Lost Mountain Store

This is Lost Mountain Store.

Lost Mountain Store was owned by an old gent named Mr. Newton. That was what his name was, but he preferred "Newt". Behind his back we called him "Snuffy".

Snuffy kept his money in a wood box, bigger than a cigar box. You give him your money for your Coke and crackers and he would open the box and dig out your change. He held it in such a way you could not see inside the box to see how much money was inside it. He was in no hurry to count it out. While you were standing there waiting he had a chance to talk to you and maybe brag a little. He was a talker.

Also he was quiet a shooter. While he had that box opened he was out thinking his customer. Twice he had been held up at gun point. And each time he killed the robber in his tracks. Money wasn't all he had in that box.

His store was between seven and ten miles west of downtown Marietta. Our fiend owned a lake just a couple of miles away that we would go to a lot. We always stopped there and buy something from Snuffy. The store was at desolate cross roads. Desolate back then. Now, it is a heavy traffic area with yuppies going to soccer games, tennis matches, golf games, and so on.

Snuffy has been dead many years. He was a single old man who lived with his sister in a two story house behind the store. It kind of reminds you of The Bates Motel, right?

The store is still there, but now it is in the front of a big yuppie shopping center. To the side of the store, build in is a ATM machine. I heard they were going to make a museum out of Lost Mountain Store. I don't know if that has yet became a reality or not.