By Frances Sprinkle Harris Contributing Columnist
In the 1940’s my friends and I spent a lot of time in Elkin’s three drugstores: Abernethy’s, Turner’s, and the Elk Pharmacy. Abernethy’s was owned by Dr. Abernethy, a short, rotund, bald-headed, and bespectacled man who always greeted my two friends, Jo Ann and Colleen Darnell, like this: “Hello there, and how are Joene and Co Ann today?” I was always a little jealous because he never said anything to me. The three of us went in often for a cup of vanilla ice cream smothered with chocolate syrup.
Abernethy’s served the most delicious food. From elementary school through high school, this is where we went if we wanted a good sandwich. They served a toasted beef barbecue sandwich on a small round bun that was scrumptious. Other great sandwiches on their menu were grilled cheese, egg salad, toasted pimento cheese; bacon, lettuce, tomato; and chicken salad. Another delightful reason for eating at Abernethy’s was that