Auburn Couple Disproves Idea That Women 'Can't Get Along'

No doubt, auburn News readers have heard it said many times that women simply can't get along in business.

To belie that statement, however, one has to look only to the operation of Irene's Shop on the "main drag" in Auburn.

No Disagreement:
Two women, Miss Irene Neal and Miss Cola Turner, have operated this clothing store for more than 27 years without anything that approached a major disagreement and they also live together.

Women-like though, they  didn't rush to tell this reporter their ages. Let's drop that subject.

Miss Neal, born in Auburn, the daughter of a one-time salesman for Marshall field, and a great niece of Miss Mary Darby, a well known milliner of the old day, who sold the latest feathers or flowers to the town folk.

Miss Neal began clerking for an uncle, Minor Neal, after graduating from Auburn Seminary, later for P. T. Neal. She worked in the post office and a grocery store before beginning her own business.

Remembers First Customer
On Sept. 1, 1925, she and her partner, Miss Cola Turner launched their business. Miss Neal remembers her first customer, Mrs. Ollie Hutcheson, who bought a spool of thread.

Miss Turner, the daughter of a doctor, came to Auburn with her parents in 1910. She attended Maryville College, Maryville, Tenn., after graduating from high school here.

Antique Collectors
Both of these businesswomen keep a sharp eye for collecting antiques, in addition to keeping up the many details of running a clothing store for men, women and children, and operating a floral agency.

Miss Turner has also found time to be correspondent for the News-Democrat in Russellville, and now the Auburn News.

Miss Neal is a member of the First Christian church and Miss Turner belongs to the first Presbyterian.