Good Times in Lexington

Lexington in the Age of the Neanderthals

There was a time, when Lexington was not quite so quaint and the influx of “damn Yankee retirees” had not commenced. Lexington in 1972, my rat year, was a sleepy college town.

There was a time, when Lexington was not quite so quaint and the influx of “damn Yankee retirees” had not commenced. Lexington in 1972, my rat year, was a sleepy college town. If you drove South to North on Main Street (oh by the way it was not one way at the time!) as you passed Manley Memorial Baptists Church, on the right was Leggett’s Department Store, and across the street was Estelle Grill, the original location. Estelle’s was located where Wally Fogo Century 21 Real Estate is today. On the right after Leggett’s was Woody Chevrolet Sales. On the left, where there are condos today was the Lyric Art Theater. . .which was run by a transplanted New Yorker, who showed Art Movies, to include occasionally Porn Flicks. Right next door was Hedgepaths Dinner, which served the best Gravy and Biscuits in town. In the next block was the Rockbridge National Bank, later United Virginia Bank and today Sun Trust Bank on the corner. Johnny Lynn’s Texaco station was across street on the other corner, where Jefferson Florists is today. The Robert E. Lee Hotel was really a Hotel and next door to it was the First National Bank, which today sits empty. On the Washington Street Corner stood Adair Hutton Department Store, where today Grand Piano is.

Lexington was a sleepy college and country town. Farmer’s still came to town on Saturday to do their shopping, and the big excitement in Lexington on Saturday night was going to Raymond Miller’s Antique Auctions where the Palm’s is now located. The only fancy dandy restaurant in Lexington was the Southern Inn, then run by the Macheras. The Southern Inn was a great place for Cadets to take their dates for good meal, of course like many establishments in Lexington, George Macheras had two menus. Being a townie I was always suppose to get the local menu with the cheaper prices. One night, on a Hop Weekend, I was eating with my date in the Southern Inn and Mr. Macheras came over and we talking he looked down and saw I had the wrong menu, took the menu’s out of my and my date’s hand and brought us the local menu. When my date started to say something, I put my finger to my lip to quiet her as I did not want to let the cat out of the bag. I should note I had grown up with the Macheras boys, Peter George, Jimmy George, Perry George, and Alexander George.

During the 60’s or until the mid 70’s in the next block of Main Street, it was not as refined as it is today. The Alexander-Withrow House on the left corner of Washington and Main Street was a derelict. It was literally falling apart until it was bought in the mid 70’s by Pete Meredith Class of 50B who restored it and made into an Expensive Guest Hotel. Down Main Street, where McCampbell Inn is today, was the Central Hotel. It was a five dollar a night flop house where the drunks use to stay. In the basement of the Central Hotel was the local Head Shop which had a good business from the students and cadets. (Yes there were Stoner’s at VMI!!!!). I provide all of this as background for the Lexington you knew in the 1980’s, 90’s and in the early years of the 21st Century was very different than the Lexington of my youth and cadetship.

A couple of points worth understanding about drinking and Cadets, it was not until 1970 or 71 that Cadets were permitted to drink, and in Virginia until 1973 the drinking age for 3.2 beer was 18 and for 6.4 beer 21. In 1973 it was lowered in Virginia to 18.

As far as drinking establishment, there were three that Cadets went most of the time, and during our Cadetship two more were added. The three were the Paramount Inn, the Central Lunch a.k.a. “the Liquid Lunch and Ducks,” and the College Inn. All three had several things in common: a. They were all owned and operated by former policeman, b. Cadets regularly removed their blouses to drink and be comfortable, and c. the owners made it clear that faculty and staff were not allowed in the parts of their establishments where Cadets were served.

The Paramount Inn was located on Washington Street, between Main Street and Jefferson Avenue on the North side of the street. Not sure what is there now, at one time there was a eatery called Harb’s. The Paramount was a very plebian establishment with an interesting mix of locals, students and cadets. The owner was Ernie Lawhorne who was a former B. V. police officer. The key to the Paramount was many coolers of cold beer, and decent food. The specialty of the house was the California Burger, which was a quarters pound of ground beef, smothered in cheese, with French fries. After my third class year, Ernie sold the Paramount to a retired Army Sergeant, SFC Carl Allen and his wife Janie. Janie and Carl changed nothing, but they took a special liking to the Cadets. One addition to the ambiance was a continuous game of Spades whose participants included Cadets, townies, and several retired and active duty NCO who were assigned to either the VMI or W&L ROTC detachments.

The next hangout was The Central Lunch, aka “the Liquid Lunch or Ducks.” Located on the East side of South Main Street between Washington and Henry Streets, it was on the ground floor of the Central Hotel. Today, the Central Hotel is the McCampbell Inn. Most Cadets called it Ducks, as the owner Mr. Chittium, nickname was Duck. Duck was retired Lexington and Buena Vista Police Officer, who was quite a character. He ran the place along with his wife and like the Paramount its key to success was cold beer and decent food. Ducks was arranged so there was a backroom where like in Paramount cadets would remove their blouses. Duck has quick temper towards anyone who trifled with his customers. On more than one occasion he ran upper classmen out who were trying to hassle Rats. Duck specialty was a cheese omelet and his half-pound hamburger. Like the Paramount, Ducks was an interesting mix of W&L Students, Cadets, and townies, with the added attraction of having the best Juke Box in town. . .everything from Classic Soul Songs to Cry in Your Beer Country and Western.

The last drinking establishment was the College Inn which was located directly across the street from Ducks. Like the other two, it was run by two retired State Policeman, Clyde Mull and Mr. Carter (can’t remember his first name). It was a full service restaurant, with there being three levels. The street level and upstairs was for dining and had mix of townies, to include faculty and staff from either VMI or W&L, students and cadets having dinner. It had full menu, with its main faire being Italian. The third level, which was down stairs, was where Cadets went to drink. It had I believe swinging doors at the top of the stairs, which prevented someone other than Cadets or Students from going down there. The owners worked hard to make sure VMI faculty and staff did not go to the basement.

While at VMI some additional drinking and eating establishments opened. Nick’s Pizza and Mother’s was opened and owned by my Brother Rat Nick Tarzia. Mother’s had an upstairs where Cadets often hung out to drink beer. Nick Tarzia’s operated the two restaurants until shortly after we graduated. The other establishment which opened during my cadetship was Spanky’s. While primarily a drinking spot, it also served decent food.

Estelle’s Grill during the first two years of my cadetship was on Main Street, and very few Cadets went in there. It was a very dark, smoky, red neck bar which on Saturday night could be counted on producing a couple of fights. After my third class year, Estelle’s moves to the location most remember on Randolph Street across from Manley Brown’s Blacksmith shop.

While there are more choices of where to eat and drink in Lexington than when I was a Cadet, and I am sure some say the ambiance is better, I have my doubts. There was something unique about the Paramount, Ducks, and the College Inn, while not classy ambiance by high brow standards, they had personality and provided a place where townies, students, and cadets mixed, drank, relaxed, and had fun.