Hambone at the End of the
Pavement
By Janice Boling
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Hambone was a regular at the End of the Pavement.
He was a horseshoe pitching champion, beer drinker, gambler, carpenter, and friend to many.
Hambone could throw a pretty horseshoe, charm the women, and bellow like a bull.
Hambone in 1979
Back in the 70s Hambone wore an engineer's cap. It suited him -- especially with long hair.
We were in the woods a lot, up and down the creek banks, walking in the woods, and crowding together at big parties. We kept track of each other with distinctive yells. Mine was a long drawn out YAAAAAHOOOOO. Ham's sounded like a 2000 pound bull. Joe was Tarzan. Beth went AHYEE AHYEE AHYEE as loud as she could. Some people did bird calls or other animal sounds.
It was pretty cool at the time and makes for fond memories. MOOOOooooooo.........
Beth and a dog
This dog belonged to Beth and Hambone. They were grading out an area to put in a trailer -- which was demolished many years later to build Timmy's house.
Joe and Hambone got the job done
They were hard at work on a backhoe. Joe was really just goofing off, walking the tractor tires as Ham drove around. Joe was like a monkey!
Hambone and Joe were best friends most of their lives. In the later years they quit speaking -- but that is not my story to tell.
Working barefooted
Joe, Gomer, and Hambone worked on Robert Head's shopping center on Cleveland Street in Blairsville, Georgia. Looked like all of them were working in bare feet.
Construction site in downtown Blairsville
Hambone did the cutting and the other guys did the climbing. I brought them lunch from the Tastee Freeze.
Are you from Blairsville, Georgia? Remember when Evelyn Payne sold shoes at the Footwear & Fabric Center? She sold footwear, fabric, and sewing supplies from her store in this shopping center for many years.
Hambone and his crew built this addition to the building sometime in the 1980's.
Doris and Hambone
Doris and Hambone were siblings. This picture was taken back in the old days. Doris married Keith later on. See Keith's picture on the Friends page.
I sure do remember Hambone's green panel wagon. We had so much fun in that vehicle. Slow down, Hambone!
Hambone had on a Cancer shirt with the symbol 69 and a crab. I was also a Cancer.
Ham and Barbara
Hambone and Barbara looked so happy and in love on their wedding day. I am glad they found each other.
Barbara and Hambone pucker up
The kiss was nice but those stripes made the picture pop.
Barbara puts in a rare appearance
Barbara was Hambone's third wife -- and the love of his life. She didn't come out to the End of the Pavement very often but she let Hambone spend his free time there. She knew it made him happy. Even though there were rumors that Hambone and I were lovers, we never did anything to betray Barbara's trust. I might have let Ham peek down the front of my shirt and I gave his drunk ass a ride home plenty of times but that was it. Hambone never did cheat on Barbara as far as I know. Before Hambone met Barbara, now that is another story. Maybe I'll tell it and maybe I won't.
Barbara once told me that she didn't mind all the women in Ham's life. She was not jealous. She said flirting made him horny and ready for loving when he got home. Barbara had a good outlook.
Barbara and Hambone
Barbara and Hambone ate out every Friday night but they did not go to many parties together. When they both arrived at the End of the Pavement, it was special. When I wanted to visit with Barbara, I went to their house. Their door was always open.
Barbara and Ham were all smiles.
Barbara put up with Hambone's jealousy for few months and then decided enough was enough.
His jealousy was aroused by petty things. He would not let her wear short sleeve shirts in the summer. He did not want men to see her arms!
If she defied his wishes and wore a perfectly respectable sleeveless blouse, he would throw tantrums and break her sentimental knick knacks or things the boys made at school.
She was never afraid. He never aimed his anger towards her -- just her stuff.
Barbara hated the tantrums so she decided to take action. The next time he broke something of hers, she broke something of his. She started with his prized antique muzzle loader. She slammed it against the rock fireplace and busted it into bits.
Hambone was shocked. He broke something else. Barbara did, too. Finally they wore themselves out. After that lesson, Hambone never pitched another tantrum or broke Barbara's stuff.
Drawing by Janice Boling
Little wooden house
Barbara did a lot of crafts. She made this little house and gave it to me.
She also made a loving home for Hambone.
Playing horseshoes at Hambone's house
Sometimes Barbara let us have small gatherings at their house.
We had huge parties there for a while but they got too wild so she put a stop to them.
Hambone and Gomer at the End of the Pavement
When Hambone was on a roll, he could throw ringer after ringer – it was uncanny the way his shoes seemed to just flip through the air and slide on.
Hambone made it look easy but it took practice to throw a good shoe.
Barbara's son Dale
Dale was Hambone's stepson. He was a young teen when he started hanging out at the End of the Pavement. He did not stay around very long once he turned eighteen -- moved off to a bigger town.
Hambone in the sunshine with a Nascar hat
Hambone loved pitching horseshoes at the End of the Pavement and never missed a chance to play.
Timmy ready to pitch some horseshoes
Timmy, Hambone's other stepson, stayed and became an End of the Pavement regular. He had a twinkle in his eye and was always a lot of fun to be around.
Josh was Hambone's grandson.
Hambone loved that boy with all his heart.
Now Josh is grown with his own babies. Time goes by way too fast.
Josh, Katie, and the kids
Hambone would love to have all these grandchildren pile up in his lap. Josh has four kids in this picture with another one on the way!
Hambone and Gomer
Hambone built this desk high up in the air like a perch for owls in the treetops. His house was off of Owltown and we had lots of good times there.
Gomer and Hambone were part of a large family with other siblings including Denver and Doris.
I visited Hambone's parents, Jim and Grace, on Coosa often when they were alive. There was always something to eat -- even if it was just a biscuit or cornbread.
Tom and Hambone
Tom and Hambone were two of my favorite people. We were all good friends. Everyone at the End of the Pavement had a bond that was hard to describe. It was like being a part of a tribe.
Hambone at the End of the Pavement
I can hear Hambone bellowing like a bull. We all had our special yells. Mine was "YAHOO" way before there was a website by that name.
A group of us
Sherry, Rick Jill, JC, Janice, Hambone and others gathered up at the End of the Pavement.
Crystal, Trish, and April at Hambone's
This was the night we mourned Hambone's passing and celebrated his life.
I will never forget this man.
Hambone, one of the best horseshoe players ever, passed on from lung cancer. The nurses let us all into his room at the hospital. We gathered around his bed to tell Hambone goodbye. I whispered in his ear, “Ham if you can get up from there, do it now. If not, go on and I will see you on the other side when my time comes.” His eyelids fluttered in response – he was too weak to squeeze my hand. Hambone died like he lived -- with loved ones crowded around.
It about killed Barbara to lose Hambone. For some reason she hung on to me both nights of visitation and then the day of the funeral. The grieving process went on for days as hundreds came to pay respect.
Through it all, Barbara insisted that I take photographs of everything. I took hundreds of pictures of the friends that came to say goodbye, his family, and Hambone's burial.
I may post a few of these photos on this page at a later date -- but not right now. Right now let's celebrate life!
Visit the Memorials page for more information.