You remember the Andy Griffith Show don’t you? I’m sure you do if you were born before 1970 and am reasonably sure even if you weren’t. Mayberry is the fictitious town where Sheriff Taylor and his son Opie lived with Aunt Bea.
I love the way they lived life in Mayberry. They enjoyed meals together, sat on the swing after dinner, looked after each other, and got together for simple things like a talent show, playing music on the porch, or a school play. Ah, such a gentle life they led!
Well, I live near Mayberry. It’s not Mayberry exactly. It’s actually Mount Airy, North Carolina. Mount Airy is 15 minutes away and it is believed to be the inspiration for the town of Mayberry. And yes, there is a Pilot Mountain not far away. Sounds a lot like Mt. Pilot, doesn’t it?
Another piece of evidence that would support the notion that Mount Airy inspired Mayberry is that Andy Griffith was born there. He even used to play in the band at Grace Moravian Church - the same church my parents belong to.
He played a baritone that he later donated to the church, inscribed. My mother, who plays in the Grace Moravian band to this day, played that baritone until fairly recently when she got one of her own. When a local highway was dedicated to Andy Griffith, my parents played with the band a version of The Fishin’ Hole theme song that my dad arranged. (That’s the closest thing I have to a claim to fame!)
Did you know that theme song actually has words and not just a whistle? It’s true. Around here, lots of folks have actually sung the song. I have. It’s a lot like living in Cherokee, North Carolina, and being able to sing Amazing Grace in the native Cherokee language. It’s just one of the things you do.
Mount Airy, North Carolina, brings in quite a few tourists. They like to see the jail house, have a pork chop sandwich at Snappy Lunch, or check out Floyd’s Barbershop.
Mount Airy has a quaint, old-fashioned main street. And at the corner of Main Street and Oak Street is the Main Oak Emporium. The Emporium is an upscale vendor mall with an attached cafe. I love browsing through three floors of unique merchandise ranging from toys to jewelry to . . . well . . . to cobalt glass! It’s always been my secret weapon when shopping for my mother.
We moved in last Thursday and will start our first full month tomorrow. If you happen to ever be in Mount Airy, North Carolina, come see us on the second floor (which is actually one floor down from the Main Street level). I love seeing the cobalt glass all displayed together. To a cobalt-lover like me, it’s breath-taking.
Laurie
We’re still working on getting those new items ready for the website. It’s a lot of work, but we enjoy working with the glassware. It’s so remarkable. Some moments are more enjoyable than others. 
