Here’s the latest post by Alane Wilder Brown, who grew up in Mt. Gilead and worked at Wilder’s, the quintessential corner store her father owned. In the photo, that’s a young Phil Jones – now Dr. Phil Jones – working at Wilder’s.

As kids growing up in Mt. Gilead, many of us were given a quarter or two to fill a No. 1 paper bag with candy at the local store. Standing in front of the candy aisle we pondered what we would buy. Ultimately, we may have made the decision to spend our 50 cents on an ICEE instead. I can still hear the gurgle and spurt as the ice cold treat was dispensed. As a youngun’ these outings were the highlight of our after-school routine. 

When we were a tad older, we might walk down to Main Street after school and stop by a shop or two to spend our hard-earned chore or babysitting money? Maybe we met up with friends at the Sundry Center. After snagging a booth or a stool at the counter we’d order a Coke, snack or ice cream from Rab or Martha McGeachy. I can almost taste the grilled ham and cheese sandwich with a pickle and two Pringles chips to this day! Mrs. Martha would sometimes need bows made and if you were lucky enough to be chosen and then cranked out enough bows to fill a box you might earn a Coke. The blue booth tables were perfect for a game of paper triangle or penny football. We’d hold hands under the table with a boyfriend or girlfriend. The TV mounted in the wall (yes, in – not on) made the Sundry Center the perfect place to gather after school and watch afternoon ACC Tournament and March Madness games. In October we would catch afternoon games of the World Series. These were just some of the rights of passage as a middle schooler to teenage independence in Mt. Gilead.  

As we progressed from middle school to high school, many of us had jobs. We worked at Wilder’s, Haywood’s or the Piggly Wiggly (later Food King). Some had jobs at Standard Packaging & Printing, Gilead Home Supply, Sox, MA Pickett’s or the Burger Shack. If you had free time you may have hung out around the big table at the back of the old C&R Drug Store. A favorite nostalgic drink was a Cherry Smash from the old soda fountain. 

For a quick snack, and to catch up on town happenings, Wilder’s was the place. If you were feeling lucky, you’d challenge your friends and “pull” for a Coca-Cola. (That was a game in which players would purchase Coca-Cola bottles and look at the city printed on the bottom. The player whose bottle’s city was farthest from their location won.) You needed some knowledge of geography back then because there was no Google. The red and teal blue ICEE machine at Wilder’s dispensed frosty refreshments loved by young and old. A particular retired local doctor mastered the art of maintenance on the old ICEE machine. He and my dad kept it running for years! I sure miss that ICEE machine but I especially miss my dad. In my next article let’s reminisce about the “bus station” at Wilder’s. 

In the meantime, if you see me in town I’d love to hear about your after-school memories.