Jennifer Moonsong / Glasgow News 1
If you grew up in Barren County, or any of the outlying counties that utilized Barren as a hub of commerce, with recollections of downtown Glasgow in the 60s, 70s or 80s, you likely have in your collection of fond memories, “Newberry’s”.
The downtown store that stood where the Government Center is now erected offered a little bit of everything. Dinnerware, perfume, rose shaped soaps, jewelry, handkerchiefs, tinker toys, books and a delectable selection of foods at the lunch and candy counters enthralled the senses.
In the late 80s, what local columnist Francis Bastien described as a “landmark” closed its doors after 50 years.
Aside from the store and its offerings, several familiar faces of employees who had worked there for generations, were missed. One such employee was Melba Humphrey. Melba began working at J.J. Newberry in 1946 after she graduated from Glasgow High School. In a Glasgow Daily Times article, Humphrey said she worked a 48 hour week in the early dats, for 37 cents an hour.
She remained an employee until the day it closed. Melba became locally famous for her “Mexican Hamburgers” which are the stuff of local culinary legend. Until the lunch counter closed, her recipe was a secret recipe. Her coleslaw recipe was equally applauded and coveted. The recipes were published in the Glasgow Daily Times when J.J. Newberry & Co. closed.
The establishment was one of the longest lasting, most frequented and most celebrated downtown businesses of its era.
The “Mexican Hamburger” recipe, as published in the Glasgow Daily Times:
2.5 lb. Ground beef
2 tablespoons salt
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 a small can of tomato puree
Put one gallon of warm water in a large, heavy pot. Crumble the ground beef in the water, Cook slow until it gets hot and then turn up the heat. Cook 2 1/2 – 3 hours. Put in containers, freeze.
The lunch counter at J.J. Newberry & Co. was a hopping spot. At lunchtime all thirty stools were frequently filled.
Melba Humphrey was a longtime employee who was responsible for making her famous, secret recipe Mexican Hamburgers.
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