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Mildred Eligan and Richard Huckreide
Hatteberg's People
Reporter: Larry Hatteberg
| October 13, 2002--There is a little bar on Anthony's Main street next to the Co-op. "Fred, you want another beer?" "You always have to be careful what you say so it won't come out wrong on TV." A neighborhood bar with history. "You want another one Fred." |  | | Mildred Eligan has been tending bar here for 57 years. These aren't customers. These are all friends. "Just like these guys sitting here and acting silly right now. These are my friends. They're not always that silly, but they're having fun, they are enjoying themselves." | 
| The place started as a tiny service station run by her future husband Jack. He started it with is sister in 1934. Jack met Mildred at a dance and they were married in '43. She got her beer license in '45. She's been here ever since.
| "But these people have been coming in here for years and years. I don't know who would be my oldest customer now. So many of them have already gone."
Not many can say they've outlasted many of their customers-but Mildred has. Most memories are good, but once in a while she's seen things that tick her off. | "A man came in with a youngster to get a beer and the child asked for a pop...and her dad said she didn't need none! You know what I did? I gave her one."
| But most times, this little bar has been like home. "Like I told you, when someone comes in you haven't seen for years and they act like they are tickled to death to see you, that makes you feel pretty good."
It's getting late and some of the regular's are starting to leave." "Bye-bye Steve, see you later." |  | Then from Anthony to Greensburg we travel to meet Richard Huckriede. He's been a 'soda jerk' at Hunters Drug Store for 50 years. | | "A druggist started this store in 1917, so people know this location real well." And they also know Richard Hickriede real well. He's been dishing out ice cream and a smile for generations of Greensburg residents. "I just feel like I'm the same person really." | | Everyone in town knows him. And all appreciate his dedication. Just listen to his customer's testimonials. "I used to live in Kinsley and we'd come down on Sunday and Richard was here at that time." As people talk about him Richard goes about his business preparing his specialty, the milkshake. |  | "Anybody else have room for a milkshake?" And the customers continue their memories. "It's just nice to see that some things don't change. It seems like everything else changes but this place doesn't."
Fifty years is a long time behind a soda fountain. "I particularly enjoy the people and I especially enjoy the youngsters and the different generations of families."
But it is the lack of change that people comment on the most. "Richard is the same today, he was the same yesterday, and he'll be the same tomorrow. That's very comforting."
And as another generation gets one of the thousands of milkshakes he's made. Richard says simply and sincerely--- "You're welcome. You ARE welcome!"
Some things should never change.
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| | Have a story idea for Hatteberg's People? Send Larry an email with the details. | |
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