Published: October 12, 2008 11:12 pm      

Nearly a century of memories

Restaurant entrepreneur Crisp to celebrate 99th

Ashland — Arthur Crisp remembers the first car in Ashland — it was made by the Franklin Motor Co. and was owned by Dr. Farris Allen, an optometrist.

He also remembers his own first car — an Overland Whippet, which he purchased for $20 in 1928.

As he approaches 99, Crisp has lived a lot and has a good memory of his varied experiences.

He will be 99 years old on Tuesday and he and his family and friends will celebrate Sunday with a party at the Steelworkers Hall in Paul Coffey Park.

Crisp was born in Greenup County. He married Hazel Conley in 1936 and they lived on a farm in Greenup. They had four children: Raymond, Bob, Don and Janet Crisp Perkins.

“During the Great Depression, we were able to grow enough vegetables to feed ourselves,” he said.

During the Depression, he worked for the WPA in the area. He was an iron worker for 55 years and is a charter member of Local 769. His work in construction took him all over the country; he and his wife moved 27 times.

“I worked on a powder plant and TNT plant in Indiana,” he said. “I worked on defense plants in Charleston, W.Va., and in Alabama. I was in Alabama when war was declared.”

He said he told his supervisor he wanted to quit and sign up for military service. His supervisor advised him not to, to keep out of combat.

“I told him I’d just as soon be in war as in Alabama,” he said with a laugh. He did try to join, but didn’t pass the physical.

But it was while working in Texas in 1938 that he got the idea for a business that would be his legacy.

He saw a drive-in ice cream restaurant.

“It was out in a field and I told my wife, ‘When I can, I will do something like that.’ She said, ‘Oh, no. We can’t do that.’”

But next May, Crisp Dairy Treat will mark 48 years in business.

Crisp and his sons, Raymond and Bob, built the building the business remains in today. The three were full partners, but all the Crisp children spent some time working there.

Crisp said they are known for their onion rings and hot dogs. In the sweets department, the tangerine twist is the trademark dish.

“It’s tangerine sherbet and vanilla yogurt swirled together,” Raymond Crisp explained.

All the while, Arthur Crisp worked construction jobs, many for Armco Steel, retiring in 1971.

Although he said hard work has kept him healthy and contributed to his longevity, there has been plenty of play for Crisp, too.

He said he has enjoyed squirrel and rabbit hunting and he is active in his church. He’s a charter member of Summit Nazarene Church, established in 1942.

“I’ve enjoyed life OK,” he said.

LEE WARD can be reached at lward@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2661.