40 Years in Camden

My parents were Grand Marshalls at 2006 Black Walnut Festival. This was the introductory speech for their honor. Dolores wrote it and Taylor edited it for grammar and clarity. I edited a bit more for privacy and the clarity necessary for the parts I omitted.


40 YEARS IN CAMDEN


Howard K. and Dolores purchased John Porter’s White Villa grocery store at 52 E. Central in Camden in March 1966. They switched to the IGA wholesale supplier and changed the name to Camden IGA. They operated at that location until 1974 when they built a new IGA at 200 Cottage Street. Over the years they employed many local people and were proud to give many high schools students their first jobs. Their four children worked in the store. They wish to thank all their former employees for their help in making Camden IGA one of the most progressive supermarkets in Preble County. Camden IGA was first in the county to have electronic scanning and to install a deli and bakery along with the regular departments.

Howard and Dolores both feel it is the duty of all citizens to be involved and participate in their communities. These are some of the ways that they were involved in Camden.

Howard and Dolores supported school activities to help the community. All 4 children attended and graduated from Preble Shawnee High School. A grandson graduated from PSHS this spring and another grandson is a 3rd grade student. They have 6 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Howard served as a Camden councilman and belonged to the Camden Progressive Club, a group of local men who did projects to help the community. Thirty years ago, after the death of Dr. F.J.Daugherty, the club was responsible for bringing Dr. Thomson to Camden. They were responsible for the annual Christmas decorations and lights.

Many of their business projects involved remodeling and repurposing old buildings and former businesses as the needs of the community changed. One was the remodeling of a former oil company office at 200 Cottage St. into a beauty shop. Howard and Bill Doran formed a partnership and purchased a house at the northeast corner of Cottage Street and Central Avenue which became “ The Depot Dairy Bar”. Shanks Varity Store, which had been an establishment since 1911, was for sale and Howard bought that business which Dolores managed for several years until it was sold to Lawrence Irwin. When Mr. Jefferies wanted to sell his grocery at 15 S. Main Street, Howard purchased it and converted it into a convenience store called Jimbo’s Pizza. They purchased The Woodbine Inn located on Central Avenue and converted it to a beauty shop and apartments. Later The Woodbine Inn was torn down and the lot was sold to the Hardin family who built Camden Village Pharmacy. Howard and Dolores purchased land on North Main Street from a group of investors who called their project Camden Improvement Corp. They worked diligently on their own and with the Camden Area Chamber of Commerce to attract businesses to come to Camden to provide job opportunities and help finance school taxes. Several acres of the project were sold to Wood Propane for a new location to expand its business. More acreage was used for a new business, White’s Lock and Storewhich is a rental storage facility. Part of the land was sold to Ron Good and Wyoming Steel for the construction of Camden Coil, now known as Wyoming Steel. They own one of the oldest buildings in Camden, located at 24 W. Central, which was built as a tin shop in 1877 and has a history of being the location of a hardware store, gift shop, and a tanning salon and gift shop.

In January 1988 they sold Camden IGA to Fred Green and Chuck Stidham.

They were instrumental in starting the Camden Area Chamber of Commerce which is sponsoring this 19th annual Black Walnut Festival. Twenty-one years ago, in the fall, Dolores was involved with members of the Chamber in planning the Hometown Holidays . After two years, The Chamber decided to call it a festival; and, at the recommendation of Ruth Doty, the name Black Walnut Festival was chosen. Dolores continued to participate in various jobs from chairman, publicity chairman and unofficial photographer until they become “snowbirds” who head south in late October.

Howard and Dolores remain in the Camden area, at their farm west of town, where they continue their hobbies of gardening, golfing and oil painting.

They wish to thank all their customers, former employees and friends for 40 wonderful years.