This store and the house next door (depicted in the next post) are all that remain of the village of Blundale. It was known as Flander’s Store or Flander’s Grocery, according to David Flanders, whose grandfather Emory Hodges Flanders was the proprietor during the 1930s and 1940s. Thanks to David for the historical background!
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My grandfather, Emory Hodges Flanders was the proprietor of this store in the 30′s and early 40′s. The house to the right of the store was originally the Smith house I believe. The Lumpkin family also lived in the house in later years until they died. The house to the right of this house was where my mother was born in 1921. Her father, Allen Davis Phillips ran the filling station in Blundale in the 30′s.
Thanks so much, Emory. I will add this to the description soon…
My great grandfather was Henry Robert Smith, owner of Emanuel Farm Company; my grandmother’s name was Bonita Smith Preston. She used to talk about “Pappa’s store”, which at one point sold “Bonita Flour” featuring her picture. I was lucky to be able to visit the store with one of my sister’s this past summer 2012 and we happened upon the very nice neighbors who took us into the store, which, sadly, is crumbling. I am going through some old photos and would be happy to post if anyone would contact me to tell me how/where. The farm comprised about 26,000 acres (have paperwork) and was an incredible operation – to see it in person was bittersweet. As I understand, the town, at one point, was called “Smithton” and the farm, “Smith Farms”. I was happiest to learn that my great-grandfather was a beloved man. He died in 1926 and “Emanuel Farm Company” was taken over by C&S Bank, a bank he helped start as one of it’s 3 founding board members…a fact omitted in their “history”.
He is buried in Bonaventure Cemetary, twice, actually…the Smith family stone is “buried” behind a grandson’s twice-as-big monolith.