A Cowgirl and Her Dreams

A Cowgirl and Her Dreams

by Tracy McCoy

“Sitting with friends I said, ‘If I had a truck I’d go buy stuff for my store tomorrow.’ David Dillard told me, ‘You can borrow the Dillard House farm truck, I even washed it today.’ I said, ‘Really?’ and he said ‘yeah’. So I headed to Atlanta to buy my first load of goods for the store. I had $5,000 and I spent all of it.” Trish Stockton told me when we visited at her dining table for this article. An article that is LONG overdue.

My first thought as I walked through the door of Trish’s home was that it was a reflection of the western store that she recently sold. A half dozen cowboy boots sat in a line by the door. Shades of turquoise, copper and browns welcomed me and it dawned on me that the store had been a reflection of this cowgirl’s life. When interviewing I always like to start at the beginning so Trish Stockton was the youngest daughter of Crosby and Alma (Elliott) Stockton. She is Rabun County born and bred. A 1970 graduate of Rabun County High School. Trish had one sister Carol Ann who was the oldest and a brother Bo who was the baby. Crosby Stockton owned Foodland, the largest grocery store in Clayton during that time. Part owner in that building and owner of many others in Clayton, Mr. Stockton worked hard and taught his daughter to do the same. After graduation Trish went to North Georgia College in Dahlonega. She wanted a job at Belk. So everyday she went there and waited at the back door. Finally, Mr. Belew (Hank’s dad), the manager of the department store hired her and she was thrilled. He put her to work in the shoe department and she stayed there for a couple years. She then accepted a position at Franklin Discount with Violet Thompson. Later she worked with Adams’ Insurance. She helped Mrs. Adams with her boys, Tom and Sam, driving them where they needed to go. Her dream was to open her own store someday. In 1976, a building opened up on East Savannah Street (where White Birch Inn is located today) and her dream of owning her own store became a reality. Here is where we pick up with the Dillard House truck and $5,000 worth of shoes and accessories hauled in a truck that may have had a bit of manure here and there. She stocked Sole Place with boots and shoes, purses and wallets and hung her open sign. “I didn’t have fixtures, I set up spools that once held wire, cheese hoops, apple boxes and anything I could find to display shoes on. I decorated with pine cones and I made it work,” she said. Trish was in business! “My mother sent me to art lessons, piano lessons and singing lessons. When I sang in the choir, they’d say Trish, not quite so loud. I decided I was better suited for riding horses,” she said. Horses, wagon trains, jack asses and the smell of leather have been a part of her life as long as she remembers. In her teens she showed walking horses and saddle breds. Her aunt Louise Keller (RCHS’s Home Economics teacher) made a beautiful blue satin Broquet riding jacket that still hangs in her closet today. The building at the time had many issues including leaks. “I put a kid’s plastic swimming pool upstairs to catch the water from the roof leak. Every time it rained I had to go up and take a bucket and empty the pool.” Trish got pretty tired of that and vowed if another building opened up she’d move the store and expand her offerings to include apparel, jewelry, and accessories. In the mid eighties, Dresser’s, a men’s clothing store moved out of the building where the Sole Place is today. She jumped at the chance to move and had friends walk her store up the street. Literally, a half dozen local fellas carried stacks of shoe boxes across the park to Main Street. Trish and her employees headed west for future buying trips, ordering western wear of all types. What was a shoe store became a source for western wear and it has only grown from there. “I have always sold things I love and good quality things that I would buy for myself,” Trish told me. If you know her, you know she has worked hard her whole life, lives the life that makes her happy and has been a brand all her own. When I asked her how she survived, winters, recessions, hard times and the pandemic and she said, “I’ve been through hell, but I’ve always made it.” She has had loyal customers and many great employees. She mentioned a few not so dependable, a couple with sticky fingers and some that were fantastic! After 46 years in business her dream was to slow down and enjoy life. Trish had been approached by a few who wanted to buy her store, but she wasn’t ready to sell. One couple who had been coming in and shopping with her for a few years had expressed an interest in buying if she ever took a notion to sell. Pete and Deana Carson had made their life in Athens but loved the mountains. They also loved shopping at Sole Place. They had become friends with Trish eventually learning that the home they had bought was nearby her home, making them neighbors. When she made the decision to retire, she sent a text to Deana and after sitting down with them, a deal was struck. Pete and Deana are the new owners of The Sole Place. Trish plans to slow down, just a little, and enjoy life. Miss Flashy Jewel, her horse and Leroy the donkey and Flashy’s companion, caught her eye out the window and looking at my watch I realized we’d been visiting for a couple hours. I had another appointment but honestly hated to leave. Trish is as comfortable as your favorite boots, she is honest and down to earth, and I just might ride by on occasion to sit at her table and visit. She did mention a buying trip to Texas with Pete and Deana, I bet she’ll stay busy... doing whatever the hell she wants to do – that’s what retirement is all about.

Stop in to see what Pete and Deana have done with the store. It will remain Sole Place and will continue to provide locals and visitors with quality western wear, outdoor clothing, boots and accessories. You’ll find them at 61 North Main Street in Clayton, Georgia. For information call 706-782-4975.