Monthly Archives: June 2016

Skoby’s World

This is a matchbook from Skoby’s World in Kingsport TN:

skobyfrontskobysinside

Skoby’s, on Konnarock Road in Kingsport TN, was a treasure.  Started in 1946 as a barbecue joint, the restaurant became the place to take an out-of-town guest or to just enjoy a civilized dinner.  Skoby’s World came about when Pal Barger donated Skoby’s to Virginia Intermont College in 2005.  The place was demolished in 2010.
Back in the 70s, one time when I had gotten a raise at work, I took mom out for dinner at Skoby’s.  Reserved a room and everything.  Now, mom was a small little critter (wore a 4B shoe) and I was not a heavy eater.  When the waiter brought out the salad and the warm yeast rolls, mom and I tucked in.  And when the waiter brought the steaks and baked potatoes, we realized that we didn’t have much appetite left.  In true foodie fashion, we offhandedly mentioned to the waiter that we would like a takeaway tray.  Instantly provided.

And their crème brûlée was, honestly, just drag in the casket and die for it…

Matchbooks

matchbooks

Four survivors of a bygone era.
1) on the back of the Fuller & Hillman: the logo and Kingsport Tennessee.  Fuller & Hillman spelled out in its official font face.  Then “We Now Have Our Largest & Most Complete Selection – COME IN TODAY”     on the bottom: Tri-City Adv. Co., Kingsport

2) On the top of the Quickway match book: “While U Wait” and, on the back: QUICKWAY PRINTING CENTER  KINGSPORT – 247-5134  KNOXVILLE – 546-8161  on the bottom: Superior Match Co. Chicago, U.S.A.

3) on the back of  the (unused) Dobyns-Taylor book: “SERVICE AND QUALITY SINCE 1922”  On the bottom: TASCO IND. DALLAS TX

4) on the back of the 1st Nat book:  (star symbol) SERVING THE BANKING REQUIREMENTS OF THIS COMMUNITY SINCE 1916 (star symbol)(star symbol).  On the bottom THE DIAMOND MATCH CO. SPRINGFIELD MASS.

Businesses gave out matches because it seemed that everyone smoked, urged on by relentless marketing by certain companies to the effect that cigarettes were entirely safe and that all that coughing and dying was caused by, well, maybe carelessness? After all, early thinking was that diseases were transmitted by bad air.  And, if one remembers, Kingsport had it some bad air at times.

Shortly after we moved to Kingsport, Mom and I were walking past a restaurant when we caught a lungful of pew.  Mom said, “Gosh, I wonder what they’re cooking in there?”

But we got used to it.

Kingsport, TN WBA

kptwba

I ran across this at a flea market near Sevierville.  Not being into kegling, I had to look up “WBA” – Women’s Bowling Association.  It was organized in Kingsport in 1954.  I don’t know what year this is from.  The outline of the state of Tennessee is one  inch wide  –  from Memphis to Laurel Bloomery.

I paid a buck for it.  Last of the big spenders…