Given the increasing pattern of Americans eating out (or picking up food to bring food home to eat), we are all indebted to the men and women who serve us our food. January 2016 has been designated as “Be Kind to Food Servers Month.” It’s a reminder to all of us to be courteous to all of those who work so hard to serve customers in restaurants and similar food outlets.

Feb. 29, 1896–The Union Depot Restaurant, whose lunch counter is advertised as “unsurpassed,” has an attractive offer for regular visitors to Birmingham. Its courteous staff will serve 21 meals on a meal ticket for $6.25. This averages out to a little less than 30 cents per meal.

Dec. 8, 1900—It is sad to report that Judge Henry Clay Speake, aged 66 years, died very suddenly tonight in a restaurant in Cullman where he regularly took his meals and where the servers catered to his every want and need. The distinguished jurist had been holding court for two weeks past in Cullman County. The cause of death was heart failure. His servers were grief-stricken at the passing of their favorite patron.

Nov. 17, 1927—Servers furnishing ice, glasses, and ingredients or permitting drinking of alcoholic stimulants in a restaurant or cafe will be in violation of the national prohibition act, the Birmingham administrator of the Volstead Act stated Wednesday, in relation to plans for “high, dry, thirsty” Thanksgiving and Christmas. Ordinarily very hospitable servers who furnish highball ingredients will cause their employers to be cited as violators of federal law. Both the Volstead law and the Alabama prohibition law provide that those who purvey ice, ginger ale, and glasses for drinking liquor are guilty of law violations and must suffer the penalties provided by law. Many servers are disappointed at the prospect of being spoilsports.

 March 28, 1946—The Hollywood Drive-in and Restaurant, the inspiration of brilliant restaurateur Edward Summers, is currently attracting patrons from throughout this area. Mr. Summers is a returning vet from World War II who has immediately become involved in a variety of good causes in his home town, especially the American Legion. (Mr. Summers passed away on May 27, 2008, after a long lifetime of service to Hartselle.)

Aug. 3, 1950—“The Ranch” is the name decided upon for a drive-in restaurant, refreshment, and sandwich stand near completion on the Hubert Mitchell property just beyond the woods at the north edge of town on the highway.

 Jan. 8, 1953–The Adam & Eve Cafe is the new name for what was formerly Reeder’s Restaurant.

July 7, 1955—Merrill Doss has moved his law offices to the old Hollywood Restaurant building on North Sparkman Street.

Feb. 9, 1957—Hardee’s famous sausage biscuits will be available here when their new restaurant opens on Highway 31.

July 24, 1958–Hubert Mitchell is planning to build a new motel and restaurant here.

Oct. 8, 1959–Peoples Drugs is to be greatly expanded. Howard Fowler has bought the Smith Restaurant building for this purpose. This is bittersweet news for the old patrons of Smith’s who always enjoyed the great food and superb service they received there.

 July 11, 1968–The Corral Restaurant has reopened under new ownership. They have hired an efficient staff of servers who will be sure that every patron’s dining needs are met while at the new Corral.

May 31, 1998—Houston Drinkard, 68, of Hartselle cast his ballot for Republican Gov. Fob James four years ago and will do so again. “He’s the best thing we’ve had lately,” Drinkard said while the Hardee’s restaurant was refreshing his coffee cup. “I’m not really sure,” said Nathan Aldridge, 47, of Hartselle. The 25-year employee at 3M talked politics over his breakfast while being waited on by servers at Teresa’s Family Restaurant. ‘They all lie to you, no matter who you vote for…because they can’t keep up with all their promises. It’s kind of depressing, isn’t it?’ said Aldridge, a James voter in 1994.