Starting in 1925, the editor of the Fairmont newspaper was Mr. C. E. “Ned” Smith he began to write a column in the newspaper each day called “Good Morning!” In his column, he would include items such as obituaries, happenings at local churches, musings of life, or topical items. No one could capture the town better than Mr. Smith.
I have been fortunate to be able to read many of his columns and enjoyed each and every one of them. These columns tell of the history of Fairmont W.V. as it happened. I thought my readers would also delight in the stories he told, so I will start with the column that pulled me in first. It is about a man in Fairmont who had a business at 322 Main Street in Fairmont. Adams Street is the current name for Main Street now. For those who remember old downtown Fairmont, beside G. C. Murphy’s was a pharmacy called Annan Bonn. Its address was 322 Adams Street [or Main Street in 1925.]
Here is how the column read:
Good Morning!
March 18, 1925
No modern milkshake can compare with Mr. Kerr’s, who held forth 30 years ago, down where the Exclusive Garment shop is now. {322 Adams Street]
In those days, when we walked in, our head came just a trifle above the level of the counter.
“Lo, Mr. Kerr.” “Hello, boy.” “Gimme a milkshake,” “What sort?” “Vanilly.”
First, he would take a glass and place it on the counter; then, he would seek among a row of flavoring containers for the vanilla bottle and pour out a liberal quantity. Next, he would tackle a big cake of ice with an old-fashioned shaver. This he would pass rapidly to and fro over the cake of ice, which produced a sound similar to rubbing a coin over the edge of the piece of glass.
When enough shaved ice had accumulated, he would take a spoon and carefully shove it from the shaver into the glass. A pitcher of milk would be produced, and the glass filled, not quite to the brim. Then a metal cap would be placed carefully on top of the glass, which was carefully screwed in a contrivance fastened to the counter. This contrivance had a crank attached, which, when turned, caused violent tremors in the glass. The thing wouldn’t work unless there were two glasses in place, and Mr. Kerr always preferred to fill two orders at a time, which obviated the use of an empty glass and saved labor.
After considerable turning of the crank, the syrup, ice, and milk mixed into a delicious concoction, all covered with foam. It took about five minutes to perform the operation, and we know of nothing before, nor since that was so well worth the nickle it cost.
{ Before the widespread availability of electric blenders, milkshake-type drinks were more like eggnog, or they were a hand-shaken mixture of crushed ice and milk, sugar, and flavorings.}
I could not find the name of Mr. Kerr’s business, but I’m assuming that it also might have been a pharmacy. I know that we had another pharmacy here in Fairmont, W.V., at one time called Turners on Fairmont Ave. It had a Soda Fountain where you could get drinks and maybe even milkshakes. Mr. Kerr’s sounded more like an egg cream like they have in New York, where they use some milk, seltzer water, and flavoring. That’s alright to the person getting the milkshake made by Mr. Kerr I bet it was a wonderful treat!
The next Good Morning column is about the first Fairmont Theater that was on Main Street also before a fire destroyed it and the fun that the town had in it.
Good Morning!
February 18, 1926
They didn’t build the Fairmont Theatre big enough, after all. Last night, crowds trying to get in to see a vaudeville show and a local exhibition of the Charleston dance, jammed the sidewalk for half a block at two different times.
We reckon the real attraction was the Charleston, and if this is true, the management should arrange to let them dance to their heart’s content.
We are pretty keen for the Charleston ourself. We watched three girls dancing it the other night. They were not professional dancers, but just nice young girls, who danced to entertain the older folks. They put a piece on the Victrola called, “I Won’t Go Home Till Morning,” which is a right lively piece.
When they started to dance, their feet made a peculiar scraping sound on the floor. It sounded like they were crunching roaches. There was a grinding sound, then a scrape, then a pause.
They seemed to be dancing for the sheer pleasure of it. When they began, they watched their feet as if the routine of the steps needed ocular guidance. As the motion increased, we noticed one girl throw back her head and send her arms flying in perfect cadence with her feet. Now her hands are in the air, far above her head; now at the level of her bobbed hair in the posture of an Egyptian goddess. Now, as her feet fly in perfect time, she brings her hands slowly over her breasts and down her sides until they reach her hips. They then go upward again, while her head is thrown back until she gazes directly at the ceiling.
Another of the girls is bending over and throwing the hands out from the hips while her legs gain momentum and give the impression of a horse on a treadmill.
She is bending to the task as though the feet need constant supervision.
The third girl sways slowly from the hips from one side to the other.
The music stops. The three girls fall into each other’s arms, gasping from the violent exercise. Their eyes have the queerest little glitter; their faces are moist at the temples, their bodies still gyrate as if the stoppage of the feet has not yet reached them; the pumping of fresh air back into their lungs is animated.
Yes, we like the Charleston. It provided something to do with the feet.
All glory to Lee Bernard O’Neal and too little Betty Jane Wills, the first-prize winners at the Charleston contest. Lee Bernard is ten, and Betty is five. May their fame increase.!
It sounds like the Charleston was quite the dance back in the day. I can just imagine how all the young folks at the time were anxious to give it a try. I would assume that the older folks felt it was just as garish as when dirty dancing came about.
From how Mr. Smith described that night, I can envision him there. Have you ever tried the Charleston? If so, leave me a comment below.
Here is a video of the movie “Tea for Two,” which has dancers doing the Charleston.
Here are some pictures of the Original Fairmont Theatre on Adams Street in the 1920s.
The Fairmont Theatre opened on June 4, 1923, with Edy Darclea in “Helen of Troy.” The architectural plans were by Fred W. Elliot. The $300,000 theatre by West Virginia Amusement Circuit was located next to the Watson Hotel. It was taken over in 1930 by Warner Bros. Circuit Management Corp. The Fairmont Theatre transitioned to sound but burned down on February 9, 1945.
Warner Bros. built a new 1,561-seat Fairmont Theatre, opening in the same location in 1946.
Thank you for coming on another journey with me unto the history of Marion County, W.V. If you could leave a comment below and tell me what you like or what I could do to improve the blog, I would appreciate it. Your feedback really helps!
Remember: History is the spine of America. We will collapse and fall if we do not learn and lean on it.