By By Lowell McGill
One hot summer day in the early 1950s, on my off day at WATM, I was driving from Perdido to Atmore to pick up my pay check when I came upon an overturned 18 wheeler loaded with canned meats and jars of mayonnaise. The goods inside the big truck were scattered all over Hwy. 31. The accident, which occurred at the Escambia- Baldwin County line, had traffic detoured by way of the dirt road from Hwy. 31 over Perdido Creek into Perdido and back on to Hwy. 31.
Red Emmons and two more friends, who were at the scene, told me more help was needed to pick up and load all the damaged items into another truck. I learned they would pay us $6 an hour each to help with the cleanup and load the cargo into the other truck. Well, I let them know right then that I would be glad to offer my services because that extra money would come in handy when I went back to college in the fall.
If I remember correctly, we worked seven hours to get the job done. When we finished, the driver of the wrecked truck gave each of us $42. In addition, we were given some cans of Spam and mayonnaise to take home.
I could not help but notice that most of the meats were cans of Spam and the jars were filled with mayonnaise. In fact, when we took our short lunch break, we ate Spam, mayonnaise and some sliced loafs of bread brought to us by the driver. He also brought us cold soda pop, which helped the burden of the intense heat inside the aluminum bodies of the two big trucks.
I thought about that accident when I read in the news this week that Hormel Meat Company has increased production of Spam. It seems that folks all across the USA, especially those who have lost jobs, are turning to Spam as one of their main food items. Hormel reported that additional shifts have been added to their work force to keep up the demand for this food item. As most of you know, Spam is a relatively inexpensive meat item.
After reading the story, I went out and bought a couple of cans of Spam and we have enjoyed a few sandwiches for lunch on a couple occasions this week.
I also thought of mayonnaise after having supper at a local restaurant. The waitress asked if I wanted “mayo” on my salad. I told her, no, I want mayonnaise.
You see I am of the old school. I don’t like to hear words like “fridge” for refrigerator and “mayo” for mayonnaise.
The well mannered waitress came by a couple times while my wife and I were eating and would kindly ask “are you good?” I told my wife that is also a new term I have heard used quite often. I suppose the waitress was asking us if we needed anything else. So, I politely answered “we are good.”
I have written in earlier columns about other contemporary words and phrases used incorrectly today. One is the gender term, “you guys”. Often males and females are referred to as “you guys.” Why do they say that? Can you tell me?
Other incorrect words and phrases used by many in the media include “only other”, and ‘return back.” I have written about this earlier. Perhaps, it is being taught in school these days. I really don’t know. But, it is not the way I interpreted my English text book many years ago.
Hey, I am only poking fun at myself. I don’t profess to be a “know it all “ authority on English. As I said, I am “not up” on modern terminology.
In some 1955 local news, an announcement of three local young ladies receiving recognition from Southern Baptist Hospital-Medical College in New Orleans was welcomed. Nursing students, Grace Madison, Dottie Colbert and Joanne Coker, were recognized for outstanding grade accomplishments.
ECHS head football coach A.R. Holmes was selected to coach the Southern All Stars in the annual State High School football game in Tuscaloosa.
Atmore movie star Paul (Smith) visited his mother here for a couple of days. “Strange lady In Town” was one of the 1955 movies he played in.
I’d like to thank the Atmore Historical Society for inviting me to speak at their regular meeting Monday night. It was, indeed, an honor to be with them. This organization performs a great service to the community as a valid source for local, county and state historical subjects.
Lowell McGill is a historical columnist for The Atmore Advance. He can be reached at exam@frontiernet.net