Published: August 09, 2008 07:18 pm            

STEPHANIE SALTER: Cecil Tilford: 40 straight years and never voted off the island

TERRE HAUTE — Good times and bum times;

I’ve seen them all,

And, my dear,

I’m still here.

— Stephen Sondheim,

“Follies”



Forget all those people who travel to remote islands to compete on television in lizard-eating and fire-building contests.

You want to see a real survivor? Go to 1279 Lafayette Ave., in 12 Points, and take a gander at the man behind the counter. That will be Cecil Tilford.

Mr. Tilford (my preferred name for him) may look like Every Grandpa, but he is one tough hombre.

Despite living more than half his life in acute pain from a 1954 hip injury, despite losing the girl of his dreams after more than a half-century of marriage, despite his variety store business being wiped out by a fire and its reincarnation nearly wiped out by big chains and reverse gentrification — Mr. Tilford stands.

His friends and customers — they are legion — think of him as an institution, the heart of the neighborhood, the Mayor of 12 Points. Next Saturday, Aug. 16, they plan to say all this and more in a six-hour celebration in front of his variety store and U.S. post office sub-station.

The occasion is the 40th anniversary of Mr. Tilford setting up shop in the northside commercial neighborhood that refuses to die. Not unlike Mr. Tilford, 12 Points has been counted down and out over the years by all sorts of people, from politicians to preachers to planning consultants.

Still, 12 Points stands.

A newly infused merchants’ and consumers’ group — The 12 Points Greater Northside Association — meets monthly in one of the thriving, neighborhood-serving businesses, Medusa’s hair and nail salon. About a dozen stalwarts, including Mr. Tilford and his commercial next-door-neighbor, Rich Curtis, plot and plan an ongoing renaissance of the Lafayette Avenue corridor and its surrounding streets.

The projects range from the major — making certain the triangular Champions Park becomes a reality at 13th Street and Maple and Lafayette avenues — to the mundane but necessary — painting safety crosswalks for pedestrians now instead of waiting indefinitely for back-logged city services to get to the job.

Next Saturday’s festivities are to serve two purposes:

The primary goal is to give Mr. Tilford a daylong love bath. He is 83 and deserves nothing less. The secondary aim is to show people in Terre Haute just how attractive a lively and populated 12 Points looks and feels — and to maybe make them dream.

Unlike so many urban and county problems facing us, it won’t take the Iraq War budget to keep 12 Points improving. The area may never return to the bustling glory of 1968, when Doris and Cecil Tilford opened their variety store amid dozens of shops, eateries, entertainment emporiums and businesses. But with modest amounts in grants, donations and investment incentives, we association members know we can expand the many existing bright spots into a thriving commercial village that will support — and be supported by — residents all over the northside.

Given Mr. Tilford’s stature as a city icon, even folks from the south, east and west side of the area owe it to themselves to take a half-hour to come on by and pay their respects to a living legend. Parents hoping to show their children a real-life example of The Great American Work Ethic and Independent Spirit, especially, should make the trip.

Once inside the store, take a look around and comprehend the meaning of the term “variety.” Aprons, yarn, artificial flowers, toasters, wind chimes, greeting cards, children’s games. American flags, candy, underwear, potholder looms, alarm clocks, cologne. You can’t believe what you can buy in Tilford’s with $5, let alone $10.

Besides, there will be ice cream.

With Rich Curtis in the lead, the 12 Points Greater Northside Association has begged, borrowed and paid for the fixin’s for an old-fashioned ice cream social to last from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. At last tally, flavors included vanilla, chocolate, cookie dough and butter pecan.

The price won’t be free — our association is the teeniest little 501(c)(3) you ever did see — but it will be in keeping with Mr. Tilford’s long-held philosophy of fair prices and generous service.

Somewhere in the day, someone likely will call us all to attention, read some sincere words about the civic treasure that is Cecil Tilford, and we’ll do some hip-hip-hoorays for the Mayor of 12 Points.

Everyone will applaud and Mr. Tilford will smile and wave, but he’ll really want to get back inside his store and post office and resume business operations.

Especially since Doris passed in 1999, work is what keeps Mr. Tilford rolling out of bed each day. Summer, winter, spring or fall, six days a week, he lets himself into his narrow store, starts a pot of coffee and turns on the radio to classical musical.

Customers and pals come in to buy, to talk, to sip some joe, to send a package off to Maine or Idaho. Not one among us can imagine the neighborhood without Mr. Tilford’s store or without Mr. Tilford in the store.

Next Saturday, we all get a chance to gather and gush. The uncontested survivor of 12 Points, U.S.A. will be celebrating his 40th anniversary. Attention must be paid.

Cecil Tilford stands.

Stephanie Salter can be reached at (812) 231-4229 or stephanie.salter@tribstar.com.

        

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