Recently I had the privilege of being invited to the home of Carl and Lois Shrewsbury. These are marvelous folks with a real heart for community and friends. Carl creates a fabulous cotton Christmas tree that is unbelievable.

Other friends of the Shrewsbury's were present. One couple I have known for years, they are Jim and Martha Duggan owners and operators of Robinson Building Center (423-476-5501).

During the evening of eating soup and homemade cookies we talked about The Rebel and days of yesteryear. Jim related many stories of the days when area teenagers would circle the Village Shopping Center, then zoom down South Lee Highway and turn into the Rebel. 57 and 58 Chevy's were popular in those days and cruising was experiencing its greatest time. After circling The Rebel you had to circle the "mud hole" and drive slow past the Sugar n Spice restaurant. Corky McGowan, owner of The Spice is still in the food business. I had a great conversation with him recently about the old days.

Well, Jim goes on to tell me of fights, sweethearts and squealing tires out back behind The Rebel. My Dad often would take off out the back door trying to catch the tire squealers, sometimes with a spatula in his hand or anything he could pick up while on the way. Of course if you timed it just right you could be out on the highway and long gone before Dad could get to the back. No one wanted caught by Dad, his old Navy discipline just might be more than most teenagers wanted.

Do you have a story about The Rebel? Did you propose marriage or breakup while eating on the curb, or maybe got your first kiss while waiting on a curb tray of lottaburgers to be delivered. Sometimes a curb hop would tell my dad that some kids were "making out" and taking up a parking spot on the curb. Dad would say 'I would rather them be kissing than fighting, leave 'em alone"

We'd love to post your precious memories here on our web site. I met my wife 32 years ago at the Rebel. We raised our children around the Rebel. Our daughter met her husband there and I am told my son met lots of girls there?? How bout you?

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