely able to reach the counter, there was some doubt when I applied for the job as to my usefulness, but the glass washing machine was low behind the counter and help was needed.
“During the year, I learned that the “old man” was “rough and tough,” a stereotype Scotsman, a tight wad, a pinch-penny. The fountain manager was no-nonsense, but extremely human.
“Customers came, orders were taken, prepared, delivered and all with an air of “old pro.” Hours could be long, and when the clock neared 10:30 p.m. and clean-up was done, how we hoped the doors would be promptly closed so a last-minute dash of customers wouldn’t make the clean-up tasks have been for vain. Pay stopped at 10:30 regardless.
“Lawrence, at this time, was invaded by a military naval unit—a strange place for the Navy, but it wasn’t for sea-training they came, it was for mathematical, engineering and communication experiences. The state was dry (prohibition dry!) and there wasn’t much going on. The corner drug store became the place to “hang out,” the place where thick malts could be had if one were friendly, (but oh, so watery if one were not!). Classes were over at 10 p.m. and, yes, you guessed it, just time enough to get to town before the drugstore closed. It was hard to be friendly that near closing time, but the “boys” were so alone and they tried so hard to be friendly that one couldn’t help but reciprocate the mood.
“Now get the picture: Glass washer (an electrically operated brush in a sink of soapy water next to the clear rinse machine) was right here. Just at shoulder height to the right, and extending upward above one’s head, was the coke dispenser. Seats at the counter ran both ways from the coke machine, so when washing glassware, only the seats to the left and immediately in front of the soda jerk were visible—those to the right were hidden.
“10:15 p.m. in came friendly sailor, one of the regulars and well-liked. He sat right in front of me as I struggled to catch up on the pile of dirty glassware. He winked, grinned, and ordered a chocolate malt. Well, that didn’t take too long and didn’t make too much of a mess, so one thick malt served right up, then wash, wash and more wash.
“Friend sailor asked, “How are things going?” Jerk replied, “Fine, if I can get out of here on time.” Sailor leans forward with a big smile as he swirls his glass to make the malted fluid collect enough to get another delicious sip. “Tell me, Bob, how is your boss?” I glanced at the clock. It is 10:25. “Oh, he is ok, except he is so”—stopped in midsentence because a co-worker bumped me real hard and instead of saying “pardon me” or “kiss my foot,” he made funny faces and shook his head and wiggled his hand all about, sort of like, you know, index finger on the lip. I glared!
“Turning back to friend sailor, he still being all smiles and waiting, I repeated, while still vigorously washing glasses, “ He is O.K. except he is so tight that he will wait until 10:30 exactly and then walk out onto the sidewalk and look up and down the street and if he sees a single person within a block, he won’t lock the door until they have gone by for fear he would miss a nickel if they were planning to come in.”
“Big noise. Co-worker was quickly carrying a box of trash out to the back room—almost running. Funny, I’d never seen him work that hard or fast before. Sailor leaned back, tilted his glass to capture that last delicious drop as the clock said 10:30. He puts the glass down and grinned even bigger as he glanced to his left (my right).
“From behind the coke machine, I heard a loud sound. I was not even aware that there had been a customer sitting there. “Ahem—Wee, Robert I guess I’d better go check the walks,” and into view came the glare of old “rough and tough” himself as he shuffled toward the door.
“Have YOU ever wished the floor would open up and swallow you whole? Afterthought #1: Guess who got water-thin malts from that night on. Afterthought #2: Old rough and tough was really human, for not another word was ever said about the incident, but the door was more frequently locked right at 10:30.”
