Belew's Dairy Bar - Aurora, Kentucky (my brother Alonzo's business)

While I was in a foxhole in the battlefield with very little food to eat, I would remember the nickel hamburger sold in small Cafe's on the square. The 5-cent soft drink - bottle of beer cost a dime. My dreams also brought me back to the Princess Theater located on the Southwest corner of the square, and for a quarter I could watch a Cowboys & Indians movie.

Driving North on Highway 43, the roadsides had honky-tonks, a.k.a. beer joints, that most all young folks enjoyed. We would drop a nickel in the jukebox and listen to a sad hillbilly song. After consuming a few of those 10-cent beers, tears would start streaming down into our beer. If a girl was needed, it was necessary to pick the one you wanted. She was there and available. The first roadhouse beer joint leaving the city of Lawrenceburg was called Blue Gable. Next came Tuxedo Junction.

We never had to worry too much about getting caught while driving under the influence. Greg O'Rear, Tennessee Highway Patrol, was the only law enforcement officer patrolling Lawrence County highways. Most of the honky-tonk people were highway smart and avoided this giant-sized, gentle, humble gentleman.

Some things have changed in Lawrence County over the last seven decades. However, most of the public buildings are still standing around the courthouse square. However, the most attractive building has been destroyed - the old courthouse. The friendly people are still there and willing to stop to chat by saying that Lawrence County is the best place to live in the United States. I'll drink to that.