The O. A. Hall Store opened in 1929 and was operated by Mrs. Hall for many years. In fact, it’s better known as the Mrs. O. A. Hall Store. It’s the oldest in Emanuel County. Though no longer a general store, the business is still in operation as a pecan buying point and agricultural supply. I spoke with the son-in-law of the present owner who’s a grandson of O. A. Hall, and he related that the business is still profitable though it’s changed with the times. He said the biggest item in the store today is pine straw twine.
Diane Hall Pritchard writes: O A Hall Store was opened in 1929 by my grandparents Ottis & Georgia Hall. My Daddy Ottis Jr”Bud” worked there as well. Daddy took over after the death of my grandfather in early 1960’s. My grandmother continued working at store until her health declined. Daddy continued running store and was later joined by his brother George and my mother Madolyn. Daddy passed away in 2015 and Mama passed away in 2018. My uncle George continues to keep our family business running.
Twin City Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
O A Hall Store was opened in 1929 by my grandparents Ottis & Georgia Hall. My Daddy Ottis Jr”Bud” worked there as well. Daddy took over after the death of my grandfather in early 1960’s. My grandmother continued working at store until her health declined. Daddy continued running store and was later joined by his brother George and my mother Madolyn. Daddy passed away in 2015 and mama passed away in 2018. My uncle George continues to keep our family business running.
I’ll bet this is the place where we came to get ice or bread for family reunions. We were out about a mile from town at my grandmother’s, Mrs. Sumter Weatherford. My mother grew up there. Sure do love that screen door, and the smell of these old stores with wooden floors, and that whole time gone by.
Kathryn, we must be related! My great grandfather was Sumter Weatherford from Emanuel County, GA. My grandfather was Smiley William.
Screened doors…. I can still hear Mama yelling, ” I told you not to slam that screened door.” That is a memory in the brains of many of us sons and daughters of South Georgia. All southern homes needed them and to go along with them were fly flaps that were a necessity too. Those bread ads were attractive and strategically placed to get your attention as you entered the store. Does anyone remember Tip Top Bread? It was popular in the fifties and had T. V. ads starring Cisco Kid and his bungling, and humorous side kick Poncho. I remember them coming to Excelsior school in Jeff Davis County, our small country school, and putting on a short performance involving rope tricks and pistol twirling. They concluded by passing out trinkets with their images on them, and Tip Top Bread promotional items. That would not be allowed in our schools today.
I’m really surprised to see the screen door hasn’t been stolen or sold off! If I lived there, I’d keep a close eye on ALL of those doors!!
Sure does bring back memories of south Mississippi!
Luckily, the family of the owners live right across the road, so it’s not a big concern. Otherwise, they’d likely have been gone long ago.
That’s a GOOD thing! It’s SO much better to actually see those doors still attached to the original buildings as opposed to sitting in some antique shop with a $700+ price tag or in somebody’s house as art deco.
You are performing important work, and I hope that it is recognized. Thank you.
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Love that Sunbeam advertising on the screen door. I haven’t heard a slamming screen door on a store in many, many years.