The Jelly Belly Station

Growing up in South Pas for my family meant visiting the Jelly Belly Station on Saturdays. I have fond memories of walking the few blocks from my house with my siblings. We would race up there, buy our candy...which back then was only 25 cents per ounce. Mr. and Mrs. Richardson would always be there. And, during the winter months, we could get free warm apple cider. Their store was full of fun things to look at, and every once in a while we would buy something else besides candy. For me it was always gummy colas, swizzle sticks, dreamy mints, or sour gummy watermelon. When my cousins would come to visit we would have to stop by with them. On the way home, we would always stop at the horse watering trough to eat our candy. Our candy rarely made it back to our house, except for the Swedish fish (request from mom) or black licorice (request from dad) Since my parents moved back to South Pas, we get to take our children now to share in a piece of our childhood. And, yes, Mrs. Richardson still works there and remembers us from when we were kids, and yes, we stopped to eat our candy at the horse watering trough, and yes, hardly any of the candy made it back to the house, except for the Swedish fish and black licorice.

Now, the gold line stops where we used to walk along the railroad tracks when we were feeling daring. Mom did not approve of that.