Treasure Chest Thursday is a daily prompt at Geneabloggers encouraging bloggers to create a post with the main focus being a family treasure, an heirloom or even an everyday item important to the family.
This flue cover is all that remains of the
Davis Store,
once a vibrant little enterprise built by my great-grandfather Walter Davis and
operated by his sons Millard and Orvin, my maternal grandfather. For over 20
years, the store served the community of Shenandoah, Virginia.
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Davis Store in the 1920s
corner of Sixth St and Pennsylvania Ave, Shenandoah, VA |
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My grandmother Lucille Rucker Davis behind the counter
Davis Store 1940s
The flue cap probably went with this stove. |
Even after the store closed in the 1940s, the apartment
continued to house renters until recent years. Eventually asbestos made the
building unsafe; termite damage made it not even worth flipping. Besides, the
corner lot was too valuable for other uses. On April 16, 2015, the building was
bulldozed.
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April 16, 2015
photo courtesy of Jan Hensley |
That I have any souvenir at all is by sheer luck. I was
chatting with my cousin who casually informed me that the old store building
was being torn down that day. She said it with all the enthusiasm accompanying
a report of the day’s trip to the grocery store. For me, it was big news that
demanded she get over there right away and take a picture at least. However, my
cousin had no love for the store building; she actually lived in the apartment
as a child, and the memories of a cold building with poor heat and no hot water
have not left her.
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April 16, 2015
photo courtesy of Jan Hensley |
I seldom post on Facebook, but I did that day – a mini
tribute to the old store on its passing. Jan Hensley, a dedicated researcher of
families in the Shenandoah Valley and one with whom I have collaborated, saw my
post and scurried over to the corner of Sixth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue to
snap a picture. She even spoke to one of the workers and asked if there were
anything worth snatching from the rubble. He thought a minute and soon brought
out the flue cover.
This winter scene is a common one for flue covers. A
pristine model is currently for sale on eBay for $13.75. This illustrates the paradox
of many heirlooms: they are worthless and priceless at the same time.
© 2016, Wendy Mathias.
All rights reserved.
Worthless and priceless at the same time, so very true. How amazing that your post was seen in time to get yourself a remembrance of the store.
ReplyDeleteWendy, Jen sounds like a wonderful friend! She saved the day. You could not save the building but you have a token and photographs.
ReplyDeleteI like that phrase, "worthless and priceless"!
ReplyDeleteI too like that phrase "worthless and priceless". I think this particular flue is definitely priceless for you and your family!
ReplyDeletebetty
That is so pretty.
ReplyDelete