Memories of Albert & Louise (Smoak) Zetrouer and their store and
farm...
I remember "Mr. Albert" and "Miss Louise" from my younger days.
They lived in the Shiloh community which was maybe 3 miles or so
from where our family lived out toward Wacahoota. We were "twixt
and tween"!
I'm told that in years past there was another community a stone's 
throw to our west named Central that had been established by a 
German Lutheran group. They were a very accepting people whose 
attitudes conflicted with the "old south" attitudes of the surrounding 
area. I'm told Central was burned out one night. But, I digress.
The Zetrouers ran "Zetrouer's Cash Store" and raised cattle on 
their fairly extensive land holdings. In later years, the cattle
were pure bred Black Angus. I don't know what they were in the
early years.
"Zetrouer's Cash Store" sold various staples of a rural community.
Basic groceries, gasoline, kerosene, etc.. I well remember the
smell of a loaf of "Wonder" bread packaged in its wax paper
wrapper.
The gas pump was one of those tall things with a large glass 
cylinder at the top. The cylinder was graduated in gallons. One 
manually pumped the desired amount of gasoline into the cylinder 
and then used the hose to let it drain into the vehicle's tank.
In the store, all the goods were on shelves around the walls. A 
large "U" shaped counter separated the customer from the goods. 
To purchase an item, one had to ask "Mr. Albert" or "Miss Louise" 
for it.
I seem to remember the ice cream freezer and soft drink box were
readily accessible, though. A good marketing move!
As a young child I would visit the store with my mother. She would
set me on the counter at which time I would dump all my money out
to see what I could buy. My extensive holdings of pennies and a
few nickels were held in a beaded purse. I bet I had almost 25
cents at times!
For a time, the Zetrouers had outdoor "picture shows" in front of 
the store on Saturday nights. The screen would be set up across
the highway over by the fence post with the air hose by barn. 
Most of the audience would gather on the store side of the highway
to enjoy the show. 'Course, we kids would sit across the highway
right in front of the screen. It's a wonder our necks didn't take
a permanent upward tilt.
Rather an interesting arrangement, as any vehicular traffic on the 
highway flowed between the audience and the screen.
Not to worry; most of the community was in the audience and few 
other vehicles strayed by.
Our little communities...Shiloh, Wacahoota, Flemington, Brush Lot,
and surrounds, were a fair distance from Reddick School which was 
for grades 1-12. No kindergarten in those days. Our bus ride to 
and from school was pretty long. I'm thinking maybe a couple of 
hours or more, but I'm not sure.
While I was still in elementary and high school the school bus 
would stop at the Zetrouer's store each afternoon as we were 
returning from school. Those of us who had any money would buy 
candy, ice cream or soft drinks for snacking as we sat there.
Can you imagine that happening today? 
We had a series of bus drivers. Mr. Yawn, Jr. Yawn, Cedrick Smith, 
Jr., Fred Feaster, Willie Chitty. I particularly remember Willie 
Chitty as making the bus stops at the store.  (He was always 
looking for a way to get around the governor on the bus engine
so we could speed up our long journey. 25 mph just didn't cut it
on so long a route.)
Over time, "Zetrouer's Cash Store" closed...as happened with most
small rural establishments. The Zetrouers focused their attention
on the cattle business as they lived out their remaining years.
Now, the store is gone, there are still some cattle...but, many
memories remain.
...James Mixson, 5 April 2005