Well it is summer time and school will be starting before we know it.  If there is anything that reminds of summer more than this snippet from the Halls Crossroads Women’s League calendar for 2006.

Times were hard back in the 1800’s but young people always found a way to enjoy themselves.  There were family reunions, church socials and “dinners on the ground”, homecomings, riding horses and playing horseshoes, swimming, quilting, sewing and games like marbles, “Kick the Can”, Go Seek, playing ball, and tag. 

Family reunions that celebrated milestone birthdays were important.  In the picture below of James Madison McCloud and the McCloud family reunion in 1898 we believe that it is a celebration of his 80^th birthday. 

Like the Hall family, the McCloud family was one of the earliest settlers of Halls Crossroads.  A brief history of both families will be included in future postings.

Two pictures depict some of that summertime fun: a picture from Millie Norris’ History of Halls scrapbooks shows five young Halls men enjoying a dip on a hot summer day, and from the LaRue collection a picture of four ladies in the swimming costume of the day enjoying the water.

We can see that times and swimming attire have sure changed for the ladies; for the gentlemen, not so much.

Spring and summer brought the opportunity to enjoy a summertime treat – ice cream.

When ice cream churns first became available, many a weekend summer afternoon was spent creating that cold and delicious dessert especially when fresh local fruit from strawberry patches and peach trees were ready to pick.  Local free labor (i.e., kids and grandkids) were put to work taking turns to turn the crank on the churn while the adults kept a watchful eye on the levels of ice and salt.

Until the mid-1960’s Halls folks had to drive over Black Oak Ridge to visit a drive-in to get their milkshakes and cones to enjoy.  In 1964, Glen Keck opened the Halls Freezo as our first “drive-in”. Popular menu items were hamburgers and corn dogs.  It was also a go-to spot for milkshakes and soft-serve ice cream.  These pictures are from their 25^th Anniversary celebration.  A big crowd gathered to enjoy the party.

When the Big Oak shopping center was built for the Kmart and Kroger stores, a corner was leased to Kay’s Ice Cream, a Knoxville institution.  Many a cone, cup, pint or half-gallon was eaten there or carried home.