By Kristin Finney
Greene Publishing, Inc.
James Cressley came to Madison at the age of 11 with his family. At the time he came to here, Madison was a booming place with many thriving businesses, restaurants and places for children to have fun. The Madison that Cressley knew back then is a very different one than most people see today.
He remembers that where CVS is currently located, started off as a school. It then became Seter’s grocery story. Next it became a bowling alley. Then it became Pick & Save. He recalls when Farmer’s Furniture was at Winn Dixie.
Cressley remembers riding with his dad to get gas from up town and his dad being able to get five gallons of gas for $1.00. He also remembers there being a beer joint at the intersection of State Road 6 and Highway 90. Back then Harveys was a junkyard for Ragans.
He remembers there being a rest area, motel and bar across from the dumb station on Hwy. 90 in Madison. He remembers going to Selman’s Drug Store to get a sundae. He remembers there being a hotel at the second light in town. There were two walk-in movie theatres and a drive in theatre. At the drive in theatre you could spend $1 a night for a carload of people to get in.
In Lee, he remembers there being three grocery stores on the intersection of Hwy. 90 and 255. Back then he used to get a haircut for $1.00. He remembers going to Whitty’s ice cream and getting an ice cream cone for 5 cents. He also remembers that one time they had a drive-in movie behind Cherry’s.
James Cressley is married to Sharon (McFalls) Cressley. He had four children from a previous marriage. He has one daughter, Joyce Taylor, who lives in Arizona. He also had three sons, Bubba, Randall and James Jr., but sadly all of his sons are deceased.
Anyone interested in being interviewed for this article can call 973-4141 and make an appointment with Kristin Finney, or may drop by Greene Publishing, Inc. any day before noon. Those interviewed must have lived in Madison for a large portion of their life, and be able to recall a few things that have changed since that time.
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