excerpt
SHOPPING AT HUBBARD
A winter highlight was father’s weekly trip to Hubbard for
supplies and mail. Usually he went alone, with mother
holding the fort and my siblings and I hiking off to school. If the
trip was delayed until Saturday, or during the school breaks, I
would plead and beg to go along.Going to town in an open sled
pulled by two horses was not business class travel; however, I
usually was able to take over the reins and be in charge of the
team of horses, as long as I did not urge the horses on too much.
The seven and one half mile route usually took about an hour
and fifteen minutes and, if the weather was cold, the last mile
dragged forever.
On arrival, the horses would usually be tied up in the community
hitching post area, blanketed, and given some hay. If the
weather was particularly miserable they would be stabled for the
duration of the shopping stop. Father took care of the grocery
shopping first, primarily staples with very few luxury items, followed
by stops at the hardware store and the post office. On occasion,
there would be a trip to the grain elevator and, once all the
business was completed, father would send me back to
Chipperfield’s general store with a nickel or a dime to buy a treat
while he visited the “hotel.” In those days the only drinking establishment
was in the small local hotel where the main source of
business was selling beer in the beer parlor. No hard liquor or
wine was available and women were not permitted inside. Father
never stayed longer than an hour therefore the total stop in town
would last about two hours. Let me hasten to add that Pop’s driving
ability was never affected by the ration of beer he consumed
since the horses knew the way well and needed little guidance …
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