TOUR AMERICA, 2020: PARADISE OAKS RV RESORT, BUSHNELL, FLORIDA

Places We Have Called Home In 2020

October 17, 2020

Temperature 89

Richloam General Store

Once we knew we were headed back to Florida for the winter this store was definitely on our must visit again list.  We had been here before and could not wait to return.

This is the only remaining building in what once was a thriving community.  However, once the Great Depression hit, and the railroad departed the town quickly faded away.  In 2017 this general store was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

A recreation of the original post office.

Anyone remember a phone like this at home?

Have a hankering for a cup of coffee?  You’re going to have to both grind and make your own.

A little internet research uncovers the following: There’s nothing like a good cup of coffee, and how it’s ground makes all the difference. Unlike today, stores in the 19th and early 20th centuries sold only coffee as beans, freshly ground in the store. Originally, all general stores had some sort of coffee grinder sitting on the counter. The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company, better known as A&P, always sold its coffee as beans which could be custom ground according to the customer’s preference.

The Enterprise Manufacturing Company, founded by John Gulick Baker in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1864 near Independence Hall, was one of the leading makers of both large and small coffee grinders.

General store owners used the Enterprise Model No. 12-1/2 coffee mill for grinding larger amounts of coffee. Manufactured between 1886 and 1898, it stood 42 inches high, had 25-inch diameter wheels and weighed about 140 pounds. It’s main components were of cast iron. Such mills became status symbols for those general store owners who could afford them.

Then again maybe you only want a cool bottle of pop.  There is a full shelf of everything you can think of.

Many people have told me that boiled peanuts are really tasty.  I’m here to say it must be an acquired taste.

For those who have a sweet tooth you’ll not be disappointed.

Toys for the kids – but really an ant farm?  If that is your thing, come see me and I’ll give you a few for free that you can use to start your own ant farm.

Jams, Jelly, and all other kinds of canned fruit.

 

This cute little guy was for sale as were various quilts all made . . .

in house on this very sewing machine.

But this is what we came for.  The two on the left are favorites of Ms. Barbara; the two on the right are on my favorite list.  The Hot Pepper Jam is really great on an English muffin in the morning.  Big John’s Barbecue Sauce is good on ribs, chicken and all other kinds of meats.  You can bet that before we leave this area we’ll be stocking up on several of these items.

An added bonus today was this gentleman who was playing some good old fashioned tunes from days gone by.  I could have sat and listened to him for hours but we had another errand to run.

After we left the general store, we made another run to Wally World for a grocery pickup.  This is Trish who has a smile behind that mask that is a country mile wide.

Now to put it all away!  Our inside cupboards are now full as are the outside storage bins.  We also now have a fully stocked freezer.  Ms. Barbara will tell you it is so nice to have a full size residential refrigerator and freezer.

Once the groceries were away we put our brand new sheets on our bed.

Next, I put together our new floor steamer.  We have tried everything to get our tile floors clean to no avail.  Someone mentoned that a steam cleaner would do the job.  Stayed tuned and I’ll let you know.

And to round off the day I put a new and comfy seat on my bike.  First ride tells me I’m going to be much, much more comfortable peddaling myself around the park.

That was our day on The Road of Retirement.  We had a delightful time at the general store.  We were able to get out and about for a few hours.  We got some chores done at home.  What better day could there be.  Life is good.

Thanks for checking in with us today.  We always appreciate your company as well as your comments and suggestions. Keep safe, keep healthy, enjoy the days that God gives you.

These are the voyages of  Elvira and her two intrepid travelers.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have never been before.

See you on down the road!