When I photographed Matthews Store in Randles in 2010, it looked rundown, but it was still standing and you could see some goods lingering on the shelves. After I posted the photos in 2012, Susan O’Connell commented “I wanted to let you know that this is my grandfather’s store. …. It was like the Walmart of Randles.”
You can read other Matthews Store comments here.
You wouldn’t recognize it
When Ernie Chiles and I passed by the place on our way to the Painton airport, I hardly recognized it.
Passing of an era
Click on any photo to make it larger, then use your arrow keys to move through the gallery of the store that is no more.
Isn’t it interesting how the deterioration of a land mark in our lives, mimics the deterioration of events and relationships in our lives. They begin beautifully, happy, and joyful and thru the years they change and disappear into oblivion!
Please note on photo number 7 that there are freshly cut beams. Looks like someone hurried the collapse of this old landmark…
I noticed that, too, and thought they looked too clean to be accidental. Ernie said he thought it looked like someone might have been trying to salvage the lumber when he drove past it one day. Maybe they made one bad cut.
Another missed opportunity. I missed this story back when the store was still intact, because I didn’t want to invade someone’s privacy. I regret not pursuing it, when there was still time.
My carpool of teachers passed through Randles every day from 1964 to 1966, as we drove from Cape to teach in Bell City. We took so much for granted. Both Randles and Perkins had wonderful old school buildings that are now gone.
My Step brother and I went duck hunting at Greenbrair , Mo years ago. We stopped at the local store there. They had a pencil collection out of this world. Never saw so many and all sizes. Some so big it would take both hands to write with them. Wonder if it si still there as that had to be back in the 60.s or 70’s.
Actually, my uncle found a man who wanted the wood from the store and began tearing it town. The bad news is he left it after taking what he wanted. The agreement was he could have what wood he wanted if he would do a complete tear down. It is hard to find people who good to their word these days. These pictures make me so sad.
Wow, I knew I had taken this photo quite a few years ago but wasn’t sure of the date. I just looked at the metadata attached & it was in June of 2012. Didn’t seem like it had been that long. Although I was born & spent part of my childhood in SE Mo. the day I took this photo was the only time I’d ever been to Randles, Mo. When I initially saw this building in the condition it was in I just couldn’t help but wonder, who built it, what did it look like when it was filled with people and very much alive? What’s that old saying, “If these walls could talk?” I’m sorry for your sadness Susan and regarding the broken agreement. If you have pictures or memories of the store when it was busy serving the towns people that is how I would try to remember it. I had no idea that when I posted this pic that someone would recognize it and respond so quickly. Seems that my world gets smaller everyday:)