|
Replies: 14
| visibility 650
|
Tiger Spirit [9511]
TigerPulse: 95%
44
Posts: 13969
Joined: 2002
|
Judge Keller's Story
1
May 3, 2018, 9:38 AM
|
|
In light of the news of Mr. Knickerbocker's closing, it made me think of Judge Keller's.
This probably won't mean too much to you younger guys, but guys my age and older may be able to relate to this.
When I was a freshman in the fall of 1973, I went down to Judge Keller's to buy a pair of pants (this was long before the Clemson souvenir clothing days of today). I was talking with the Judge himself and he said to go back into the bathroom at the back right corner of the store and try them on. But while I was I was in there, I heard a soft knock on the door. It was Mrs. Keller bringing me a few other pairs of pants to try on. I wasn't shocked because it was just like when I was a kid and my mother or grandmother would take me clothes shopping and bring me clothes to try on.
They were both really nice people - glad I had the chance to know them.
I still think about that pretty much every time I go into that store now.
Will miss that store when it closes some day.
|
|
|
|
 |
Solid Orange [1370]
TigerPulse: 100%
28
|
Re: Judge Keller's Story
May 3, 2018, 9:57 AM
|
|
In light of the news of Mr. Knickerbocker's closing, it made me think of Judge Keller's.
This probably won't mean too much to you younger guys, but guys my age and older may be able to relate to this.
When I was a freshman in the fall of 1973, I went down to Judge Keller's to buy a pair of pants (this was long before the Clemson souvenir clothing days of today). I was talking with the Judge himself and he said to go back into the bathroom at the back right corner of the store and try them on. But while I was I was in there, I heard a soft knock on the door. It was Mrs. Keller bringing me a few other pairs of pants to try on. I wasn't shocked because it was just like when I was a kid and my mother or grandmother would take me clothes shopping and bring me clothes to try on.
They were both really nice people - glad I had the chance to know them.
I still think about that pretty much every time I go into that store now.
Will miss that store when it closes some day.
They were great people.
|
|
|
|
|
|
1st Rounder [679]
TigerPulse: 100%
21
|
Re: Judge Keller's Story
May 3, 2018, 10:20 AM
|
|
We must have been enrolled at the same time. Of course, having grown up in Clemson, Judge Keller's was always a fixture downtown. The "Judge" in those days was actually the second generation. His Dad originally ran the store and earned the nickname "Judge" because he could look at a cadet and put him in the correct size uniform without measurements. It's run today by the third generation and has always been my go-to store for Clemson apparel.
The Spearman family started Mr. Knickerbockers. He had been a barber and used to cut my hair.
|
|
|
|
|
|
All-Conference [445]
TigerPulse: 100%
17
|
Re: Judge Keller's Story
May 3, 2018, 10:31 AM
|
|
I'll always remember two places in downtown Clemson. One was Dan's (anyone remember) and Judge Keller's where I purchased my first pair military low quarters. This was in 1959.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dynasty Maker [3176]
TigerPulse: 92%
34
|
Re: Dan’s. I spent way too much time there playing
May 3, 2018, 10:43 AM
|
|
the pin ball machines.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Asst Coach [858]
TigerPulse: 100%
23
|
Re: Dan’s. I spent way too much time there playing
May 3, 2018, 11:55 AM
|
|
Many an evening I stopped into Dan's to get two lettuce and tomato sandwiches for dinner, at 10 cents each, to take back to the room I was renting off campus during my middle two years. I also remember those pinball machines there.
Message was edited by: ColoTiger66®
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hall of Famer [22127]
TigerPulse: 100%
53
|
Re: Judge Keller's Story
May 3, 2018, 10:49 AM
[ in reply to Re: Judge Keller's Story ] |
|
From 1963 until his death, Dan Gentry was my next door neighbor. I was entertaining about 30 - 35 men one night and talked with Dan about catering it in my back yard. He brought tables, chairs, grill and staff. We had steaks and the usual extras all for $100.
Judge Keller "2" was a super gentleman. If you bought something he would always tell you, "if you are not satisfied, bring it back". Just visiting with he and his wife in the store was a special treat.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ultimate Tiger [33221]
TigerPulse: 100%
56
Posts: 15096
Joined: 2011
|
Careful Joe - you REALLY excited FM with that 2nd sentence***
May 4, 2018, 6:28 AM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tiger Spirit [9511]
TigerPulse: 95%
44
Posts: 13969
Joined: 2002
|
I remember Dan's from the 60s when I would go to..........
May 3, 2018, 12:13 PM
[ in reply to Re: Judge Keller's Story ] |
|
Clemson games with my Dad - and my oldest brother was in school in the 60s.
When I started Clemson in 1973 it hadn't been all that long since it was Dan's - the same sports photos were still on the wall, etc. But that didn't last too long before it was completely redone.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tiger Titan [48079]
TigerPulse: 100%
58
Posts: 49059
Joined: 2004
|
I remember when this drunk chick drove through...
May 3, 2018, 10:28 AM
|
|
the front window of Judge Keller's. That was kind of an odd angle of a store front to manage driving into that store.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ultimate Clemson Legend [100705]
TigerPulse: 100%
64
Posts: 48579
Joined: 2009
|
Ole Clemson..got to meet & talk with Coach Howard, the Judge, Dan & Knickerbocker James Spearman..
1
May 3, 2018, 11:23 AM
|
|
and they were always friendly & had a little time to chat in those “slower” days.
The Judge & Wife each graciously waited on me many times while Coach Howard was a two-time interview for a Tiger Student Newspaper Sports Article..
And Dan waited on me occasionally at his sandwich shop while James cut my hair.
What a place..C L E M S O N!
Not to be rude or mean-spirited but our Coot rivals will never know or understand imho what makes this small village near the lake & Blue Ridge Mtns so special..
which includes our proud Military tradition from 1889 to mid 50’s and left us with that Esprit d’Corps resolve & close camaraderie we enjoy naturally today.
Go TiGERS..Everywhere!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ring of Honor [21202]
TigerPulse: 100%
53
Posts: 10196
Joined: 2004
|
Re: Judge Keller's Story
May 3, 2018, 12:50 PM
|
|
I got my orange overalls there, and I tried them on in that same bathroom. It’s a Clemson Institution.
|
|
|
|
|
|
1st Rounder [665]
TigerPulse: 100%
21
|
Re: Judge Keller's Story
May 3, 2018, 10:06 PM
|
|
A little of topic but to show the village atmosphere: 1968, the first dance weekend I arranged with the CDA for my now wife to stayat a house with a family in town. Can't remember if there was a charge but there was only one motel then (Holiday Inn) and I couldn't afford that. Turns out she stayed with a Mrs Trimble (?). Frank Howard's mother-in-law. That wouldn't have happened to many places.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dynasty Maker [3438]
TigerPulse: 100%
34
|
Re: Judge Keller's Story
May 4, 2018, 6:17 AM
|
|
"I was talking with the Judge himself and he said to go back into the bathroom at the back right corner of the store and try them on. But while I was I was in there, I heard a soft knock on the door."
I came through Clemson much later so I didn't know them, but I thought this story was going in a much different direction.
|
|
|
|
|
|
TigerNet Immortal [168108]
TigerPulse: 100%
69
Posts: 47284
Joined: 2007
|
My first day in Clemson I stopped in to buy
May 4, 2018, 6:41 AM
|
|
bolts to bunk the beds in our room (it was still a true general store in 1980) and walked out with the bolts (including an extra nut, no charge, in case we dropped and lost one), orange overalls, and a block C cap.
The hat still fits.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Replies: 14
| visibility 650
|
|
|
50
