A Little Bit of Mayberry

Yesterday, Sherri, my wife, and I took a short day trip to another one of North Carolina’s small towns. Those of you who were and are fans of The Andy Griffith Show of the 1960’s may remember this town being mentioned by Andy or Barney. Very often they, or one of the other characters, would say something about going to Siler City. Yes, Siler City is a real place and is a little over an hour from where we live. In fact one of the main characters on the show settled there after she retired from show business.

Frances Bavier, who played Aunt Bea bought a house in Siler City and lived there until her death in 1989 at the age of 87. She fell in love with this small, Mayberry like town, while she was still playing the role, Aunt Bea. A friend had told her about a seamstress in Siler City who could make suites for her—those classic short tops, jacket and long skirts that she wore when she dressed up in many of the scenes on the show. Frances would have the lady to make three at a time. It was during those trips for the suits that she decided to retire in Siler City rather than her home town, New York City.

As a citizen of Siler City this famous lady lived a quiet almost reclusive life. She did attend events such as bridal showers in her neighborhood, and other such personal gatherings. However, she insisted that everyone call her Frances, not Aunt Bea. She said, “Aunt Bea was just a character I played on a show.” There was one young man who helped her with things she needed done. He was one who often got himself in trouble and like Otis, would be locked up in the Siler City jail. Each time Aunt Bea would call her lawyer, and tell him to go get him out of jail. Frances lived the rest of her life in Siler City and is buried in the town’s cemetery.

Before we left Siler City we found out about a popular local eating place. It is called Johnson’s, that’s all, just Johnson’s. It’s a little hamburger joint that has been in business since 1946. There are six booths and maybe ten bar stools at the counter which provides a perfect view of the grill where one lady cooks all of the hamburgers and fries. If you decide to eat there you will have to wait for a seat. The person who told us about Johnson’s said, “But it’s worth the wait!” They have the lady who cooks, a girl who is the waitress, and a young man who takes the to go orders and is the one you pay on the way out. When you pay he will ask you where you were sitting. He then picks up a stack of tickets, finds the one that belongs to you, and tells you what you owe.

Sherri and I had to wait about 20 minutes to get a seat. We stood in something like a line and with help from one of the locals was told when it was our time to go to a booth. You don’t wait for the table to be cleaned off. That will be done by the waitress as she takes your drink order. The old farmer who had helped us figure out how the line system worked, said he had been eating at Johnson’s for over fifty years and that nothing had changed except they were now in a new building which meant they had moved there probably in the late 1960’s.

We waited at our table about ten minutes before the young southern waitress removed the last patrons ketchup filled napkins, wrappers that the burgers and hot dogs sat on and their cups and Pepsi cans while she asked us what we wanted to drink. Sheri said, “I’ll have ice tea, unsweetened.” The waitress said, “Honey, we don’t have no unsweetened tea, just sweet tea!” In other words, “Honey you are in the south, what’s wrong with you.” Sherri ordered a Diet Pepsi and so did I. When the drinks were delivered we were asked what we wanted to eat. Not a hard decision to make—hamburgers, cheeseburgers (w/Velveeta Cheese), hot dog, and fries). Sherri ordered a hamburger. “Honey, what do you want on your burger?” Sherri replied, “I think I’ll have mayonnaise, onions, tomatoes and pickles.” “Honey, we don’t put no pickles on our hamburgers!” Some things don’t change. A successful business for 73 years, most likely because they don’t put no pickles on their hamburgers and they don’t serve no unsweettea? Now who can argue with that.