Peyton "Pate" Bridges' Rolling Grocery

(By Charles K. Bridges, son of Peyton Bridges)

In the 1940’s through 1961, one of Trigg County, Kentucky's most unique type of business enterprise was operated by my father, the late Peyton Thomas "Pate" Bridges.  It was known as a “rolling grocery” store.  Although I have been told that there were similar rolling grocery businesses, I can only remember my father’s special business endeavors.

It wasn’t until the mid 1900s that the automobile became a common item that rural residents owned.  Very few of these resident were able to travel the few miles from their county homes to “go to town” in the big city of Cadiz.  My father’s rolling grocery provided the only method for many of these rural residents to obtain essential grocery items.  Although many of these families had gardens and depended on farm animals they raised for food, it was my father’s rolling grocery that provided them with staples such as sugar and flour and other items that were not grown or raised on a farm.

My father constructed his rolling grocery truck on the back of a flat-bedded truck. Wooden shelves ran down both sides of the truck with the center used for storage space. Each side had two flap-down doors which swung up to expose the shelves. He propped the doors up with a wooden stick. A fifth door hung down in the back for access to the center section of the truck.

My father had six regular routes that he followed Monday through Saturday.  He would leave Cadiz in the mornings around 7:30 and returned at 4 in the afternoon.  He had specific customers whose homes he stopped at each week.  He would stop in front of each home, prop up the sides of the grocery truck and his customers would choose from the items. The grocery items were strictly staples such as canned goods, cake mixes, cereal boxes and bags of sugar and flour.  The flour was usually sold in 25 pound bags. Bottled soft drinks were also available.  He carried no fresh produce as his customers usually grew their own.  And, of course, there were no perishables such as meats and diary products or anything frozen.  The grocery selections in those days were a far cry from our giant supermarkets of today.

After his customers had finished their selection, my dad would manually record the prices on a piece of cardboard that he carried and would mentally add the column to arrive at what the customer owed.  No cash registers, no tapes, a very simple rudimentary process.  Many of Dad’s customer’s only income was a pension or social security check and they depended on him to cash their checks.  Many of these customers were unable to write and I remember many times, my father having his customers write an “X” on the back of their checks, cashing the checks for them and receiving his pay for the groceries.  The rolling grocery store not only provided groceries, but acted as their banker.  Daddy allowed many of his customers to make their purchases on credit and “settle up” at the beginning of each month when their checks arrived.

Daddy would also take fresh eggs from his customers in part payment for their groceries—a form of bartering.  I remember helping him “candle” the eggs by holding them up to a light to ensure they were fresh before he took them to be sold.   He also used to take live chickens from his customers as pay and take them “to town” where they were sold.

In the late fifties, my father came up with the idea to convert his rolling grocery truck into an interior shopping experience by using a converted school bus.  He purchased a surplus school bus from the local school system, painted it green, built two rows of shelves down each side of the bus with an aisle in the center.  Now, my father’s customers could shop “inside” and not be out in the cold and rainy weather.

Each afternoon, my dad would return from his grocery route to our small grocery store on Jefferson Street.  He would start the process of restocking his rolling grocery store shelves by transferring goods from the store shelves onto his truck or bus.  This would take him until about six each evening, at which time he was ready for his next day’s grocery route run.

I remember in October, 1961 when my dad made his last run in his rolling grocery truck, a bus at that time.  It was out the Princeton Road and into the community known as Lamasco in Lyon County, Kentucky.  He drove the truck home that evening, removed what few items he had left on the bus and parked it in our back yard.  Unfortunately, my father was only a few months from his death.  But that day was the end of a remarkable tradition in Trigg County, the end of the rolling grocery.  More and more rural residents were getting cars and the wide selections offered by the new town supermarkets were appealing to them.  .  Even if my father’s failing health had not caused him to give up the business, the era of the rolling grocery was over.

The original "Rolling Grocery" Store

The converted school bus "rolling grocery" of the late 1950s and 1960.

Bridges Grocery Store

Cadiz, Kentucky

1950s

 Peyton "Pate" and Ida Bridges

THE LINEAGE:

(Peyton Thomas Bridges was the son of Ghent Alford and Nettie Linden Cunningham Bridges and the grandson of Cullen Thomas and Martha Ann Virginia Thomas Bridges.  Cullen was the twelfth child of William and Mary Thomas Bridges. William was the fourth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.  Mary Thomas was the fifth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)

Denzil Bridges and A Family Business

COACH'S CORNER: Hilltop Kash Market a Trigg County Landmark
by Mike Wright, Cadiz Record Columnist



I am having a real difficult time getting started on this week’s column. There is a ton of information in my mind if I can just find it. Hey, that is a lot like my subject today: Hilltop Kash Market. There is practically anything a human being could need available at Hilltop if you can find it. Let me add that the find folks at Hilltop will help do just that. Sit back as I give you a little history, if I may, and better explain just what Hilltop Market is all about and why it is a Trigg County landmark and icon.

Denzil Thomas Bridges attended Trigg County High School and played football for the Wildcats. Throughout high school, Denzil worked for the Fort brothers in their grocery store. By Fort brothers, I am referring to the infamous Willie and Wilton. After graduating from Trigg County, Denzil attended Murray State. During his time at Murray, Denzil would continue to work weekends for the Forts in their grocery business. In 1952, Denzil entered the Navy and went on to serve for four years. Upon leaving the Navy in 1956, Denzil, James Mathis and Norris Mitchell bought Willie and Wilton’s downtown grocery and named it Quality Market. Denzil and his partners operated Quality Market from 1956 through 1963. Murl Sanders bought out the goods in Quality Market in 1963, and Denzil went to work for him at his Wallonia Market for one year. Then in 1966, Denzil went to work at Ft. Campbell.

Even though Denzil was going to work at Ft. Campbell, he had a dream of opening his own store. Therefore, around 1966, Denzil’s uncle Raymond Stallons and his son Glenn begin to lay the blocks for what was to become Hilltop Market. Hilltop Market was constructed in stages. First, there was the grocery, then the hardware store, followed by the garage and lastly the storage area. When all four phases were completed, what you had was one of the most unique stores in all of the state of Kentucky – and the nation, for that matter.

Hilltop was – and is – a family store. Denzil, along with his wife Ruth and their son Scott, ran the store together. Mr. Denzil passed away in 2002, and Ruth and Scott have manned the store since.

Let me tell you what makes Hilltop famous. THEY SELL EVERYTHING. EVERYTHING! You want personal testimony? Well, here you go. They sell groceries, hardware, plumbing supplies, electrical supplies, school supplies, fishing supplies, ammunition, minnows, crickets, other live bait, gas, yard statues, fertilizer and more. Heck, it would take me five pages to list everything they sell. You won’t believe it until you go there. Ask Scott to take you on the tour and it will amaze you.

About 25 years ago, there was a big snowstorm in Trigg County. Since there was no school, the Trigg County football coaches got together and out of boredom came up with a game called Who Can Stump Hilltop? Scott Bridges had played football, so the Trigg football staff were very familiar with the store. They took turns calling, without giving their names, and one by one would ask if Hilltop carried various obscure items. Well, they tried tiki torches, clay pigeons, mole traps, drill bits and whatever a bunch of football coaches could think of. They never stumped Hilltop. The Bridges carried it all.

Dr. Loran Wagoner told me this story. Loran said, “Denzil finally was able to train me. I used to come in and ask him, Do you have such and such?’ Finally, he trained me not say ‘do you have’ but ‘where is’ because he truly carried anything you could ask for.”

I spent a couple of mornings at Hilltop talking to customers for the purpose of this column. Many told me that they came to Hilltop to get things they couldn’t even find at Walmart or Lowes. During the course of the interview, I could not help but buy a couple of fishing lures that I couldn’t find at Walmart. They were even priced competitively with Walmart.

Added to the folklore of Hilltop is that is has been more than just a grocery store. The East Golden Pond Fire Department got its start in the basement of Hilltop. The Wild Haired Hilltoppers Club also got its start at Hilltop. The Hilltoppers were a club many remember for their parade performances across the state. Their float would be complete with a still, moonshiners and Kelsie Calhoun shooting a squirrel out of a tree (not a real squirrel, I don’t think; therefore, if you belong to PETA don’t call me or Kelsie).

Now, let me reveal to you the real secret to Hilltop Market’s success over the years and what makes it special. Yes, you have the fact that they somehow rival Walmart with what they carry. Yes, East Golden Pond Fire Department and the Wild Haired Hilltoppers were started there. The real story, however, is the Bridges family. The late Denzil was a man who loved people. He knew everyone that came into his store, and he was willing to talk and entertain with stories all day long. Even after cancer had taken one of his legs, Denzil would still come to work and see his clientele, who were more friends than customers.

Then, you have Denzil and Ruth’s son, Scott. Scott probably more than anybody can locate any item in the grocery or hardware parts of the store. A regular also told this story on Scott. The fellow who goes by the name of Daniel said, “You know that the gas pumps at Hilltop are self-service. That is, unless a good-looking woman pulls up to get gas and Scott, who is a bachelor, is working the register. It is amazing how quick the pumps can become full service as Scott springs into life pumping gas, checking oil, washing windows and such.”

I have saved my personal favorite aspect of Hilltop Market for last. That is Ms. Ruth. Daniel Hale said, “Ms. Ruth runs the store. She is also a seamstress, psychiatrist, greeter, nurse, and a friend of animals.” She feeds several stray cats outside her store, including one known as Miss Hilltop. According to Daniel, Ms. Ruth also has a homemade cure for just about whatever ailment you have, such as putting Kerosene on cuts.

Perhaps the following story sums Ms. Ruth’s impact at Hilltop best. I was getting ready to leave Hilltop after a couple of hours there the other morning. As I was nearing the door, a man came up to the register. I didn’t know the fellow, but I asked him if he stopped at Hilltop much. Without any hesitation he replied, “Yes, I come here often. This is an amazing store, but the best thing about Hilltop is Ms. Ruth. She starts your day with a smile.” Enough said.

OT: Little Jimmy Dickens, Hank Williams and John Michael Montgomery are among the country stars that have been in Hilltop.

OTT: NFL quarterbacks Chris Redmond and Brett Favre have been there as well.

Triple OT: Hilltop has also employed many Trigg County youth over the years, including David Bryant and Trigg County school administrators Shannon Burcham and Matt Ladd. Current FNB Bank Vice President and Manager Penny Jones was also a former employee.

Quadruple OT: The late Lem Banister was also a regular volunteer at Hilltop, or at least that is what he called it. Ms. Ruth said Lem served as a part-time guard once a week.





This article appeared in the August 7, 2013 issue of the The Cadiz Record, Cadiz, Kentucky and was written by Mike Wright, Cadiz Record Columnist.

 

THE LINEAGE:

(Denzil Thomas Bridges was the son of Jesse Arvil and Nellie Vertris Thomas Bridges and the grandson of Starkie Emerson "Bud" and Matilda Elizabeth Wallis Bridges.  Starkie Emerson was the fourth child of Starkie T. and Elizabeth W. Lawrence Bridges.  Starkie was the second child of William and Mary Thomas Bridges.  William was the fourth child of Drury and Charity Cohoon Bridges.  Mary Thomas was the fifth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)

Hardy Gene Kuykendall, Jr.--Outstanding Citizen

From his earliest days on the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District board more than 40 years ago, Hardy Gene Kuykendall showed an ability to defuse controversy and find common ground.

“It was a special skill that he had,” said his wife, Billie.

Mr. Kuykendall's leadership as president of the school board typified a life of community service.

“Hardy was the kind of individual people instinctively followed,” said Gordon Austin, former executive director of the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce. “He was a good speaker, and you could always count on an honest response from Hardy. He held a leadership positions in all the organizations in which he was involved.”

Mr. Kuykendall, a retired insurance executive and former La Mesa councilman, died Monday, June 19, 2006 at his home in Rancho San Diego. He was 81.

The cause of death was congestive heart failure, said his son, Jack.

In 1974, five years after completing his four-year term on the La Mesa-Spring Valley school board, Mr. Kuykendall handily won a seat on the La Mesa City Council. He expressed an interest in running for mayor in the 1982 election but decided against it because of the demands of his business.

Mr. Kuykendall followed his father, also named Hardy, into the insurance business in 1948. The company, originally San Diego County Mutual and later Sierra Mutual, became Allied Insurance after a merger in 1975.

Mr. Kuykendall oversaw the development of Allied Plaza, a concrete-and-glass structure on Alvarado Road in La Mesa, in 1983.

He retired in 1990, two years after suffering a mild stroke, but remained active in community and church work.

In 1996, representing the United Methodist Church, he took a four-week trip to South Africa to help build a parsonage.

“He was a man who believed and practiced something very rare these days: the notion that church, family, business and community are all of the same fabric,” his son said.

Hardy Gene Kuykendall was born Jan. 10, 1925, in Lead Hill, Ark., and moved to California with his family during the Depression.

After graduating from Hoover High School in 1942, he joined the Marine Corps. He met his wife on a blind date while attending officer training classes at Purdue University in Lafayette, Ind. They were married in 1946 after he was discharged.

Mr. Kuykendall earned a bachelor's degree at Occidental College after World War II. He was recalled to active duty during the Korean War, serving in a tank battalion in the 1st Marine Division.

At the battle of Chosin Reservoir in North Korea, where Communist forces heavily outnumbered the Marines in freezing weather, Mr. Kuykendall suffered frostbite. He developed pneumonia and was flown to a hospital in Japan to recover.

After leaving active duty as a captain, he resumed his career in the insurance business. He settled in La Mesa in 1953 and became a fixture in the La Mesa Kiwanis Club, which once honored him as its Man of the Year; the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce; and the board of the Grossmont Hospital Foundation.

In 1975, he was honored as La Mesan of the Year by the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce.

He returned to Hoover High as a mentor/tutor and served in his later years as a “class grandpa” to pupils at Lemon Avenue Elementary School.

“In April, despite failing health, he took his family on a cruise to the Mexican Riviera to celebrate his 60th wedding anniversary,” his son said. “The only time he left the ship was a brief shopping tour in Mazatlan to buy souvenirs for the kids at Lemon Avenue Elementary.

“A few weeks later, his daughter Linda took him to the school one last time so he could present the gifts and say goodbye.”

Survivors include his wife, Billie; daughters, Linda Jean Hollander of Taos, N.M., and Jill Kuykendall of Granite Bay; son, Jack Kuykendall; brother, Bob Kuykendall; and three granddaughters.

A celebration of life was held at 11 a.m. July 1 at Foothills United Methodist Church in La Mesa. Donations are suggested to Sharp Grossmont Hospice or the church.



(Thanks to Jack Williams, staff writer, San Diego Union Tribune)

 

 THE LINEAGE:

(Hardy Gene Kuykendall was the son of Hardy Roy and Claudia Rae Ratchford Kykendall, grandson of William Thomas and Minnie Viola McCasland Ratchford, Jr. and great grandson of Thmas Jesse and Mary Stanley Thomas McCasland.  Mary Stanley was the first child of James Clark "Muck" and Mary Elizabeth Josephine Lawrence Thomas.  James Clark was the fourth child of James, Jr. and Margaret Ethridge Thomas.  James Jr. was the sixth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)