MILTONville: Meeting the Hardemans and the Whites

I drove by this white old country store for a few years imagining what it once was back in the days I only get to dream about...  It is called  the Hardeman Store, now sometimes referred to as the Chatham Store but actually it has almost always been the Hardeman Store. The Chatham's and the Hardeman's are related through Howard Chatham, local developer David Chatham's father. David Chatham bought it from the Hardeman's and until a few years ago the place sat on visible concrete blocks and there was no front porch. I used to ask around about its history and it took about another year until I met Mel Hardeman at that corner. In the meantime, I'd met a few folks who'd attended The Hopewell School down the road and used to stop by the store everyday walking home after school.

Mel was walking with a cane and taking a long drag off his cigarette when I saw him out of the corner of my eye as I was driving by one day, and I whipped in to the driveway next to the store. We had a half hour conversation about his "daddy," Mr. Bill Hardeman, who owned that store. I found out all kinds of interesting history about this area in that first meeting and asked if I could come by again and hear more from his dad and bring dinner or leftovers by occasionally as they both didn't cook and ate out every day. Every night they took out vegetables from Midway Meal House up on Hwy 9. Every Milton native I've met goes to that place for the vegetables. They even have fatback. 

Mel's mother had passed away some eight years before I met them. My two young girls would sometimes come with me to visit the Hardeman's. One fond memory is bringing over ice cream and having "drumstix" together while sitting in the shade under a tree in Mr. Bill's yard. He told us lots of great stories which I unfortunately did not write down and sadly, a few years after we met, Mr. Bill passed away.

A few months later, on the way home I stopped by to say hello to Mel and saw this Black Lab run across the street on Hopewell Road during rush hour. I couldn't believe my eyes as I watched this dog maneuver through traffic and avoid getting hit by a car. The dog then crossed Thompson and ended up beating her best friend home. Mel told me that dog is named Lady and that his how I first learned of Dorris (also known as Doc) and Hazel White.

Like many folks, I saw the White's sit out on their front porch every day for years. Lady was always nearby on the grass right in front of them. Finally one day I had the hunch to stop to say hello even if I only had a few minutes. I just followed that little voice that says just go do it already. Go say hello. 

This time just Dorris was on the porch. He was sitting there in his favorite old worn chair next to the table with his denim overalls on and such a pleasant smile on his face. You could tell he had been living in his home for many years and had lots of stories. I really wanted to hear them. I knew someone had to take his oral history down and my fear was that it would be passed by because we are all so busy with life.

I didn't mention this at first. Hazel came out the screen door and I asked him what he thought about our new City of Milton. Dorris said that he voted for the mayor but didn't care too much for all the City stuff and he didn't vote for it either. I could sort of tell since his home is the one that used to have a blue handmade sign in his front yard under a big magnolia tree that read in bright red lettering "Vote No to Milton."   

He told me that the mayor came by one day when he was campaigning and sat on the porch and they had a real nice chat but now that he was elected, he would never come by and see him again. It was all just politics or something like that. I didn't know that mayor at that time, but I told Dorris that since he didn't have email I would send one to the mayor, Joe Lockwood, and relay the message. If Mayor Lockwood came by to visit him, then he owed me a Coke. If he didn't, then I owed him one. We shook on it and then I said goodbye.

I sent an email to Mayor Lockwood who I know now to call Joe. I told him the first time I met him that he should have used the slogan "Every small town needs a mayor named Joe." I saved the email, here is what I wrote:

11 January 2006

Good Afternoon Mayor Lockwood,

I was sitting on the porch at Dorris and Hazel White's earlier today enjoying the sunshine and discussing a favorite subject lately, the future of Milton, with Mr. White. He said he hasn't seen you since you last sat on his porch. He said you'll never come 'round again now that you're elected. He said he'd love to sit with you again on his porch and shoot the breeze and discuss our beloved city.

I said -- that I heard that you are the kind of person that would come by if you knew that Mr. Dorris White was looking for you. To sit on his porch.  And talk about stuff.

 And now, we have a bet. For a Coke. 

That is exactly how I first met The White's.  (And soon after, my first Mayor :) 

To Be Continued...