Bubba’s Musings
Yesterday prior to the Thanksgiving meal, each of us were asked to recall something in their past that they were indeed thankful for having a profound influence upon their lives. Of course Bubba’s recollection was the most prolific.
It seemed that Bubba resurfaced the long forgotten and underappreciated women of the Cone Department down at Sonoco. He acknowledged that most of what he recalled was second hand gossip from both family and friends.
Should one remember that during WWII most of the menfolk around Hartsville were either off to war, or in the words of one cone department lady, simply not worth catching. So in order to keep those cone machines running, Mr JL Coker made the decision to hire women.
Through the course of the war, and until the next decade many of these women elected to leave Sonoco to marry and create the ‘Boomer’ generation, but there were may who thought their independence (and paycheck) were simply too much to relinquish. It is these ladies to whom Bubba is indebted.
Throughout the fifties, sixties, and seventies these women took responsibility for the swelling textile and clothing industry throughout South Carolina. Those stores like Cokers, Belks, Pennys, BC Moores, Catos, etc were kept afloat as these women would never dare to show up for their shift in a dress that was homemade or worn more than once in public. Many was the day that certain ladies would leave early due to an affliction brought on by some ‘bitch’ that dared to wear the same dress that was purchased as an original off the rack at Belks.
Always dressed to the nines with matching accessories, and five-inch heels, the women’s break area could have been mistaken for a glamour magazine photo op were it not for the red lipstick stained Camels, L&Ms; or Chesterfields that clouded the air. Additionally, should one of the male employees try and eavesdrop on the conversation he would immediately get a sound cussin’ out. Then the conversation would turn to the shortcomings of the poor man’s wife, his family, and drinking habits.
As the shifts let out at seven, three, and eleven some of these ladies could be found ordering a Pabst or Schitz from the car hop at Baron’s. Others could be found going to the many ‘bootlegging’ establishments for a coca-cola and a half pint of vodka, VO, or Seagrams. Only coming off second shift would you find one or more of these ladies with a fellow male employee enjoying that Blue Ribbon while attempting to hide toward the rear of the parking lot. But, should they be spotted, one could rest assured the Hartsville Messenger couldn’t publicize this fact any quicker than the ladies themselves.
For all these women had in common, the one thing they did best was talk. About their families’ prominence, and the lack of character of others. Real or imagined infidelity, abstinence, or even religion had no boundaries in a small town such as Hartsville for one was either favored by these pillars of society, or villified as some syphillis infected leper. Heaven forbid that one of these ladies be accused of wearing a girdle to enhance that less than twenty-inch waistline.
While remembering my Aunt Sadie and her double first cousin Shorty, I hope all enjoyed a great Thanksgiving.
Thanks for the fond memories of my Dad’s beloved Cone Department!