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Jerry Beckam
Hatteberg's People
Reporter: Larry Hatteberg
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June 29, 2003--On Hatteberg's People in the little town of Latham in southern Butler County, there is this little gas station. A station that has been there forever. It looked like a good place to hang out. So I did. |
Inside you'll find Jerry Beckam and Sheila Phillips.
Jerry owns the station, Sheila works for him.
There is only one gas pump and inside it is like going back to another time. Old racks stand holding only a handful of items.
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"This station has been here as long as I can remember. There's not near the traffic there used to be."
You just don't find these places anymore.
"In my memory, it was here when I was born." |
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On the front door, a hand written sign tells folks to get gas on Saturday because he's closed on Sunday. It's a simple place where life has time to breathe.
"Gonna get hot this afternoon."
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In this little cowboy town, it is a fading part of another time, held together by Jerry and his only employee...Sheila.
"I've had people come in here and they'll say 'wow, I've never been in a place like this before. |
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They'll come in and just look around.... it's young people mostly. Because they've never seen anything like this."
Take a look around and you'll understand why. In the center of the old gas station is a table. The table is for talking. |
"Yeah, you get those cowboys in here and they can tell some good ones. I've met a lot of good people including ranchers and farmers. I run this (station) and delivered fuel off that truck over there and fixed tires, and I ain't got a hell of a lot to show for it."
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Actually he does. He's got a place where local teenagers can read the newspaper. A place where kids can walk safely without worrying their parents.
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"We try to have it mainly for the kids, schools out and the kids are in and out buying pop and candy and other stuff like that."
A place that feels comfortable anytime of day.
"Yeah it gets pretty boring at times."
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Mid morning it's time to feed Jerry's dogs in a ritual that's been going on for years.
"Oh she's a pretty nice buddy. You see I had to learn pretty early in life that I had to take care of myself. There is just me and the dog anymore."
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In Latham, time is not money, it is the ticking of history's clock in one of life's endless summers.
"It's the quiet life." |
| Larry's
Note:
Jerry Beckam's gas station can be found in the heart of Latham,
Kansas. |
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