News Articles
Remembering Elmer’s Store
Posted on Sep 16th, 2024
Contributed Photo
Photo John Swanson
On Mon Sep 18, Elmer’s Bait Camp, located south of the Churchill Bridge, was reduced to a pile of rubble after being purposely set ablaze. Long time river resident, Pete Runnels who helped out at the old Elmer’s store, also was an Evinrude dealer, worked on outboard motors and eventually became the communities’ unofficial historian and honorary “mayor”. He departed this life on July 25, 2024, at age 94 ½.
Remembering Elmer’s Store
By FOR President John Swanson
As a young boy in the 60’s, my dad, grandfather and I would travel the oyster shell road from Sweeny to Churchill and rent a boat from Elmer’s Bait Camp to fish the banks of the San Bernard River and catch reds, flounder and golden croaker.
I remember Pete Runnels running from the barn with the 20HP boat motor slung over his shoulder to put on our waiting boat. He would then dip us a bucket of fresh live shrimp for bait. But, before pushing away from the dock, my grandfather would always buy a Milky Way to accompany his coffee plus a Butterfinger and a coke for me to enjoy on our boat ride down the river. After getting our fill of fishing, we would return to the dock, load up our tackle and fish, and bump up the road a block or two to the Totem Pole Café for a delicious hamburger lunch. Three generations enjoying the wildlife of the San Bernard River in the 60’s.
Today, three more generations continue the tradition of fishing the river! What an amazing place to grow up! I share the San Bernard with my wife and continue to raise my kids and three grandsons here.
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