Stratford's Cafe
Posted Tuesday, April 7, 2009
 

This is a photo of Stratford's Cafe in the "olden" days.  It never changed much through the years. The city bought the land and razed the entire area around "Kinfolks Corner" on 10th in Columbus to begin its restoration of Downtown.  My father-in-law, Bill Stratford, is on the right and Gary's Uncle, George Stratford, is on the left.

 Sent in by Linda Lucas Stratford '70

These photos are still located at the link below:

http://www.bakerlionspride.com/class_profile.cfm?member_id=1721692

EXCEPT this BEFORE Photo of some Baker teens "hanging out" on the rocks at Mulberry Creek in 1974:

(L-R clockwise around the circle) Don Buxton '72, Jeanne Brown '74, Terry Nunnally '73 and Mike Liberia '71.

Terry,  This is such a great photo.  My son sported a ponytail like that the other day when he came to visit.  He doesn't have the sideburns, though.  Weren't the seventies just too cool...........

Terry,  I love the old photos. I just noticed.......... doesn't Don Buxton look like the young guy who played in the Movie: Iron Eagle? Do you think I can get his autograph?

Below are two pictures of the family business that was located on Buena Vista Rd for many years. Patrick's Trading Company was beside Pritchett's Fish Camp and the Patrick's Gas Station was on the far end. My father, Alfred M. Patrick, III and my Mother, Evelyn Patrick, owned and operated the stores. Our house sat on a hill behind the stores. Daddy used to take me on buying trips with him to the big city of Atlanta. The store began with all sorts of contents. Some were from parcel post sales. Later on it became mostly fabrics. After my father became ill, my Mother ran the store and sold yards and yards of fabrics to people from all over Columbus and Phenix City. I was the oldest of seven children and the one usually sitting with my Mother so she wouldn't be alone. I would straighten all the counters just to be messed up again. I was exposed to the business world at an early age. The gas station was operated by my Mother's father at some point. I remember that cokes were just 5 cents back then and gas was really cheap. The gas station was closed after my grandfather went back to Rocky Head, AL on the farm where my Mother was born. After my father died my senior year at Baker, my Mother continued to run the fabric store until it burned down. My memory fades and I don't remember the year but it was a very long time ago. It was some of the very skills I learned at Baker that I was able to take over the checkbook since my Mother didn't know how. My father did all those things. Looking back now I realize just how strong my Mother was to be a young widow, with seven young children and a business to run.

Also, there is a cemetery that my father took over the upkeep when he purchased the surrounding land that our house and business was on. It is located on McBride Drive just off of Buena Vista Rd. just before you get to the Patrick property. Patrick Memorial Cemetery is over 200 years old. There are many unmarked graves. I don't know the full history but in the older part there are many Patrick family members along with many community members. It was a small community cemetery that was being neglected. It has never been perpetual care and each family is responsible for their own lots, but as kids my father had my brothers, sister and I work to keep the grass cut, etc. There are now so many families with no relatives to keep up their lots. The newer part on the left as you enter the cemetery is where my father, my sister and three of my brothers are buried. It is now a huge effort to keep the grass cut with limited resources and interest in keeping it up. My cousin and I are talking about trying to get the cemetery on the national landmark registry. Since I'm concerned about the future of the cemetery, after my generation is gone, I'm praying we can set up some type of Non-Profit Association to oversee it. That will be an ongoing goal during my retirement years. If you are interested in who might be buried in the cemetery you can go to www.findagrave.com and do a cemetery search for Patrick. There are three that come up and select the one on McBride Dr. It gives you a list of all the graves. You can select the individual grave and see a picture. There is a lot of work to be done in the old part. Since I work with silk flowers another project is to make arrangements for the graves that don't have loved ones to put flowers on their graves. I have a lot to keep me busy!!!

That's my trip down memory lane!! Lucy '66