Kate Moses writes: Ms. Evelyn McArthur was the Postmaster here for many years. She was best friends with my grandmother and gave every child that came in to the Post Office a piece of strawberry candy. Dory Sharpe Hickson recalls: Evelyn’s father, Theodore, was postmaster before she took the job. I spent the happiest days of my life as a child visiting in Alston…Dr. Sharpe’s office was in the back of the store. The post office was to the right of the front door, on the left was a soda fountain. In the 1930’s, Lyman Jones worked behind the counter as soda jerk – a very handsome young man. It was known as the “drug store”, the post office just happened also to be housed there.
Olivia Higgs Neesmith notes: I remember this very well, being the oldest granddaughter of Dr. Sharpe and spending much time there. His office was in the back of the store as Dory Sharpe Hickson mentioned. Everyone new each other!
My Mother was Mary Trudy Driggers Tomberlin from Lyons (Vidalia) Georgia, She married my Father Leon Jerome Tomberlin after WWII in Miami, Florida. During their time, they moved the Hialeah, Florida where they were neighbors and good friends with Wilbur (Shag) and Rose Sharpe, son of Dr, Sharpe from Alston, Georgia. After Shag’s retirement , he moved backed to Alston on Dr. Sharpe’s property. I spent many Summers at their house and visited the post office which was also a store and got many soda pops and candy there. Me and Mr. Sharpe (Shag) put in the plumbing to the houses in Alston after they got there community well in the 1970s. Great times.
Roger L. Tomberlin
I am one of many of Hiram Chestly Sharpes grandchildren. I remember going to the ole post office to pucknup the mail from Ms Evelyn. Then getting a bag of Penny candy from her. We would pick up old coke bottles and turn them in for 5 cents. Granddaddy would treat the folks for their illnesses in the back up the steps on the right side. Brings back a lot of memories. Everytime I go by there when I go home for a visit to see my sisters I always stop by and just look at the place. I remember the train coming by and blowing its whistle in the afternoons. We would run outside to the sidewalk and watch it go by. Alston is a very small community with great people in it. But it’s growing up a little. Does anyone remember the cold school house. It only had a few rooms I think itvhad a room for high school kids and a room for Grammer school kids. It’s still there.
I remember visiting Ms. Evelyn at the post office as a child, with my grandmother, Hazel Sharpe. I have been away from Georgia for a long time, living in California, however have always tried to visit Sharpe Cemetery when I am in Georgia, and always stop and look in the windows of the boarded up post office. Having recently moved to Jacksonville, we visited today. I was heartbroken to see the roof has collapsed, and the building is completely uninhabitable.
Does anyone know the future of the building? Is it historically protected through preservation?
I have such wonderful memories of visiting Ms. Evelyn as a child, and getting a coca-cola.
My mother Eva Lou Walker Bookhardt was born in Alston in 1909. I have only visited the place as I have driven through the town. I always recall that there is where my Joseph Alston Walker family once lived and thrived. In 1918, they moved across the river to Denton in Jeff Davis County where they found better tobacco growing soil. Growing up, I recall Mama often speaking of Alston and her childhood there. When they moved to Denton, they came down on the old Georgia and Florida Railroad across the Altamaha near Hazlehurst. If it were left up to me, I would save all old buildings and cultural artifacts, but reality is that would be impossible. Guess we will have to save at least some to make sure our history is understandable and still with us.
I remember this very well, being the oldest granddaughter of Dr. Sharpe and spending much time there. His office was in the back of the store as Dory Sharpe Hickson mentioned. Everyone new each other!
Thanks for the wonderful memories.
Failed to mention that Dr. Sharpe’s office was in the back of the store. The post office was to the right of the front door, on the left was a soda fountain. In the 1930’s, Lyman Jones worked behind the counter as soda jerk – a very handsome young man. It was known as the “drug store”, the post office just happened also to be housed there.
Evelyn’s father, Theodore, was postmaster before she took the job. I spent the happiest days of my life as a child visiting in Alston. I still love to go back to visit.
Ms. Evelyn McArthur was the Postmaster here for many years. She was best friends with my grandmother and gave every child that came in to the Post Office a piece of strawberry candy. She lived in the “Eclectic Cutout House” pictured above.
I remember going there when I visited my grandmother. my mothers cousin was the postmistress