My husband found an article about the Mammoth Orange Stand in Chowchilla CA, and upon reading the story, it had my head spinning back to the 1940s when I was a little girl. The 20-foot Orange Stand, as well as other similar stands, were places of wonder - each an orange-shaped stand that sold real lemonade, freshly squeezed real orange juice and orange milkshakes and freezes. (Heard a stand could easily go through 6,000 oranges a week). The crushed ice, straight from the ice houses, made the orange and lemon drinks a cool treat in the hot Central Valley weather. And, ah, there were the giant, Alaska-sized hamburgers and, should I add in our cholesterol conscious society, the yummy greasy fries. (Maybe the burgers weren’t that large, and the fries that greasy but I was just a kid so it seemed that way).
The many giant Oranges situated up and down the California highways would beckon weary, hungry folks – with each Orange strategically distanced to meet the needs of overheated cars and thirsty travelers. While we sipped iced drinks (and sometimes loading up on burgers), ice was available for auto radiators and/or car air-conditioning (that is, if you were fortunate enough to have the window mounted unit A/C – most cars didn’t. Yes, no dash mounted air at that time). With no super-fast freeways with on/off ramps, these comfort stations did a great business from the first stand (a 1926 lemon stand in Menlo Park CA - thank God, before my time) through the 1940s. In the 50s, the stands begin a decline due to the conversion from highways to freeways. Today these Giant landmarks are missing from our landscape, having given way to what we call progress. It is sad when a landmark disappears.
Giant Oranges is where I got my thought for today, and here it is....
As we travel down life's highway toward our eternal goal, God offers us special rest stops to refresh us spiritually and mentally. Each is as close as we desire it to be - we determine the distances between refreshings. You ask where are these quench thirsting places? One can be found in listening to gospel music – another by faithfully attending your local church services (and special church events), another by reading the Word, and the best refreshing spot of all, entering into your closet of prayer.
Enjoy your journey - and remember, it is up to each of us to make sure that God's landmarks never become a thing of the past!
* top pictures, the Chowchilla CA Orange Stand; bottom, Fairfield CA Stand, and unknown stand
5 comments:
My good friend. Beware!!
You have just dated yourself. One, those wonderful Orange balls that sat beside the highway, I can still hear them call, orange juice hamburgers. Even though my hearing is not as good as it was, I can still hear that call.
Second, window mounted Air Conditioners?? What? When is the last time you saw one of those?? There is a 1952 Buick Road Master that cruses the streets of our town with that funny looking contraption hanging from the passenger side window.
I even remember that big Orange Ball there at Chowchilla also.
Mervi
Thank God there is refreshing in this journey of life, for we really do need it. Wonderful post!
Mervi,
Yes, I certainly have dated myself. I was corrected by my husband, they were not A/Cs in those days but Auto Coolers. You would fill it with ice, and while traveling down the road the wind would blow through the unit and into the car. It was a lot better than just having the windows rolled down and letting the hot air blow on your face. Ah, there are certain conveniences that I am so thankful for, and A/C is one.
Carol,
Good to hear from you. Sounded like you had a great time.
"Drinking at the Springs of Living Water,
O Wonderful and Bountiful Supply."
Great post!
Catherine,
Forgot that good, old song. Thanks for reminding me of it.
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