While
Ben does not have a current column - we feature this past column
first featured in February 2003 - from the "Best Of Ben"
No need to leave the county.
Ever heard people smugly brag about going out of town (which
in our case really means out of county) to buy goods and services?
There is a pseudo-sophistication associated with shopping out
of town, usually in a larger town.
| 
Why
do we hear Ben about to talk like Inspector Clouseau?
|
As
one who photographed social events for several decades in Eastern
North Carolina, I often overheard conversations in which the
socialites would brag about their attire being procured in Raleigh,
Richmond, or for the somewhat more affluent, even New York.
Many of us in the county are probably not aware that our county
is the "in place" for quite a few shoppers from all
across Eastern North Carolina and up the eastern seaboard as
far north as Maryland. Preachers, car salesmen, lawyers and
judges from all over have trekked to the C&J store in Bayboro
for the latest in high style designer hats and fashions.
| 
Michael
Lovick
|
It’s
easy to learn why it’s the C&J store. Clarence and
Julia Squires from Vandemere founded this mercantile company
about three years ago. According to Carla Lovick, their daughter,
"My daddy is a hat fanatic!"
When TownDock visited C&J this week, Carla and her husband,
Michael Lovick, were in charge of the business of accommodating
customers seeking to buy right here in the county what others
would journey to New York to purchase. Carla said, "We
know people who have saved their money for trips to Pamlico
County just to shop for hats here. Many times they will have
someone who is along take a picture of them wearing a particular
hat before they purchase it."
| 
Carla
Lovick shows off a blue bowler
|
Those
attuned to designer fashions are well aware that if "manners
maketh the man," fashion maketh a statement about the man.
There is no shortage of styles and types of headgear at C&J
for making just about any kind of statement imaginable. For
the artist, there is the customary beret. Gangster hats, Indiana
Jones styles, cowboy hats, tam-o'-shanters, right on down to
toboggins and do-rags … they can all be found at C&J.
Without question, a hat is often the singular voice of one’s
fashion statement. A hat can project what we are, or more importantly,
what we want to be.
| 
Is
Earl Evens a rugged outdoorsman or a card shark?
|
Bottom
line is … if you have come here, and are not from here,
don’t go ‘roun saying you wish you could find hats
like you found in Lower Manhattan. Lower Manhattan fashions
can be found in East Central Downtown Bayboro - thanks to Clarence
and Julia Squires - who are from here - but who have been there.
Ben
Casey is a photographer, author and columnist. His new book
"All In One River" chronicles the beauty of the Neuse River
from its headwaters in Wake County to the Pamlico Sound.
Read more about "All In One River" at www.bencaseypub.com
Ben and Emmy Casey live on the shores of the real life
Dawson's Creek. You can email Ben at ben@towndock.net
|
