Shop of the Week: Whit's End
Portraits of the people and places of Odyssey
By Jerry Phillips
| Times Staff
Writer
 At one time or another, most
of us in Odyssey have enjoyed eating or "just hanging out" at Whit's End,
the popular ice cream parlor/discovery emporium founded by John Avery
Whittaker. (or "Whit" as he likes to be called). Kids love the place because
the food's good, and it's packed with exciting activities created
exclusively for them by Whit. Parents love it because it's a safe place for
their children to play and learn.
Yet, as well known as Whit's
End is throughout the county, few people know the behind-the-scenes drama
that nearly stopped Whit from establishing this mainstay of our community.
The Times thought it would be of interest to its readers to share
that story now.
In many respects, the story
began 20 years ago when Whit, an established author who lived and worked in
California, received word that his oldest son had been killed in the Vietnam
War. It was devastating news for him, his wife Jenny and their remaining two
children, Jana and Jason. What had been, up to that time, an idyllic life
together, was suddenly torn asunder by the tragedy.
"It was a very dark time,"
Whit remembers. "Jerry's death seemed to take the life out of our whole
family. We fell apart."
Realizing the need to get away
from their home and painful memories in Pasadena, California, Whit moved his
family to the peace and solitude of Odyssey for "a time of healing." He
recalls: "We spent our first year in Odyssey keeping mostly to ourselves. It
was a time to get to know each other again."
It worked. The family turned
their attention to their new surroundings. Whit recalled how "the kids got
involved in school activities. Jenny was very active in civic, volunteer and
church work. And I began teaching English to seventh and eighth-graders at
McCallum Junior High School." Whit became one of the most popular teachers
are McCallum. He also continued to write, publishing several books for
youngsters.
Teaching junior high English
was an eye-opening experience for Whit. He soon noticed that many kids even
in Odyssey were suffering from the "signs of the times": broken homes,
single-parent households, crumbling morals and the pressure to grow up too
fast. "I wanted to do something about it, but didn't know what," Whit says.
The answer would come in an unexpected way.
Jenny became involved in a
rather large controversy raging around Odyssey concerning the old Fillmore
Recreation Center in McCalister Park. Rich with history, it had been built
on the sight of one of Odyssey's original churches, subsequently used as a
town hall and meeting place, then a recreation center for public use.
In 1981, a newer recreation
center was built on the north side of town and the Fillmore Center was
abandoned to disuse and disrepair. Some thought the building should be torn
down. Others, led by Jenny Whittaker, wanted it restored.
Whit was mystified by Jenny's
attraction to saving the building. "The shell of the old place was in fair
shape, but the insides were almost rotted out from lack of use. Many people
saw the building as a fire hazard and wanted it torn down. In fact, a
development firm had made a generous offer for the land. They thought it
would make an excellent site for a mini-mall, while others, including my
wife, felt that the center was a cultural landmark and should be saved and
protected by the city."
The battle dragged on for
months. At first, when he thought about it all, Whit came in on the side of
those who wanted to tear the place down. Jenny poured herself into the
battle to save the Fillmore. Her efforts would cost more than anyone could
have realized.
In 1984, during a meeting of
the city council to decide the outcome of this issue, Jenny suddenly
collapsed from a serious kidney ailment. She died later that same day. Once
again, death spread a dark curtain over Whit's life. Emotionally devastated,
Whit shut himself away.
A month passed. Another city
council meeting came around and, with it, a final vote on the Fillmore
Recreation Center. With the death of Jenny, the building seemed doomed. Who
would champion its survival? Who could keep the building from becoming a
giant pinball and video arcade at the hands of self-serving developers? The
answer came just as the gave was about to fall.
Whit burst into the room and
made a startling announcement: he would buy the Fillmore and turn it into
what he called "a place of adventure and discovery" for all the kids in
Odyssey. The city council approved unanimously.
So in 1984, John Avery
Whittaker opened Whit's End. At the time, Whit explained his goal this way:
"Whit's End is a place full of adventure and discovery, filled with books
and activities, fun and games, arts and crafts, uplifting conversation and
some of the best ice cream in the state. It's a place where people can
experience the excitement of learning, and build character and confidence; a
place to make friends and learn how to keep relationships healthy: a place
to find out what the Bible says and what God wants us to do with our lives.
But most of all, Whit's End is a place where kids--of all ages--can just be
kids."
For those of us in Odyssey who
love and enjoy Whit's shop . . . the rest is history.
This
article originally appeared in "The Odyssey Times," a
special fictional newspaper produced by Focus on the Family to promote
Adventures in Odyssey.
Back to
The Odyssey Times
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