Dunk's Pool Hall and Dunk Burgers

FAVORITE "DUNK" MEMORIES

Submitted by B. Warner:
I'll get those "Dunk" memories going here with my own. I remember when I was a young girl growing up in the Lead Belt (daughter of a lead miner, of course!) that we'd usually have "Dunk" burgers and chili for supper on payday which was Friday nights. I usually had to wait out in the car with my little sister while my dad disappeared into Dunk's place where the windows were all steamed up from the grease and cigarette smoke. I remember there was always a lot of noise going on inside - hootin' and hollerin' and the like and some really "interesting" looking characters coming and going. Eventually my dad would reappear with the "prize" - a bread wrapper bag full of "Dunk" burgers and a container of chili which was sometimes in a coffee can. When my little sister wasn't along, my dad would sometimes take me inside with him and sit me up on the counter. I remember watching with fascination as Dunk threw balls of raw hamburger on the grill, squashed them all one after the other with his spatula, and flipped them as only a "pro" could do. It was quite a show. My dad used to say that the burgers were so good because Dunk never cleaned his grill and also because he spit his chewing tobacco on the grill. Personally, I think he was just wanting to discourage me from eating them so there would be more for him to eat - ha! However, his ploy failed because I ate them up anyway. When I was a teenager, Sunday afternoons was a popular time to go cruising around with your girlfriends and boyfriends. I remember often stopping at Dunk's place to get a bag of burgers and then going to A & W to get a mug of root beer to wash them down with. Yes...every hamburger I eat for the rest of my life will always be compared to those wonderful "Dunk" burgers!

Submitted by Charles McNew:
"I went to school across the way at the Central, North County school, (try to figure that one out kids) in the late 60's early 70's. Everyday at lunchtime when the bell would ring, there would be a massive amount of children running from the school to one of two places, either Lucys' cafe or Dunks' to eat burgers. Whoever could make it there first took superiority over the rest of the classmates who had to wait for that mouthwatering flavor that came as a result of that first bite. That was part of the wonder of Dunks, trying to get there first. When I walked in the door, I sat at a bar just like I'd think it was in the local saloons, which even gave the taste a little jump. As a boy of eight years, I thought I was royalty as I'd talk with Dunk on that barstool, hearing of what the town was like in the past. Then there was a man named Tooter who would come in every now and then, dressed like a sherriff or cowboy. He was surely not a real cop, but at times I'd wonder. He'd wonder around the streets of Desloge and try to arrest people and stuff. What was once excitement at seeing Tutor, turned into sadness as I realized he was being mistreated by some of the local folk in the town because of his huge eccentricism. I often wonder what happened to Tutor. As I go about my daily life, with memories of days gone by, I appreciate the roots that allowed me to be who I am. Dunks will live with me forever, along with that little old man I met there.

Submitted by Ruth Carver :
"Dunk's has always held a special spot in my heart, not only was it one of my Dad's favorite hang outs, it became a landmark for the entire Lead Belt. Dad was only 17 or 18 when this picture was taken, long before we kids were even a twinkle in his eye, so you can see he was hanging around Dunk's forever. I remember dropping in with Dad to get burgers as a child and I would stare in awe at everything, wondering what it would be like to play pool, just knowing that I would probably never know since that was a man's game, but boy did those beliefs change. Watching Dunk make those burgers was really neat but didn't compare to eating them, they were the best! I always believed the big Corporation should have been "Dunk's Place" instead of White Castle. I, like everyone else, would love to go back to Dunk's and have a .10 burger just one more time. When we were teenagers, it seems the girls did not go into Dunk's at lunch time during school. It was the boys hang out and in those days, you just didn't do pool halls, at least most of us didn't. I don't actually think we were told not to go in, but you sure didn't want your Mom to find out you were in there. Sometimes we would have one of the fellas bring us out a couple of burgers and sit on the sidewalk or eat while we would mosey back to school . Most of the time, we girls went to Lucy B's, another famous cafe in Desloge in those days. Her burgers were equally as good, but I believe that the slaw relish is what made them really great. I would sure love to get my hands on that recipe and would love to have a picture of Lucy behind her grill. The picture of my Dad sitting at Dunk's counter is one of my favorite pictures, so I wanted to share it with everyone. The memories that I have of this place will always be a treasure to me."

Submitted by Rollin Becker:
"As we grow and travel on the "Path of Life" we have many experiences, some good and some bad. But knowing "Dunk" Ira was a blessing and a person of the highest character. He didn't have the fanciest place in town but the wisdom was there. All the boys in my group knew exactly where "Dunks" was. We didn't have much money but for 25 cents we could get two hamburgers and a bottle of soda. I can still taste the hamburgers and they were delicious. McDonalds didn't have a thing on him. If you were a little short on money, you could still get fed. He never to my knowledge ever marked it down, I know because he did this for me. We always made sure to pay him when we owed him. He didn't allow rough things in his place of business and if we needed to know things as young boys he set us straight. We meet several people along the way but "Dunk" will always be in my heart because he taught me wisdom on how to pass this way in life. May God rest his soul. Still thinking of you and what you taught me."

Submitted by George Qualls:
Re: "Dunk" Was a Wise Man. I remember Dunk from early childhood, my Dad took me there for my first burger. As I grew to high school age Dunk taught me to play pool and reminded me it was a game of skill. I did well, I played with his son Leo. Dunk taught me to be a Free Mason he was a fountain of knowledge. I have many fond memories of growing up with Dunk in my life for I admired and loved him because he was my "uncle".

Submitted by Richard L. Tiefenauer:
Re: Holy Cow! I remember going to Dunk's as a boy. We'd sometimes stop by and pick up a bag of burgers. Many times, I'd run across the way from Central School (North County Grade School) at lunch.

My favorite memory is one day at lunch from school, a friend of mine got two Dunk Burgers, he opened the bun to lather them with mustard and all that was visible was the pickle slice. He yelled across the bar, "Hey Dunk you forgot my burger!" Without missing a beat, Dunk glanced up and said, "Look under the pickle". Sure enough, there was the burger!

Dunk always told me that if he ever had to charge more than a dime for his burgers, he'd close up shop. When that happened, a little piece of the Lead Belt History went with it.

Just for memory sake; Honbecks Ham Sandwiches, Monks Gas Station, Lucy B. Cafe, Pirtles Feed Store, Miners Lumber, Ransoms Grocery, Matthews Grocery, and does anyone remember GUMBO?

Submitted by Janet Ward Falke:
I was delighted to receive via e-mail the Dunk's Burgers and Pool Hall website from my parents, Alice (Durbin) Ward and H. Dain Ward. My grandfather, Thomas E. Ward, used to frequent Dunk's as well along with my mother's cousins. As a youngster, I recall accompanying my father and watching Dunk flip burgers with that giant metal spatula (at least it seemed giant to a grade school child). Dunk was behind the counter, scraping grease and patting tiny blobs of hamburger and whistling with a vibrato amidst a fog of grease and smoke. Being all of seven years of age, I was so impressed with Dunk and his whistling and yarns he used to tell. With the amount of grease and saturated fat contained in those delectable burgers, it is miraculous that any of us are still around to tell about eating them! Despite high cholesterol counts, I still yearn for Dunk's burgers and marvel how he sold ten bite-sized burgers wrapped individually in white paper that immediately absorbed the grease, and stuck them inside a plastic bread sack. One had to purchase a full bag of ten just to get the full effect of Dunk's dainty burgers. If I got to carry the prized sack of burgers, that was even an added treat!

My grandfather, Tom Ward, delighted in eating at Dunk's and his favorite was Dunk's Crossroads Burger with a fried egg cooked on top. Dunk would crack the egg right onto the little burger and fry it on top of the burger--it was a sight to behold! Never once did Dunk ever break the yolk of the egg and he was able to whistle a lively tune, tell a story and joke and still keep up with the guys playing pool or filling other customers' orders.

Dunk always issued sage advice and his burgers were seasoned with such great wisdom. Thanks for the memories, Dunk!
Respectfully submitted,
Jana Ward Falke

Submitted by Wayne Odgers:
Upon reading some of the stories concerning "Dunk's", I thought I would put my two cents worth in about this giant "legend". Back in the 40's when I was in grade school, I was one of the many who would run across the playground, pass Charlie Edwards Garage, and across the railroad tracks to Dunks, knowing he had no more than 12 stools to sit on, you had to get there in a hurry, although there were benches along the walls. It was rather dark inside, but there was a light above the pool table. It was a boys hangout, although once in a blue moon a girl (or two) would get up enough nerve to go in. This was 7th and 8th grade classes I'm talking about.

In High School, we (boys) were still running to Dunk's. The girls wouldn't go in because it wasn't lady like, but if we (boys) bought them and took them outside, they were more than happy to eat Dunk's burgers with us. It may have been a pool hall, but he would not allow any horseplay or cursing.

I always bought 2 burgers, a bowl of chili, and a Pepsi, for a total of 35 cents. Although it was a pool hall, he was known all over the county for his burgers, AND, oh what burgers they were. Week days or Saturdays, business was good. If customers weren't playing pool, they were eating. Eating what, you say? What else but burgers and chili, unless you wanted a hot dog. Chips, pretzels and ice cream finished off his menu. Now, Sunday was a really big day for Dunk, from noon (after church) until late in the evening, flipping burgers and/or dipping chili. Whether the order was for one or two dozen, he was humming. Believe me, there were families ordering as many as two dozen, and it seemed he could always keep track of who was coming and going. He would say, while pointing a finger at you "how many son?", (it was always son), unless it was a grownup, then he'd just say "next". It didn't matter what your profession was, everyone went to Dunk's.

I was working for Elmer Foster's Tomboy Store in 1950. Everyday Dunk would come in and get his "hamburger" for the day. It had to be half and half (that's half lean and half fat). Onions, pickles, mustard and catsup were a couple times a week. When he left the store, he would go to Blanton's Wonder Bread garage to buy his day-old buns. When he flipped the burgers, he always put the buns on the grill to soften them up (you didn't know that, did you?). Oh, what tasty things they were.

When I came back from service, 1954, Elmer wanted me back in his store, and working with him again. Dunk was still in business, and still coming in for his "half and half". He once told me "Wayne, if I ever have to raise my prices, my door will close". Sickness and prices later on did close his door. We lost a landmark and a friend, someone who enjoyed life and his work, someone who flipped thousands and thousands of burgers. Someone who didn't want to raise his prices. I certainly had my share of Dunk's 10 cent burgers. They may have been paper thin, but they would melt in your mouth. Not only did he serve Desloge, the surrounding towns knew of this place called "Dunk's". What memories - memories that I will NEVER forget.

As Bob Hope would say, "THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES, DUNK !"

Submitted by Patsy Yarbrough Pratte:
Some of my earliest memories of "Dunks, as it was known to we girls, was because my father Jim Yarbrough and my uncle, Ray Mahurin, always met there. Sometimes after work or Saturday mornings.

In those days (40's) we girls knew that it was a "guy place" and I never ventured in nor did I want to but when it came to burgers, we all knew they were the best and cheapest in the county. On occasion, especially when we had company, dad would run down to dunks and get a bag of burgers, all fried to perfection and stuffed into a bun wrapper bag. What a treat. All the guys we were interested in at High School ate there and the chance of seeing any of them at lunch time was rare, we ate at Nadine's or the grade school cafeteria which let High School students buy a lunch. Dunk's was a favorite gathering place of Lead Miners (my father was one) and teenage boys. Dunk had pool tables and there was always someone to play a game with. Dunk had rules and everybody knew them and the consequences for not obeying-- oh, what a shame to be thrown of of Dunks. He gained the respect of several generations of young people as well as his contemporaries. My husband, Harold Pratte, has told me many stories of his experiences at Dunks. He had and still has the highest admiration for Dunk Ira. He, in his life example and the opportunity, helped guide many young men in the right way without them even knowing it. Yes, it was hard to see into Dunks, the windows were always steamed up, we tried it. Didn't want to go in, just wanted to see in.

Submitted by Sharon Fox:

When I was a kid, Saturday night was our night to go to town and get a bag of Dunk burgers and take them home. What a treat that always was, and no other hamburger ever compared. Sometimes my father would let me go in with him and I remember being a little scared and awed at being in there because it was an all-guy hangout.

Submitted Jan. 24, 2004, by Wayne Odgers:
Earlier this month I gave my memories of Dunk, and I'm surprised so few have responded. I forgot to give thanks to a couple of people, to Ruth Carver for starting the web page. Without her we wouldn't be reminiscing about our friend. Also, thanks to Alice Durbin Ward, my life long friend and classmate for bringing my attention to this page. Then, to all of those who have taken time to write something about this giant of a man.

We all have memories of him. Right now, Dunk is probably saying "why are they wanting to remember me? I only sold burgers in this small town". True, but he was also a man we looked up to.

I remember things this way! He'd let the boys play pool as long as they played and acted like "gentlemen" If they didn't, they would lose a few days of being able to play. When the grown-ups started coming in, we were put on the back burner. I remember Dad taking me there once or twice a week, buying me a couple of burgers, a soda, and sitting me on the bench so I could watch him and his mining buddies shoot a few rounds of pool.

The lighting was somewhat dim, tobacco smoke filled the air, burgers sizzling, grease poping, and all the time Dunk was humming. He smoked cigars, and perhaps a cigarette once in a while (I could count the times on my hand). I never saw him chew tobacco - he was definitely a cigar man. In later years he had to give them up, and from then on, it was chewing gum.

I remember sitting and talking to him while he cleaned the grill (yes, he did clean it). He used a heavy stainless steel spatula to rake the burned particles and grease into an Old Judge coffee can. He then wiped the grill dry with a cloth. This was done throughout the day.

I remember him getting the hamburger ready. He would make little balls smaller than a golf ball, and put them in two oblong pans, each holding maybe 50 or so. Seems he was always making those little meatballs that turned out to be a "Dunk" burger. Regardless of how many you ordered, he was always ready, always humming.

He'd place the little meatballs on the grill and with his heavy spatula, would flatten them paper thin. I also remember that when he'd put the finished product before you, they were tasty, delicious, just downright good. I'm sure I would still be eating his burgers if he were still with us to make his county famous "Dunk burger".

I could go on and on with my "I remember", but feel I'm taking too much space. I only hope others will sit down and share their memories of this man called "Dunk".

McDonalds, Hardy's and White Castle are with us today, but can we, or will we, ever forget DUNK?

Submitted March 3, 2004 by Roy E. White:
When I was a young lad at 7 years old my dad would take me to the pool hall and buy me licorice in the shap of a pipe and a soft drink and watch them play pool. my dad's name was Roy B White. At that time it was called Stokes Gardner pool hall. When I was 17 I worked at Desloge bakery. I would go at the pool hall to eat lunch, the best hamburgers in town. I now live in Kentucky and was scanning on my computer and saw this about Dunk's pool hall and memories really came back. [Note: Roy would like to hear from any old friends.]

Submitted June 19, 2012, by Rita Keen:
My first burger....never forget it...I was dating Butch Keen (later on I married him) we was just riding around seeing friends one Saturday he said do you want a Dunks burger, I said what's a dunks, so we went over to Desloge, he pulled up to this little store he told me to sit in the car he would be right back, he came out with a bread sack, with the burgers, he said you will love them.... they was great, went back many times....that's when I ate my first burger at Dunk's Rita (Pettus) Keen

This page was updated: Friday, 23-Feb-2024 12:38:33 MSTThis site may be freely linked, but not duplicated in any way without consent.All rights reserved! Commercial use of material within this site is prohibited!© 2000 - 2024 MOGenWeb

This page was updated: Friday, 23-Feb-2024 12:38:33 MST
This site may be freely linked, but not duplicated in any way without consent.
All rights reserved! Commercial use of material within this site is prohibited!
© 2000 - 2024 MOGenWeb