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Hahn Co. Offered Finest Holiday FoodThis story stems from an interview with the late Herman H. Hahn, which was published in a December 1953 issue of the Aiken Standard Review.Many long-time residents of Aiken who now buy their Christmas turkey at the super market will recall with nostalgia the beautiful holiday displays and the personal attention they once received at Hahn Co.The store, known as “The South’s Finest Grocery,’’ served Aiken families for nearly a century until its closing in 1952. It operated where Aiken Drug is now located.A visit to Hahn’s was always a delight. Its display of choice fruits - apples, pears, pineapples, grapes, pomegranates, and even exotic fruits from South America - were a treat to the eye. And an aroma of spices, of fine teas, imported cheeses and country hams would set the nose tingling and the mouth watering.The store specialized in fancy goods from the time wealthy sportsmen began to flock to Aiken around the turn of the century. There was hardly a deliciacy, domestic or imported, which could not be found on its shelves.“We always carried a fresh supply of Russian caviar,” said Herman H. Hahn, grand-nephew of the store’s founder. “We even carried cockscombs and truffles in tins and a complete line of brandied fruits and sauces.“Many of the winter residents brought French chefs with them, and we learned their needs and kept them supplied.”Usually winter residents arranged with one store to supply their grocery needs during the season.“The winter people seldom entered the store,” Hahn explained. “we dealt largely withhousekeepers and butlers who were charged with running the large establishments.”At the beginning of each season, when the staffs arrived to open the houses, there would be a flock of Aiken tradesmen at the railroad statical - each eager to secure the season’s orders. The butcher, the baker, the grocer and the dairyman would crowd around the new arrivals.“If a particularly big contract was at stake, we might send a representative to Columbia to board the train and get in a good word on the trip down,” Hahn said.Despite the size of some of these accounts, the Hahn family never forgot that theirs was fundamentally a community store. The smallest orders were filled with care, and were as much appreciated, as those from big customers.Tenant farmers from outlying areas came in regularly for grits and field peas - and just as regularly came in on a Saturday afternoon to pay their bill.Just before Christmas the store took on special festivity. This was the time gift baskets were packed to fill the long Christmas lists of winter residents.Into these baskets went the largest, most perfect fruits. And tucked in between were foil-wrapped wedges of imported cheese, small squares of French chocolate, a tin of English biscuits, and perhaps a jar of brandied peaches. The whole was wrapped in cellophane and topped with a satin bow.One winter resident regularly ordered 25 of these baskets for his friends.Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hitchcock, who were the leaders of the winter colony, had an even longer list. In addition to remembering their friends, they sent baskets to all their farm hands, to every person inthe old folks home - and to every inmate in the Aiken County Jail.Hahn Co. bought nearly all of its food direct, rather than dealing with jobbers. Its English biscuits came from Hunter Palmer, a British firm. Its cheeses came from France, Italy, Switzerland, Norway and Sweden. Its pate de foi gras came from France.The store was famous for its hams - country hams from Tennessee and Smithfield hams from Virginia.One of the most popular items was wild rice which sold in large quantities in spite of being high in price. It was ordered from Minnesota where it was gathered by Indians from marshes.The firm was founded in 1856 by Henry and Herman Hahn, great-uncle and grandfather of Herman H. Hahn. At first it carried general merchandise - dry goods, hardware, notions and furniture - in addition to groceries. It even served as banking headquarters.During the War Between the States, the firm closed for a time while the brothers served with the Confederate Army.Because the railroad coming into Aiken was destroyed during the war, the brothers had to bring in their supplies by mule train when they reopened their business.Twice the store was demolished by fire, in 1886 and in 1920, but each time the Hahns managed to reopen within a short time.The story of Hahn Co. is one of “free enterprise” -- the kind of hard work and responsibility that made this nation great.■r *mmmDisplay of Gift Baskets at Hahn Co., Which Served Aiklt; Nearly A CenturyToastmasters Install OfficersNew officers were installed when Kalmia Toastmasters Club recently hosted the Area IV District 58 Toastmasters International Christmas Joint Meeting and Table Topics Contests.Installed as new officers by Ned Wallace, Lt. Gov. Central, were president, Dickie Baxter; Educational vice-president, Harry Shade; Administrative vice-president, Ora Belle Daniels; secretary, Lucy Knowles;At a recent meeting Dickie 1 ter, president and co-ordinat the Youth Leadership proj presented certificates of coi tion to Bertha Byrd, Ai Cullum, Elizabeth Fran] Deborah Green and Barbara fin. Also presented certify were Jimmy Jones, Moses Pad Anita Smith and Pamela SmitOther members of the I Club, helping with the Leadership program, were Smith, Estelle Muse, Hal Sir John Fowler, Virginia Erg Virginia DunklebiDawnbreaker Chib member!
Newspaper Details
Aiken County Rambler
Aiken, South Carolina, US
Thu, Dec 23, 1982
Page 35
Full Page
Clipped by
Linda J.
USA 03 Nov 2024
Other Publications Near Aiken, South Carolina
Aiken Daily Mail
Aiken County Rambler
Aiken County Register
Aiken County Journal
Aiken Standard
