My Father and I put our memories together for a description of the filling station, store and garage.
The first picture is that of Peter Tynes Home. He moved From Kelford, NC. To Roxobel, Bertie Co., NC. The house stands behind Pete Tynes’s Garage.
Cousin Pete's house was fixed up and a room set for a Beauty Parlor. Cousin Pete's wife was a Beautician. Oral Tradition, when two people put their minds together, you can come up with a story of memories of time past.
The next picture is that of a filling station with an attached garage. As I recollect, cousin Pete was a partner with a woman I can’t remember her name. She ran the store, where as cousin Pete, ran the filling station and garage. In the garage there were always large tractors, small tractors and some cars. On the outside of the station was one pump for gas. The Pump was an orange-red color. Grandpa (George T. Floyd) who lived in Windsor, NC, always took me for a ride to Cousin Pete’s garage, when I came from Philadelphia, Pa., to stay for the summer.
Cousin Pete’s garage sat on the corner of Main and Church Street. Church Street went across Cashie Branch towards Harrells Siding. Main Street went straight thru town, was outside called Hwy308 or Governors Road. At that time, Main Street went to Lewiston and on to Windsor, NC. Going the other way Main Street went to Roxobel.
On the corner was benches and out front was two large benches. When grandpa pulled up, people gathered there. Some People were drinking pop. Some were drinking beer. However, some were chewing something I had never seen done, Tobacco.
Grandpa called it Chaw.
Upon entering the front door, to my right was a large red metal box that said Coca Cola. Lifting the lid was Yahoo, Pepsi but mostly Coca Cola. Across the room was a large white metal box that held beer. Of course there was ice in these boxes. Between the ice boxes was a large counter filled with all kinds of snacks. Behind the counter was tobacco and cigarettes. Across the room was groceries.
To your right, was a made door way to the garage where Cousin loved to work. Sometimes grandpa who was a mechanic himself went in and worked with cousin Pete. The garage had a dirt floor with large walk way around the floor and was about three feet high off the ground. That was so that Cousin Pete could get under the vehicles.
My Father (George R. Floyd) went many a time with grandpa to see Cousin Pete. Grandpa every once in a while liked to have a cool one (Beer) because Grandma (Mary J. Tynes-Floyd) did not want him to drink. Grandpa and I after seeing Cousin Pete went for a long ride and chewed many a gum piece, to hide the odor of beer. I always thought it was funny. As time passed my dad said the same thing.
Cousin Pete was average in height. About 5’8’’ and husky with sandy brown hair and brown eyes. Cousin Pete m. Amer L. no last name yet. They had no children as far as any document I could find. Oral Tradition comes into play. My father said they never did have any children.
Author: Amelia Tynes-Floyd Hall