The House of Bargains

Kid’s fun day on Cabool’s Main Street in the 1950’s. The House of Bargains store is at the extreme right of picture. Darrell Loughridge, long-time pastor of Cabool’s Assembly of God Church, is the boy on the left. LeRoy Walls is the boy wearing glasses in the background to the right of the horse. 

Photo courtesy of

  
Jeanne Murr Dixon  

Written by 
LeRoy Walls 
CEO 

In the early 1950’s Paul and Katie Grisham had a dry goods store on Main Street in Cabool. Grisham’s House of Bargains sold shoes, overalls, jeans and most other clothes that farm families needed. It had the flavor of a country general store, which was natural as they had owned and operated the Elk Creek General Store prior to moving to our growing town of Cabool and buying the House of Bargains.

Grisham’s Store had a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. There was no cattle feed, pot-bellied stove or anyone sitting around whittling or playing checkers, but the owners were friendly. They were on a first name basis with almost all of their customers. The customers were treated like old friends and most of them were.

People caught up on the latest news while they picked up a pair of shoes or fabric, thread and buttons to make their kids some shirts and dresses. I got my first pair of work boots there. Later, I got my first tennis shoes—a pair of black PF Flyers. Besides shoes and socks they also sold straw hats, overalls, jeans and basic clothing. Mom bought most of her basic clothing and sewing materials at the House of Bargains.

One day in the store something caught my eye - not work boots or jeans - it was the Grisham’s oldest daughter, Paula. I was eleven and Paula was eight but was quite grown up. At that time she had little interest in a shy farm boy and I had little use for a town girl. Although we both went to Cabool Schools, it would be five more years before either of us would have more than a casual awareness of each other and then two more years before our first date.

In looking back to Grisham’s House of Bargains - the greatest bargain for me was clearly their daughter Paula! Paula is now my wife. She’s a treasure and I love her.

12/31/1999