The Tee Pee Truck Stop

I had a wonderful visit with Vera Edmondson of Edmondson's Furniture. I stopped by her family’s place of business to inquire about the "Tee Pee Truck Stop", "The Hilltop Restaurant" and its history.
Her husband Edwin was wasn't there but she gladly shared with me some information and photos about the history of their life together in the early 1950's.
The two of them were married, and continued the family furniture/hardware store here at Hilltop in Williamstown, Kentucky.
Originally, it was built by Orris Edmondson Senior in the 1940's and was managed by Dewey Hampton as Edmondson's Hardware.
Later on, June 04 1953 it became known as Edmondson's Furniture & Hardware. In the 1960's, Edwin and Richard Edmondson operated it together.
Richard left and took over operations of Edmondson's Grocery. When Orris Senior retired. In 1963, the new two story warehouse was constructed next to the original building. Which is now owned and operated by Orris Edwin Jr. & Vera Edmondson with their son Rodney.
The Hilltop Restaurant was built in 1930 by Orris Senior & Nelva Edmondson.
Later it was leased to Lewis & Beulah Sparrow until 1965. With the completion of Interstate 75 thru Grant County business dropped off and the restaurant/truck stop closed.
In the 1940's it was Texaco Gas, and in the 1950's it was Standard Oil.
Stepping inside the front door into the main room you would have seen a counter with stools, cash register, and knotty pine walls throughout the large dining area.
Pin ball machines were along the back wall for entertainment. The kitchen was behind the front counter with a rear entrance and stairs leading up to the second floor which was the residence for the Sparrow's.
The Tee Pee was famous for its metal construction. Built by Roy Henry in 1930, it still looks great even today, eighty five years later. It served as an office to pay for your fuel after filling up.
Truck drivers and motorist alike would pull off US 25 to refresh, fuel up, and check out this wonderful Tee Pee that "catches your eye" driving along the highway.
There also was a pear tree on the north rear side of the truck stop that offered her fruits to patrons and visitors. Sounds like a neat place to stop and rest if you ask me. Of course, Grant County is like that. The two story "castle like" building next to the Tee Pee is now used for storage for furniture by the Edmondson's.

by Jerry Martin