Shidler Main Street

I grew up in this little town from before kindergarten to the middle of fifth grade in the mid 70's. It has changed dramatically since then. There is hardly anything left of the town from what I remember as a kid. It was great visiting with family members still living there though! I wish I could have met someone I went to school with there. I have lived all over the country since then...

Hi Tony, I was out today and this evening ('t was a beautiful fall day but rain is forcast for tomorrow) shooting in Salem. I'm a retired photojournalist and I do this for fun.

Hello Ron,

I envy you. I don't have much time to get out and practice on my photography skills as much as you do. I've got a long ways to go before retirement. Photography is fun.

Hi,

I grew up in Shidler as well. I went from Kindergarden through the 8th grade there. I lived there from 1980 to 1989.

I really miss it sometimes.

David

I spent many summers from 1958 through 1962 in Shidler. I remember services at the Methodist Church and ice cream on 4th of July afternoons followed by fireworks at the high school football field. There was a Rexal Drug that had the best cherry phosphate (limeade) that you ever tasted. I remember a dentist that still had a foot pumped drill powered by belts...talk about pain! A doctor prescribed cheap whiskey and honey for a chronic cough! Buck Trenary was my uncle and he had a caged layer farm just south of town on the county road where the old Osage RR right of way crossed the main highway.

Greetings Jim and thanks for you history lesson of Shidler! That is all interesting to know and to learn about. A bit before my time and before the town started to decline from what you are saying. I vaguely remember the Rexall Drug store but I do remember there being a good size grocery, a 5 and Dime store, numerous other stores on main street including a bar that my dad (Jesse) hung out at way too much and I think there was a car wash. We lived in a small house right behind the grocery store and a larger house on the south end of town. I think I remember a small minature golf course next to us but I could be mistaken. I was 11 years old in 5th grade when we moved away. That would be 1978 or 79'. I was born in 1967. I still remember all my teachers and the principal somewhat. They are still the Shidler Tigers. My older sister used to play basketball there. I'm hoping to revisit some relatives there this spring or summer so if I do I will take a few more pics and post them. I have a much better camera now than I did on this previous visit!

I found some more pics I took that day that I thought I lost and uploaded those just now. Enjoy.

Thanks for tying it all together. Buck Trenary lived on the first county road as you traveled south out of town and down the hill. There should still be a tin barn and small framed white house on the north side of the county road.

Buck was an electrician for an oil company that had wells throughout the Salt Creek Valley. One night we went out in a thunderstorm and I was amazed as Buck put the units back on-line.

In addidtion, there were two restaurants in town and Buck would get the table scraps in a big garbage can, bring them back to the farm, mix them with water and wheat shorts and then feed them to the hogs.

One time, a crippled cat got in the way at feeding time and I saw first hand just how a herd of hogs will kill and eat anything! Don't fall down during feeding time was the lesson that I learned from that cat!

I suppose that I should upload photos from Greenville, Texas (my family's home town).

Jim Satterwhite

I think there are still pumps operating in the area. There are no longer any restaurants in town. We had to go south to Fairfax (I think) to have a meal when we visited last. My sister and I were going back for another visit this weekend but my relatives that live there won't be there so we will have to postpone till June of this year maybe. I was hoping to go before it got HOT! I may still go on my own.

I've heard a story of an old man who had a heart attack in a pig pen while feeding them and there wasn't much left to identify! It was days afterward when he was noticed missing! Don't know if its a true story or not. It was supposed to be anyway.

Yea, upload some pics already! I'll upload more whenever we do go back...