It might look like these young men are just enjoying their freedom on a summer day in August 1940. They all have smiles on their faces while some of the boys are drinking their bottled soft drinks. But the story behind the photograph is that two of these young men, Pfohla Wilmoth and Livingston Johnson, are the proprietors of this drink stand business.
Their drink stand was located on a corner lot at Stratford Road and Buena Vista Road. Pfohla and Livingston were partners and operated their stand all summer from 8:30 to 5:30, Monday to Saturday. Livingston opened the stand three years earlier and made Phohla a partner in 1939.
Drink stands were very popular in the city for several years. The drink companies supplied the booths, the drinks, and sometimes ice. The boys sold the drinks and paid the drink companies at the end of the day. And, the boys who stuck it out made money.
The young men in the above photo are: Dick Stockton, Tom Stockton, Pfohla Wilmoth, Livingston Johnson, Tag Montague, Charles Lawrence, Leon Sherrill, and Numa Gray Carroll.
Another young man who was also in the drink stand business was Bobby Hilker, the proprietor of Bob’s Place. Bobby’s stand (photo shown above) was located in Buena Vista, behind R. J. Reynolds High School. Bobby was also a diligent merchant, with his stand open Monday to Saturday, from morning to night, rain or shine. Bobby ran a light-line from his nearby house so that he had light to work later in the evening. Behind the drink stand, Bobby had a “warehouse,” using a repurposed Scout tent to house additional products and supplies. Bobby had a thriving trade with the motoring public, and his sister helped out by providing curb service. Some of his best customers were workmen in the area and R. J. Reynolds High School summer school students. Bobby added other products to his line, such as milk, crackers, and confections.
So while some youngsters wiled away their summer days in play and recreation, these young men had an early taste of the business world, plus a healthy bank account to begin their school year.
Many thanks to Charles Lawrence Jr. who so graciously shared his photograph and his personal experiences of the drink stand business. Mr. Lawrence, shown in the first photograph at age 13, had a drink stand in 1941, and enjoyed visiting at other drink stands with his friends.
This article appeared in the “Thursday” newspaper on August 29, 1940.
