Another attraction in the Youngstown area was Jack Lovett's combination gas station-grocery-tavern-dance hall-used car lot-and riding stable. Lovett did not start that big, things just sort of grew.
Lovett's Tavern Eggs, Knitting and Kids
Lovett started with a gas station/store he bought in 1930. (The name of the first owner of the store has not been found.) By 1935, Lovett had added a tavern to the station, and Lovett’s became the gathering spot in town. Erma Lovett Stallings recalls that women took along their knitting and children to the tavern. There was always a bowl of eggs at the tavern for patrons, and a peanut machine and pickle jar, but eggs were the most popular.
Soon, sometime around 1940, Lovett built a dance hall behind the tavern. Dances were held Saturday nights. A constable, Wes "Ham" Brown, was hired to police the dances, which were the scene of fights occasionally. By the late 1940's, with the gas station, tavern, and dance hall still going, Lovett began selling used cars. That venture may not have lasted long.
By the mid-1950's, the dance hall was closed and the hall was converted into a riding stable. Behind the hall Lovett held small rodeos and riding club contests. This venture was a success, attracting many from Des Moines.
Lovett and his wife eventually retired and various managers tried to run the business, but none seemed to have the flair Lovett provided.
Even the depression of the 1930’s seems to evoke some good memories. Despite the loss of the Pleasant Hill school by fire in 1930, the residents felt proud of the community effort to build a new school. The construction also provided some employment, a blessing at that time.
