5 years ago, I posted an article relating to a piece of stationary that I had seen on eBay. A family member has recently come forward with information about the owners of this store and has filled in a number of blanks regarding it. I’ve linked to the story below.

In the original post I pondered the possibility of one George Dunklin Babb having been the owner.

Babb Brothers of Princeton, Laurens Co, SC

While I was very close in my guess, I still got it wrong. It turns out that the store was owned by his two youngest brothers Julius Wister (1897-1936) and Willie Adger Babb (1900-1984). George Dunklin is about 15 years older and not pictured below.

Our informant provided some pictures for context, the first of which serves as the cover picture for this article of Babb Brothers in its heyday!

Now that we know the identities of the people involved we can understand much more about the context of the letter. It says that they went into business in 1921 and that they had always paid their bills. This is consistent with the 1920 Census where both brothers were involved in farm labor, which was a VERY common occupation in smaller communities and probably still is to this day.

We can see in the 1930 Census that the two brothers are living next to each other in the midst of a series of shops on a road by the name of Dixie Highway.

The Dixie Highway is a historic road that once spanned from the northern United States to the sunny south, enticing travelers with the promise of paradise in Miami, Florida:

1. Origins and Purpose:
   • The Dixie Highway was designed to lure northerners from as far as Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan (near the Canadian border) down to the southern states and ultimately to the tropical haven of Miami.
   • This highway connected the western parts of both North Carolina and South Carolina, following a north-to-south path approximately along the 82nd longitude line.
   • Initially, it was an ancient path used by animals and Native Americans to traverse the Kentucky grasslands, the mountains of North Carolina and South Carolina, and reach the navigable parts of the Savannah River at Augusta, Georgia. From there, travelers could access the Atlantic Ocean between South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia.
2. Evolution:
   • Over time, the old dirt path transformed into a trading route with the Cherokee, a wagon road in the 1800s, and eventually a concrete-paved road just after the turn of the twentieth century.
   • As the number of automobiles increased, the need for weather-resistant roads became crucial, and road trips gained popularity in the 1910s.
   • The Dixie Highway played a significant role in this era, attracting tourists through the Carolinas.
3. Legacy and Centennial:
   • The name “Dixie Highway” was relatively short-lived, but its impact endured.
   • In 1926, the federal government established the numbered interstate highway system, renaming the road to US Highway 25.
   • Although the name changed, the legacy of the Dixie Highway persisted. The centennial of the creation of US 25 is approaching, and the Dixie Highway’s centennial continues through 2031, marking the completion of paving in the Carolinas.
     Source: Microsoft Copilot

Through all of this a picture has emerged of two courageous young men of 24 & 21, who had an entrepreneurial spirit. The ceased upon the opportunity to sell to all the car traffic that was passing through Princeton. They opened an Esso gas station, carried Firestone tires, sold paint and general merchandise in the store to take advantage of that opportunity. From 1931-1948, they also served as the US Post Office for Princeton.

Tragically Julius Wistar died, on 22 May 1936, of Lobar Pneumonia after 7 days with the flu. He was only 39 years old. The family gathered en masse at Christmas, likely to toast to Julius and mourn together.

Willie who went by his middle name Adger continued the store until 1956, when he closed it and moved up the road to assist at Babbs Cash and Carry which his son opened in 1954.

We can also see from the letter below that it was signed by Willie Adger (W.A.) himself.

Adger lived to be 83 Years, 7 Months, 15 Days old before finally passing on 07 May 1984. No death certificate is publicly available in that timeframe to indicate the manner of his passing.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this trip down US Highway 25!