FRESH COFFEE AND OLD STORIES: COFFEE KLATCH OF 50 YEARS CONTINUES TO MEET

This archival photo by longtime Southeast Missourian photographer Garland D. Fronabarger captured the merchants and civic leaders who gathered to drink coffee at the Woolworth Store lunch counter in downtown Cape Girardeau. The photo is believed to have been taken in the 1950s. From left are Charles Hood, R.E.L. Lamkin Jr., L.J. Schultz, Marvin Campbell, Vinson Rueseler, Jack Lamkin, Leon Bahn, Lyman Matthews, Walter "Doc" Ford, L.R. Roper, Henry Ochs, Ralph Hirsch, Dick Swaim, Earl Robert, Clarence Lohman, unknown, W.E. Walker Jr., unknown, and J.L. "Red" Wieser. Others at the end of the line are unknown, and the women behind the counter are unidentified.

The coffee cups are made of Styrofoam now and the places of business cater to people in a hurry. But for groups of retired men scattered across Cape Girardeau, gathering over coffee to talk is a longstanding tradition they continue even though they're no longer in any rush.

Today, regular coffee groups meet at locations that include both Hardee's on Broadway, Cafe Cape, the Sands Pancake House and others. The thread that seems to draw the men together is a common history. Many are old friends.

These male-only groups hash over current events and retell stories about their heydays. They insist that they don't gossip the way they are sure women's groups do. But then none of their wives belongs to a coffee-drinking group for women.

Impeaching the president is the big topic of conversation now and the bombing of Iraq. O.J. Simpson has had his day.

Ninety-year-old Cape Girardeau radio pioneer Ralph Hirsch is the oldest member of the group who meet at the BP service station on North Kingshighway. In the 1950s and 1960s, he was one of the civic leaders and businessmen who regularly had coffee together at the lunch counter of the old downtown Woolworth's store.

The retirees who meet at BP at 9 a.m. every day except Sunday are much more informal than their Woolworth's predecessors.

Among the regular members are John K. Hale, Dr. George O. Farrar, John L. Blue, Fred Schmucker, Lory Stahly, Hirsch, Bill Headrick, Don Pemberton, Carney Fesler, Milton Ueleke, Gene Sides and Dave Patterson.

This group includes retirees from the fields of dentistry, banking, the clergy, journalism, retail business, academia, farming and others. At various points, they joined a trail that led from Woolworth's to Tenkhoff's Drug Store to the Town Pump and Bessie's restaurant -- all now only memories.

They do talk about the good old days but, says Schmucker, "They aren't as good as they used to be and they never were."

Most are veterans of World War II and think the lack of military service is the biggest problem with the American leadership today.

Blue, the Southeast Missourian's former editor, doubts most of them could do their former jobs anymore because technology has changed so dramatically.

"We're very happily retired," Schmucker says.

"The people who took our place never call us to ask us what to do," said John Hale, an observation greeted by guffaws.

With a few exceptions, they are political conservatives. "I just keep quiet and let them talk," says Gene Sides, one of two Democrats.

One member is infamous for still believing O.J. Simpson is innocent.

Religion is the only topic considered out of bounds.

"The important thing about the group is we never talk about anything important," Schmucker said.

"Nobody ever gets mad," Farrar says.

These guys even take field trips together -- to the prison in Tamms, Ill, the paper mill in Wickliffe, Ky., and the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

Hale said sometimes they find themselves talking about the people who once joined them for coffee but are now deceased.

"I used to think I didn't want to come out here and sit with a bunch of old men. Now I can't do without it," Farrar said.

Across town at the Hardee's fast food restaurant on William Street, another informal group gathers every weekday at 3 p.m.

The membership here includes John Robinson, Bill Hampton, John Eggimann, Frank Criddle, Bud Estes, Ray Buhs, Joe Blackwell, Willard Bechel, Bill Donalson, Don Huey, Bob Fuller, Bill Jones, Mark Jenkins, Wayne Smith and Jess Eaker.

Smith, a voluble fellow who was missing in action at Friday's meeting, is known as the speaker of the House, Beckel as the governor.

A former baker, a school teacher, a couple of printers, a car salesman and a dry cleaner are among their number.

Golf, the Navy and of course the shenanigans of politicians are discussed here. A fair amount of blarney is exchanged but serious opinions are expressed as well.

"We feel like if some of the leaders would sit and listen to us the situation in the world could improve," Bechel said.

Eaker dates his coffee group history to the old Colonial Tavern that held down the western end of Broadway until a decade ago. Since then, he has drunk coffee with groups at Mr. C's, Danvers, Captain D's -- all gone now -- and McDonald's

"We either (got run off) or they closed," he said of the movable coffee klatch.

They take field trips, too, though usually only to try good barbecue.

Their wives don't belong to coffee groups either.

"It's not the women's thing to have coffee breaks like men," Eaker says.