Authors Notation: Other than those that were actually a participating member or members of the Woodstock Festival, all others are fictitious characters and situations created for dramatic effect, and especially at this author’s whim.
Further Notation: I have no intention of repeating my nineteen part Woodstock series as first submitted on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, but digging further into the earlier lives of Sharon and Clyde and her Polish immigrant parents: 'Murray and Sarah Kandinsky and his Irish immigrant parents, Malcolm and Ellen Murphy, and how Henry Ford and World War One brought about a major change in the lives of both families.
Entering Loveland, Malcolm shifting into low gear, the Hudson crawling along deserted Main Street.
One alternating street light on six corners of the three blocks of Loveland's 'business district' casting a dimly lit first impression..
4:15 AM
Tapping Malcolm on the shoulder, "Pull over here," Sarah said.
Pulling to the curb before the one story, yellow brick building.
Carefully lifting Sharon's legs, so as not to wake her, "Come on, "Sarah whispered as, opening the car door, she stepped onto the sidewalk where the heady scent of baking bread immediately attacked internal sensibilities.
A bakery— the window in gold script reading 'Viktor Bakery' to the right. A novelty/gift shop to the left, between the two, a— three store front sized— sixty foot wide window.
Clyde awake, coming out of the Hudson alongside his father, the boy stood between his father, his mother, whom had also exited the car now standing next to Sarah."
The brilliant pink, 'PINK'S' barely visible, but yet readable... in brilliant pink, alongside, in the deepest black: 'FEED & HARDWARE'.
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Malcolm's eyes up- cast. "This ours?" Asked in absolute reverence.
Taking his wife's hand. "Oh, my God! Sarah, this is amazing."
From somewhere within the interior, a bare bulb light cast an obscure blush fading into shadowy darkness within five or so feet.
Walking to the far right side of the long window, cupping her hands onto the glass attempting to peer inside. "This is where my hat shop will be?"
"Yes..." Sarah said "...if that's where you want it."
"Jesus Christ..." crossing herself "...yes!" Gesturing to the darkness on the other side of the wide window. "This is so wonderful I can't imagine what the house will be!"
"This Agnes, she said to call her when we got here to let her know we've arrives so she might get breakfast started?"
"She did, Murray. From the first petrol station we saw when we got to Loveland."
However there was no petrol station on the road they'd taken from Cincinnati to Loveland, at least none that they had seen.
"And then she'd tell us how to get to her house from wherever we called?"
Beginning to understand her husbands line of questioning. Remembering all that she had— other than Lawrence, the lawyer's legal papers— in her purse was Agnes' telephone number that they had cut from the Chicago Turbine when they had made the original phone call. "Uh-Oh!"
" Where do we find a telephone to call your lady." Malcolm asked.
Shaking her head. "Have no idea."
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"Think you could find your way there?"
"Don't know, Murray... Maybe..." pointing towards the far end of the Loveland three block business district "...think we went that way."
Shrugging his shoulders, going to the car. "May as well try that way then." Malcolm once again seated himself behind the wheel.
4:25 AM
Holding the front door open. "Why don't you sit up front." Taking position on the back seat, awakening Sharon as he sat, then lifting his daughter— who did not cry— onto his lap.
Raising her head, sniffing the airborne mouth-watering aroma. 'The baker' Sarah thought a moment before taking her place on the front seat. leaning into the car. "Hold on a minute."
The front portion of the bakery in darkness, from behind however Sarah could see shadowy movement within defused artificial light. Noting a bell button alongside the glass entry door, pushing the bell button... waiting three seconds, Sarah pushed the button again.
A door opening within the bakery throwing light onto a large '(' shaped glass counter.
Coming from within the work area, the man appeared to be in his late sixties. Flour powder to his elbows, a white smudge on his forehead matching the white of his hair... Throwing a switch alongside the door, causing a circle of light to illuminate the middle aged lady at the door. "Hello..." the old man said "...can I help..." Noting the Hudson parked at
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the curb. " You're my new neighbours, Agnes told me about!"Holding his dusty hand forward. "I'm Viktor Johansson!"
"Yes..." taking the baker's flour coated hand..
Noting the welcoming gestures of the baker and Sarah, Sharon in his arms, Murray came from the car along with Ellen, Malcolm and Clyde.
"Yes..." taking Viktor's hand "...we are! I'm 'Sarah Kaminsky'..." Murray and their baby now alongside "...and this is my husband, 'Murray'..." shaking the bakers hand "... this is..." Ellen, Malcolm and Clyde also within the circle "...'Malcolm' and 'Ellen Murphy'."
" 'Me'..." introducing himself to the others "...I'm the Baker: ' Viktor Johansson', and am so happy to meet you!" The old man's eyes dropping to the boy standing between his mother and father. "Who's this young man?"
Nudging her son with her elbow. "Tell the man your name."
A bit frightened by the old man with the white smudge on his forehead. "Clyde Murphy."
"Well, Mister Clyde Murphy, how'd you like a cookie?"
Looking at his mother, who nodded her head affirmatively. "Yes." Clyde shyly said."
Holding the door open. "Got to get back to work..." Viktor said "...but come in fa minute."
Following the old man in. "Agnes said we should call for directions when
we get to town, but couldn't find a telephone."
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"Of course!" Asking, " 'Murray', your name is?"
Confirming. "Yes."
"And who's..." Viktor's head motioning to the one year old in Murray's arms."...this little one."
"Sharon."
Hello... " lightly patting her cheek "... you like a sucker?" Looking to Sarah. "Okay to give Sharon a sucker?"
"She'd love one."
Going behind the counter, reaching into a jar, the old man handed a cherry lollipop across, that— grabbing for it, Sharon stuck it into her mouth.
"And for you, Mister Clyde..." reaching into the counter, removing a large cookie from a wax paper covered tray "...here you are."
Once again reaching under the counter, lifting the telephone from beneath, placing it onto the counter and Jiggling the receiver cradle...
A minute or so passing, then... From the local 'Central Ohio Bell Telephone' office in one of the dark, after hours storefronts somewhere on 'Main Street'. " 'Morning, Viktor."
" 'Morning, 'Mattie'..." he said to the now awaken night-time operator "... Yes, I know it's early, but I have Agnes' people here that have to talk to her... Yes, thank you, Mattie."
Waiting...
" 'Morning, Agnes..." having been announced by Mattie, the local night-
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night-time, 'Central Ohio Bell' Telephone' operator "...I have your new people here...Okay. Yes. 'Two loafs of white and one pumpernickel'." Handing the receiver across the counter.
" 'Morning, Agnes. Sorry to call so early..."
"Think nothing of it, dear. I was up, actually waiting your call then remembered that there would not be a Petrol station to call from..."
"I was just trying to remember how to get to your... 'our' place when this nice man..."
"Viktor'. Victor's a good man and you'll see, it's a good thing to have the only bakery in town next to 'Pinks'."
Still in her father's arms, even wit the cherry sucker in her mouth — pink tinted saliva drooling down Sharon's chin onto her pyjamas — she was becoming restless.
"Anyway, I was wondering how to get to..."
"Oh. Sorry. You parked in front of 'Pinks'?"
"Yes." Sarah said, then held the receiver outward so the men would hear.
"Okay..."— Agnes about to drone on— "...Go to the second 'right'. You'll know it because one of our six street lights is on the corner across the street and that's ' Congress', so turn right and then to the first 'right' and that's 'Placid Street',' and we're the house right there,: on the corner of Placid and 'Congress', on the other side of the street. So just pull into the driveway and you're...
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4:46 AM
"Home!"
Waiting for this moment...
Pointing through the windshield, "There it is." Sarah said as...
Malcolm still driving, the tan Hudson steering onto a long, red brick lined driveway. Turning the ignition key to off, all four doors opening...
What they could see in the predawn light... and the light coming from within the house.
Set back from the street— at least one hundred feet of shrub covered lawn, the aged red brick, two story Georgian style structure showed a columned, colonial fashioned entrance.
"This is 'not' our house!"
Waiting for this moment..."Yes, Ellen..." Sarah said "...it 'is' our house."
Waiting for this moment. Wanting the three that had not been here before to have the best impression— if more than four lights were in use at the same time, the fuse would blow—Still almost an hour till dawn, Agnes turned the two living room, along with the two upstairs bedrooms lights on, giving a semblance of light showing the length of the entire house.
Sharon still cradled in his arms. Standing alongside his wife, looking at their new home, Murray Kaminsky said nothing.
The three loafs of — white bagged— freshly made, still warm bread cradled in her arms. "I do good, Murray?"
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"What you did is...? My,' God', Sarah,! You did 'wonderful'!"
The front door opening casting a rectangle of light onto the dark lawn. Agnes approaching, "Welcome..." she said "...I've coffee brewing and a pound and a half of bacon and a dozen eggs waiting to be fried, so..." motioning "... come on home!"
5:52 AM
Pouring coffee from Agnes' third brewed pot of coffee, Malcolm still finding it hard to believe this beautiful house was truly their new home.
The families worldly possessions removed from the five by six open bed trailer carried into their new home.
Clyde asleep, slumped in a highchair dug from old furniture— along with a sheet covered crib and mattress — stored in the basement.
Sharon sleeping om the crib in the downstairs bedroom that happened to be within hearing distance to this huge— in their opinion— beautiful kitchen.
Rooms in this old Georgian style structure approximately the same size: Kitchen and formal dining room: 16 X 20. Living room 20 X 20. downstairs bedroom 17 X 20, the two upstairs bedrooms 15 X 20.
After a pleasant, non argumentative discussion, the bedroom off the living room on the first floor was designated as Sarah and Murray's because Sharon was still too young to navigate the staircase leading to the second floor; it's two side by side bedrooms and, across the hall, the half toilet constructed and installed by Morris and Agnes Pink.
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Planning to spend the day with the Murphy and Kaminsky families in order to give them a quick, thumbnail education on the workings of a hardware store, but initially to go over her bookkeeping system, along with the complicated instructions for use of the brass and steel. 'National Cash Register Company' register.
Sarah had also been given Agnes' daughter, Norma's, telephone number with instructions to call whenever she felt the need... Be it socially or for questions regarding 'Pink's'.
'Pink's' hired help for the last fifteen years, 'Lester Harris'— and occasionally his wife, 'Alice'— would be in to work, and further instruct and aquatint Malcolm and Murray 'Pink's' stock that same day.
The boxes of what she planned on sending to Atlanta to be picked up by a small trucking Company the next day. Later this day, as Agnes would be taking the 4:10 p.m. train to Atlanta — the '37, four door, Chevrolet Sedan would be picked up at the loading platform at 'Pink's' at about 2:00 p.m. to driven to the Loveland train depot, then to be loaded onto the open bed of a freight car, arriving in Atalanta along with Agnes.
Wednesday 5/17/39
A day of instruction and 'Goodbye'
10:35 AM
After about five hours of sleep — about as much sleep as the two families had the night before — After a quick breakfast of coffee and toast for the adults and 'Cream of Wheat' for Clyde and Sharon.
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With Clyde and Sharon both on their father's laps, the four door Chevrolet
Sedan easily holding five adults, with Agnes driving, crawling at her break-neck speed, Arriving at 'Pink's' at...
11:10 AM
Lester Harris already there, letting himself into the store, Lester had made a self standing sign painted with the word 'PINK'S' in the stores signature bright pink and beneath, in vivid black... 'OPEN' and beneath: 'UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT', which would be placed outside the next day.
Holding the door open, Murray gave first entrance to Agnes, his wife, daughter and the Murphy'.
Held in her mother's hand, Sharon tottering alongside. Clyde between his parents, hands held by his mother and father.
Having seen Pink's last night, from the outside only. Entering now, the counters and shelves and massive array of tools of all sort, and implements of all sort causing a combination of reverence due to the fact that this going business is actually theirs, and fear at the thought of the knowledge they would have to absorb in order to maintain Pink's as a successful business.
"I've got to go over the paper-work and instructions for that ..." pointing "...cash register with Sarah. So. Lester, why don't you show Murray and Malcolm around and telling them what they'll have to know tomorrow.
As if timed, there came a rapping on the plate glass door, with a man —hands cupped against the glass cutting the glare — yelling, "You open yet?"
"No!" Agnes called back. "Tomorrow! Pink's will be open tomorrow!"
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12:37 PM
Lester, leading the way, going from bin to bin, explaining the names, size, and use for the different types of wood screws. Then nuts and bolts, then to the nail bins; telling that in most cases the customer will know what he, or she might or would want. But then Malcolm or Murray will have to know where to direct the customer. Or if a woman, usually have to bring them there, or get whatever she wants back to her.
At the check out counter. Agnes going over the books with Sarah. Showing the list of suppliers for the hundreds of materials and items needed to supply Pinks.
The list of 'Accounts Receivable' for long time repeating or commercial customers.
On the shelf beneath the counter is a box of envelopes, pads of receipts and pads of purchase orders. On the counter top is a container holding business cards and a telephone— Sarah's heart quickening at the thought that they now have both a home and business telephone.
Most everything rather self explanatory to a woman that had passed 'book- keeping and accounting one' at the University of Chicago..
The working of the. 'National Cash Register Company' register' another matter, though. However, after spending better than a half hour explaining, how the thing worked, Agnes had the feeling that Sarah would be able to handle it.
1:45 PM
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As this instructional day wore on, Malcolm had wandered outside, threw the canvas tarp, that had covered the open engine compartment of the 1927 Chevrolet, long bed pick up truck, thinking, 'new plugs, flush and grease the engine and change the oil and, — kicking the tires — new tires, and it ought'a run just fine.
Never replaced since the passing of Morris Pink four months earlier, Ellen's future boutique showing an array of snow shovels artistically displayed upon a horse drawn sleigh... Yes, there was a hitching post alongside the rear loading dock. At the time Malcolm was kicking tires, Ellen — whom had no official job designation, whom had been watching, and controlling Sharon and Clyde— also wanderered into the area that would be converted into her woman's hat boutique, mentally placing her designers work area where it would be easily noticed behind the window adjacent Viktor Johansson's bakery; the drifting scent causing Ellen's stomach to growl.
2:15 PM
Agnes Pink's 1937 four door Chevrolet Sedan picked up and driven to the station by a railway employee to be loaded onto a box car.
3:15 PM
Saying goodbye and good luck to Malcolm, to Murray and to Ellen. Sarah— feeling as though she was about to say 'goodbye' to a beloved relative— accompanying Agnes the three blocks to the train station; promising to call if anything problematic regarding Pink;s or the house were to occur: a kiss on the cheek and a mutual hug, Agnes Pink boarded the south bound train.
Certainly amazing good fortune. But learning how to talk to customers and suppliers about all those implements will be a challenge for those who haven't been involved in hardware before.
Makes me wonder how my grandmother's parents got their general store in the little town of Withee, Wisconsin. Grandma told me when she was very young she rode in an oxcart from Arkansas to North Dakota when the family moved with her father looking for work there. they camped in farmers' yards in along the way.
And my uncle, who became a master plumber working for companies, bought a little heating and plumbing business in Thorp for his family of nine, that included an elderly clerk that they had to pay who stayed on for a number of years. He never complained, but it must've been rough with all of those mouths to feed and educate. Eventually sold it and went back to work for companies again.
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