| The Whistle Stop Cafe was purchased by Bess Fortenberry during the depression. The Fortenberrys were a very prestigious family in Irondale during that time, and their home is still located on on Second Avenue in old Irondale, Alabama. Bess Fortenberry preferred hunting and playing practical jokes over prissy things. On one occasion Bess Fortenberry showed up at a Halloween party in a rented hearse and then stayed up all night playing poker with the boys. In the movie, Idgie ran the cafe with a close friend and partner Ruth Jamison. In real life, Bess had a close partner and friend too, Sue Lovelace. Sue Lovelace was a very beautiful woman who came to Irondale in the late 1930's as a director of a traveling theatrical company. Bess and Sue began a very close relationship until Sue left with her traveling theatrical company. A while later Bess ran into Sue again in Mobile, Al, in a grocery store. When Bess returned to Irondale she brought Sue and Sue's friend, a black lady named Lizzie along too. Lizzie became the cook and lived in a small trailer behind the cafe. Bess and Sue lived in the large Fortenberry Home. The three women made the Irondale Cafe one of the best and memorable places in town, serving fried green tomatoes and homecooked sandwhiches. Some from Irondale describe Sue as being a "lovely" person. Bess was more tomboyish and Sue was the complete opposite, very feminine and dainty. According to some, everyone "loved Sue." Bess had 'short black hair, which she always ran her hands through, and Sue had beautiful 'silver hair, and a young pretty face.' She was one of the sweetest people in the world. One Irondale resident describes Bess as being the type of person who would 'say anything'...things one could never repeat. Sue constantly worried about Bess because Bess would stay out until midnight just about every night. One resident recalled how Sue tried to get back at Bess by pretending to stay out all night herself. She sat on the porch listening out for any sign of Bess; everytime she heard a sound she would run to the back of the house and hide in the bushes. The people of Irondale at that time never gave the relationship between Bess and Sue a second thought because of the kindness they showed to everyone, even homeless people and tramps. Anyone one who would come in on the train, which is situated right in front of the cafe, would get a warm welcome from Bess and Sue. They tried to give everyone who needed one a home cooked meal. In the movie, Ruth had an abusive husband, but in reality none of the residents of Irondale knew anything about that. One resident remembers that Sue told her that she used to be married but her husband became ill with TB and he divorced her so that he would not pass the disease on to her. Bess ran the cafe for 50 years. In 1972, Bess suffered a light stroke and decided to sell the cafe and retire. A short time later Sue came down with Shingles and could no longer work. Unlike the movie, Bess died first, a few years after selling the cafe. Then Sue, who was in her eighties, moved back with her family in Brewton, Al, until she died a few years later. Lizzie, developed diabetes and high blood pressure and died a short time after that.,but before she died she was able to stay on and help the new owner Betty Jo McMichael. The Irondale Cafe is still in business in the old part of Irondale, Alabama. The Fortenberry home still stands. |
| ACCESS MAIN DATABASE |