Love & Marriage–An Old-Fashioned Love StoryJ A C K Z O R N

VANISHING GEORGIA: LOVE & MARRIAGE—AN OLD-FASHIONED LOVE STORY HISTORY 7

S he was the “girl of my dreams.”Yet, I almost never knew sheexisted! The year was 1948, and I

was a 20-year-old kid looking for a job.Recently discharged from the Navy, I wasdown to the last ten dollars of my $300mustering out pay.

I had hitchhiked from Macon toBremen, the Central Division headquar-ters for Plantation Pipeline, to meet withMr. G.H. Church about the possibilityof a job in the oil fields of either SaudiArabia or Venezuela. He regretfullyinformed me that he could not help me,unless I had either a college degree orpipeline experience.

Disappointed, I thanked him for histime and headed for the door, intent onhitchhiking back to Macon, probablynever to return to the little west Georgiatown of Bremen. Suddenly, Mr. Churchyelled at me, “Wait a minute! Come onback and let’s talk about it.” He hired meon the spot as a lab assistant to the com-pany chemist, Tom Martin.

I got a room at a local boarding housecalled McBeth Inn. They told me itwould be $11 per week including meals.The only problem was I didn’t have $11.They said I could pay when I got my firstpay check. I started working the nextmorning.

I hadn’t been in Bremen long before Inoticed this pretty little green-eyedblonde with a good figure working at theCommercial & Exchange Bank. Themore I saw of her, the more I wanted her.She became my dream girl, even before Idated her. To me, she was five-feet-twoinches and ninety-eight pounds of purefemininity.

I asked one of my buddies at workabout her. He replied, “Well, she’s agood-looking girl, but you don’t want todate her.”

“Why not?” I asked. “’Cause she’s only seventeen and just

out of high school. Besides,” he said,“She’s a touch-me-not.”

“Whatta you mean, a ‘touch-me-not,’” I asked.

“Well,” he explained, “if you touchher inappropriately—even if it’s only anaccident—she immediately yells, ‘Takeme home—now!’”

“That’s good,” I said. “That’s the kindof girl I’m looking for.”

I couldn’t wait to ask her for a date. I

put if off a couple of weeks though,because I was afraid she’d turn me down.But I couldn’t stay away from that bank.On one of my increasingly frequent visitsto her teller window, she seemed especial-ly friendly. Then, during an awkward lullin our conversation, I nervously blurtedout, “I don’t have a car, but would youlike to meet me at the theater and see amovie?”

“It’s okay about the car,” she said. “I

Jack and Wilma Zorn on the day of their wedding, March 16, 1951. The Zorns, who reside in Lineville,Alabama, will celebrate their 61st wedding anniversary shortly after the publication of this article.

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only live a couple of blocks from town. Iwalk to and from work every day.”

I took that as a “yes.” Turns out, myfear of rejection was unfounded. She anda girlfriend had a bet as to who would geta date with me first. Conniving females!

After the movie that night, I walkedher home to her neat little house onLaurel Street, across from a vacant lot,where today Higgins General Hospitalstands. We lingered, holding hands for afew minutes, before saying “Goodnight.” Finally, I mustered up enoughcourage to try for a goodnight kiss. Miss“Touch-Me-Not,” true to form, gave mea negative. She said, “I don’t know youwell enough,” but, after a lengthy pause,she added, “Yet.”

Thus encouraged, I floated back totown and McBeth Inn, already cherish-ing a future that offered the promise of akiss from a girl like her.

We would see many movies, andwould take that two block, moonlit walkmany times, over the next two years. Ittook me that long to save up enoughmoney to buy a used white ’48 Ford. Ithought it was the grandest automobilein the world. Parked it right beneath myupstairs bedroom window at McBeth

Inn, where I could keep a close eye on it.And it’s a good thing I did, because onMarch 16, 1951, that ol’ ’48 Ford wouldtake us to my birthplace, Miami, Florida,on our honeymoon.

We didn’t have enough money for achurch wedding, so the ceremony was per-formed in the living room of BrotherWallace Morton, pastor of the First BaptistChurch of Bremen. There were only fivepeople present: the preacher, Jeannie,myself, my brother, Ted, and Jeannie’sMaid of Honor, Betty Jo Chambers.

Three months later, Betty Jo and JimFarmer were married in a simple churchceremony. We had double-dated withthem on their first date. In fact, we gotthem together. Jim was a friend and a co-worker at Plantation Pipeline. Despitethe simplicity of our two weddings, bothproduced happy marriages that haveflourished for more than a half century.

After our wedding, Jeannie and Istopped in LaGrange, where we had ourcar washed while we looked for a place toeat our first “married meal.” We decidedon a little coffee shop on the south sideof the square. On our 50th anniversaryin 2001, we retraced our honeymoonjourney and were delighted to find thelittle coffee shop still open.

We left LaGrange before dark, head-ing south. Although we didn't havemuch money ($200 between us), thenext seven days would create preciousmemories that have lasted more thansixty years

We drove for hours, talking anddreaming about our future together.Then, I began looking for a place to spendthe night. There weren’t any nice motels inthe ’50s—mostly small cabins called“tourist homes.” I couldn’t seem to findone that suited Jeannie. Finally, she said,“I’d just as soon drive on down to Miami.”I burst out laughing, and we bothjoked about our mutual inno-cence and inexperience.

We continued driv-ing and talking untilafter midnight. AtMoore Haven, onthe shore of LakeOkeechobee, wefound an oldtwo-story hotelthat reminded meof Bremen’s McBethInn. We were mentallyand physically exhausted,so we decided we just couldn’tgo any farther.

Jeannie and Jack Zorn at the 1952 SpringFormal at Mercer University.

A young couple dancing the jitterbug in Cobb County, late 1940s.

VANISHING GEORGIA: LOVE & MARRIAGE—AN OLD-FASHIONED LOVE STORY HISTORY 9

I didn’t ask to see theroom, but I should

have been suspiciouswhen the little oldlady told me itwould be “two dol-lars for the night.”She led us up the

stairs and said, “It’s the first room on

the right.”Lugging our two suit-

cases with Jeannie following, Iopened the door and couldn’t

believe my eyes. It reminded me of an oldHumphrey Bogart movie set in thePanama Canal Zone: a high ceiling with abig fan overhead; an old dresser with apitcher and wash bowl; and an iron bed-stead with exposed springs. It was a disas-trous setting for our first night of maritalbliss, but we were too tired to fuss about it.

The final shock came when we turnedback the bedspread and discovered a hugehole right in the middle of the mattress.There was no way we could snuggle onour first night. Jeannie had to sleep on herside, and I had to sleep on mine.

The next morning, we couldn’t waitto get dressed and hit the road. What acomical night to begin a marriage! Butwe laughed about it all the way toHollywood. And Hollywood more thanmade up for it.

Just north of Fort Lauderdale, wecame to the little town of Hollywood andimmediately fell in love with it. Wefound a brand new brick motel. I toldJeannie, “I don’t think we can afford theirrate, but let’s check ’em out.”

When I came back and told her thatit was just seven dollars a night, she said,“Let’s stay one night anyhow.” We lovedthe new carpet, tile bath and comfortablenew bed (without a hole in the mattress).A couple of years later, we spent three

LEFT: A Halloween Dance at Georgia Military College in Milledgeville. RIGHT: A group enjoys aValentines Day dance at the Richland Hotel in Greensboro, February 14, 1915. BELOW: One coupleseated in a vehicle and a second seated in the rumble seat, Cornelia, circa 1926. OVAL: Maude

Vester Veal and Needham Bryant Bateman pose for their wedding portrait in Deepstep,Washington County, 1901. He was about 29 when they married and she was about 17.

10 GEORGIA BACKROADS / SPRING 2012

nights at the luxurious Waldorf Astoriain New York City. It didn’t come close toour “Honeymoon Haven” in Hollywood,Florida.

We never made it to Miami. Westayed four wonderful days (and nights)in Hollywood.

Every morning we frolicked onHollywood Beach. Every afternoon we“gambled” at Tropical Racetrack, and everyevening at Hialeah Racetrack. We alwaysbet two dollars on a favorite to place orshow, so we actually won a few dollars.

When our fabulous week came to aclose, we reluctantly said goodbye to ourbeloved Hollywood and headed north onU.S. Highway 1. Driving up the Atlanticseaboard, we came upon a beautiful, sun-drenched Delray Beach. Anxious to arrivehome with a good tan (so folks wouldn’tthink we stayed in the motel room allday), we giggled putting on our swimsuitsin the car, and sunned for an hour onemore time in the middle of the day. Wegot burned so badly we couldn’t stand totouch one another for two days (andnights)! But we did arrive home, well-tanned and deliriously happy. It was defi-nitely the happiest week of my young life.

Today, at 84, I can look back and sayit was, without a doubt, the happiestweek of my entire life. And I’m more inlove today than I was on March 16,1951, when a little green-eyed blonde inBremen, Georgia, won my heart, and Ipromised to be hers alone, for as long aswe both shall live.

A young couple enjoys YellowRiver Shoals near Porterdalein Newton County, circa 1915.

Group of young people poses at a picnic out-ing at Tallulah Falls, 1886. Front row (L-r):Carolyn C. Crane, John Grant, Frank Meadows,Mary Love Lowery, and Harvey Johnson. Backrow (L-R) Ed Coates, Olive Berry, Tomp Paine,Tom Cobb, Maude Barker and Annie Raine.

OPPOSITE PAGE LEFT: Aurie Will Darnail posesfor a photograph in her wedding dress inCalhoun in 1923. She married James H. Starr in Calhoun Presbyterian Church. CENTER:Willie Hamilton Boston on her wedding dayin Calhoun, June 11. 1930. She married ThomasJefferson Brown in the First MethodistChurch. Her husband and her father were pioneers in the textile industry. RIGHT: StellaRoberts Pendleton in her wedding dress,Valdosta, 1914. BOTTOM LEFT: The weddingparty of Gertrude Bartley to Fred C. Blair at St.Johns Church in Atlanta, July 7, 1920 (L-R): ElsieB. Lyons; Adele B. Harper; Bride; Lily StantonSprayberry, Irene Blair; child on left unidentified;child on right is Dorothy Harper.

VANISHING GEORGIA: LOVE & MARRIAGE—AN OLD-FASHIONED LOVE STORY HISTORY 11

BELOW: Mamie Winburn and Walter K. Downs on theday of their wedding at the Cotton Exposition in Atlanta,October 24, 1889. The couple’ wedding attire was madeof cotton bagging. Ms. Winburns was from Conyers andMr. Downs from the Newton County community of Cora.

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THIS PAGE CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: � There was a day when picnicking afforded couples anopportunity to court. Here a large group poses at Barnsley Gardens, near Adairsville, circa1896. � Atlanta, Mar. 18, 1885. Frances Elizabeth Teague and Francis Leonard Terrell. �

Wedding of Miss Curry and Mr. Blaum assemble on the porch of the Curry home on ShotwellStreet in Bainbridge, circa 1908. � A young couple courting in a horse and buggy in FranklinCounty, circa 1910.

VANISHING GEORGIA: LOVE & MARRIAGE—AN OLD-FASHIONED LOVE STORY HISTORY 13

Sunset years for a coupleseated in front of the fire-place in their Jones Countyhome, circa 1910. This couple,Jake and Emma, were onceslaves on the farm of JesseMiddleton Hunt.

RIGHT: The 75th wedding anniversary celebrationof Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Mathis, ages 98 and 95, inNorcross, October 14, 1944.