Farmer with yellow umbrella, station wagon nears 50 years of selling corn in Hamlin
Aug. 11—SALEM TWP. — The yellow umbrella provided shade from the midday sun — and a decades-old signal for drivers on the Hamlin Highway.
Lawrence Swingle woke up around 6 a.m. Friday to pick corn from his 5 acres in South Canaan Twp. He filled the back of his 1989 wood-paneled Oldsmobile station wagon with as many ears as would fit — usually about eight or nine wheelbarrows' worth.
His appearance each August, with his trademark umbrella and station wagon, means it's time to enjoy his summer harvest.
"It's the best sweet corn on the planet. His corn is really well raised," said Jefferson Twp. resident Sean Saslo, who has enjoyed Swingle's corn for decades. "Moreover, he's just a world-class guy."
Swingle began selling sweet corn in Hamlin 48 years ago, most recently just a few miles east of the Lackawanna/Wayne county border, in front of a plaza at 417 Hamlin Highway.
After a busy morning, the 82-year-old crawled into the back of his wagon, tossing ears closer to the tailgate. Soon, a line of five people appeared, most of them regulars but some eager to buy corn from the man they saw on Facebook. A photo posted this week to the social media site generated thousands of likes, shares and comments.
"They put me on Facebook ... that woke them right up," said Swingle, a humble man who doesn't use Facebook but appreciates the extra business.
Bicolor corn sells for $8 a dozen. Don't want change for a $10? Swingle insists on throwing in a couple of extra ears.
"If we don't do it right, let me know," he said, handing a customer bags with two dozen ears.
Swingle learned farming from his father, and now Swingle's son and grandkids often help with the harvest. Swingle doesn't sell during set hours and occasionally takes a day off to allow the corn time to ripen.
He expects the season to last for at least a few more weeks.
A few customers asked about his other regular crop, apples. Swingle had to break the news: The late frost destroyed his crop this year.
But he hopes for apples next year and never plans to park his station wagon for good.
"If you don't keep going, you may as well crawl in a hole and get it over with," he said.
By 1:30 p.m., Swingle only had a few dozen ears of corn left. Missy Morgan of Jefferson Twp. showed up just in time.
"I grew up on this corn. There's corn, and then there's Swingle's corn," she said. "I live for this umbrella to be up."
Contact the writer: shofius@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9133; @hofiushallTT on Twitter.
