Country Clippers And Steel Magnolias

The grandmas were talking about the possibility of a beauty shop in Marleewood. They thought that it would be fun if they could get volunteers to come in and fix hair sometimes. The volunteers wouldn't have to be a licensed operator, they could be family members and friends. They could be whoever wanted to be part of the Marleewood adventures.
Grandma Lu said, "I just have such fond memories of your shop, The Country Clippers. Like you said, it was the same building that your dad had his shop in. Do you remember how sick I was sometimes? You would offer to pick me up and take me home. I always refused you though. I think it was a matter of pride.  I don't think I lived much more than two (2) blocks away. I just needed to walk to keep up my strength. I had a specially made walker for me. Multiple Sclerosis is no fun. I'm so happy now that I am in remission. I don't need any equipment anymore because of a life saving medicine change."
"Your shop was always so homey with your decorations in that big bay window. I remember that you had decorations for all occasions." Grandma Lu took a drink and thought a minute and said, "You always seemed so happy when you were at work. Didn't anything bad ever happen in that shop? You would think in an old building like that, something would."
Grandma B started to laugh and said, "Oh my goodness it sure did. But you know when something bad happens you just have to deal with it and get on with your life. I can remember one time years ago I had forgotten my appointment book. We had a snowstorm that night with about 15" of snow. We lived on the edge of town and I had to walk to town to get my book to cancel all of my appointments. Guess what, they all came anyway!"
"Then one time the pipes in the ceiling burst and the sewer got messed up. That's just part of owning an old building."
Grandma Lu laughed and said, "I know why your customers ventured out in the snow. Your shop was like the one in the movie, Steel Magnolias.

When you had an appointment you knew you were going to meet friends and laugh. I can remember Carole and I picking at each other and laughing. Or if you had had a bad week you knew you could talk about it and get it off your chest. You just didn't want to cancel because that meant it would be just one more week without seeing your friends."
Grandma B said, "You know I didn't advertise. So years and years ago I ordered some jackets and shirts with Country Clippers on them and sold them to the customers for what it cost me. Not too long ago someone gave me one of the jackets that I had given to my nephew. I also had the Greyhound bus stop there for four (4) years. It kept me busy that's for sure."
"Do you want to know a secret? I'm going to tell you anyway, Grandma Lu laughed, "I just threw away a can of hair spray you sold me about twenty years ago. Quit spewing your coffee! I can't help that I save stuff. You charged me an arm and a leg for it. I never used it but thought it was valuable." Oh how they laughed. Being with friends is so much fun. Grandma Lu thought that she heard Grandma B say, "I probably gave it to ya." (Surely not!)
Grandma Lu started talking to Marlee and Grandma B said, "You are making me think of the olden days again." She whispered so Marlee wouldn't hear. "I used to do Santa's hair and beard every year at Christmas time." It was Grandma Lu's turn to almost choke and said, "That was something I needed to know. I always wondered where Santa got his beautiful curly hair and snow white beard."
"Do you remember the very special Santa that let little Matthew feel his beard with his hands because he couldn't see his white hair and beard? That was a special story wasn't it? I think about Matthew sometimes and wonder how he is doing."
"Once again I am rambling, "B".  Shall we take a ride and see if Marlee's mama is at her shop? She may have some ideas about volunteering at Marleewood."
On the way over to Studio 754 they noticed that Marlee's friends were all outside playing. The weather had turned warm and beautiful. I think there is a reason all the children were outside. Some of them even went to school. Oh, I know. I think it is Spring Break!. Oh look! There is Kylee with some daffodils. So pretty. Spring is here....

Marlee Might Have A Good Idea

While Marlee and the grandmas were eating lunch of course, the stories started to flow. "So okay, Grandma B what was so interesting about your dad's barber shop?"

"Well, nothing really interesting except if you were his daughter, or interested in history which I know you are. The big mirror that hangs in the shop now which also has a beauty shop in it, was my dad's. I used it when I had the Country Clippers Beauty Shop in it. When I sold it there was a provision that when and if the new owners sold the building that I would get my dad's mirror back."

"Wow, that is for sure an interesting fact. That is definitely a family treasure. Hopefully that will remain safe down through the generations. I bet people don't give the history of the mirrors in their beauty shop a second thought."

"You know I never met your dad. I knew your mom though, but not him."

Grandma B got out her phone and said, "Here's a picture of my dad. I think most people liked him. I know I sure did."

Then Grandma Lu said, "I know, there is just something about dad's isn't there? I loved mine too."

They continued eating and visiting. Finally Grandma Lu said, "You know, "B", there are so many folks that do their hair at home because of the convenience and the lower cost to do it at home.

 Some people do it because it is just so darn much fun. Our friend, Terrie had her hair done at home the other day by her fun sister-in-law Huey. It really turned out great didn't it? We used to have a lot of fun years ago dancing to Bill's County Liners music. He had a building in Flemington too. I may still have one of their pins for my Stetson. Ah memories...
 Our friend Carole Rogers and I used to do hair in my kitchen. I think a lot of ladies do that. You can grab something out of the fridge when you want to, the cost of what we used to call "a frosting kit" was less than five (5) dollars) and you always had someone to laugh and visit with. I can remember so many of my friends' husbands would come over too and when the "victim's" hair was done we would have a bbq or some kind of a get together. Of course, that only happened when their hair turned out good. Wouldn't Carole be surprised that I kept these thirty (30) year old pictures? They were pictures of just one day that we had fun at my house. It was so much fun and it didn't turn out green or orange, thank goodness. See that one picture that I am in? You had done my hair in three different colors. I just loved it. Haven't had it done like that since.

1944-2011

I'll tell you something else interesting. Carole went to beauty school and had her own shop in Springfield. She served champagne and strawberries on Mondays to get more customers in on an off day. Then her customers started complaining that came on the other days. So she had to serve that every day. She had a limit though; only one or she would have spent more money than she brought in and other things we won't mention today (giving Marlee a rather pointed look) and chuckled. It was a wonderful thing that Carole knew how to style and perm hair. When I took care of her mother she and I couldn't leave her house so Carole did both her mom's hair and mine in her mom's home. Being a beauty operator is a wonderful service to others.

Marlee said, "Mama shop" The grandmas laughed and said, "Yes your mama has a beauty shop too doesn't she?" Marlee frowned and said, "No, Marleewood shop."
Grandma B and Grandma Lu looked at each other and said, "I wonder if she means that Marleewood should have a beauty shop. Hmm. Actually that's not a bad idea is it? Maybe we could have operators come and volunteer their time." They started laughing and laughing. They had said almost the same thing at the same time. Often friends do that when they have known each other a long time.
The next story will be about Country Clippers. Grandma B's Beauty Shop that Grandma Lu just loved because it was the beginning of a friendship and maybe some story telling?

Marlee And The Grandmas Are On The Road Again

As the Grandmas and Marlee were driving through the little town of Flemington, Grandma Lu once again started talking about those olden days. She kind of chuckled and said, "You know I was talking about that movie that Tom Mix made here. If you had a nickel or as much as seven (7) cents you could go see a movie in those days. I have a feeling that was about like one of our quarters in value though. Boy things have changed, haven't they?" Grandma B agreed. They  both were kind of quiet thinking about change; some for the good and some not so good.
 Grandma Lu mentioned to Marlee and Grandma B that anytime that new businesses were being established the folks needed lots of lumber to build those buildings. "You know the lumberyard here in Flemington was huge, guys. It went clear back for like now would be about a half a block or more. I'm just curious who planted the trees, because at that time Flemington didn't have any trees. I wonder where they got their lumber if they didn't have any trees. Maybe there was a sawmill around here somewhere. It was only flat grass land. I suppose they needed nails too. I can't even imagine all of the things you need when you first start a lumber yard. All of this just really makes you think about how hard everyone worked in those days."
 "Remember that big produce building I talked about? Well, that was originally owned by a Mr. Brown who had a Hatchery in it. You said that you had a Grandma Brown in Flemington, Grandma B. I wonder if the Brown that owned that building was a relative of yours. So many questions, and not very many people left to answer them. It changed owners many times. Marlee, they sold eggs there too just like you. They sold chickens, and rabbits, cream and turkeys too."
Marlee was starting to get antsy and wanted to go back to Humansville. Grandma B winked at Grandma Lu and said, "Sounds good to me."
Grandma Lu was quiet for awhile and grinned, "You know that one time a beauty operator turned my hair green? Green as grass, I tell you. I hadn't started going to your shop yet. She was in Hermitage not far from where I lived. She was using a Revlon color. I was not aware of my colorful hair when a Revlon salesman just happened to walk in. This is what he said, "Well, Star, are you starting a new trend by coloring your ladies' hair green?" Well, I'm here to tell you, I turned that chair by myself in a hurry. Yup, he was so right. My hair was so green, not just a tinge, but bright green. I was new to Humansville and had a new job to go to at Northwood Hills Care Center. I could not, would not go to work with green hair. I think if someone had looked really close, they could have seen smoke come out of my ears I was so angry. Interestingly enough the salesman said that they had been having trouble with that particular color and had the answer to my prayer. He told her how to do it and I went out the door with no green hair." Grandma B choked and spluttered and said, "I just cannot believe all the bad luck you have had in the beauty shops. I'm sure glad I didn't do anything bad to you."
Grandma Lu said, "I tell you it gets so bad sometimes I just cover up my face and am afraid to look!" Then of course, she laughed.
They were soon back in Humansville.
Grandma B said, "Let's go by my old shop. I have some history for you that you may not know."
Grandma B said, "My dad, Rex Brown, had a barber shop in the same building that mine was. It was called Rex's Barber Shop. Mom said that he cut almost as many women's hair as he did men. He also gave my mom her perms. You know what, Grandma Lu, you should write my dad's story. He was so interesting. I know that Mom would give you lots of information."
Grandma Lu gave her a smile and a thumbs up and soon they were there. Marlee was excited to say the least. She wanted out of the car. She also wanted something to eat and drink. That little cafe was close by.
While they were at the cafe Grandma B told Marlee and Grandma Lu something very interesting that will be in tomorrow's story.

Did Tom Mix Come To Flemington On The Frisco High Line?

"After Mr. and Mrs. Fleming had built their home and the Hill House had been built then many other businesses came to be. Mainly because of someone's great idea of making paper fliers that encouraged folks to settle in the new community of  Flemington, Missouri. The first passenger train came through Flemington in 1898. That was a very long time ago, Marlee. With the railroad,  buildings had to be built such as the depot. The first railroad agents were Martha and Lillis Hill. I don't know if these folks were also part of the Hill family that owned the hotel or not.

 The Hill name was mentioned several times. This train ran from Kansas City to Springfield; stopping at Flemington and on to Bolivar and beyond to  many little stops along the way. I thought one interesting thing I read in the book was that turkeys along with cattle were shipped in the box cars to market. You didn't hear much about poultry being a good market for farmers other than cattle. There must have been farmers close by that enjoyed a good market for them.
 The train had a nickname of The Frisco High Line. It brought not only business and passengers but it may have brought a new movie actor soon to be a star to town. There is no record of how Tom Mix and his movie crew did travel to Flemington but for this little story let's pretend he did arrive by The High Line. The year the movie was made was 1910 so many or almost all of the records have been lost. The name of the movie he made was the The Range Rider. This silent movie has been lost to the best of my knowledge. I think it was called a short film because of it's very short length. Some folks from  Flemington as well as Humansville

were in it too. They were called "extras" or part of the crowd. Marlee, your great grandfather, Leroy Brown was in the movie. Can you believe it? How much fun is that? I would have loved to have seen it. The story line was so much fun to think about. Tom Mix, the handsome cowboy came to the large western ranch with his big White cowboy hat that signified that he was a good guy. (The Sheriff) Well, the elder of the two daughters of the rancher whose name was Mary fell in love with Tom. The ranch foreman was not a bit happy about that so the foreman got fired because of his bad behavior. He then became a cattle rustler and an enemy of the Sheriff for sure. There was a cattle stampede and a number of the cowboys wounded in the battle. Of course, Tom was the hero of this little film.

Here are some pictures of the buildings in Flemington that were used and some of the actors.
A huge home called the Rock House was the home of George Skidmore and his family when the movie crew came to town. It was later called the Avery Ranch."
Grandma B drove her car through the main areas of where the busy little town had a broom factory (Owned by Ashley Henry) in later years. There was a huge produce building.


 As well as churches, and cafe's. There were so many in those wonderful days.
Many or almost all of the original buildings have been left to deteriorate because of lost ownership, fire, wind and just too many years. It is said that the railroad deeded back its property to the village of Flemington perhaps in the late 1970's or 1980's.
It was time to go back to Humansville, but that makes time for Grandma Lu to tell another story......
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I am going to put in a movie clip of Tom Mix that has been thankfully saved. However even though he made over 300 films only a small percentage of them have been saved in their original state and many not saved at all. If you enjoy history as I do, there is a lot of information about Tom Mix. He was a character for sure. He had such an interesting and colorful life. I hope you enjoy seeing this little clip. You will only hear music. The script is on your screen. He was a child hero in those days. I was lucky to see a Tom Mix comic book. What fun.

After all these years the video has been deleted due to the youtube account being eliminated. How sad

3/12/25

The Hill House And Marlee

"When I was reading through the book that Sharon gave me called "Polk County Classics" I found your Great Aunt Ann's hotel. I couldn't believe it. It is a wonderful book. It was originally called the Hill House because a couple by the last name of Hill were the original owners. It was huge. They say that it was the second house built in Flemington as far as they
know. It was used as a hotel for folks that came in on the train. They stayed at the Hill house then they rented a rig or buggy at the livery stable and took their produce to lots of little towns around there. You know where some of them are. Urbana and Elkton and Louisburg were some. Isn't it strange to even close your eyes and think of your ancestors living and working here?" She said that because just as she was talking,
they had turned into the road that went to what once was a bustling little town.
Grandma B took over the story telling by telling Marlee and her friend that Ora Brown, her daddy's mama or Marlee's great great grandmother did hair in the hotel. Her Aunt Tincy had showed her a picture of her doing just that years ago. "My Great Aunt Ann did also. Her real name was Anna Quillin Fellers but everyone called her Ann. She is buried here in the Flemington cemetery. Marlee someday I will show you all the records that my friend, Sandy and my cousin got me about your ancestors. I will keep them for you. They will be on line for you also."
Grandma Lu said, "I read that Flemington even had a bandstand right close to your Aunt Ann's hotel, or then the Hill House/Hotel. They had band concerts, but later on they built a band stand that was located in the Flemington Park. Humansville did too. In fact many of these little towns had their own bands."

"Folks in the 1930's dressed in clothes that were so much fun. They wore big hats and long dresses. Often the ladies could be found strolling the grounds of the park in Flemington with their beautiful clothes. Men often used canes because they were stylish, not because they needed them. Those were fun times. However, I sure wouldn't want to climb a ladder or do outside chores in the summer in those long dresses, would you?"
"The Hill House hotel was large enough that I'm sure that there were weddings there as well. That often happened when weddings had a large amount of people that were going to attend because of the space it had."

When they turned into Flemington it made the grandmas sad because it is no longer a busy little town. The original school is gone now, but that book even had a picture of the students inside and outside. Very unusual for that to be done in those days. (1912) Guess what, a Mr. Hill was the school teacher. That is not unusual though. Many folks had several different jobs. I don't know if that is the case or a different family member.

1930-1941

The folks with their own money later on in 1930 built a new school, but because the train wasn't running through Flemington anymore, people moved. There is some discussion about when the train quit running through Flemington. It was probably about thirty years ago or so. Anyway that meant that there weren't enough children to attend school there anymore. They started using it as a community building like we have in Humansville. It has since gotten too old to use anymore.
 People in Humansville have fond memories of Flemington and the good times. They visit about the days of grocery stores, a bank, a blacksmith shop, cafes and many more businesses.
Marlee said, "I'm going to go to school someday, but I'm too little now. But I work too. I sell eggs."
She showed Grandma Lu that she had some eggs in the car to deliver to someone when they got back to town."
As they were driving out of Flemington. Grandma Lu said, "Did you know that this little town is famous? I will tell you all about it. It is so cool. It again, is a missing piece of history for many folks."
Grandma Lu will tell the story of Tom Mix the movie actor in another story.
                             ***************
In tomorrow's story there will be pictures of the first train and the people that were it's agents. There also are some pictures of the first businesses in Flemington and how they got to be there. I'm sure there were ladies that also sold eggs to the first general stores for spending money to buy things that they needed. I know for sure that like Marlee, their children helped feed and gather the eggs as part of their growing up chores. History continues on through the ages.

Grandma B And Marlee Go To Flemington, Missouri

Everyone had enjoyed talking and laughing about some of the crazy things that happened to Grandma Lu in beauty schools and beauty shops during her life. Grandma B said, "You realize don't you that Marlee has had barbers and beauty operators in her family since the 1800's? Marlee had no clue how long ago that was, but Grandma Lu surely did. Just like Marlee, Grandma Lu started asking questions.
Grandma B said, "I have an idea. You guys have anything planned for today? Why not take a road trip to Flemington? My Great Aunt Ann used to own the hotel there. She had a barber shop there too. My Grandma Brown worked there as well."
So they all piled into Grandma B's car and away they went. It wouldn't take long to get there because it was just a few miles. But as usual, Grandma Lu had to tell a story. She said, "Marlee in the olden days you say I talk about a lot, ladies had really really long hair. They would brush their hair a hundred times a day. When they did that their brush would get full of their hair. On my grandma's dresser, she called it a bureau, she had what she called a hair receiver. She and other ladies put their hair from their brushes into these through a little hole in the top. They made pin cushions out of their hair when they had enough.

 Isn't that funny?" Marlee didn't know what a pin cushion was, so Grandma Lu started talking to Grandma B about the history of Flemington that she knew. She didn't know all that much. It also was a bustling little town when it was first settled by Mr. Robert Fleming. He was fairly wealthy and had lived in Humansville before he bought a lot of flat grass land (no trees) that he named after himself. He figured that since the railroad was going right through there he would make a fortune. He and his wife had a really fancy home there. It even had indoor plumbing. This is so fun to think about. It had a huge vat in the attic to catch rainwater which they used for bathing. Oh how I wish I had rainwater to use. It makes your hair look so shiny."
Grandma B said, "Wow, how do you know so  much about Flemington? It's almost gone now. So many of the buildings have fallen down or burned down. Not very many people live there any more."
Grandma Lu just chuckled and said,  "Well for one thing I used to go there with my friends for a drink once in awhile when I lived in Humansville. There was an AmVets Club there. We were quite involved with helping the folks that needed baskets of food at holiday time. Just like you and Marlee were in Humansville last year. I still have friends that live in Flemington."
 "I love to read and I also love history. So when I went to the library to do some research for the stories that I write Sharon helped me by giving me some books to look at. One of them was about Flemington. It was a boom town in the first days. He donated a lot of land to the people there. He gave enough for a cemetery, school, a park and a Methodist church. He and his wife are buried there in the old Flemington cemetery. My friends Carole and Ada spent many hours out at that cemetery volunteering their time to honor those that had lived there.
 He also started a skimming station. Do you know what that is? I didn't know. I had to get on my computer to find out. A skimming station was where the cream was skimmed off the top from the milk that farmers brought to town. That was common in those days. I had never heard of it. My father used a milk separator. My mama had that to do every morning and night. It was an awful lot of work. It had so many parts to keep very very clean."
Marlee heard the word "milk" and said, "My baby sister, Whitlee Jo drinks goat's milk. My mama buys it special for her. She blows bubbles after she drinks it. The grandmas laughed.
They visited with Marlee about her new baby sister and more things we will talk about in tomorrow's story.

Grandma Lu Says Bobby Pins Are Magic

Marlee wanted to know what those things were that Grandma Lu was fiddling with in her fingers. "Oh, these are bobby pins. It seems like they are just like magic. I don't even use them any more, but they keep appearing in my pockets, my purse, and even in a junk drawer. The other day there was one in my silverware drawer. They are magic they keep disappearing and appearing."
Marlee wanted to know what they were used for and why they had a funny name. Well, of course, Grandma Lu had a story to tell.
She signaled the waitress and asked for a refill for her coffee and started the story of the Bobby pins.
"Well, bobby pins have been used for years and years. They still are being used, Marlee. They were invented by a man that lived in a country called France. He sold the first two (2) for thirty-five cents! The reason they are called Bobby pins is because during the Roaring Twenties when Mrs. Owens first came to Humansville was a time that women decided to do away with such long hair that men expected them to wear. The new style was called the Bob Cut because the haircut itself meant that women had their hair bobbed off by barbers sometimes in the small rural towns. It was almost an act of independence from men. They wanted to wear their hair the way they wanted it to look. In order to hold their hair in place a hair pin was needed that was small, the same color as their hair if possible and needed little bumps on the inside of it to hold hair in place. So that's where the name Bobby Pin came from; the bob cut.
A lady that you never got to know because once again it was in the olden days, was Mrs. Marie Roseanna Antil Aubin. She was my husband, Fran's grandmother. She also decided to get her hair cut short in a bob cut. Oh my goodness the fur flew when her husband saw what she had done. He settled down after awhile and said, "Well, it will grow again." She never did let it grow long again. She loved it shorter because it was much easier to take care of.

My mother did the same thing. I have shown you her picture when she graduated from high school. She also, decided that long hair was a terrible nuisance and went to a barber shop and had her hair cut. You talk about an angry father. My grandfather was a stern man anyway, but his daughter had cut her hair without his permission! It was unheard of in those days to go against a father's wishes. The whole thing was that in those olden days you talk about, Marlee, there was no running water or electricity in the house. The water had to be heated on the cook stove and no hair dryer to dry your hair with. Just thin towels mostly made of linen if I can remember correctly.

They didn't soak up the water very well, so often when ladies washed their hair they would go outside with their combs and brushes if the weather was nice, or stand beside the heat stove as my mother called it and dry their hair.
Then came the day that the bobby pin was used for something else. My mother sometimes wanted curly hair so she made pin curls in her hair. I know, it sounds crazy, but once in a blue moon I have done that if I had a piece of hair that just didn't do what I wanted it to. You put your finger against your head and wind your hair around your finger and then fasten  it with a bobby pin.
 I can remember staying at one of my mother's friends' house. They were farmers. She always did her hair in pin curls so that her hair would look nice for her husband when he came in for supper after working hard in the fields. The reason I knew that is because I asked her. I am a firm believer in asking questions. I told that little story over a year ago to the son of that lady who had long been gone. He thanked me so much for that little story. He told me it meant the world to him to be reminded how much his parents loved each other. Oh memories, Marlee. Always keep them safe, but remember to share them with others.