Friday, February 24, 2017

The Old Coke Machine and the Unlit Cigar Scottsboro, AL



This is probably one of a very few photos that was taken on the inside of the old Johnson Plumbing and Electric Co., Scottsboro, Alabama,  that contains a shot of the old Coke machine that was one of the original "fixtures" of the history of the building.  If you take a closer look at the front of the machine you can see where the Coke Company had increased the price from 6¢ to 10¢.  The 6¢ price increase didn't last long because of confusion and expense of the extra 1¢ upgrade from a nickel!  I remember when the Coke representative changed out the coin mechanism when the price went up!  Right beside the machine is the typical “stack” of refills of the old returnable glass bottles.   This photo was taken after the first remodel of the building and the old wooden front was removed.  Originally the old Coke machine sat on the right hand side wall on the front entrance of the building.  The man in the photo, of course, is my Dad.  Again, if you will take a closer look at his left hand you will notice he is holding a cigar.  There is a great story behind the "unlit cigar".  My Dad smoked for years.  One day, as a dare, a friend told him that he needed to stop smoking.  The friend told him that he wouldn't be able to stop.  My Dad, W. H. "Shag" Johnson, Jr., had a lit cigarette in his hands when the "dare" was made.  He looked at his friend, took a last puff and threw the cigarette in the garbage.  That was the last cigarette that he ever smoked!  From that day forward he would light a cigar, put it out, and hold it like he is in the photo.  The only time he actually took a "puff" was to light the cigar.  As soon as it was lit, he put it out.  I guess this was his way of breaking free from cigarettes.  From time to time he would put the unlit cigar in his mouth, but that was usually right before he threw it in the trash.  People who knew him could tell when he was upset or unhappy by the way he would chew on the cigar before throwing it away!  

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