Growing up in Headland in the '70s and early '80s, Edd's Place on the town square was the place to grab a bite. I remember those cheeseburger plates to go, sealed in a brown paper bag. And it seems like there was a toothpick running straight through the burger, holding it together. I ate some hot dogs, too, but I definitely was more into the cheeseburgers. And I thought the fries were quite good. Sometimes Mother would call in an order and I'd run in to get it. When I entered Edd's, I recall seeing Tom Posey shucking oysters and fixing those hot dogs behind the counter. At church, when I'd see Edd, Tom's father, in my child's mind he was a celebrity of sorts. Probably most intriguing to me were the around town proclaiming the hot dogs to be the best in the world. At that age, I saw no reason to dispute it. They were indeed delicious. Wish I could try one now.
1983
During my travels I have been known to drop off a Headland National Bank cap or two w/ folks I meet or perhaps just trade one for some item of interest. Probably a few bank pens are in far flung places as well.
Bonnie Willis on right (circa 1940s)
Nov 1946
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March 1947
Sept 1949
1957
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1973 (1 of 2)
1973 (2 of 2)
mid-'70s
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circa 1977
circa 1978
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1983
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My dad, Robert L. Hennessee (left), was a recruiter for the Army when he came back from Germany in WWII. He was stationed in Montgomery and a huge fan of the perfect burger and local restaurants. (I don't think I ever ate at a chain restaurant with him - cafeterias -K&W, Piccadilly, etc. excluded) So... I am thinking he ate at Edd's whenever he was in Headland recruiting. My dad was very charismatic and would have thought it a huge claim to fame to be able to say he knew "Edd" personally. This picture was most likely taken in the late 40's.? - Barbara Hennessee UPDATE: Apparently there's a question that this is even a photo of Edd Posey and Edd's place.  |
14 comments:
My Daddy worked there for about 30 years on Sat. nights shucking oysters (during oyster season). He loved it cause he got to talk to everyone in town and hear all the latest gossip. He would work until about 7:30 or 8 on Saturdays. I loved Ed's hot dogs. I have pretty near replicated the chili recipe, although not quite. I don't recall ever getting a cheeseburger from Ed's, although I do remember that they used to be called "ground beef sandwiches" instead of hamburgers/cheeseburgers. - Brenda Stroup
His son's were friends of mine growing up. I've lost touch with them but would love to find the chili recipe
I would love to try your recipe. Will you share?
This morning I was at home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and decided to make hot dogs for lunch on Memorial Day. Lacking a good chili recipe, I did a Google search for the hot dogs of my childhood – the best I’ve ever tasted: Ed’s Place in Headland, Alabama. That took me to your blog, tomfoolery, and a post you made several years ago about your experience growing up eating hot dogs at Ed’s in Headland, and I was stunned to find that much detail about a place that I wasn’t sure very many people outside of South Alabama would even remember.
I grew up in the 70s and 80s in Huntsville, but my father grew up in Headland, and we went back every Thanksgiving and Christmas to visit my grandmother, who would drive down from Auburn where she lived, and stay with my aunt and uncle who lived on Ross Lane — just down from the turn we would make off of Main St in front of the stately Espy home every time we went to visit. Oysters and hot dogs from Ed’s in the carport at 203 Ross Ln. was our cherished Thanksgiving eve tradition. So while I couldn’t find Ed’s chili recipe, it was a real pleasure reading that blog entry, and many others that sparked lots of Headland memories.
My great aunt, on my father’s side, was Bunch Lindsay Scott, the mother of Major Sr.’s first wife, Mary Jordan. So I suppose because we had a family connection to Watty, and the fact that Headland is a pretty small place, I grew up hearing about the Espy family quite a bit, as well as many other family names that would be familiar to both of us, especially from my grandmother, who was married to Bunch’s brother, Seva Lindsay.
Shirley Lindsay Whiddon (my Dad’s sister who still lives at Ross Lane), and her husband Benny invited me to join a group that toured Europe in 2000 and I got to know their friends Marilyn and Don who went on that trip as well.
What a coincidence that two strong connections to Headland now live in NC! Asheville’s such a great place and I Have a list of favorite spots I’m dying to return to as soon as travel and being out and about seem like a better idea.
Hope you’re well and thank you for an enjoyable scroll down memory lane.
Jeff Lindsay
Winston-Salem
I am wondering if Jeff Lindsay ever found the recipe for Ed's hot dog chili. I too grew up on Ed's hot dogs, and have been searching for that recipe for years. There was simply nothing like it. If you've found it, please share!
Brian B.
I grew up in Headland, and in the seventies spent many a day there for the hot dogs and cheeseburgers. To this day every time I eat a hotdog, Edd’s place is my first thought. Would love to have the hot dog chili recipe.
Danny Blankenship
Mr. Ed Posey’s son died in the late 80’s or early 90’s. Without an heir, Ed gave the recipe to everyone in town after he retired. A few new businesses sprung up and make chili dogs just like his. Always a treat!
My grandfather owned the dry cleaners
As a kid I remember the hot dogs.....
The meat was boiled... To this day
Can't forget the taste been over 35 years
I grew up in Headland also. In the same graduating class as Danny who commented above and I believe that Brenda has a brother named Chuck who I was good friends with as well. Like most kids in Headland, I spent a lot of time at Ed's. It was more than a restaurant. It was a gathering place for all ages.
We moved to Headland when I was 4 years old from Ft. Gaines. I remember my Mom and Dad's friends from over there making the drive to Headland just for the hot dogs. They would eat their fill and then take back a bunch to put in the freezer.
I found this recipe while searching for the hot dog recipe myself and it's at least the same style. Truth be told, it's been so long that I'm not sure I could pick out an exact match but will have to try one of the hot dog places in Headland next time I'm there if they're using Mr. Ed's recipe. Don't let the simplicity fool you. It's seriously good.
https://www.southernplate.com/hot-dog-chili-recipe/
It's been 40 years since I've traveled down that way, but used to go out of my way to get the best Hot Dog in the world. Truly the best.
Did anyone ever find or post Edd’a hot dog chili recipe. Used to eat there a lot when I went to Wallace college in late 70’s from Dothan. Would love it if you have it! Thanks.
Mid 70s, with workaholic parents, my sister and I were day raised by Ms. Susie. A severe diabetic, she and Sylvester couldn't have kids. We were her younguns! And we loved her!
Our washing machine quit so mom carpooled to work leaving Ms. Susie her car, money for the old laundry mat across from Edd's Place and a little extra to buy hotdogs and a coke.
Now this wasn't my first trip to Edd's that day, but it was the first time I had to go to the black door. IYKYK. From that day to the fall of '85, I've seen alot of people in Edd's. Hell, one Saturday morning while listening to old men gossip with my grandpa, a whole gang of Hell's Angels came in and had breakfast! Quite the stir!
But not until two beautiful majorettes, one black and one white, came in before a home game had I ever seen a black person in the main dining area. And I lived on the square as a boy. It was a different time and Headland is a different town now. Crazy what you remember sometimes! Thankful for Ms.Susie's life lessons.
Felt so horrible for Edd when his son was killed. Such a senseless cruel murder and I remember Tom was such a nice gentle man always smiling. RIP
So i guess that it’s no longer open then? I just moved back to Dothan after being gone since 1976 and I was sure hoping it would still be there
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