Cashiers Chamber of Commerce Banquet, 4 November 2003
I’m going to speak a few words about the original Alexander Gardens, which was constructed in the 1930s, around the time of the end of the American Prohibition Era. Mr. Warren Alexander, who had his finger in many pies around Cashiers, erected a group of 11 buildings on Highway 64, about ½ mile east of the Crossroads. Actually facing Highway 64 were 5 structures – the 2 on the right hand side were the Woodpecker Shop, where the Childers brothers had a wood working business – that’s where you’ll find Nova Kitchen and Bath these days, and next to that, Adrian Fowler had his first hardware store and now it’s the second location of Bounds Cave.
Across the street were three buildings: a gas station, a restaurant, and a barbershop. The Pure Oil filling station was run by John H. Rogers with Buck Marshall handling the garage services. The Ruby Star shop just recently opened there. The smallest structure was a barber shop where Curt Wood would cut your hair and where you’ll find Two Hands nowadays.
Directly behind the restaurant was another small building, called The Nutmeg Cottage, where Newell and Jeanne Pell Wright, and their daughter lived when Jeanne was a waitress at the café. It now houses “Garden Treasures,” Next door was the home of Warren Alexander and that’s where Reid Burgland’s office is now. Across the road right next to the new Victoria’s Closet building, was The Bark Cottage, where today you’ll find Sarah McKee Antiques, but in the 1930s, Buck Marshall and his family called it home.
Go down the hill to the right and directly below Reid Burgland’s office is the House in the Hole, where Judy Henson has her office and where in the 30s Ralph and Bessie Bumgarner lived. The last two buildings, to the left of the House in the Hole were T. S. Lance’s residence – now C. J. Brownhouse, and Mr. Lance’s carriage house, which is now Good Foods, Inc.
I’ve saved for last, the liveliest spot in Alexander Gardens – West’s Café, operated by Marshall J. West and his wife. They served 3 meals a day, 7 days a week, early morning until as late as midnight. Everything was made from scratch, bought fresh from local farmers and then prepared and cooked on a large gas stove. Featured were special platters like fried steak with gravy, mashed potatoes and salad. People came from miles around to eat at West’s.
Memories of prohibition were fresh in people’s minds, and it seemed wonderful to sit down at West’s, and drink a beer in a frosted mug. I’ve noticed some of you tonight are still celebrating the end of prohibition.
You could do more than eat and drink at West’s – you could square dance every Saturday night and maybe even get into a friendly fistfight in the parking lot. Madge Merrell remembers 3 teenagers placing sticks of dynamite in a nearby dirt bank and detonating it – just another Saturday night at West’s Café. Now, folks, it you choose a quiet day to drop by Bound’s Cave, where West’s Café used to be, and you listen real careful like, you can still hear and feel the vibration of tap-toed shoes performing a great buck dance.
