Marshall University, WV, Halcyon Days of Yore

If you went to Marshall University, WV, ca 1968-70, you may remember this sign for the first 'head shop' on 4th Avenue, Huntington, WV (1/2 block from campus). You entered the store (house), then descended stairs to the basement, where you were transported to San Francisco summer of love era. Posters, incense, pipes, black lights, strobes....What a great place. I seem to remember that the owner was an older (30 yrs old?) gentleman with a full beard...nice guy!

I festooned my South Hall dorm room with these posters, black lights, and homemade day glo drawings, and had a great time rapping with my friends about the issues of the day.

Here's another head shop named Middle Earth, Atlanta Georgia; same magic time period:

Here's a quote about the Atlanta Georgia Middle Earth head shop from http://www.flickr.com/photos/leonarloforbes/2804541016/ posted by Kola47:
...My name is Dee and I was one of the 3 owners of Middle Earth after Bo and Linda decided they wanted out. Ron and Suzy Jarvis took the shop over and myself and a guy named Kevin came in as partners. I owned the record room upstair and also lived in the middle bedroom upstairs. Kevin had a clothing Boutique also on the second floor. Ron and Suzy had the head shop in the main room downstairs and their custom leather shop in the entry. They lived in the bedroom in the back of the shop. I later moved my shop to Atlantis rising down the street. I have been looking for pics of the shop forever. The only one I have is a picture of me and two of the hanger outers from an AJC story 'bout me. The shop was on 8th street behind the federal building and across the street from the Food and Drug Administration. There was a large parking lot across the street that would fill up on Fri. and Sat nights with all the street people, kids from the burbs and the wanna-bees.

We didn't take many photos in Huntington, WV ca 1968-71. Here is a good link for photos and info re: Atlanta hippy scene. The group of Atlanta freaks represent similar fashion, mindset, and camaraderie of our group in WV. http://www.flickr.com/photos/49249011@N03/4514412477/in/photostream Great photos of the era here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/49249011@N03/with/4514412477/