As they paid for their sodas and snacks in Buzzy’s Country Store, the couple Shay and Matt, told me how much they enjoyed visiting old time country stores. I thanked them and asked if there was a country store where they grew up. Shay immediately responded as she said, “Yes and my Dad ran it.” She then began telling me about the Hayfork Hotel/Bar/Store located in Hayfork, northern California where she grew up.
When I asked Shay if the Store was still around, she noted that her brother Claude Jr. currently owns it, but it is mostly a bar. (I told her how I was very familiar with that dynamic because I have pretty much turned Buzzy’s into a bar.)
Thanks to the ole Google machine, I was able to track down the following photos and info about the Hayfork Hotel:
As for her Father Claude Sr. running the business, Shay noted that while today it is mostly a bar, when she was growing up, in addition to it being a bar and a hotel, her Dad had a general store and packaged goods for sale. I found this obit which tells about her Dad and his very full and interesting life.
Shay’s partner Matt told me about Chapin’s General Store located in his hometown of Leverett, Massachusetts. I’ll put that one in the on deck circle to also check out. My thanks to both Shay and Matt for stopping Buzzy’s.
Bob Marley passed on 11 May 81 due to complications from melanoma on his big toe (click here.) I don’t know if that has anything to do with May being Melanoma Awareness month, but if you are like me and haven’t had a skin check up in awhile maybe May is a good time to do so. (I’m going tomorrow for my overdue checkup and yes I’m gonna have them check out my toes too!)