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SOUTH PARK SEEN THROUGH THE EYES
OF
BUDDY AND JANE HEBERT
THE PIG STAND
SOUTH PARK SEEN THROUGH THE EYES
OF
BUDDY AND JANE HEBERT
THE PIG STAND
THE BUILDING IS LONG GONE, BUT NOT THE MEMORIES OF WONDERFUL TEEN
YEARS.
A SMALL SQUARE BUILDING NESTLED ON A TRIANGLE SHAPED
PIECE OF PROPERTY, WITH WHITE
AND BLACK TILES ON THE BOTTOM PART OF THE BUILDING, A WONDERFUL RED
ROOF WITH AN
ORIENTAL FLARE, WIDE AT THE BOTTOM AND ARCHED UP TO A SMALL, FLAT TYPE
ROOF. THERE
WERE WINDOWS ALL AROUND THE BUILDING, AND AT THE TOP PAINTED ON THE
GLASS WERE
BLACK PIGS--WITH THE FLUORESCENT LIGHTS GIVING OFF A LUMINESCE GLOW
OVER THE ENTIRE
AREA. BUT THE MOST FASCINATING SIGHT WAS THE BRIGHT BLUE NEON PIG THAT
STOOD AT THE
CORNER WITH THE WORDS " PIG SANDWICH "
IN BRIGHT RED NEON, PLACED HIGH ABOVE ON A METAL POLE BECKONING
TO EVERYONE TO ENJOY A JUICY PIG SANDWICH.
TO TEEN AGERS THE DRIVE IN SANDWICH SHOP WAS A PARADISE.
GREAT TASTING FOOD AND IT
WAS AN IDEAL SPOT TO MEET OTHER TEEN AGERS. WATCHING, MAKING NEW FRIENDS,
CONFRONTING RIVALS FROM ACROSS TOWN SCHOOLS, AND SPARKING ROMANCE.
AND IT WAS FASCINATING TO DRIVE, HONK YOUR HORN OR
FLASH YOUR LIGHTS, INSTANTLY A
CAR HOP WOULD BE AT YOUR TO TAKE YOUR ORDER.
THIS EXCITING LOCATION WAS AT THE CORNER OF HIGHLAND
AVENUE, PORT ARTHUR HIGHWAY,
(NOW KNOWN AS MLK) AND EUCLID - AND THIS FAVORITE SPOT IN SOUTH PARK
WAS THE PIG
STAND AND THE VERY SPECIAL JUICY PIG SANDWICH - WITH A
CHERRY OR CHOCOLATE COKE, OR
THE MANY OTHER ITEMS SERVED AT THE PIG STAND. THE IMAGE OF THE
PIG STAND EVOKES FOND
MEMORIES - EXCITEMENT, RELAXATION, GOOD FRIENDS AND CHOMPING A JUICY
PIG SANDWICH.
IN THE EARLY 1920'S THE DRIVE IN RESTAURANTS GOT
THEIR START. DALLAS CANDY AND
TOBACCO MAGNATE, JESSIE G. KIRBY DECIDED TO EXPLOIT THE
HABITS OF THE AVERAGE CAR
OWNER, EXPRESSING TO HIS FUTURE PARTNER, DR. REUBEN W. JACKSON
THAT "PEOPLE WITH CARS
ARE SO LAZY THEY,DON'T WANT TO GET OUT OF THEIR CARS TO EAT!" HE BELIEVED
THE TIME WAS
RIGHT FOR A RESTAURANT GEARED TOWARD SERVING DINERS FROM THEIR CARS
- AND DR.JACKSON
WAS SO IMPRESSED WITH THE IDEA, HE PROVIDED THE $10,000.00 FINANCING
FOR A CORPORATION
THAT WOULD CONSTRUCT A PROTOTYPE PORK STAND.
IN THE FALL OF 1921, THE FIRST PIG STAND WAS OPENED
IN DALLAS, TEXAS ON THE OLD
DALLAS-FORT WORTH HIGHWAY, AND QUICKLY MOTORISTS WERE LINED UP TO TASTE
A PIG
SANDWICH. IT IS NOT CLEAR HOW THE TASTE OF THE JUICY PIG SANDWICH
WAS DEVELOPED, BUT IT
CONSISTS OF SMOKED PORK LOIN AND A BARBEQUE SAUCE MADE BY THE COMPANY,
AND
EACH DRIVE IN SMOKED THEIR OWN PORK.
THE PIG STAND WAS THE FIRST DRIVE IN TO USE CAR HOPS
TO WAIT ON THEIR CUSTOMERS, AND
THEY WERE YOUNG BOYS WHO WOULD QUICKLY JUMP ON THE RUNNING BOARDS OF
CARS,
SOMETIMES EVEN BEFORE THEY STOPPED. THESE YOUNG BOYS DELIGHTED THE
MOTORISTS -
QUICKLY TAKING ORDERS, RUNNING TO THE KITCHEN AND BACK TO THE CAR WITH
DELICIOUS
FOOD AND DRINKS ON THEIR TRAYS, WHICH WAS PLACED ON THE DOOR OF THE
CAR. THUS THE
TERM "CAR HOP" WAS COINED TO DESCRIBE THE COMBINATION OF WAITER, BUS-BOY,
CASHIER AND
DAREDEVIL. QUICKLY OTHER DRIVE IN ESTABLISHMENTS WERE OPENED,
AND SOON THE CAR HOPS
TURNED FROM YOUNG BOYS TO PRETTY YOUNG GIRLS IN MANY DIFFERENT STYLES
OF UNIFORMS,
AND THIS BROUGHT EVEN MORE DELIGHT TO THE MOTORISTS.
THE SIGN OF THE PIG PULLED CUSTOMERS IN, AND IN 1922
THE COMPANY'S TRADEMARK "THE
SIGN OF THE PIG" WAS REGISTERED WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS,
AND ONE YEAR LATER IT WAS
REGISTERED WITH THE UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
IN 1923, DR. JACKSON DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO
BUILD A PIG STAND IN BEAUMONT, AND HE MADE
A TRIP TO BEAUMONT LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT LOCATION. HE FOUND THE
TRIANGLE SHAPED
PROPERTY LOCATED AT HIGHLAND AVENUE, AND PORT ARTHUR ROAD, WHICH WAS
OWNED BY
RYMAN "DOC" THOMAS, WHO RESIDED WITH HIS FAMILY IN SPINDLETOP,
AND OPERATED A GENERAL
MERCHANDISE AND DRUG STORE IN SPINDLETOP, AS WELL AS RENTING ROOMS
UP STAIRS TO THE
ROUGH NECKS WORKING IN THE OIL FIELDS.
DR. JACKSON ARRANGED TO LEASE THE PROPERTY
FROM MR. THOMAS, AND FOR 44 YEARS THE
LEASE WAS IN EFFECT. THE QUAINT LITTLE BUILDING WAS QUICKLY CONSTRUCTED,
AND
IMMEDIATELY PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER BEAUMONT CAME TO THE SOUTH PARK AREA
TO TRY THIS
NEW FAD OF EATING IN YOUR CAR, BEING SERVED BY THESE CAR HOPS AND TRYING
OUT
THIS DELICIOUS, NEW JUICY PIG SANDWICH. THE LITTLE BUILDING WITH
THE RED, UNUSUAL ROOF,
THE FLUORESCENT LIGHTS AND THE NEON PIG, THE CAR HOPS CARRYING A TRAY
LOADED WITH
FOOD, AND THE TASTE OF THE DELICIOUS PORK SANDWICHES MADE AN UNFORGETTABLE
SIGHT.
THE DRIVE IN PIG STAND SOON BECAME A HOME AWAY FROM
HOME FOR TEEN AGERS, AND WAS
AN APPROPRIATE SETTING FOR TEENAGE. SOCIALIZATION. AND IT WAS
OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY.
THE PIG STAND DEVELOPED SOFT DRINKS THAT QUICKLY
CAUGHT ON WITH THE TEEN AGERS. A
CHERRY COKE - A COKE WITH JUST A TOUCH OF CHERRY JUICE. THE
RICKEY DRINK. CHERRY JUICE
IN THE BOTTOM OF A GLASS, ORANGE JUICE ADDED, WITH A CHERRY ON TOP
AND A SLICE OF LIME
ON THE RIM. AND THE DRINK THAT WALTER KENNESSON
AND BUDDY HEBERT REMEMBER THE MOST - THE SHIPWRECK.
FIRST THE GLASS WAS FILLED WITH COKE, THEN THE WAITRESS WOULD GO DOWN THE
FOUNTAIN AND SQUIRT A LITTLE OF EVERYTHING IN THE GLASS. ALL MAKING A BIG
HIT WITH THE KIDS.
THEY DEVELOPED THE "OUTLAW BURGER."
THREE PIECES OF BUN WITH TWO MEAT BURGER
PATTIES, CHEESE, PICKLES, ONIONS, LETTUCE AND TOMATOES ALONG WITH THEIR
SPECIAL SAUCE.
THE FIRST ONION RINGS WERE SERVED BY THE PIG STAND.
THEY WERE THE FIRST TO SERVE TEXAS
TOAST, AND THE FIRST TO USE FLUORESCENT LIGHTS AND NEON SIGNS.
THE PIG STAND WAS A VERY SPECIAL PLACE FOR MANY A
SOUTH PARK TEEN AGER ALTHOUGH
CARS WERE NOT THAT PLENTIFUL IN OUR TIME, AND MONEY WAS EXTREMELY TIGHT,
WE FOUND
WAYS TO EARN MONEY BY SUMMER AND WEEKEND JOBS, AND MANY A FRIDAY AND
SATURDAY
NIGHT A LARGE GROUP WOULD GATHER AT THE PIG STAND FOR THOSE DELICIOUS
REFRESHMENTS.
AFTER THE FOOTBALL GAME WAS A SPECIAL TIME, AS THE CROSS TOWN STUDENTS
WOULD ALWAYS
SHOW UP AFTER THE GAME. AND ALTHOUGH WE ALWAYS DECLARED THAT
WE WERE DEADLY
ENEMIES WITH OTHER STUDENTS, MANY A ROMANCE DEVELOPED AND GREW AT THE
PIG
STAND ON HIGHLAND AND PORT ARTHUR ROAD.
SUCH A ROMANCE WAS THAT OF ROLFE CHRISTOPHER
AND
VIRGINIA
WOODS. ROLFE HAD MANY
FOND MEMORIES OF THE PIG STAND AND ON NUMEROUS OCCASSIONS HAD EXPRESSED
HIS FEELING
"THAT THE PIG STAND WAS WHERE HE FELL IN LOVE WITH VIRGINIA."
ROLFE WAS A 1936 GRADUATE OF SOUTH PARK, AND
NINE YEARS OLDER THAN VIRGINIA.. VIRGINIA
WAS A MEMBER OF THE CADETS, AND FROM THE MOMENT ROLFE SAW VIRGINIA
AT A FOOTBALL
GAME, HE KNEW HE WANTED TO GET TO KNOW THIS GIRL BETTER. ALTHOUGH HIS
FRIEND, PHILLIP
GARRISON THOUGHT VIRGINIA WAS "A BABY", ROLFE FINALLY
PERSUADEDHIM TO INTRODUCE HIM TO VIRGINIA.
VIRGINIA REMEMBERS MANY A FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT TRIP TO THE PIG STAND WITH ROLFE, AND WITH HIM HAVING HIS OWN CAR AND SOME EXTRA MONEY WAS ABLE TO BUY HER NOT ONLY A COKE, BUT A SANDWICH AS WELL - ALL OF WHICH WAS QUITE IMPRESSIVE TO VIRGINIA.
SHE ALSO LAUGHINGLY RECALLS AFTER SHE AND ROLFE
MARRIED THE SUNDAY MORNINGS THAT
ROLFE AND "SPUD" BRADEN WOULD MEET AT THE PIG STAND
FOR COFFEE. THE BOYS WERE-YOUNG
AT THAT TIME, AND IT WAS A SPECIAL TREAT FOR THEM TO GO TO THE PIG
STAND WITH THEIR DAD.
BUT FIRST THEY HAD TO BE DRESSED AND READY FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL - AND
SHE NEVER HAD ANY
PROBLEMS WITH THEIR BOYS GETTING READY SOON ENOUGH. THIS ALSO GAVE
HER SOME LEISURE
SOME LEISURE TIME TO GET DRESSED HERSELF.
THERE ARE MANY OTHER MEMORIES. NANCY BELT VINCENT REMEMBERS THE WONDERFUL .05 CENT HOT DOGS THEY SERVED. JACK BINKS RECALLS THE "RED HOT" INVENTED BY THE PIG STAND. A SPICY SAUSAGE ON A BUN, TOPPED WITH RED HOT SAUCE. HIS MOUTH STILL WATERS JUST THINKING ABOUT IT. BUDDY HEBERT LAUGHS WHEN HE RECALLS THE YOUNG BOY WHO ALWAYS SOLD PAPERS AT THE PIG STAND, AND WOULD TELL YOU IF YOU WOULD BUY A PAPER FROM HIM THAT HE WOULD TELL YOU WHAT STATE YOU WERE BORN IN. AND WHEN YOU BOUGHT THE PAPER, HE WOULD TELL YOU "YOU WERE BORN IN THE STATE OF INFANCY." HE HAD 3-4 OTHER SUBJECTS HE WOULD USE TO ENTICE YOU TO BUY A PAPER, BUT BUDDY CAN'T REMEMBER JUST WHAT THEY WERE.
AND OF COURSE THERE WAS OFFICER SYLVESTER GARBO
WHO WAS EVER PRESENT ON HIS
MOTORCYCLE AFTER MANY A FOOTBALL GAME. I CAN'T REMEMBER THE PIG STAND
WITHOUT
RECALLING OFFICER GARBO.
THERE WAS A COUNTER INSIDE THE PIG STAND, ALONG WITH
A FEW TABLES, AND MANY PEOPLE
OFTEN WENT THERE FOR THE WONDERFUL BREAKFASTS. WHAT GOOD FOOD YOU COULD
HAVE FOR
A QUARTER.
THERE WERE THESE SPECIAL LITTLE DOMED SHAPED, GLASS
NICKELODEON SELECTORS SITTING
ON THE COUNTERS, WHERE YOU COULD MAKE YOUR SELECTION OF A SONG, DROP
IN A NICKEL
AND YOUR FAVORITE TUNEWOULD PLAY.
I DON'T REMEMBER JUST WHAT YEAR, BUT EVENTUALLY A
CANOPY WAS INSTALLED OVER THE
PARKING LOT TO PROVIDE SHADE FOR THE CARS AND CUSTOMERS COMING TO THE
DRIVE IN. ON
FEBRUARY 15, 1930, A YOUNG BOY BY THE NAME OF ROYCE HAILEY STARTED
WORKING AS A CAR
HOP AT THE PIG STAND IN DALLAS, TEXAS. HE CONTINUED TO WORK FOR THE
PIG STAND, DOING
EVERY JOB IMAGINABLE AND IN 1955 BECAME PRESIDENT OF THE COMPANY. ROYCE
HAILEY RETIRED
ABOUT 1977 AND HIS SON, RICHARD HAILEY TOOK OVER AS PRESIDENT
OF THE PIG STAND
CORPORATION. RICHARD HAILEY IS ALSO A COUNTRY/WESTERN SINGER,
ONE OF HIS PRODUCTIONS
BEING " IT'S NEVER TOO.LATE." RICHARD RESIDES
INSAN ANTONIO.
EVEN PARENTS HAD FOUND THAT IT WAS A GREAT PLACE
TO EAT OUT WITH THE KIDS, AS THEY
DID NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BEHAVIOR ORTHE KIDS MAKING A MESS.
BUT IN THE EARLY 1960'S, THE TEEN AGERS BEGAN SPENDING
TOO MUCH TIME AT THE DRIVE IN'S,
WITH LOUD MUSIC AND SOMETIMES FIGHTS, MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO
PARK AND ENJOY
A MEAL. BY THIS TIME MC DONALD'S AND BURGER CHEF'S RESTAURANTS
BEGAN POPPING UP WITH
DRIVE THROUGH SERVICE, AND THE DAYS OF THE CAR HOPS WAS OVER.
ABOUT 1968 THE EXPANSION OF THE PORT ARTHUR HIGHWAY
BEGAN, WIDENING THE STREET,
WHICH TOOK MUCH OF THE PROPERTY UPON WHICH THE PIG STAND WAS LOCATED.
THUS CAME
THE DEMISE OF THE BELOVED PIG STAND AS WE KNEW IT AS KIDS.
THE BUILDING WAS TORN
DOWN, AND THE PIG STAND MOVED TO ANOTHER LOCATION AT THE CORNER OF
WASHINGTON
BLVD. AND PORT ARTHUR ROAD, AND WOULD EVENTUALLY MOVE DOWN THE STREET
AT THE
PRESENT LOCATION OF WASHINGTON BOULEVARD AND IRVING ABOUT 1984. THEY
STILL SERVE
THOSE DELICIOUS PIG SANDWICHES AND BURGERS, BUT THERE ARE NO CAR HOPS,
AND THEY SERVE
SIT DOWN MEALS INSIDE THE RESTAURANT.
EVENTUALLY HIGHLAND AVENUE WAS PERMANENTLY CLOSED
AT THE INTERSECTION OF PORT
ARTHUR ROAD (MLK) AND ISADORA THOMAS, WIDOW OF SCOTT THOMAS
(WHO WAS THE SON OF RYMAN THOMAS) SOLD THE SMALL TRACT OF LAND TO HERBERT
YORK, WHO OWNED THE PROPERTY ACROSS HIGHLAND AVENUE.
ROYCE HAILEY WOULD BUILD TWO OTHER PIG STANDS
IN BEAUMONT, ONE ON COLLEGE STREET
ACROSS FROM GATEWAY SHOPPING CENTER, AND THE OTHER ON CALDER AVENUE
JUST OFF
MARIPOSA (NOW MLK). ROSE DOWNS HOOTS IS THE SUPERVISOR
OF ALL THREE OF THE LOCATIONS,
AND HAS WORKED FOR THE PIG STAND ORGANIZATION FOR OVER 25 YEARS,
AND WAS VERY
HELPFUL WITH INFORMATION. ROSE GREW UP IN TYRRELL PARK
AND WAS A 1948 GRADUATE OF
SOUTH PARK HIGH SCHOOL. BETTY MINTER HAS BEEN A COOK FOR
THE PIG STAND ORGANIZATION
FOR OVER 30 YEARS, HAVING WORKED AT THE HIGHLAND AVENUE LOCATION,
AND CONTINUES
TO WORK AT THE WASHINGTON BOULEVARD LOCATION. SHE RECALLS THAT
MR.
BICKLEY WAS THE
MANAGER OF THE PIG STAND NO. 1 ON HIGHLAND.
ROSE HOOTS IS PROUD OF THE EMPLOYEES OF THE
PIG STAND, WITH 2/3 OF THEM AVERAGING .20
YEARS EMPLOYMENT WITH THE COMPANY. MARGIE WILLIAMS, AN
EMPLOYEE OF THE COLLEGE
STREET PIG STAND, HAS BEEN AN EMPLOYEE FOR OVER 30 YEARS, HAVING WORKED
AS A CAR HOP
IN THE EARLIER DAYS. VERA MC ALISTER WORKS AT THE WASHINGTON
RESTAURANT WITH 5 YEARS
SERVICE AND SHIRLEY RIVETTE TWO YEARS SERVICE. AND JUST RECENTLY, A
SOUTH PARK
GRADUATE, MILDRED JONES CONNER BEGAN WORKING WITH THE COMPANY.
THE DEMANDS OF GROWING UP, HAVING A FAMILY OF YOUR
OWN AND EVERYDAY LIVING EDGED
OUT THE LEISURE TIME ONCE SPENT AT THE DRIVE IN, BUT I STILL
HAVE SO MANY VERY FOND
MEMORIES OF THESE WONDERFUL TIMES - THE EXCITEMENT OF THE PIG STAND
FRIENDS - GREAT
FOOD! AND THO THE DAYS OF THE DRIVE IN AND CAR HOPS HAVE DISAPPEARED,
THEY ARE NOT
****** WHILE WRITING THIS STORY, I GOT SO HUNGRY FOR A JUICY PIG
SANDWICH, I MADE A TRIP
TO THE WASHINGTON BOULEVARD PIG STAND AND PICKED UP A SANDWICH FOR
LUNCH. AND IT
TASTED AS GOOD AS EVER, AND WHILE I WAS THERE I SAW THOSE DELICIOUS
CHICKEN FRIED
STEAKS THEY HAVE ALWAYS SERVED. AND WHILE I NEVER ATE ONE AS A TEENAGER,
I THINK I WILL
TRY ONE AS AN ADULT. SO - THE NEXT TIME YOU ARE HUNGRY FOR SOMETHING
SPECIAL, MAKE A
TRIP TO THE PIG STAND ON WASHINGTON BOULEVARD. YOU'LL LIKE IT.
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