Sugar Grove
By Paula Mitchell
For those readers who never saw any of the Burma Shave signs, there is a lesson of the 1930s and 1940s history.
During this time period, since there were no interstates, everyone drove the two-lane roads. Burma-Shave was introduced in 1925 by the Burma-Vita company in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Burma-Shave brand of brushless shaving cream was supported through an advertising program. Burma-Shave signs were posted all over the countryside in farmers’ fields. They were small red signs with white letters.
Five signs were placed about 100 feet apart. Each contained one line of a four-line couplet. The fifth sign advertised Burma-Shave, the popular shaving cream. Sales increased, and at its peak, Burma-Shave was the second highest selling brushless shaving cream in the United States. Sales began to decline in the 1950s, and in 1963, the company was sold to Philip Morris, with the well-known advertising signs removed at that time.
The writer is sure that the Burma-Shave signs actually saved some lives. People would read them, laugh, and then be more careful driving.
The following signs are for the reader to enjoy.
Don’t stick your elbow
Out so far
It may go home
In another car.
Burma Shave.
The midnight ride
Of Paul for beer
Led to a warmer
Hemisphere.
Burma Shave
Cautious rider
To her reckless dear
Let’s have less bull
And a little more steer.
Burma Shave
Don’t lose your head
To gain a minute
You need your head
Your brains are in it.
Burma Shave
Passing school zone
Take it slow
Let our little
Shavers grow.
Burma Shave
She kissed the hairbrush
By mistake
She thought it was
Her husband.
Burma Shave
Around the curve
Lickety-split
Beautiful car
Wasn’t it?
Burma Shave
Car in ditch
Driver in tree
The moon was full
And so was he.
Bruma Shave
No matter the price
No matter how new
The best safety device
In the car is you.
Burma Shave
A guy who drives
A car wide open
Is not thinkin’
He’s just hopin’.
Burma Shave
These signs were a real “service” to America, even though it was just an advertisement. It was one of the rare “really useful” ones!
As far as the writer knows, there were no Burma Shave signs in Pendleton County.
Life’s little instructions to make one’s life much better include the following:
- Give children a thumbs up.
- Hold doors open for others.
- Let people cut in front in traffic.
- Keep babies entertained in grocery lines.
- Smile at passersby
Tuesday’s showers of 68 hundredths of an inch were ever so welcome in the community. Rain is a valuable commodity right now. There are whispers of wells going dry should rain not come this way. Thank goodness the temperatures are more in the tolerable zone.
This week’s clickety-clacks for the chin waggers are as follows:
- The oldest church still standing today is the Dura-Europes church in Syra, dating back to the early third century.
- At any given time, there are about 2,000 thunderstorms in progress.
- The first United States state fair was held in 1941 in Syracuse, New York.
- In his early teens, Henry Ford made extra money in his teens as a pocket watch repairman.
- Built in the 27th century, the first pyramid, Pyramid of Djoser, was a six-tier, four-sided structure.
Quotes for the week are as follows:
“Harsh words can break a person’s heart. Harsh words break the spirit.” — Unknown
“Music is the strongest form of magic.” — Marilyn Manson
“Service without humility is selfishness and egotism.” — Mahatma Gandi
“It’s hard to beat who never gives up.” — Babe Ruth
“Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.” — John Adams
Sitting inside with a glass of lemonade is where one will hear the “Talk of the Grove.”
The late Martin Smith and Harry Grogg reunion was held Saturday. It was so nice to be able to join the families together. Having family from Illinois and New York, along with Virginia and West Virginia, made it even more special; making the occasion a real nice turn out with good food.
Bob and Marti Fisher of Romney visited Friday in the home of Willard and Judy Rader.
Aug. 4 is the day the area’s very own Pendleton County native, Caylie Simmons, will be competing for the Miss USA pageant. Tune in to see how proud she will make the county residents.
Rhonda and Helen Nash enjoyed a recent visit from Ed and Nancy Giddens, Rhonda’s dear friends from Tanzania, East Africa. Rhonda served on the mission field with them for two years in the early 1980s, and Ed and Nancy were career missionaries for 35 years, retiring in 2015. Moving from California to a new home on the East Coast, they stopped at Nashland with their pup, Sunshine, for a sweet reunion.
Rhonda and Helen Nash enjoyed volunteering at the end-of-summer-reading party Saturday afternoon at the Pendleton County Library.
Roberta Lilly and Caryn Lambert of Beckley visited Saturday with Wesley and Becky Puffenbarger and family, along with Robert and Nancy Hodges.
Following the Smith/Grogg reunion on Saturday, Phil Downs motored to the Smith homeplace in Stoney Run to attend a family gathering with Ben and Tammy Hall and Sue and Dave Kuykendall.
Concerns for the week are as follows: Bob Adamson, Dyer Anderson, John Ashley, Roger Ashley, Mercedes Aumann, Richard Bennett, ‘Bo’ Boggs, Marie Cole, Christian Dasher, Benny Evick, Isaac Eye, Linda Eye, Marie Eye, Mary Eye, Carl Gant, David Gillespie, Lola Graham, Patsy Green, JC Hammer, Marlene Harman, Marvin Hartman, Steve and Armanda Heavner, Grace Hedrick, Jim Hiner, Evan Hise, Tim Hively, Alma Harper, George Hevener, Edsel and Mary Ann Hogan, Virgil Homan, Jr., Adalbert Hoover, Keith Hoover, Myrtle Hoover, Debbie and Enos Horst, Lisa and Mike Jamison, Jessica Janney, Alice Johnson, Richard Judy, Marsha Keller, Kim Kline, Laura Kropp, Ginger Knight, Tracie Knight, Melissa Lambert, Robert Lambert, Ronnie Lambert, Rex Landis, Roger and Skip Mallow, Yvonne Marsh, Ed May, Gene McConnell, Gary McDonald, Neil McLaughlin, Rose Miller, Bruce Minor, Tom Mitchell, Barbara Moats, Gloria Moats, John Morford, Bill Mullenax, Helen Nash, Aaron Nelson, Ruth Nelson, Cheryl Paine, Walt Pitsenbarger, Wanda Pitsenbarger, Andy Pond, Janice Propst, Eldon “Butch” Puffenbarger, Alda Propst, Janis Propst, Mike Propst, the Stanley Propst family, Tom Rader, Brandon Reel, Charles Rexrode, Jason Rexrode, Linda Fay Rexrode, Pam Rexrode, Dennis Riggleman, Mike Roberts, the Rose Robinson family, Donna Ruddle, Jenny Ruddle, Mary Sawyers, the Bonnie Shanholtz family, Brittany Shriver, Annie Simmons, Barry Simmons, Greg Simmons, Phyllis Simmons, Erin Simmons, Eva Simmons, Judy Simmons, Nelson Simmons, Robbie Sites, Mike Skiles, Tina Stuben, Steve Stump, Elizabeth Terry, the Rosa Tichenor family, Linda and Larry Vandevander, Sandra Vandevander, Raymond Varner, Amy Vaus, Estelle Wagner, Rene White, Judy Williams, Ann and Ed Wimer, Margaret Wimer.
