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Pete Humphries

On November 12, 1942, according to the Pete Humphries Co. ad (“The People’s Friend: Not Too Big for Little Business, Not Too Little for Big Business”) in The Paris News, Gold Medal flour went for 6 pounds for 35 cents, or 12 pounds for 65 cents. Sugar came in cloth bags at 5 pounds for 35 cents, or 10 pounds for 65 cents. Spuds, on the other hand (Idaho Russets) were 10 pounds for 47 cents. Read it and weep. Fresh, “krisp” Post Toasties were two 14-ounce boxes for 19 cents. (How much is cereal today?)

Let’s proceed to fresh fruits and vegetables. Grapefruit, three for 10 cents; a dozen Texas seedless oranges for 30 cents; red delicious apples, same price; cabbage 4 cents a pound; and bananas, a poujnd for 10 cents. Steak was 29 cents a pound. My personal favorite, bakery specials: “fruit ring, carmel nut layer, or pecan layer cake, ea. 22 cents.” And Downyflake Donuts of all kinds and flavors, 13 to 18 cents apiece? No, 13 to 18 cents a dozen.

The old Pete Humphries ad brings back memories. I grew up on Graham Street, a few blocks from downtown, and I dimly remember shopping at Pete Humphries, which was on Bonham Street. The A & P down on the Market Square is more memorable; I guess I was a few years older and remember it more clearly.

It’s funny the scenes that stick out in my memory. I remember being whisked off to Pete Humphries by my dad on one Christmas Eve night “to pick up a few things,” while my mother and my big brother feverishly finished up the Christmas tree, because we always had “our tree” on Christmas Eve and went to Gainesville to my mother’s parents for Christmas Day. I somehow knew that Santa was coming while we at Pete Humphries (pronounced by natives as “Peedumphries,” for some reason), and it was a magical night.

My abiding memory of the old A&P is seeing Lyndon B. Johnson descend in a helicopter on the Market Square while we were there to shop. I guess it was the first helicopter I’d ever seen. He was campaigning, of course.

The dollar sure went further in the good old days, didn’t it? My freshman English students have been writing about “Why Be Green?” and a few have settled on a very real variation of this topic: “Can We Afford to Be Green?” Hmmmmm.

Altogether, it’s been an interesting project in which most have become involved. Next fall, I’ve decided to concentrate on the economy, and how to save money, as my semester project (we analyze by cause and effect, argue debatable topics, compare and contrast, etc.) Young people need to learn that, yes, by golly, they CAN survive and they can do something about high prices. Gasoline too high? Don’t buy a drop more than you absolutely need to keep life and limb together. Groceries, shop off the bottom shelf (lower prices). There “was” a better time. I think I’ll take the old “Peedumphrie” ad to class next week.

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