| |
The
Strawn Market
AKA Loveras' Grocery
on
Highwy 16
Strawn,
TexasPhotos
courtesy Cathy Brown |
| Loveras'
Grocery & Market circa 1950 |
Dear TE, I came across
your old store heading
and thought [your readers] would be interested in this little store located in
Strawn, Texas on Highwy 16.
I purchased
the building August 1, 2006 from the last member of the Lovera family to operate
it and it is still up and running. Inside the store is an old meat locker dated
1926. Other than two windows being enclosed and some missing signage, the store
has had very few updates. The hardwood floors are still oiled on occasion, we
still cut the meat fresh and the charge accounts are still in the box. Out behind
the store we have an old feed house that is still in use. This is a piece of history
that I hope to pass to my grandchildren. The Abilene Reporter News did a story
on the business last July. |
| Newspaper
with a feature on Joe L. Lovera |
Additional information
provided by the Lovera's granddaugther follows:
The Store was started
in 1913 by Louis and Eugenia Lovera. Primarily to keep their son Louis Jr. out
of the coal mines, but he worked the mines anyway. The store was moved a half
a block to the highway in 1930.
Eugenia and Louis Jr. both died during
the Flu epidemic of 1918, just 48 hours apart, leaving Mr. Lovera to raise their
six remaining children. Mr. Lovera operated the store with his children's help
until he died in 1936. During the Great Depression, Butler Brothers was going
to forclose on the store until Mr. Conn Hartnett came to the aid of the Lovera
family. The store was operated by Lovera children until [Mr. Hartnett's} granddaughter
and her husband purchased it in 1974.
Calves used to be purchased locally
and butchered in the slaughter house approved by the health department. Milk use
to be purchased locally from the Hill and Whatley Dairy. Eggs were bought from
locals and candled at the store. - Cathy Brown, Strawn, Texas, March 22, 2007 |
|
|
