8/9/07
Because of ‘Miz Gussie,’ Stogner has a peek at the past
By Konstantin Vengerowsky

KONSTANTIN VENGEROWSKY/Masnning Times

Manning native Lee Stogner has a collection of advertising calendars dating back to the 1920s. He has had them framed and displays them at his home.

There is nothing unusual or uncommon about calendars, unless they are over eighty years old.

Manning native Lee Stogner is now the proud owner and caretaker of these priceless and historic artifacts, once used as a means of advertising by local businesses throughout the county. These calendars were issued by grocery and department stores, as well as furniture and hardware stores, a gas station and an insurance company. The oldest calendar that is now framed and hanging in Stogner’s house is that of a department store called the H.D. DuBrow store. The calendar is for the year 1924.

Stogner says he found the 12 calendars at his late mother, Peggy Stogner’s, house about 25 years ago.

“I was cleaning out her house when I stumbled upon them,” said Stogner.

“Miz. Peggy” was best known as the county’s kindergarten teacher for nearly 40 years. From 1946 to 1985, she taught many of the children that today are active citizens in our community. Her schoolhouse was located between North Brooks and Sumter Streets, near the Clarendon County Archives Building. She was described as a very active member of her church and the community.

“She was just the sweetest lady, and everybody loved her,” said Sara Margaret Vassar, a retired registered nurse who was born in Manning in 1916 and has lived in Clarendon County for most of her life.

The story of where these calendars came from and how Miz Peggy ended up with them is as fascinating as the artifacts themselves.

It’s the story of yet another famous woman from Clarendon County.

According to Vassar, Mrs. L. C. Lloyd, known to many in the county simply as “Miz Gussie,” was born and raised in Clarendon County. Besides some sewing work on the side, no one remembers her ever being employed anywhere. However, she was an active and devoted member of Manning’s First Baptist Church. There are many interesting things about her that made her stand out from other people.

“I believe that she was buried in her wedding dress,” said Vassar. “It was against her belief to throw anything away; she kept everything.”

According to Stogner, Miz Gussie and her husband lived in a small one-room house located behind Miz Peggy’s home.

She was a pretty well known woman in the county in the 1930s and 1940s.

“She was just very friendly and nice to everyone,” Vassar said. “Everybody in the town knew her.”

Another person that remembers her well is Corinne Jennings, who was a young girl during most of Miz Gussie’s life. Jennings described her as a very petite woman who always wore a shawl around her.

“She was very active in the church and very faithful and devoted to everything she did, including the Women’s Missionary Union (WMU),” remembers Jennings. “Although she did not have much, she carried herself well and never asked for anything. Because of her faithfulness, she received much support from the church community.”

Jennings also remembers Miz Gussie’s small house and all the furniture.

“She had a limited amount of things, and whatever furniture she did have was covered with sheets,” she said.

Jennings also recalled that Miz Gussie’s husband repaired clocks and watches.

“I also remember exactly where they sat in the church,” said Jennings.

According to Stogner, Peggy and Gussie were close friends.

“My mother took care of her when she got older,” he said.

In her will, Miz. Gussie left all of her belongings to Miz Peggy. While cleaning out Gussie’s house, Peggy discovered the calendars, now hanging on Stogner’s wall.

Here is the list of some of the business calendars from Miz Gussie’s collection: C.W. Griffith, a hardware store; D. Hirschman, a department and clothing store; Esso Service, a gas station; Brailsford and Duke, a grocery store; the Katzoff Department Store; Riff Brothers, a grocery store; and one from the Great American Insurance Company.

Spanning the years 1924 to 1945, the youngest in the collection is from the Home Furniture Company, Inc., dated 1945, which is believed to be the year that Miz Gussie passed away.

For many years the calendars hung at the restaurant at Jerry’s Truck Stop (now The Travel Center), where Stogner was general manager. Because of Miz Gussie’s reluctance to throw anything away, Stogner has a little and much appreciated piece of Clarendon County history.