This hobby has lost two of its pioneers this past week w/the passing of Bruce Walthers and Bobby Hall. Lets take a momemt of silence in rememberance of Bruce and Bobby.
Ch
Ms. Hall and Bruce Walthers … our hobby is so much the better because of these two pioneers.
Starting when my sister moved to Dallas in 1980, I visited Hall’s countless times over the years. IMHO, hers is what a hobby shop should be … fun to visit, countless “stuff” and friendly workers and customers, always ready to engage in a great philosophical debate over the merits of what railroad was better than the other, etc.
On one of my last visits in 1998, Ms. Hall was holding forth, asking me ‘what can I do for you young man?’. I spied a boxcar that was done for Hall’s 50th anniversary (can’t remember if it was Roundhouse or Accurail). Along with the armload of books, magazines and decals that I picked up on that visit, I knew I had to have the car.
She rang up my purchase … I was extremely nervous, but I asked her if she would mind autographing the car. With a huge smile, she consented. On my layout, I have brass locomotives and cars, but that simple car with the autograph of Ms. Hall is my most treasured.
Highball Ms. Hall and Mr. Walthers.
With deep respect,
Burlington John
I remember Mrs. Hall very well. She will be missed. No matter if I spent 50 cents for a few pieces of strip wood once in a while she treated me like I was in there buying brass every day. When I got to Dallas in 1980 I found Hall’s before I found a job or a place to live and picked up a few things. Got to have your priorities straight! I sure miss that place and Mrs. Hall. Bruce
Both of them did a lot for our hobby over the years.
I never met Bruce but he made so much of the Model Train world available to all of us in the Catalog. Without his presence and leadership in the industry, we would not be the same today and the industry would be much different. The first time I looked at the Catalog, I found many things I needed that were unknown to me at that time.
I did talk to Bobby Hall several times both at her shop in Dallas and at a train show also. I had the pleasure of visiting the Dallas store just a short time before it closed and she was there talking to anyyone that was interested in trains. She was about ninety at that time when the store was closed if I remember correctly.
I have a few Hallmark models and enjoy looking at the ICRR 2500 Mountain on my desk.
Both Bobby and Bruce will be missed by all of us.
My thoughts are for both families at this time.
Thanks
I’ve only been to Dallas once, but that one time I made sure to go to Bobbye’s place. It was in the late 90s and the shop’s neighborhood had seen much better days, but I couldn’t help feeling like I was somewhere special…even though the place was, ultimately, just a store. I spent a while wandering around the place, and it had that cramped-but-friendly feel. Just like a great hobby shop should.
I also get to Dallas only on rare occasions. About 10 years ago, I was there on business and took a rather expensive cab ride to the store. When I walked in, everybody was chuckling and saying that they’d seen a lot of things in their life, but NEVER someone taking a taxi to Bobbye Hall’s. I didn’t think it was so weird, but I guess, when you’re addicted to train stuff, “you do what ya gotta do”. Great store, very friendly, and totally worth the cab fare. It’s a shame about the loss.