I was thinking about Ben Compton this morning.
How devoted he was to his father’s news stand, Newspapers were dropped off there that were delivered around Louisa by kids like James and Charlie Caudill, Joey McKenzie and many others. The one that I remembered the most was Sonny Branham he was my good friend, he told me not long ago that his paper in town was 106 customers; he made $15.00 a week which wasn’t bad money for that job. Ben Compton would take some out the stores where they had racks of papers from everywhere.
Yes Ben really like the Christmas Season, at their home in the basement we would bag up hard candy from J.R. Miller’s Wholesale, also walnuts that people would sell to Ern and some stick candy. I remember “when Ern would come in the back door he would say to downstairs bagging, I don’t hear any of you singing Christmas Music.” So one time I asked him, “why do you want us singing all of the time?’ Ern laughed and said, “you can’t chew and sing at the same time so start singing.” So don’t be eating any candy and walnuts boys.
Ben was good at getting basketball teams together around the area for some games, I cannot remember the names of the teams, I know that we did pretty well. Bill & Fred Jones, Paul Maynard, Sonny Branham, Frank Wagoner, and some others. Also Ben was big in baseball good player use to play first base all of the time. I know that I am leaving out some good players i just cannot remember that good.
All that I can say is Ben Forest Compton you are missed.
Fred Jones
Very good memories Fred. Our friends live forever as long as we remember them.
Great story. I delivered the Ashland Daily for Ern. I am 73 years old and he is still the most amazing man I ever met. He could go any where in Louisa that he wanted to go. But the catch was he was blind. Also only had half of one arm. But could still out work us kids that hung around the news stand. He and Ben were just good people. Also love the old pictures of Louisa. Great job Fred. Fred Crace
I remember Erns News Stands. Especially the frozen cokes he sold. I also delivered papers for him one summer. But the big thing was the cokes. Never seen them since. He was one of a kind.
Good people, both father and son. Each of them assisted me(in their own way) during a very bad time in my life. Ern rented me a house for $25dollars a month until I could get on my feet. Ben came in the middle of the night when the furnace went out during a bad cold spell and did the repair. I could continue, but I would be writing a book.