Country music, friendship, alcohol and cheating love set the tone for a typical honky tonk. There, one could find all this along with amplified music and brawling. The lyrics of most country songs focus on lost love, adultery, loneliness, and self-pity.
The distinction between honky tonks, juke joints and dance halls is blurred. The term “honky tonk” refers to the type of bar popular in the mid-1930s.
The hey-day of the honky tonk era ended in the mid-1960s, giving way to discotheques. While many people think of honky tonks only as Southern nightclubs, that’s not true – they were everywhere.
In the 1950s, honky tonks flourished with the popularity of Webb Pierce, George Jones and Hank Williams. In the 1970s, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and David Allan Coe were the faces of country music’s brand of rough honky tonks. The modern version of the honky tonk began in the early 1990s with Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson and Dwight Yoakam.
Richmond Hill had its own style of entertainment. Once there were five places within a 3-mile radius where young and old alike could enjoy a friend’s company. On Hwy. 17 were the Barn, Gingham Inn, Ralph’s Place, Kippie Blount’s Tavern – later known as Gunsmoke – and Vergie Rushing’s Place.
There are some Richmond Hill locals who remember going to all of those places “back in the day.” Recently, I had the opportunity to be in the company of these “knowing” men and women. The camaraderie they share today is as strong as it was 50 years ago. I was mesmerized as I witnessed them unfold the colorful pages of their youth.
Ralph Bashlor was born in 1907 on the reservation now known as Fort Stewart. He moved to Richmond Hill in 1941 and opened Ralph’s Place.
It was a small restaurant and service station with two gas pumps, and became known as the place with the coldest beer on Hwy. 17.
He was often called “Uncle Ralph.” His business was a favorite place of entertainment for all ages – young people hung out, shot pool and played the jukebox.
Ralph’s was the first place in Richmond Hill to have turkey shoots on Friday nights, where people would shoot a 12-gauge shotgun at posted targets. The one that came closest to the bull’s eye won a turkey, ham or slab of bacon. Dinky Miner’s dog Sport was trained to fetch the target on command.
Richard Davis grew up next door to Ralph, his family and Ralph’s Place. Richard and Ralph’s son, R.B., have always been best of friends. Richard remembers Ralph having a blackjack behind the counter and saw him pull it out a few times to run “wanna-be” troublemakers away.
Mann Bashlor, J.B. Clark and occasionally Jimmy Shuman played and sang country music there. The simple structure of about 1,000 square feet, was usually packed on Friday and Saturday nights – with about 25 people!
Ellis Phillips remembers Ralph as the first in town to cash company checks.
He said, “People would come in on Friday evening to cash their paychecks. Ralph would either charge them 50 cents or give them a Black Label beer.”
In the late 1960s, Ralph turned the business over to R.B., who closed it in 1982. Ralph Bashlor died Jan. 29, 1985.
Social dancing was probably the biggest recreational activity in Richmond Hill between the 1940s and 1960s.
In anticipation of an evening at the Barn, girls rolled their hair in pin curls. They hoped the heat and humidity wouldn’t make the soft curls droop too soon. After putting on a full skirt and red lipstick, they were ready to go.
The Barn was a rustic 7,000-square-foot wooden building on Hwy. 17 near the new Bryan Bank & Trust. Before the Barn became a dance hall in the early 1950s, it was a roller skating rink. Then it was called The Skating Rink.
The lack of air-conditioning and modern heating didn’t detract from its popularity.
To keep the smoke-filled air circulating, large stand-alone fans were used and the high windows were opened just a wee bit.
During the cold Georgia winters, salamander kerosene heaters were strategically placed. In spite of inadequate heat, New Year’s Eve was always a big deal at the Barn.
Parents often took their children with them to the Barn. Perry Rushing and his wife Desi often took their daughter Bonnie and her friend Janette Smith there. They stayed with the teenage girls until it was time to go home. At that time, Perry would simply hold up one finger – the girls recognized the signal. It was an inviting, friendly place with great music, well known for its outstanding live bands. Lefty Lindsey’s band was one of the favorites.
Buddy Livingston had a popular Savannah band, which once included Billy Joe Royal, Joe South and Ray Stevens. He was considered the Elvis of the Coastal Empire and played all over the area, including at the Bamboo Ranch in Savannah and the Barn.
In August 1992, Buddy was diagnosed with inoperable cancer. After Buddy left the hospital on Aug. 28, 1992, Billy Joe Royal visited with him at his home in Savannah. Later that evening, Billy Joe was performing at Savannah’s Johnny Mercer Theater with John Anderson. Buddy was in the audience.
At the conclusion of his show, Billy Joe invited his lifetime friend to share the stage and sing the lead to “Down in the Boondocks.” They received three standing ovations.
It was a fond farewell. At the final curtain call, there was not a dry eye in the house when Buddy departed the stage with his dear friend for the last time. Buddy died in April 1993 at the age of 59. Buddy’s daughter, Diane Strickland, lives in Richmond Hill.
The Barn was Harold Myrick’s responsibility from 1962 until the massive wooden doors closed for the last time in 1969. When I talked with Mr. Myrick’s son and daughter, Bubba Myrick and Pat Brickey, they spoke of their fond memories of the Barn and the enjoyment of watching the square dancers.
When I asked Richard Davis who “called” the square dancing, he laughed outright. The question stirred memories he hadn’t thought about in quite a while. He said, “I don’t know, it didn’t matter. If we wanted to, we would get out there and square dance whether we had anybody to ‘call’ or not.”
Bubba remembers there would be at least 300 people there on a Saturday night. It was there as teenagers that he and his sister Pat developed their love for music.
He began playing the drums in Rufus Clark’s band when he was 17 years old. He eventually played drums and guitar for Buddy Livingston.
Bubba added, “Buddy was a super, super nice guy.” Pat became part of a country band, as well.
Although the building has long been torn down, the memories will stand forever. The Barn was a place where memories were made – few can look back and “remember when.”
Hiers was born and raised in Richmond Hill. She can be reached at shirleyhiers@comcast.net.
The distinction between honky tonks, juke joints and dance halls is blurred. The term “honky tonk” refers to the type of bar popular in the mid-1930s.
The hey-day of the honky tonk era ended in the mid-1960s, giving way to discotheques. While many people think of honky tonks only as Southern nightclubs, that’s not true – they were everywhere.
In the 1950s, honky tonks flourished with the popularity of Webb Pierce, George Jones and Hank Williams. In the 1970s, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and David Allan Coe were the faces of country music’s brand of rough honky tonks. The modern version of the honky tonk began in the early 1990s with Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson and Dwight Yoakam.
Richmond Hill had its own style of entertainment. Once there were five places within a 3-mile radius where young and old alike could enjoy a friend’s company. On Hwy. 17 were the Barn, Gingham Inn, Ralph’s Place, Kippie Blount’s Tavern – later known as Gunsmoke – and Vergie Rushing’s Place.
There are some Richmond Hill locals who remember going to all of those places “back in the day.” Recently, I had the opportunity to be in the company of these “knowing” men and women. The camaraderie they share today is as strong as it was 50 years ago. I was mesmerized as I witnessed them unfold the colorful pages of their youth.
Ralph Bashlor was born in 1907 on the reservation now known as Fort Stewart. He moved to Richmond Hill in 1941 and opened Ralph’s Place.
It was a small restaurant and service station with two gas pumps, and became known as the place with the coldest beer on Hwy. 17.
He was often called “Uncle Ralph.” His business was a favorite place of entertainment for all ages – young people hung out, shot pool and played the jukebox.
Ralph’s was the first place in Richmond Hill to have turkey shoots on Friday nights, where people would shoot a 12-gauge shotgun at posted targets. The one that came closest to the bull’s eye won a turkey, ham or slab of bacon. Dinky Miner’s dog Sport was trained to fetch the target on command.
Richard Davis grew up next door to Ralph, his family and Ralph’s Place. Richard and Ralph’s son, R.B., have always been best of friends. Richard remembers Ralph having a blackjack behind the counter and saw him pull it out a few times to run “wanna-be” troublemakers away.
Mann Bashlor, J.B. Clark and occasionally Jimmy Shuman played and sang country music there. The simple structure of about 1,000 square feet, was usually packed on Friday and Saturday nights – with about 25 people!
Ellis Phillips remembers Ralph as the first in town to cash company checks.
He said, “People would come in on Friday evening to cash their paychecks. Ralph would either charge them 50 cents or give them a Black Label beer.”
In the late 1960s, Ralph turned the business over to R.B., who closed it in 1982. Ralph Bashlor died Jan. 29, 1985.
Social dancing was probably the biggest recreational activity in Richmond Hill between the 1940s and 1960s.
In anticipation of an evening at the Barn, girls rolled their hair in pin curls. They hoped the heat and humidity wouldn’t make the soft curls droop too soon. After putting on a full skirt and red lipstick, they were ready to go.
The Barn was a rustic 7,000-square-foot wooden building on Hwy. 17 near the new Bryan Bank & Trust. Before the Barn became a dance hall in the early 1950s, it was a roller skating rink. Then it was called The Skating Rink.
The lack of air-conditioning and modern heating didn’t detract from its popularity.
To keep the smoke-filled air circulating, large stand-alone fans were used and the high windows were opened just a wee bit.
During the cold Georgia winters, salamander kerosene heaters were strategically placed. In spite of inadequate heat, New Year’s Eve was always a big deal at the Barn.
Parents often took their children with them to the Barn. Perry Rushing and his wife Desi often took their daughter Bonnie and her friend Janette Smith there. They stayed with the teenage girls until it was time to go home. At that time, Perry would simply hold up one finger – the girls recognized the signal. It was an inviting, friendly place with great music, well known for its outstanding live bands. Lefty Lindsey’s band was one of the favorites.
Buddy Livingston had a popular Savannah band, which once included Billy Joe Royal, Joe South and Ray Stevens. He was considered the Elvis of the Coastal Empire and played all over the area, including at the Bamboo Ranch in Savannah and the Barn.
In August 1992, Buddy was diagnosed with inoperable cancer. After Buddy left the hospital on Aug. 28, 1992, Billy Joe Royal visited with him at his home in Savannah. Later that evening, Billy Joe was performing at Savannah’s Johnny Mercer Theater with John Anderson. Buddy was in the audience.
At the conclusion of his show, Billy Joe invited his lifetime friend to share the stage and sing the lead to “Down in the Boondocks.” They received three standing ovations.
It was a fond farewell. At the final curtain call, there was not a dry eye in the house when Buddy departed the stage with his dear friend for the last time. Buddy died in April 1993 at the age of 59. Buddy’s daughter, Diane Strickland, lives in Richmond Hill.
The Barn was Harold Myrick’s responsibility from 1962 until the massive wooden doors closed for the last time in 1969. When I talked with Mr. Myrick’s son and daughter, Bubba Myrick and Pat Brickey, they spoke of their fond memories of the Barn and the enjoyment of watching the square dancers.
When I asked Richard Davis who “called” the square dancing, he laughed outright. The question stirred memories he hadn’t thought about in quite a while. He said, “I don’t know, it didn’t matter. If we wanted to, we would get out there and square dance whether we had anybody to ‘call’ or not.”
Bubba remembers there would be at least 300 people there on a Saturday night. It was there as teenagers that he and his sister Pat developed their love for music.
He began playing the drums in Rufus Clark’s band when he was 17 years old. He eventually played drums and guitar for Buddy Livingston.
Bubba added, “Buddy was a super, super nice guy.” Pat became part of a country band, as well.
Although the building has long been torn down, the memories will stand forever. The Barn was a place where memories were made – few can look back and “remember when.”
Hiers was born and raised in Richmond Hill. She can be reached at shirleyhiers@comcast.net.