Johnny Deakos created "a shrine to the humble potato"

Postcard Memories is a weekly series of historic postcard views and photos submitted by René Hackstetter.

This isn’t about the back story of Johnny Deakos, but a couple biographical notes might creep into the telling.

Johnny ran the store at Little Lake Park making French fries. Not your ordinary fry, but the hand cut variety cooked in small batches. Johnny Deakos was a legend long before my pimply face showed up at his stall seeking these treats.

He knew there were thrill seekers on hot August nights looking for ice cream or fries. He knew the equation. His art lay in the preparation of the potato, some soaking, some blanching, a certain fat for cooking, but he was mum on the rest.

Harvey’s and Swiss Chalet, it was said, had been to visit, taste and try to determine just what made it so good.

Johnny's family has been in Midland since the turn of the last century, setting up the Midland Candy Works on King Street back in the twenties, so treats are in his DNA.

There should be a shrine erected in Lafontaine to Johnny Deakos. Surely the gratitude of those devout Tiny Township potato growers, could, at the very minimum, offer up a mass or light a candle? There is little distance between Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic on these earthly matters.

A shrine to the humble potato is what Johnny’s place was, and we, its devotees gathered to celebrate every 24th of May.

In line, like pilgrims, we yielded up payment, moved slowly through the line watching the process, salivating the whole time. Johnny received hundreds of coins given by hungry worshippers. In those days a coin was silver and meant something.

Finally, the fries were ready and dumped into a bin, salted lightly, scooped up and into cardboard boxes built for just that purpose. At the end of it, apple cider vinegar. You could smell it all the way to Fourth Street.

Across the road, the picnic tables - to take our blessings with us and defend them from the gulls.