Powell family
...CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK
Tony gave some history about the Powell family that needs to be shared here to understand how the family members lived and worked together during the time of the busy Powell's Café years. Grace employed a lady to help with caring for the children and running the house as she, herself was so involved in the operation of the business. Mrs. Carrie McGill from Pollard was the longtime employee for the Powell's and was like family. Tragically, Mrs. Carrie died in a house fire in March of 1978.
The children were involved in school activities and sports throughout their young lives. Mickey was born in 1943, Larry in 1944, Diane in 1947, Tony in 1949 and Kenny in 1955. Marvin and Grace supported the children in as many school functions and sports events as possible. In the high school years Mickey played football, basketball & baseball 4 years. Larry played football 4 years and was an All-State running back his senior year. Dianne was a cheerleader for 4 years and was class salutatorian. Tony played football, basketball, baseball and ran track. He made All-State in track in his senior year having medaled in two events at the state track meet. Kenny played football and baseball throughout high school. He played catcher on the FHS baseball team in 1973 when Flomaton won its first ever Alabama State Championship in any sport.
Some interesting details shared from Tony includes the location of Powell's Café. Today, the 4-lane Highway 31 is behind the original property where the Café sat. That place is about 3 miles north on the old part of highway 31. The Powell property can be seen from the new highway. The first Powell home was built in 1944 and sat beside the Café. A newer home was built there in 1964.
Tony shares that there was never a robbery at the Café, but he does recall going with Marvin out to the café one night. Marvin thought there was some suspicious activity. Nothing was found. The only thing of significant consequence that ever happened at the cabins was when on a cold night a drunken man went to sleep after turning on the gas heater to wide open. He did not allow for any ventilation and he died from the gas fumes. Instructions were posted and renters were always advised to open a window to allow for ventilation. In Cabin # 10 was the unfortunate place where that happened.
The Powells had a few customers inside the Café and some cabin renters that tried to sneak away without paying for services rendered. Once, a couple tried to drive away from a cabin without paying the bill. Marvin jumped into his car to catch up with then and collected his rent. Another memorable occasion had Grace confronting a lady that was leaving without paying. Grace approached her but the lady made the mistake of pushing Grace during the discussion. Things didn't go well for that woman as Grace finished collecting the rent due from her.
The few times that had the Powell's café closed were during the times of death in the families of Marvin or Grace. Tony remembers when there was a hurricane warning and that they boarded up two large glass pane windows. Otherwise, Powell's café was always open for business. The Powell's did enjoy vacation time when they visited family in Georgia and Mississippi. Tony remembers taking a vacation trip to South Florida where they toured the Seminole Indian Reservation in the mid-'50's. He still has a couple of souvenirs they purchased there.
Marvin died at age 59. He worked until the last couple of months of his life in the house moving business. Marvin was bedridden from the ravages of cancer in the early months of 1972 before he passed away in April. Grace was from a family of 16 kids of which she enjoyed visiting. They all stayed close throughout their lives. Grace was the last of her siblings to die. After the Cafe was leased to others, she spent about 20 years as a school bus driver before retiring. She developed Alzheimer's disease and her last year of life was spent in the Century Nursing Home. Grace died in June of 2003. Marvin and Grace's second child, Larry, passed away in 2012.
In ending this story, this writer remembers going to Powell's Café (circa '61-62) to eat hamburgers after getting to Flomaton from working the 3-11 shift at Chemstrand. I rode with a group of other "Blue Angels." Our driver was the only man and we along with his wife filled that station wagon to capacity. Some nights when we ended a week of 3-11 shift we would decide to relax and eat at the Greyhound Bus Station or at Powell's Café "up the hill" from Flomaton. My memory is the jukebox giving us the songs of that time, Rock-N-Roll and Country.
After reading the history of Powell's Café that Tony shares here, I believe he and his siblings were blessed to belong to the man and woman that all the kids called "Mama and Daddy." The kids learned a work ethic in that Café. It must have seemed natural to work and earn a living from the sweat of their brows. I'm honored to write this part of our local history. This article will be archived with The Tri-City Ledger for future generations to read and learn about a place that no longer exists but, once was important to the community and the citizens that shared a small part in its success.
