
I remember each and everyone of these men –
This was the volunteers for the fire department –
In every facet of my life growing up –
I most likely came in contact with them all at one time or other.
GROWING UP ELDRED PA. part four of Papa’s World.

just down the street from my house
This was a busy building – where the men came together –
all volunteers and the ladies auxiliary also met.
And just across the street next to the Post Office was “SLAVINS ” !
Local hangout bar and meeting place for most of these people !
Run by Russ and Tootie Slavin – a local family –
who in each Slavin branch – all very good athletes
and known through NWPA !

I can remember every year – the firemen would come along the curb
in front of our house on North Main Street –
and with chalk would write and mark where each unit was to line up
and this would go all the way back to the Kendall bridge !
The MEMORIAL DAY PARADE marked the end of the school year
and the beginning of Summer !

I was always told that this bridge was one of only two –
The other I think was in Japan.
It was a two lane bridge – with a road coming off in the middle –
Spanning a railroad track – another road –
and a river running under it !
I do not know if that was true or not –
with a gas station ( Kendall) across from the entrance.
but it is still there today !

The parade back then and today – is always led by the veterans of the town
It seems like that number down through the years never dwindles.
For such a small town – ( 800 to 1000) people
It has provided the military of scores of men
in all the conflicts fighting for their country.

my brothers close friends
Two are now gone – three remain – four played baseball with my brother
Freddie was in the little league World Series.
Four played for my father

Clarence Russel Fitzsimmons
known as Bob or Fitz
I was too young – I never went –
But there were families of friends who went every year
To far North in Canada fishing !
We had a old red barn down back –
three stories tall and a stable underneath –
I can still see in my mind
The red front and the big sliding gray door –
and to the left
DOZENS of fish heads nailed up on the wall
Muskie – Pike
Fish that they caught and brought home.
Roger went but I was born ten years younger
I never went but looked at hundreds of pictures !

Thank you for reading Papa’s World part four.
Growing up Eldred Pa.
Part five is next !
For more of Papa’s World & Blogs
Type in livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
My email fitztdf@aol.com

For HEALTH & NUTRITION
ssherrylynn49@aol.com
Thank you for reading PAPA’S WORLD
where friends and family meet.
Hi, Jen told me you did a piece on Michael and i asked her to send it to me but it didn’t work. Would love to see that. i am new to facebook and still learning. Thank you for your blogs.
LikeLike
Thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
our family moved
LikeLiked by 1 person