My first memories of Moultrie were of a friendly, busy, small Southern town. Few of the places in my memories are still here.

The Cash Drug Store on the corner where the Hotel Colquitt was (It’s not a hotel now) was one of my favorites. We had lots of downtown drugstores — down one block on the corner was the Crystal Pharmacy — “catty-cornered” across the street was Register’s Pharmacy (I believe it might have been called something else before that name, but I don’t remember), and down the same block on the other corner was Watson’s Drug Store — turn and go one block north, cross the street, and about midway of the block was Arwood Drug Store. All of them friendly and glad to see you come in. If you were lucky enough to park close by, you could “honk” your horn and someone would come out to see what you wanted. Give them your order for a “Coke” (that was a fountain Coca-Cola served in a glass with ice) — some asked for a “dope” (that’s the same thing as a “Coke”) — and of course shakes, sodas, sundaes, ice cream cones — some even served sandwiches and other stuff from the soda fountain — and they would bring it out to car on a tray that hooked on to your window. Now that was real service!

Folks, especially the ladies, would often drive downtown, park, and just sit and watch the people go by — visit with any friends and neighbors that might pass by — and on Saturday, downtown was full of folks who came to town from all over Colquitt County. It was really, really busy. It was hard to find a parking place on Saturday.

And clothing stores — the block around the courthouse was much more fun to shop than any mall I’ve ever been in. Friedlander’s where you could outfit the whole family in the latest fashions, as well as work clothes, overalls, boots, and almost anything you might need — one stop — and get free alterations in the store — cash, charge, or lay-away. Just down the street a few doors was Lazarus Department Store — and on to the corner, cross the street, and turn left and on down the street was Davids, a ladies dress shop — and next, and this is really “way back in time” was Matthew-Moore Store which later became Belk-Hudson — then on Main Street next door to the Crystal Pharmacy was Schreiber’s. If Mr. Schreiber couldn’t fit you and find a style of shoe you liked, you might as well resign yourself to going barefoot. There were several ladies’ dress shops along that same block — they changed hands from time to time — Cissne’s, Reba’s, and a few others. I can’t remember the names of all of them.

The only business still downtown that I can remember is Cranford’s Jewelry Store — and the service and merchandise back then was the same excellent quality they give today. We had several other jewelry stores then — Brasswell’s, Wilson’s and Griner’s are much later additions. Rice Jewelry was on Main Street. It was originally opened under another name, but I can’t rememder it now.

We had two banks on the Square — across from Cash Drug Store was Moultrie Banking Company — and down a door or two from Register’s Drug Store was Moultrie National Bank, now Southwest Georgia Bank.

One other thing I must mention: The Moultrie Observer was delivered in the afternoon — often by young boys on bicycles — had lots of news about social activities — tea partiess, card parties, children’s birthday parties, bridal showers and wedding parties — and weddings, even including what the mothers wore. And election-day nights, folks from all the county and the city would gather out front because The Moultrie Observer posted the results of the election as they came in on the ticker tape. No television — and not very many radios — and no electricity in the county. We depended on The Moultrie Observer to tell us what was going on, and they sure had better get the facts straight.

There’s many, many memories — the hustle and bustle in town during tobacco season — the picture show (theaters) — the library — I could go on and on but I think I have already remembered too much. Those memories remind me of a happy time long past. We miss lots of the good things from the past, enjoy the advantages of the present, and look forward to a better tomorrow.

AIN’T LIFE GREAT!

— Lou C. Vickers