Our ego is an on-going part of us that we are constantly forced to deal with from time to time. I'm no different from anyone else, I'm made aware of my personal ego sometimes at the most inopportune times. Recently I've been made aware of mine.
For some unknown reason I have not experienced the urge to write anything for several months. There just wasn't any topic that jumped up, yanked my arm and said, "We need to do a story on this!"
Over the past month or so several people have asked me if I had given up writing or if they had missed it in print. Those comments triggered my - Mr. Ego - to get involved and say, "Hey, we need to do something." So, I'm back at it (as if I needed an excuse).
Some time ago I was scanning through some old newspapers that Albert Yocom had given me. In one of the papers from 1974, I discovered the obituary of Mrs. Allie Reece. "Ma" as she was affectionately called by most of the youth in and around Marceline, owned and operated Reece's Confectionery on Main Street directly across from the Uptown Theater.
Suddenly I found my mind racing back to those carefree days of the mid-1950's. Any given Saturday night, after the double-feature at the movies, had to include a jaunt across the street for my personal favorite concoction of a toasted ham sandwich and a freshly squeezed orangeade prepared only the way that "Ma" could do it.
Cost for the two items was 35 cents. The breakdown was 20 cents for the ham sandwich and 15 cents for the orangeade. "Ma" would slice the oranges into halves then precede to hand squeeze the halves on a glass reamer. (I had to consult Cheryl as to the right word for the glass device as I wanted to call it a squeezer.) Then she would pour the juice and pulp into a large glass, add carbonated water, ice, and a cherry. It was great!
Now, if for some reason I just happened to be short on funds on a particular visit, I would forfeit the drink and only have the ham sandwich. But the combination of the two made my trip complete!
I was so predictable about what I would want that Ma would probably start my order seven before I had time to give it to her. Seems I've always been predictable. Even today the gals at Suzie's know what I am going to order when I walk in the door. (Some day I am going to fool them, but not just yet!)
During my days of patronizing the premises, Ma had a Rock-O-La juke box in the back (remember the kind with bubbles) and she would allow us to dance to the latest tunes when the place wasn't overly crowded. The volume on the jukebox was never extremely loud as Ma wouldn't allow that.
I was never known for my dance floor moves, so to get out in the middle and attempt to dance required a certain amount of intestinal fortitude on my part. Rosalea, Mary Ellen, Louise, and Maurice (among others) all took their turns in offering encouragement and personal instruction. But Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, and Donald O'Connor were never threatened by my moves.
Shortly after Allie Williams married Edgar Reece in June of 1912, they opened a confectionery where the Masonic building is presently located. They moved another time until in 1929, the business moved another time until in 1929, the business moved to the location I remember. Mr. Reece died in 1930. Ma, with the help of daughter Ernestine ran the business until Ernestine married and moved away in 1957.
Ma continued the operation until 1960 when it was sold to Della Lake. Ma had graduated from Park High School in 1901 and worked in the business district on Main Street (now Main Street USA) until 1960 – quite a record. She proved to be a real icon and her establishment was a true Marceline institution.
To quote daughter Ernestine in her own words from the 1988 "Marceline – The Magic City" centennial book:
"In this store romances have been started, quarrels patched up, plans have been made for the future, and lessons for the next day classes were studied."
The kids in my age group were loyal patrons to Reece's until we reached driving age. I was as guilty as the next guy when it came to wanting to branch out once I could drive. Other areas such as Foley's and the Star Drive-In were enticing places to "hang out." We still would stop in and partake of the available menu items, but our stay was not as lengthy.
Nevertheless Ma and her surroundings have held a special place in my heart for many years. So many lessons in dealing with the gives and takes, rights and wrongs, and learning to make good choices presented themselves during my time spent at Reece's.
