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Flying bottles provided dangerous Saturday night entertainment at SW ANOTHER VIEW OF THE BUELAH VILLA HOTEL The resort years of Sulphur Well, Kentucky in next door Metcalfe County have been highlighted by two guest writers who have shared their wonderful childhood memories with us. First, Don Graeter brought to life the 1950s and 60s, and here Bobby Thompson takes us back into the 40s to the same spot. In paragraphs like this one, Bobby brings to life the infamous dance hall on a Saturday night... "...I crawled under the pool table and to my surprise, a police officer from Edmontonwas seeking shelter there too. I can't blame him because bottles were starting to fly..." MEMORIES OF BUELAH VILLA By Bobby Thompson, Center, Kentucky After reading the article by Don Graeter a few weeks ago I decided to put mytwo cents worth in. May, 1942: My Dad, Cailey Thompson, was working at the powder plant in Charleston,Indiana. My Mother, Mable Thompson, was a school teacher and she took the job to teachat Sulphur Well for the school year. Not having two cars, we stayed the school year at the Beulah Villa Hotel. King Crenshawstill owned the hotel at that time. Albert and Ida Beauchamp worked there. Ida was cookand Albert did odd jobs around the hotel. For breakfast we had country ham, eggs, gravy, fried apples and all that goes with ham. For dinner and supper we had fried chicken, gravy, and all that goes with chicken. Imagine eating that for a year day after day. I still like chicken o.k. but I don't caremuch for country ham. The Sulphur Well school was one room and Mother taught grades one through eight. Herman Williams was the Metcalfe County School Superintendent. One of his sons, Edwin,was in the same grade as I was. I really can't remember all the students because toomany years have gone by. I remember Norma Jean Williams, Boyce Dale Brown, Ruth Jessie,Libby Thompson (cousin). Those are the ones that stick in my mind most. There wasn't much for a young boy to do in Sulphur Well. We (other boys and I) waded theriver, shot fish from the old wooden bridge that crossed the river and played in the olddance hall. On Saturday nights there was usually a few people that came in and played music.Bowling, pool and sqaure dancing went on, usually on Saturday nights. There weren't too many around through the week, but on Saturday nights things livenedup. One Saturday night a fight broke out with two women fighting, but it wasn't longbefore their husbands started fighting too. I decided that I would find a safe place so I crawled under the pool table and to mysurprise, a police officer from Edmonton was seeking shelter there too. I can't blamehim because bottles were starting to fly. My Dad was named for Cattlett Thompson who built the Buelah Villa Hotel. Before my Dadwas born Cattlett came to my Grandfather and told him if he would name my Dad after himhe would leave everything to him when he died. Needless to say, Cattlett got married andthat took care of that. Aunt Byrd, before she died, gave Daddy Cattlett's desk and a paper signed by GovernorBramlette making him a Major in the 21st Battalion, 81st Regiment of the KentuckyMelitia. I also have a tintype of Cattlett. Gene Thompson, my Uncle, cut the wood for the school house so we could stay warm (if youcould get close enough to the stove). The Sulphur water that we drank was bad at firstbut I suppose you have to acquire a taste for it. There weren't too many guests in the 40s because of the War and gas rationing. But somepeople came and stayed for a few days. I remember a big Buckeye tree that stood behindthe hotel and the belief was that half of a Buckeye was poison and the other half wasnot. Squirrels would eat half of one and leave the other half. My Dad, when he wasgrowing up, hung around Sulphur Well a lot. And I remember him telling me of a man whocame there and was introduced to Dad as Mr. Smith. It turned out that he was John Dillinger. If you think it is a piece of cake to go to school to your Mother, try it sometime. -------- Reprinted with permission from Senior Quest magazine. This story was posted on 2005-09-25 22:30:00
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Have comments or corrections for this story? Use our contact form and let us know. (AD) - Many Reunion organizing efforts are also advertised in our REUNIONS category in our CM Classifeds. These are posted at a very low cost. See RATES & TERMS More articles from topic Local History:
LETTER from Cyrus: Observations on the Class of 1948 Columbia High School Class of 1948 a close-knit group CYRUS: Adair County history repeats in the two World Wars CYRUS: Adair Countians in peace treaty/occupation of Japan, Sept. 1945 CYRUS: Columbia Dairies opens, 1946 Cyrus: The tragic death of Cortez Sanders, 1944 QUERY: Family of James Andrew Smith, early 1800's Remembering Marion & Frances Maupin Nardine LETTER: Does anyone know more about the iron entryway to Columbia Cemetery? Martha Barnes Martin's Memories of Jamestown Hill September 19, 1998 View even more articles in topic Local History |
 
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