Thursday, May 9, 2019

Robert Olin "Bob" Ferrer

Robert "Bob" Olin Ferrer is my paternal grandfather. Hot tempered and always ready for a move, Bob was a working man.

The Depression started his working life early as it did for most of his era. He was able to finish the seventh grade but at the age of 13, he and his brother, Raymond "Hame", age 11, began working as golf caddies at Galloway Golf Course. I like to believe this made Bob the strong man he was to become. His work day began with a 2 mile walk, not to mention all of the walking on the course, and then to walk another 2 miles home again. I can recall my "O" telling me how scarce food and money was back then, and that after being a caddy all day long he was lucky if there was any ground mustard at home to go with his onion and white bread sandwich. Coca Cola was a nickel a bottle and often times there was not a nickel to spare. All of the money that they collected as caddies came home to their Momma to help out. Well, most of it.
He scolded me (rightfully) one afternoon when I was a 13 year old, sassy teenager. I came home and opened the cupboard and exclaimed, "There's nothing to eat!" What I was looking for were things I would rather eat. He asked me to sit down and told me what it was like to go without food. I have never forgotten this moment. I saw the reflection in his eyes of a life long ago. One I am happy that I didn't have to endure.

Galloway Golf Course Memphis TN circa 1938.

From there he took a job at Sears, where he would meet his love, Edna.

Sears Crosstown Building. Courtesy of The Commercial Appeal.


Being an adult man in the 1940's, he enlisted to fight during WWII. He was a Sargent Major stationed in the Philippines.

Upon returning home from war, Bob went back to work for Sears until he landed a job at the Armour Meat Plant. Here he learned to butcher meat. This would help him out in his grocery days to come.

Old Armour Post card.


He then furthered his career as a traveling salesman for the first dry cat food, Little Friskies, offered by Friskies.

Little Friskies, Friskies first dry cat food. 

His wife, Edna, did not care for how much time this kept Bob away from home, so Bob started a career in the grocery business.

The first grocery store Bob worked for was Hogue & Knott located at 1378 N. Hollywood Memphis, TN as an assistant manager, and later moved to another location at 3511 Park Ave. Memphis, TN when a manager position became available. These stores were owned by Hugh Hogue and John Knott. Hugh Hogue was born in Memphis and began his grocery career with Clarence Saunders, who was credited with establishing the first self-service supermarket. Hogue later worked the grocery business with Fred Montesi's Liberty Cash Chain. After opening his first store at Hollywood and Chelsea in 1940, Hogue saw his grocery business continue to grow. In 1948, he joined John R. Knott in establishing the Hogue & Knott stores.

In 1962, he moved his family to Marked Tree, Arkansas to work for Piggly Wiggly. Bob took a ho-hum delicatessen and turned it into money maker.

Bob at the Piggly Wiggly deli-counter  Marked Tree, Arkansas, 1965.


Bob Ferrer Piggly Wiggly 1965.

Thanks to Ralph L. Walker, Jr., I have this video of the grand opening of the same store Bob worked for in Marked Tree.




Ritter Building 3: Piggly Wiggly Grand Opening from Ralph L. Walker, Jr. on Vimeo.

Bob built a beautiful home for his family in Marked Tree, but Edna did not care for the new people she was surrounded by there. That and a diagnosis of breast cancer in the 1960's forced a move back to Memphis.

Bob took a job working for Piggly Wiggly in Holly Springs, Mississippi where he commuted daily except for on the weekends when there was inventory to do. My dad worked with him there in the summer of 1966 and remembers bringing home a paycheck worth $48.17 for 60 hours of work.

Bob worked off and on for many years for Frank and Jack Gaia (Frank was married to Bob's cousin: Louise Vandercamm) at each of their stores. Jack's first store is still located at 84 N Main street in Memphis. Bob worked at the second store (pictured at the bottom near Stax Records) during the 1960's. He was there during the firefighter and police strike in the mid 60's and even made it through a fire bombing of the store. After these episodes, he only worked at Jack's number one store downtown and stayed there after Edna passed away and until he retired.

Jack's 84 N. Main Street Memphis, TN.


Jack's No. 2 down from Stax Records.


Saturday, December 20, 2014

It's not table spread, it's Fluffo!

What is Fluffo?

Golden Fluffo was the modern shortening of the 1950's known for its yellow color and not to be confused with margarine. I don't think you would want to spread this on your morning toast.



Marcella Filla Stolte is my maternal great aunt. She had many remarkable qualities and talents; today I will discuss her skills as baker. 

In 1955, Marcie and her family were living in Danville, Illinois where she entered and won the Eastern Illinois Baking Championship, sponsored by Golden Fluffo, for her chocolate cake.

She was featured in several print ads, such as: The Daily Herald, Provo, Utah on May 15,1955, the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal on May 5, 1955, and the Kansas City Star ad featured below and printed on August 21,1955.










Sunday, November 23, 2014

Meet Me Under The Old Pear Tree

Parham is a surname first mentioned in Sussex, England in the year 959. The name means; a piece of land, enclosure, homestead, or village where pear trees grow in abundance. It is also the birth surname of my maternal grandmother, Edna Louise Parham. My quest for information of the Parham family did not yield any pear trees but did uncover a bushel of peaches.

My knowledge of the Parham family was limited. My grandmother died when I was 8 years old, taking to the grave the narrative of her life. I knew she was born in Moultrie, Georgia, and her father's name and those of her uncles. It was a start.

 I searched: "Parham family of Moultrie, Georgia":


I selected the first link:


Here is how our conversation started:


Barbara replied quickly:



My peach tree had begun to blossom.








Friday, December 6, 2013

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!!

With the snow/ice storm looming here in Nashville, I thought this would be the perfect time to share photos of my paternal grandparents enjoying a rare snowstorm in Memphis, TN, circa late 1940's.

These were taken at my paternal Great Grandfather, Charles Daniel Parham's home somewhere near Robinhood Lane and Park Avenue in Memphis, TN. These geographical clues were provided by my  father, and I must thank him for patiently answering my fifty questions today. 

Zooming closer in on the home, I could see the house number was 3729. I searched all homes with that house number on the Shelby County Assessor's website and found only two that were constructed prior to 1950, both of which are near Robinhood Lane and Park Avenue.

Parham House
3729

3729 Carrington Memphis TN 38111



Edna (Parham) Ferrer and Olin Ferrer
My Paternal Grandparents

Charles D Parham and Olin Ferrer
Edna and Olin Ferrer
Edna Ferrer
Edna Ferrer
Olin and Edna Ferrer
Edna Ferrer
Olin Ferrer
Edna Ferrer on the wind-up!


Thursday, December 5, 2013

Postcards From Bootcamp 1942

Robert Olin Ferrer is my paternal grandfather, and an Army veteran who served as a First Sargeant during WWII. His bootcamp training was held at Camp Polk, Louisiana.

I have a small collection of postcards that he sent to his mom (Agnes Eileen (Grace) Ferrer, and one that he sent to his Grandmother (Florence Gertrude (McKee) Grace while in training.



Thank you Wikipedia for this information.


Flo, Olin, Mom




Monday, November 11, 2013

Thank you to many generations of bravery.

Today I share with you the brave men and women of my family who have sacrificed so much for the honor of our country. 

My Aunt, Margo Frazier
United States Navy

Pictured on right:
My Maternal Grandfather, Walter Joseph Filla
United States Army
WWII Tech 5
Father of Margo Frazier




My Paternal Grandfather, Robert Olin Ferrer
United States Army
WWII 1st Sargeant
Letter from President Harry Truman to my Grandfather, Robert Olin Ferrer
Letter from President Bush to my Grandfather, Robert Olin Ferrer

My Paternal Great Uncle, Raymond "Hame" Powell Ferrer
United States Army
WWII PFC
My Maternal Great Grand Uncle, Herbert "Bert" Brannock
United States Army
WWI PVT FIELD SIG BN 35 DIV

My Maternal Great Grand Uncle, Roy Edward Hanf
United States Army
WWII PFC
Killed in Action in Foret de Parroy, France 12 October 1944



My Maternal Great Grand Uncle, John F "Bud" Brannock
United States Navy
WWII

Pictured on left:
My Paternal Great Uncle, Elwyn Edward Parham
United States Navy
WWII
My third cousin twice removed, Paul Hampton Harty Jr. (right) shaking hands with Captain C.D. Everhart 16 Jan., 1969 
United States Navy
Vietnam 

My Second Cousin Twice Removed, Admiral Harry Lafayette Harty, Jr
United States Navy
WWII, Korea, Vietnam
My Paternal Great Grand Uncle, William Raymond Grace
United States Army
WWI