“DAHLIN’S DELECTABLE DESSERTS”
 “Dahlin’s Delectable Desserts” is dedicated to the original owners of our home, the "Dah'lin's", as they were known. The Bungalow style home, located on West Jefferson Street in Pulaski, Tennessee, was built in 1930 by Mr. W. J. (Uncle Billy) Reeves, owner of Reeves Drug Store, established in 1892 and still operating on the Historic Square in Pulaski. Mr. Reeves had acquired the property from the estate of Colonel Ben Carter, Civil War Hero. The Carter Plantation was part of the 1809 property that was included in the original plan for the City of Pulaski as shown on the 1809 map.
The Reeves home is now located on what was then a large apple orchard adjacent to the Carter House (1863). Next door to the east was the Governor John C. Brown residence (1853), and across the street was Martin College (1870). All the neighborhood children used to gather on the corner of the property and play Hide and Seek, and many Martin College students were married out by the well house, still standing today on our property.
When Mr. Reeves bought the property, he built a home for his son and wife, Carl and Mary Eliza Montgomery Reeves. Carl Reeves would later on inherit the drug store. Elizabeth Montgomery Yancey, a sister to Mary Eliza, married Robert Yancey, and when Mr. Yancey and Mr. Reeves passed on, Ms. Elizabeth Montgomery Yancey moved into the home with Ms. Mary Eliza.
Ms. Mary Eliza and Ms. Elizabeth were extremely kind, proper, and polite southern ladies of society. Ms. Mary Eliza seemed to be the best known. Ms. Elizabeth was more known for scolding Ms. Mary Eliza for spending money on things that she didn't need. But they never bragged about their social position in the town to anyone they met. One would always see them in public in their fine hats and gloves. Because of their sweet southern and "many times" comical nature, the two ladies became known as the "Dah'lin's".
Many older citizens have stories to tell about the two Dah'lins", but particularly about Ms. Mary Eliza. One of Reeves Drug Store's special services back in the 50's and 60's was the "curbside delivery" of sodas, ice cream, milkshakes, Cokes and "Hope Specials", which was one scoop of ice cream and chocolate syrup. Patrons could drive up in front of the store or down the hill on East Jefferson Street, where the original Reeves was located on the north corner of East Jefferson and First Street, and toot their horns and have the waitress come to their car and take their order. This was particularily a Sunday afternoon treat; however, they did serve the public in this fashion on other days as well. The "Dah'lins" were notoriously unpopular for driving up to the curb, "sitting on their horn for what seemed like five minutes to get service." Once served, the waitress, Martha Tallent (still an employee at Reeves) would "watch to be sure to pick up the car tray when they were immediately finished, or else Ms. Mary Eliza would sit on that horn again." This service was discontinued in the late 60's when other fast food restaurants began to move into the city.
Another tale is that when some painters they had hired, named "Lewis", were painting their house, Ms. Mary Eliza would always ask them, "Dahlin, would you like a Coke since it is such extreme heat?" to which they always replied to the positive. Ms. Mary Eliza would then call Reeves Drug Store, and ask them to deliver a Coca Cola to the house. One of the delivery boys (John Marsh) would place the glass of coke on a tray, get on his bicycle and ride four blocks to the Reeves home where he would deliver the refreshment. This became a regular routine with frequent deliveries of Coca-Cola, hand-packed ice cream, medication and greeting cards being made to the Reeves sisters for their own enjoyment.
When Ms. Mary Eliza needed greeting cards, she would call Reeves, and request the employee "read" greeting cards over the phone for a particular need. After hearing the verses, she would then request that a delivery boy bring the stack of greeting cards to Ms. Mary Eliza for her to review. She would then pick through the ones she wanted to keep, write her notes on the cards, address them and send the remainder back by way of the delivery boy, in addition to those she was sending. Reeves Drug Store would then stamp the addressed cards and mail them for the "Dahlin's".
One day Ms. Mary Eliza was driving her Buick automobile downtown and ran a red light. A policeman happened to see her and pulled her over. He approached her in her fine automobile and said, "Ms. Mary Eliza, did you know that you ran that red light?" Her quite southern reply was, "No Dah'lin I didn't; however, I thank you for telling me," and she drove away!!!!!! The policeman just shook his head in amazement and could only laugh and go on about his business.
Ms. Mary Eliza was also well known by her postal deliveryman. He stated that one day he went to the Dahlin's home to deliver their mail, and as usual, Ms. Mary Eliza greeted him at the door. She then proceeded to tell him, "Dah'lin, do you know that I have never been kissed by another man other than my husband?" He stated, "I certainly didn't want to deprive her of that pleasure, so I just puckered right up and kissed her!"
During the time when the census was being collected, a worker came to Ms. Mary Eliza's door and during his interview he asked her how old she was. Her response was, "Dah'lin, I'm not going to tell you, because if I did, you would know as much as I do."
As the proprietor of this website, I am very honored to dedicate Dahlin's Delectable Desserts to the memory of these lovely ladies. I know if they were here to serve you, they would say, "Dahlin, won't you have another serving of cake?"
As for me, cake baking has been a life-time of love creating wonderful desserts for my friends and family. I am always challenged to create a beautiful work of art when I bake a cake. My creations reflect my passion for unique flavor combinations, extraordinary taste and artful presentation. Most of my cakes will serve twelve very generous portions. I hope you will enjoy my website and give me the honor of "serving you a delicious dessert."
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