John Hillman @ The Tug & Hug
This Ducktale occurred about 1981 when I was a Locomotive Engineer with CSX working @ the Coal Docks location. I was a regular on second shift and the other engineer that worked this location had laid off sick. John Hillman(Who also graduated with me from Russell in 1973) took the call to fill in.
We had several laborers and a switchman that worked with us this night but the stars of this show were Charlie Fritz, R.E. Burgess and Jimmy Dart. These three guys had been after me for a couple of months to have a few beers after work. The only problem was they always went to The Tug & Hug. (I called it The Taft Hartley, it sounded better) This was probably the roughest bar in Ironton, Ohio and without question, the smelliest. This night was no exception to the comment, "Do you think you're too good to go out with us"? I told the boys that IF they could talk John into going, I would go.
They asked him once and his response was, "Sure". I thought I was screwed.
Upon our arrival at The Tug & Hug, I couldn't help but notice the stench of urine and all the smoke. What a great place to spend a couple of hours. To my amazement their appeared to be a cute girl at the end of the bar so I asked Fritz if he knew her. He said he would introduce me at some point and her name was Sandy. After our first beer I decided to buy a round. While I was standing at the bar, Fritz slipped up behind and got Sandy's attention. He said, "Stevie, this is (he whispered the next part in my ear) Ol Gravel Tooth". And she was. It looked like she had surely been eating gravel since she first cut her teeth. I went back to the booth and sat down. Fritz stayed at the bar talking to another LADY.
Fritz brought her over to the table and introduced us to her. She said, "you can call me Black Diane".
Fritz had told her it was John's birthday and he needed a spotlight dance. (dancing in the small isle in everyone's way) John hopped up and started dancing with her. Just as the song ended, Diane planted a lip lock on Hillman that I don't know how he got out of. We were all laughing at him as he shrugged his shoulders and said, "I've had worse". On that note I left.
We had several laborers and a switchman that worked with us this night but the stars of this show were Charlie Fritz, R.E. Burgess and Jimmy Dart. These three guys had been after me for a couple of months to have a few beers after work. The only problem was they always went to The Tug & Hug. (I called it The Taft Hartley, it sounded better) This was probably the roughest bar in Ironton, Ohio and without question, the smelliest. This night was no exception to the comment, "Do you think you're too good to go out with us"? I told the boys that IF they could talk John into going, I would go.
They asked him once and his response was, "Sure". I thought I was screwed.
Upon our arrival at The Tug & Hug, I couldn't help but notice the stench of urine and all the smoke. What a great place to spend a couple of hours. To my amazement their appeared to be a cute girl at the end of the bar so I asked Fritz if he knew her. He said he would introduce me at some point and her name was Sandy. After our first beer I decided to buy a round. While I was standing at the bar, Fritz slipped up behind and got Sandy's attention. He said, "Stevie, this is (he whispered the next part in my ear) Ol Gravel Tooth". And she was. It looked like she had surely been eating gravel since she first cut her teeth. I went back to the booth and sat down. Fritz stayed at the bar talking to another LADY.
Fritz brought her over to the table and introduced us to her. She said, "you can call me Black Diane".
Fritz had told her it was John's birthday and he needed a spotlight dance. (dancing in the small isle in everyone's way) John hopped up and started dancing with her. Just as the song ended, Diane planted a lip lock on Hillman that I don't know how he got out of. We were all laughing at him as he shrugged his shoulders and said, "I've had worse". On that note I left.