E. D. Bickham's Grocery and Market in the early 1930's was a hustling, bustling Celeste business. Front row: Jimmy Norris, rural mail carrier out of the Celeste Post Office next door, and Billy Green Bruce, employee; middle row: E. D. Bickham, owner, Pete Hudson, next door tailor shop owner, and Jacque Bickham, son and later owner; back row: Ray McMichael and Hesa Bickham, employee and son.

The Bickham store was a gathering place on Saturday afternoons and evenings for country people who came into town to shop weekly and visit with friends.


After Jacque and Maurine went out of business, another Celeste grocery store did business in that same building. I believe that it was managed and owned by Larry Rowell (but don't hold me to that). I also believe that Al and Dorothy Conine had their very successful cafeteria from this business. This is where the Coffee Club started many years ago. That group continues to meet weekly in the Community Room of First Bank. The latest business was the auction.
I am trying to think back to the earliest date for Bickham's. The Bickhams were pioneer Celeste business people. I think they are had hardware and furniture and even a funeral business in their earliest days.


Submitted by Sarah Swindell


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