By Erica Thomas, managing editor
Cage Jennings was a store owner, fire chief, postmaster, butcher and fixer of things o’plenty.
Jennings’ grocery and variety store was at the corner of present-day Old Springville Road and Sweeney Hollow Road. Eventually, Jennings moved his store to the corner of Old Springville Road and Brewster Road, where Clay City Hall is now. He called his store Jennings’ Super Saver.
Super Saver included a post office, feed for livestock and a butcher shop. Jennings even had a fire truck and he was the fire chief for the Chalkville Fire Department, according to his son, Ron.
“It was the kind of store that you could go to and they did all kinds of stuff,” Ron Jennings said. “A lot of people know my dad. I remember he would cut people’s hair out in front of the store.”
There was a garage attached to fix cars and Super Saver had the tools needed to fix appliances such as refrigerators and well pumps. The building was a two-story building, so Jennings took advantage of the extra space and rented out the rooms upstairs.
The bustling store sold Gulf gas and many people still living in Clay can remember visiting the store on a daily basis.
“I remember everybody would come to the store off the school bus,” Ron said. “I like to talk about it. Still, going to that area brings back all those memories, it’s neat to recognize.”
Just as Andy Griffith had Barney, Mr. Jennings had a sidekick — Bud Zophie. Bud helped with everything, according to Cage’s son.
It’s safe to say Jennings was a well-rounded man. Along with all his titles, he also served as president of the Chalkville Civic Club.
“Everybody respected dad, everybody knew him,” Ron said.
Jennings passed away in 1995. He was in his early 80s. Although he is gone and the property where the old store sat is now the home of Clay City Hall, his memory lives on. The kids who went to Super Saver every day, for a Coke and some candy, still see their childhood when they look at Brewster Road.
Ron Jennings sees a lot more: “That was home.”