By Owen Wiese
There will be several articles published and spoken about regarding people in Garretson. There are people in Garretson who would mean different things by the same word. If that is the case, we will have to agree with each other as to what word would be best.
One word that may cause trouble is the word INTERESTING. When used as an adjective, there is only one spelling of the word but it would mean different things to different people.
If that happens, contact me and we can arrive at a meaning of the word INTERESTING as it was used.
So, let’s get started on the articles. I hope that all the readers enjoy them. It will take several weeks to complete all of the articles. The first article written is about ‘Big Ern’ and the Sports Cabin.
The morning of Saturday, April 30, I was in The Sports Cabin, more commonly called Big Erns, to have coffee and to visit with people who are not usually in Big Erns on weekdays when I usually go for a cup of coffee and visit with people who are there.
This morning as I ate breakfast and scanned the paper, I knew I would go down town to get the mail because I almost always do so. There was almost as much certainty that I would go to the Sports Cabin for coffee.
Now the Devils Gulch is always there. It never changes. On the other hand, Garretson has several places to have coffee and visit with people. Those places change locations and ownership at times. The Sports Cabin has been in the same location for a very long time.
How does one decide which one to go to? All would fit my desires. The decision was made as I walked past all new outdoor furniture under the outdoor canopy at the Sports Cabin. Ernie Smith (Big Ern) was alone behind the bar. I asked him about the furniture. He said that he hoped that the weather would be warm enough soon to use it. This led to the information that none of the other cafes in Garretson have outdoor canopies and outdoor furniture. (Since then, The Combine has opened its deck and The Gulch has placed its picnic tables in front of its building.)
Another improvement that has been made to the Sports Cabin is an enlarged room in the rear of the building for larger groups of people.
The Sports Cabin offers a carryout service for the convenience of customers who want to eat their food elsewhere.
As I asked Ernie what time he opened in the morning. He replied, “Sharon Mains opens the Sports Cabin at 6:00 a.m." The Sports Cabin is one of the few places in town to get breakfast.
Ernie comes in later to relieve Sharon. Alternative help comes in as needed. The other cafes in Garretson are all good places to go for the services they provide, but the Sports Cabin just provides more, in this author's opinion.
It was interesting to watch Ernie work. He has long experience planning entrees and cooking food. Attending a cooking school and twenty years’ experience working in cafes have perfected his expertise.
Further questions revealed more facts, which are very interesting. He is a graduate of USD and served nine years in the South Dakota Army National Guard in the Field Artillery. He left the army as a Sargent E-5.
Ernie does take time to do other things. He is an excellent golfer. He teaches his twin boys how to play golf. He also coaches their teams in football, basketball and baseball. No soccer though, as that’s like chasing cats, according to Ernie.
It is interesting to note who comes into the Sports Cabin and when they do. There is a group who comes in early for breakfast, followed by the coffee drinkers who spend time solving problems, followed by groups who have lunch. I surmise that the group that comes in the evenings solves more problems.
Saturday mornings are different. People come in who are not there during the week. They order food and drinks and visit with one another. The necessary help is at work.
In ending, The Sports Cabin is a good place to eat and ‘Big Ern’ makes it the place to go.
