CLAY CITY, IND. —
The people of Clay City, a town self-identified as the “Mayberry of the Midwest,” were saddened Tuesday as word spread of the death in North Carolina of Andy Griffith, the father-figure, sheriff and star of the classic television series, “The Andy Griffith Show.”
Griffith created the fictional town of Mayberry as a place where the telephone operator is on a first-name basis with everyone, where the town drunk is a lovable character who locks himself in jail at night, where the sheriff doesn’t carry a gun and where the deputy sheriff is limited to a single bullet.
In late 1999, civic-minded residents of Clay City, a small Clay County town, voted to make “Mayberry of the Midwest” the town’s slogan. The next year, Clay City USA, an organization promoting tourism and business, had the slogan trademarked. Donations paid for signs at the city’s main entrances welcoming visitors to the “Mayberry of the Midwest.”
Some people, at the time, objected, but it was hard to find anyone Tuesday who didn’t embrace the association.
“I’ve lived here all my life,” said Jeff Fritz, owner of the Mayberry Malt & Coffee Shoppe, about a block from Main Street. The shop features dozens of pictures from the “Andy Griffith Show” and offers the “Mayberry Loyalty Punch Card” for repeat customers.
“Things don’t change a lot in Clay City,” Fritz said.
Last summer, the bluegrass musicians known as The Dillards, who played the backwoods Darling family on the “Andy Griffith Show,” made a stop at the Mayberry Malt Shoppe, Fritz recalled. They played bluegrass music and answered questions about the classic TV program, which aired from 1960 to 1968. Fritz asked one of the Dillards whether it was as fun to be a part of the TV program as it appeared.
“It was more fun than that,” was the answer, Fritz said.
Clay City’s connection to Griffith’s “Mayberry” seems genuine. Most people interviewed Tuesday said the town of fewer than 900 lives up to its adopted slogan.
“Most everybody’s friendly,” said Lynne Brough, a Clay City native, who was eating Tuesday afternoon at the Clay City A&W Root Beer restaurant with her husband and fellow native, Fred.
“Nobody knows a stranger. Everybody knows everybody in town,” Lynne said.
“If I didn’t like it, I’d have moved a long time ago,” Fred added before sipping his tall A&W Root Beer.
In addition to the relatively new malt and coffee shop on the other side of town, several Clay City businesses capitalize on the Mayberry connection. Bob and Angie’s Hometown Restaurant on Main Street features Mayberry fries and the local IGA grocery store sells the Mayberry salad, to name only a few.
“Everyone just goes with it,” said Maggie Dryer, chef and restaurant manager at the 1950s-style Glory Days Restaurant and Pub, also on Main Street. “We’re a very small town. Everybody’s kind of close knit. Everybody’s there to help one another out.”
Reporter Arthur Foulkes can be reached at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
So long, sheriff
In ‘Mayberry of the Midwest,’ Griffith’s spirit alive and well
- Local & Bistate
-
-
Storm causes scattered Indiana power outages
INDIANAPOLIS — A line of thunderstorms that moved across Indiana caused scattered building damage and power outages for several thousand homes and businesses.
-
Kindergartner diagnosed with MD treated to a day with the fire department
“He’ll just never forget this day,” Stacey Manley said, a little bit tearfully, as she watched her smiling 6-year-old son Carter sitting happily in the captain’s seat of Fire Engine 2.
-
Casey, Illinois aims for another world record
The town of Casey, Ill., may soon weave its way into the record books as the small town with the most world records. After setting records for the world’s largest wind chimes and the world’s largest golf tee, Casey is now looking to become home to the world’s largest knitting needles and crochet hook.
-
Rose-Hulman projects will promote growth, learning for people with physical challenges
Life changed dramatically for college engineering student Drew Christy on Feb. 22, 2008 when he was involved in an auto accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury.
-
‘500’ gas stations being sold to Speedway LLC
After several decades in business, the area’s familiar “500” gasoline stations and convenience stores will soon be missing from the roadsides of Vigo and Sullivan counties.
-
Terre Haute woman faces 14 charges
A Terre Haute woman faces 14 criminal counts after her arrest Friday on drug-related charges.
-
Two adults injured in ATV accident
Two adults were injured Sunday evening while riding an all-terrain vehicle near Lexington Farms Subdivision off Moyer Drive in southern Vigo County.
-
Vigo schools’ medical claims down 4 percent
The Vigo County School Corp.’s medical claims were about $13 million over the last 12 months, down 4 percent from the prior year, said Diane Titchenell, an Anthem account manager that works with the school district.
-
2013 Government Directory now available
The 2013 Government Directory is now available.
-
UPDATE: 5 killed, 6 injured in I-70 van crash in Illinois
ST. LOUIS — A van carrying church members returning from a California gathering careened off of a southern Illinois freeway and overturned several times today, killing five people and sending six others to hospitals, authorities said.
-
2 children reported dead from Indianapolis fire
INDIANAPOLIS — Authorities say some autistic children lived in the Indianapolis condominium unit where a fire has killed two children.
-
Tighter Indiana drunken driving law seems unlikely
INDIANAPOLIS — Some key Indiana legislators say it’s unlikely that the state will any time soon go along with a federal safety board’s recommendation that the threshold for drunken driving be cut nearly in half.
-
Vigo County Jail Log: May 20, 2013
The following individuals were booked into the Vigo County Jail by area law enforcement on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, based on jail records.
-
Life-Size Ping Pong: Valley pickleball tourney draws large crowd to Brittlebank Park
It’s been described as “ping pong on steroids.”
Some people call it “life-size ping pong where you stand on the table.” -
Boat trip aims to raise awareness about Lewy Body Dementia
In 2013, the Year of the River, it makes sense to link a grand adventure on the Wabash River with a good cause.
-
Legislature had little taste for alcohol bills
When it comes to alcohol, the 2013 legislative session may be marked more by what it didn’t do to boost booze sales than what it did.
-
STATE OF THE STATEHOUSE: Is it regulation that doesn’t make sense or evening the playing field?
I’m not much of a drinker, so I haven’t spent much time thinking about how Indiana’s alcohol laws personally impact me, but that changed last fall when my daughter got married.
-
RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS: April 29-May 3
The Vigo County Health Department inspected the following food establishments April 29-May 3:
-
For Piper: Annual ‘Rush the Punter’ event dedicated to Dixie Bee student who died Wednesday after a short illness
Steve Weatherford’s “Rush the Punter” fundraiser at Fairbanks Park on Saturday was dedicated to a little girl who lost her life unexpectedly to pneumonia.
-
Vigo schools prepare to tighten belts
State funding for the Vigo County School Corp. will remain “pretty flat” for the next two years, said Donna Wilson, chief financial officer.
-
Veterans take to the trees
Cristal Bednar took photos of her husband, Justin, as he laboriously climbed his way up a “Dangle-Duo” to get to a zipline at Indiana State University’s Sycamore Outdoor Center.
-
Property owner seeks halt to Hulman Lake dam project
A Terre Haute property owner is seeking an injunction that would at least temporarily halt the city’s work on the Hulman Lake dam project.
-
Tornado veterans balance preparedness, practicality
Few things in nature are less predictable than a tornado. They can form quickly. They strike weirdly, leveling one building while leaving its neighbor untouched. They can fling a car a half-mile and turn a piece of lumber into a wall-piercing missile.
-
ISU unveils interactive Bayh Family Legacy Wall at school
A who’s who of Indiana Democrats paid tribute to Evan Bayh and several generations of the Bayh family Friday during a dedication of a new interactive display at Indiana State University.
-
Can you smell me now?
A contraband cell phone has been discovered by the Vigo County Jail’s youngest and most unique officer.
-
GIVING BACK: Steve Weatherford buys shoes for kids day before charity run
Terre Haute’s Steve Weatherford, punter for the 2012 Super Bowl champion New York Giants, showed once again his generosity Friday by donating new athletic shoes to more than two dozen Vigo County kids.
-
N.Y. Giants honor Weatherford as ‘Man of the Year’
Dan Tanoos, superintendent of Vigo County schools, remembers the first time he saw Steve Weatherford as a freshman at Terre Haute North Vigo High School.
-
Sunday recital at The Woods
A recital featuring songs from well-known composers is at 7 p.m. Sunday in the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.
-
Police investigating rash of car window shootings
Terre Haute Police are investigating a rash of shootings that have shattered car windows throughout the city.
-
City hospitals get passing grades for patient safety
Two Terre Haute hospitals have been ranked for patient safety by an independent organization that assesses safety, quality and affordability of healthcare for Americans.
- More Local & Bistate Headlines
-
Storm causes scattered Indiana power outages




