Uncle Fred was one of a kind. He was very shy about telling me ( a teenage) anything personal or even touching on anything personal. I adored him. I stayed with him and My bedridden Grandmother, who had had a stroke and was paralyzed on her right side and her speech was slurred, during all my summers from the time I was about 14 until Gammy died in 1954. I enjoyed her company tremendously. She had a lot to offer even though she could not get out of bed. She could still tell me how to cook and clean and iron and such. She was a stickler about ironing. The sheets had to be ironed also. What a pain this was. I used flatirons which were heated on the cookstove. The heat was sometimes unbearable, but I never argued with her. My bedsheets DID NOT GET IRONED!! She didn't know that, though. She was a lot of fun and loved hearing me sing. I used to sit in the kitchen and sing all the songs I could think of and knew she was listening.
I went out one day to the store with some friends and got a few things we needed for the house. The store was overtown and we lived in the lower part of town. We had to walk across a swinging bridge to get overtown. This was always a fascination to me.
Anyway, when I returned from town I had things to put away and opened the pantry door to put stuff in there and there stood Uncle Fred with a book called "Tobacco Road". I knew the book wasn't proper reading material for me but had sneaked a peak at it anyway so knew what it was all about. He jumped a foot high and turned 40 different colors of red and came out of that pantry with the book stuffed in his pocket and I was so totally embarrassed to find him in the closet with the light on that I about passed out. After a bit we were both laughing so hard. He hugged me and said he was sorry for scaring me. He would never have hurt my feelings for anything. I never did see that book again. Later Gammy complained to me about him using the pantry light to read with. I never did know how she knew that.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Honor Girl!
I guess it would be ok for me to tell a story about myself. I know I loved the stories my Grandmother and Uncle Fred told me.
I started school in the 8th grade at Montoursville. I loved it there except that I had to take care of keeping Clif from crying all day long at school. At thirteen, I was not quite equipped to handle a little boy who cried all day. Cliff hated school at Montoursville and it took him forever to get used to it. The Principal would send someone to my room and I would have to go down to Cliff's room and try to get him to stop crying!! Now, since I am old I realize how much that must have meant to him. He felt better just to know I was nearby.
Anyway, the 8th grade in a huge school was fun. We changed classes and even had some classes at the high school, which was about 3 blocks away. I made friends easily even though they called me "Farmer" or "Skinny". I never minded as it was always in good fun. Having lived in the country for a long time it was great to be able to go to a store on our lunch hour and just shop for a bit.
Near the end of that first year I came home from school one day and my Mother said she thought I should have a new dress for church as I was growing so fast. I didn't care but if she wanted to make me a new one, I would love it. She altered a dress which was given to us and it was so pretty. Pink chiffon with a lacy yoke. Really dressy. I was surprised and pleased, but wondering why this pretty dress all of a sudden. Mom kept her secrets though so---
A couple of weeks later there was a knock on the door and there was a photographer from the Williamsport Sun Gazette. He wanted to interview me and take my picture!! I hadn't a clue!! Of course then my Mother had to tell me she had received a letter from the school that I had been chosen by my peers as "Honor Girl of the Year". What a thrill! The photographer complained all the while that we lived in the back of beyond and he had a terrible time finding me.
We had to be at the Montoursville school on Memorial Day for a presentation. This was wonderful. My parents were both going, which was so unusual. They very rarely attended anything like this. I think they were very proud.
There was a parade with the veterans and then a meeting in the auditorium of the school. There were speeches and such and then they asked that I come forward along with the Honor Boy of the Year. I was so nervous I shook. The lady that tried to pin the emblem on my dress was just as nervous. It was a thrill to stand before such a large audience and be so honored.
I started school in the 8th grade at Montoursville. I loved it there except that I had to take care of keeping Clif from crying all day long at school. At thirteen, I was not quite equipped to handle a little boy who cried all day. Cliff hated school at Montoursville and it took him forever to get used to it. The Principal would send someone to my room and I would have to go down to Cliff's room and try to get him to stop crying!! Now, since I am old I realize how much that must have meant to him. He felt better just to know I was nearby.
Anyway, the 8th grade in a huge school was fun. We changed classes and even had some classes at the high school, which was about 3 blocks away. I made friends easily even though they called me "Farmer" or "Skinny". I never minded as it was always in good fun. Having lived in the country for a long time it was great to be able to go to a store on our lunch hour and just shop for a bit.
Near the end of that first year I came home from school one day and my Mother said she thought I should have a new dress for church as I was growing so fast. I didn't care but if she wanted to make me a new one, I would love it. She altered a dress which was given to us and it was so pretty. Pink chiffon with a lacy yoke. Really dressy. I was surprised and pleased, but wondering why this pretty dress all of a sudden. Mom kept her secrets though so---
A couple of weeks later there was a knock on the door and there was a photographer from the Williamsport Sun Gazette. He wanted to interview me and take my picture!! I hadn't a clue!! Of course then my Mother had to tell me she had received a letter from the school that I had been chosen by my peers as "Honor Girl of the Year". What a thrill! The photographer complained all the while that we lived in the back of beyond and he had a terrible time finding me.
We had to be at the Montoursville school on Memorial Day for a presentation. This was wonderful. My parents were both going, which was so unusual. They very rarely attended anything like this. I think they were very proud.
There was a parade with the veterans and then a meeting in the auditorium of the school. There were speeches and such and then they asked that I come forward along with the Honor Boy of the Year. I was so nervous I shook. The lady that tried to pin the emblem on my dress was just as nervous. It was a thrill to stand before such a large audience and be so honored.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
First Grade
I was the only pupil in the first grade when I started school. We lived in Wallis Run, PA. It was in the country but we had neighbors within a half of a mile or so and the school was maybe a half a mile. There were probably 15 students in the whole school. My brothers and sisters made a good portion of them. The Lewis' and Chapman's made up the balance.
In the winter we had a stove in the middle of the schoolroom that heated the whole school. My brother, Jerry and my brother Lawrence and maybe one of the Lewis boys were constantly feeding that stove wood. Jerry went to school early to get a fire going and have the place warm for us kids.
One blustery, winter morning we got up to about two feet of snow on the ground and it was bitter cold out. I was dressed to go and at the door my Mother said "maybe I better keep Betty home as it is just to cold for her and she can't stand up in that much snow." Well, my brother said "I can carry her piggyback". So he did, all the way to school. They were great guys!! The teacher had to walk that morning as it was just too much snow for her to drive in. We probably had many days like that but that one day sticks in my mind because my brother carried me all the way to school.
In the winter we had a stove in the middle of the schoolroom that heated the whole school. My brother, Jerry and my brother Lawrence and maybe one of the Lewis boys were constantly feeding that stove wood. Jerry went to school early to get a fire going and have the place warm for us kids.
One blustery, winter morning we got up to about two feet of snow on the ground and it was bitter cold out. I was dressed to go and at the door my Mother said "maybe I better keep Betty home as it is just to cold for her and she can't stand up in that much snow." Well, my brother said "I can carry her piggyback". So he did, all the way to school. They were great guys!! The teacher had to walk that morning as it was just too much snow for her to drive in. We probably had many days like that but that one day sticks in my mind because my brother carried me all the way to school.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Surrey with the fringe on top!
I remember when I was about 8 or so and we lived in Trout Run, PA. Our house was on Mill St. and we played in the street all the time. Everyone had a car but no one drove very fast and always looked out for the kids in the street.
Around noon one day, I was outdoors and would you believe, down the street came a horse and buggy (surrey with the fringe on top). Now just who would that be. It stopped in front of our house and of course by this time everyone was outdoors and my Mother was fussing over the couple who got down from the buggy. It was "Gammy & Grandpap" our Mother's parents. We were thrilled to have them come for a visit. In a buggy, no less. The buggy had a piece of canvas over the top of it for sunshade and contained two seats. This was awesome. They stabled the horse in our barn and Gammy & Grandpap came in and we visited to the wee hours. They left the next day with invitations to my sister, Carol and I, to come for a summer visit. We begged to go when school was out. My parents took us to Cascade (about 10 miles away) to Gammy & Grandpap's farm home to spend a week that summer. It was a wonderful week.
We had packed our best dresses and play clothes, even though I just knew there would never be anywhere to go way out here in the back of beyond. You couldn't even see the nearest neighbor. Gammy, Carol and I walked through the woods to the nearest farm, Frymire's, and we visited with her. She had been my first grade school teacher and she was pleased to see Carol and I.
That Saturday night Gammy told us to get our dresses out and dress up as we were going to a party. An Ice Cream Social!! I had never been to one so this would be a treat. I asked how we were going to get there and they told me we would take the horse and buggy to the school house about three miles away and you wouldn't believe how many people were there. We had more home made ice cream than anyone could eat. The ice cream was all home made and kept on ice. There were also cakes and pies to be had. It was wonderful. We played with other kids - some were from when we went to school there. ( That is another story.)
We finally got ready to go and since it was already dark, Uncle Fred and Grandpap had to light the lantern's to see the road home. As we started out the horse did not want to go across the bridge, so Uncle Fred had to get out and lead him across the bridge. It was very dark by this time and you could barely see the road. This was a scary trip back to the farm, in the dark and just a horse and buggy. But what fun!!
Around noon one day, I was outdoors and would you believe, down the street came a horse and buggy (surrey with the fringe on top). Now just who would that be. It stopped in front of our house and of course by this time everyone was outdoors and my Mother was fussing over the couple who got down from the buggy. It was "Gammy & Grandpap" our Mother's parents. We were thrilled to have them come for a visit. In a buggy, no less. The buggy had a piece of canvas over the top of it for sunshade and contained two seats. This was awesome. They stabled the horse in our barn and Gammy & Grandpap came in and we visited to the wee hours. They left the next day with invitations to my sister, Carol and I, to come for a summer visit. We begged to go when school was out. My parents took us to Cascade (about 10 miles away) to Gammy & Grandpap's farm home to spend a week that summer. It was a wonderful week.
We had packed our best dresses and play clothes, even though I just knew there would never be anywhere to go way out here in the back of beyond. You couldn't even see the nearest neighbor. Gammy, Carol and I walked through the woods to the nearest farm, Frymire's, and we visited with her. She had been my first grade school teacher and she was pleased to see Carol and I.
That Saturday night Gammy told us to get our dresses out and dress up as we were going to a party. An Ice Cream Social!! I had never been to one so this would be a treat. I asked how we were going to get there and they told me we would take the horse and buggy to the school house about three miles away and you wouldn't believe how many people were there. We had more home made ice cream than anyone could eat. The ice cream was all home made and kept on ice. There were also cakes and pies to be had. It was wonderful. We played with other kids - some were from when we went to school there. ( That is another story.)
We finally got ready to go and since it was already dark, Uncle Fred and Grandpap had to light the lantern's to see the road home. As we started out the horse did not want to go across the bridge, so Uncle Fred had to get out and lead him across the bridge. It was very dark by this time and you could barely see the road. This was a scary trip back to the farm, in the dark and just a horse and buggy. But what fun!!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Model T
I can remember when we had a really old car. It was a Model T and anything could be fixed with baling wire on it. One morning we were a little late getting ready for school and it was bitter cold out. We lived on the old Wilson place. It was back in beyond Rose Valley and near the Wallis Run. We had about a mile and a half to get to the bus. Daddy worked on the car and got it running. We piled in (5 of us) and off we went. Got part way down the hill and the ice got so bad on the windshield Daddy had to stop and scrape it off. We missed the bus so he had to take us all the way to school. School was 30 miles away so you know there was some cussing and swearing!! He had to stop every so often and scrape the windshield all the way to Montoursville. We made it to school on time though and boy was I glad to get out of that car!! They don't make cars like that anymore. It would go anywhere, almost.
He and my Mother went shopping at Christmas Time. I was with them. We shopped all day and when we came home we came up the "back" way as it was shorter. We got to the bottom of our hill (mile long) and there was just a path in the snow. I told Daddy I would go up the hill and get the boys to bring the horses down to tow the car home. It would never have made it up the hill in the snow as it was just too deep.
My brother had told of a wildcat he had heard in those woods and so when I started to walk, just barely dusk, all I could think of was that darn wildcat. I never heard it but every rustle of the trees and such made me tremble. I made it home okay and the boys took off with the horses to bring the car up the hill. They were chuckling as they had only plowed a path for the kids to walk home from school, never thinking Daddy would want to drive up that hill. Oh well, we made it home okay.
He and my Mother went shopping at Christmas Time. I was with them. We shopped all day and when we came home we came up the "back" way as it was shorter. We got to the bottom of our hill (mile long) and there was just a path in the snow. I told Daddy I would go up the hill and get the boys to bring the horses down to tow the car home. It would never have made it up the hill in the snow as it was just too deep.
My brother had told of a wildcat he had heard in those woods and so when I started to walk, just barely dusk, all I could think of was that darn wildcat. I never heard it but every rustle of the trees and such made me tremble. I made it home okay and the boys took off with the horses to bring the car up the hill. They were chuckling as they had only plowed a path for the kids to walk home from school, never thinking Daddy would want to drive up that hill. Oh well, we made it home okay.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
I have all kinds of memories I would love to share with whomever wants to read this blog.
Today, I remembered with my husband the time we took our six kids to Nashville. Linda just made a trip there for work and thus this brings back memories.
In the late sixties the roads weren't as good as they are now and of course, we had an old car so that didn't help any either. We were packing up to go when Tom's brother came by and chewed Tom out royally for taking six kids on such a trip, and in an old car. "What if you break down?" "What if someone gets sick"? We listened and then took off. What a time. Coming home we had trouble with the generator and lost our lights. Fortunately it was near Knoxville and we stopped at a motel. The kids thought this was the greatest, after living in a tent for the past four days!! We got two rooms at the Best Western and they had a ball. I understand later they had a pillow fight and went down the hall for ice, etc. We called a garage and they fixed the car. The expense wasn't too bad and we were prepared for this so were on our way the next day. Arrived home without a problem.
More later.
Today, I remembered with my husband the time we took our six kids to Nashville. Linda just made a trip there for work and thus this brings back memories.
In the late sixties the roads weren't as good as they are now and of course, we had an old car so that didn't help any either. We were packing up to go when Tom's brother came by and chewed Tom out royally for taking six kids on such a trip, and in an old car. "What if you break down?" "What if someone gets sick"? We listened and then took off. What a time. Coming home we had trouble with the generator and lost our lights. Fortunately it was near Knoxville and we stopped at a motel. The kids thought this was the greatest, after living in a tent for the past four days!! We got two rooms at the Best Western and they had a ball. I understand later they had a pillow fight and went down the hall for ice, etc. We called a garage and they fixed the car. The expense wasn't too bad and we were prepared for this so were on our way the next day. Arrived home without a problem.
More later.
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