Eldred – situated just a few miles from the NYS border.
Olean N.Y. and Bradford Pa. were the biggest cities so I thought growing up!
Yet both were at the most 20,000 people back then!
My concept of the world was the road leading out of town on North Main Street
Towards the Kendall Bridge!
The Kendall Bridge
I was told by someone that this bridge was unique – it had a railroad track underneath
as well as a secondary road – a river ran under it ( The Alleghany)
and a turn off-road in the middle of the bridge!
It was said that only one other bridge existed like this and it was in Japan!
I do not know if that is true or not – but my world when I was young –
went to that bridge and the service station that sat below the cliffs!
The Kendall service station
We are right smack in the middle of the oil fields here in NWPA.
In fact – South Penn ( PENNZOIL)
Kendall refinery ( KENDALL OIL)
Quaker State refinery ( QUAKER STATE OIL)
all are within 14 miles of Eldred!
Bradford Pa. was a major oil-producing town!
The welcome sign coming into North Main Street where I grew up!
I was little – sitting on my grandma’s lap on the front porch – right on the main street –
and our backyard – was the railroad tracks which I was told never to go near as well as the main street!
There was a very old building in our side yard – the only thing left was the cellar with a roof on it!
It was large – 25′ by 25′ – maybe larger – and it was called “THE BEEHIVE”!
Not because there were bees in there – but that was its name back in the 1800s
as it was sort of like a big boarding house – three stories high!
At the top left – North Main Street in Eldred Pa. I lived towards the end on the left – the main street in front of the house and the railroad tracks in the back – we had a big yard and an old red three-story farm barn that sat right next to the tracks.
I would play in the cellar of that old building – later my dad tore it down and moved my aunts
trailer onto that lot as her husband had passed away.
It was around that time he tore the roof off the old red barn and lowered it down.
My brother and his friends had basketball hoops up on the top floor.
I would sneak up there and smoke my corn cob pipe
looking out the window that you could see down the tracks toward Slavin’s furniture and gas station.
Upper left corner – where those trees are is where I lived. My memories of parades forming just North of my house – firemen and police making sure no one parked along the main street – the excitement as the groups formed all the way up past Frames Funeral home.
Thanks for reading – some of my childhood memories growing up ELDRED PA.
All my life up to 16 years ago – I was a junk food addict!
I thought I was fit – playing sports until my late 40’s!
I ate all the time at McDonald’s – then something changed my life.
Sherry went to NBC for your health in Washington D.C.
I also went to the food court!
That is where she found a supplement that changed both our lives.
At first, I denied I needed it – then three months later I started to take it-
FRUITS AND VEGGIES AND BERRIES – JUICED – DRIED TO POWDER AND PUT IN CAPSULES!
NUTRIENTS OF 30 DIFFERENT KINDS EACH DAY!
It slowly over the years changed my life – I felt better – BUT – unknown to me – I had damaged my heart
from all those years ( 40 plus ) eating junk food and drinking cokes – mountain dew and gallons of milk.
I thought that was good for me.
EIGHT YEARS AFTER I STARTED ON THE SUPPLEMENT – I had a WIDOWMAKER HEART ATTACK!
FOUR ARTERIES INVOLVED – I almost did not make it!
I was rushed from work to the hospital where I had one artery 100 % blocked –
They put a stent in and the PAIN went away – but I was told I had three more that needed to be done!
It was too dangerous – I would have to have an open heart and four by-passes!
ONE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS!
All this time I never missed a day of my supplements – even when I went into the hospital.
Over 40 published types of research from major institutions from all over the world – convinced me that I was doing something right and not to give it up!
So – on a Monday morning – at 7:30 AM – they started – by 3:00 pm. they closed me up!
At 5:30 pm. they called my wife and daughters.
By 6:30 pm. I was standing!
I never went to the step down – I went straight to my room –
And I was told by the nurses and doctors I was the healthiest heart patient they had ever seen!
They wanted me to do an interview for some kind of research but I declined.
Here I am – 56 hours later standing in front of the Christmas tree – I was home!
I had a 100% – 90% – 60% and 40% blockages. I walked the halls in less than 20 hours –
Everyone told me they had no one like that – I went home and the other people who had surgery
that day were still in the step-down units.
Sherry and Papa – I had a nuke stress test late Jan. I passed with an excellent grade.
I just had all my blood tests – everything was very good – I STILL TAKE MY SUPPLEMENT
of 30 fruits – veggies and berries and now OMEGAS!
SHERRY and PAPA
Sixteen years ago my life changed and in my mind and heart –
I believe – I am still here – and I STILL TAKE THOSE SUPPLEMENTS EVERY DAY!
Main Street – just above the white truck to the left – is a brick-red building – with a huge Army Tank coming out the side – this is the ELDRED WWII MUSEUM!
When I was growing up – this was Fisbees Insurance and the Electric Company in the Cellar –
and right next to it was Slavin’s Furniture store and gas station.
I would roller skate down to the bays and Jack would sometimes buy me a glass coke out of the machine that stood there between the bays.
I do not remember his last name – but he was a really nice man and lived in Bullis Mills.
We also would come down here and ask for old cardboard boxes –
they all had a heavy layer of wax on them and were perfect for grass riding down the hill opposite of our front porch.
WWII MUSEUM
Today – both buildings are joined and form this fantastic museum – dedicated to WWII
and the munitions plant that made explosives for the war.
It has a full-size ARMY TANK that looks like it is busting right out the wall of the side of the building!
My stepfather – John Soules – who was decorated FIVE times with Purple Hearts and Bronze Stars
Once gave me a revolver he was given permission to bring back to the states
He had all the signed documents from the government –
Before he passed away – he asked for it back so he could donate it here!
A few years ago – I walked down and asked to see it once again.
They had it in a safe – and was told it was worth 30 to 40 thousand dollars!
He took that handheld automatic machine pistol off a NAZI OFFICER he had captured who was dressed as a civilian trying to escape.
I was told this pistol was not from WWII but from WWI and was very rare –
one of the first automatic machine guns ever manufactured by the Germans for WWI!
I got to once again hold it!
A reenactment of women working at the munitions plant outside Eldred during WWII is part of the museum.
As you walk through you come upon room after room of scenes such as this.
This MUSEUM is like something you would find in Washinton DC. yet it is here in the very small town
of ELDRED PA. in the mountains of the ALLEGHANY FOREST in WPA!
I do not know the full story of why it is here – but I do know before the PANDEMIC
regular busloads of people would stop every day.
It sits on North Main Street right across from the old fire hall.
A must-see!
Thanks for reading PAPA’SWORLD
Memories of my life growing up in a small town in NWPA called ELDRED!
WHERE EVERYONE KNEW YOUR NAME – the ’50’s ’60’s and ’70’s.
Our love and marriage – for five and one-half years – we lived on the East Windfall Road –
way out in the country.
A house came up for sale – it was being sold by a holding company – the previous owner transferred and his company bought the house in the move.
It was a beautiful – ten-year-old – two-story Colonial – with four bedrooms and two baths upstairs!
A full basement with cement floor – and on the main level – two living rooms – a dining room – a breakfast area and a large laundry room with an attached half bath.
A large two-car garage with a bump out for shelving and storage.
Situated on three-quarter-acre mowed lot – with a small grouping of trees in the backyard.
And right across the street were our dear friends – The McBrides!
Sherry and Papa – with Cindy and Buck McBride – later – moved to N.C. and about twenty-five years later –
we followed and now live some 38 miles from them.
We often get together to golf on weekends and then either go out or to one another home for dinner.
We lived in Pleasant Acres Drive for twelve and one-half years – Mike and Carol John lived next door – and we often played tricks on one another –
One time he snuck over and hooked up to my Christmas lights and would turn them off and on! LOL
Another time I remodeled the half bath – took out the old toilet – painted it Red – White and Blue –
I placed it behind a big pine tree where he could not see it – and I placed a sign on it –
“WELCOME TO MIKE’S JOHN”! LOL
To this day we still visit them and they visit us – they have since moved and built a large house near his business and purchased a large house on Chautauqua Lake that we have visited twice!
Our neighborhood there was fun – often, times we would line up the riding mowers and race to the end of the road.
There were neighborhood graduations – parties and just general good fun.
Buck and Cindy moved about four years before we did – sad days followed but we often would vacation down in N.C. with them
After twelve and one-half years – we decided as empty nesters – it was time to move on –
It would be sad but for me – I had enough of supervision – factory life –
and for Sherry – she had a college degree and couldn’t go no further –
she was head of Logistics – time to move on.
We had added on a very large two-level covered deck with a hot tub!
Also a firepit with white scotch pine trees and several birch trees-
Had the back of the lot graded and seeded into the lawn – added hot water baseboard heating
and a wood-burning stove in the basement and tiled part of that.
I hand-stained the woodwork with her father’s special woodworking – he was a master –
And that all is there today – we sold it to a close friend and they live there today!
We said our goodbyes to friends and neighbors – packed up and we both transferred to NVA!
We transferred within the company and took all our benefits with us –
We went from the middle of COUNTRY to ALEXANDRIA, VA. the middle of the city!
After two months of company housing – we purchased our first home –
In the Fairfax, Va. neighborhood of FOUNTAINSIDE DRIVE!
Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD – LIFE AT PLEASANT ACRES DRIVE – my site: LIVINGLIFEDOINGITMYWAY.BLOG
We made the move to eight miles to the border of S.C. – OIB – known as OCEAN ISLE BEACH!
Now in this expanse of eight to ten miles – in any direction except toward the ocean –
is about thirty golf courses!
Playing golf was one of the reasons we moved to Cameron Woods Community.
We both love to be out on the fairways and the trees and open air.
We purchased each year what is known as THE FIRST TEE CARD for $100.00 –
$90.00 if you buy it before Christmas each year.
On this card are 52 golf venues where you can make tee times –
but you can only make them sometimes 24 to 48 hours in advance and most are after twelve – noon!
We do not mind as that time most players want morning tee times-
thus it is not as crowded at 1:30 PM. Tee off!
So we play – mostly with our dear friends Buck and Cindy – once every week or two.
Other times – I have played with neighborhood friends –
and at times with my son-in-law when they visit.
There are times when our group of friends that we have known for years –
come to visit and we play guys vs gals and usually it ends up one stroke –
while we give them five strokes over eighteen holes.
Makes for a great afternoon – dinner and festive bantering!
We also chose this area because we are close to two beaches – here is the Sunset Beach Pier –
This is the beach I prefer to walk on as it is more level and easier for me to walk –
I have a sore hip joint – walking here in the surf is okay!
As you can see here – Sunset Beach at low tide is very wide – and not as rough as other beaches!
While I also am way past riding the waves – I do wade into knee-deep and that is enough for me!
Sunset Beach is known as its name suggests – brilliant SUNSETS!
A couple times a month they have live bands set up on the pier and everyone gathers in the sand
below for free concerts!
This is more of a residential beach and in less than fifteen minutes we are standing on the sand!
And then there is OCEAN ISLE BEACH – I like this beach because it has commercial places to eat and drink!
Also a very large open park with a covered stage for concerts – a mini golf course – and a playground with pickle ball courts – basketball – splash pool and various playground rides for kids!
Live free concerts begin at the end of May and run up past Labor Day!
Pelican Perch is one of my favorite bars and grills – my favorite draft is ‘RED OAK”!
There is also a second-level coffee shop and a wine and beer garden with appetizers!
Many surf shops and a community center with parking – a covered deck with picnic tables
and outdoor showers – and restrooms for the public.
We drive here often as in less than ten minutes we are standing on the beach –
we search for sea shells – sand dollars – starfish –
April is a big month to find Counch Shells!
Ocean Isle Beach pier – a lot of fishing from here – and you can see from the other pier on Sunset Beach-
it is rougher here!
We walk here also but it seems that my hip is more sore here than at Sunset Beach.
Both beaches have free parking for now – but both piers charge $10.00 to park in their enclosed lots
all day.
Living here near golf and beaches along with being warm in Spring and Fall is what we wanted.
Winter is bearable – no snow to shovel and hardly any ice – storms can be a problem but in four years we have survived that!
Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
We both love the BEACH – with its sunrises and sunsets!
Walking the surf – toes in the sand and cold water to sip on!
Our life now consists of two beaches that are close – one four miles and one six miles!
When we were first married – our dreams were beach vacations – but that was not always an option!
Money – we had to save what we could – taking four kids to the beach was expensive.
Our first “FAMILY” vacation was to a rental – off the beach – at Lake Erie!
I really do not remember much about the house – it was one level – sat on a bluff with lots of trees- and you could walk to an overlook and down below and see a small rock-strewed beach.
The boys would go down the side to the beach – the girls not so much.
Later – we would pack up and drive to the beach in New Jersey – having picnics on the way –
saving as much money as we could – Sherry was excellent at that!
The Outer Banks was our later goal in life and we managed to do that with friends and their families-
later my brother and sister and their families.
Today – here we are – Ocean Isle Beach and Sunset Beach – within minutes we are on the beaches!
We also are within a half hour to forty-five minutes of Holden Beach – Oak Island –
and North Myrtle Beach!
Our dreams have come to be – we are now living the “BEACH LIFE” while on the mainland-
away from the storms – Hurricanes can and do have an effect on us –
But – we will deal with it at the time.
Ocean Isle Beach and the pier – this beach is not as flat as Sunset Beach –
but this beach also has a community center with bathrooms – outdoor showers – and free parking!
The Community Center has a large open-air covered porch with many picnic tables.
There is a nice beach entrance and a large volleyball net and court.
This beach is also where we shell hunt and the month of April is known for the large Counch shells!
There also is a large park with a stage and live music all summer long!
There are more places to eat and ice cream – slushes and stores here!
Sunset Beach is my favorite beach to walk on – it is flat and easier to walk – we often go here –
They also have live music on Thursdays with the band on the pier and you set up below on the beach!
It also turns into Bird Island – a protected area and where the “KINDRED SPIRIT MAILBOX” –
This is a mile and one-half walk from the pier –
and has been there for over forty years!
Two benches and the mailbox sit up near the top of a dune.
There are plaques for remembering those who first put this here and a large piece of driftwood-
with a plaque in honor of those two people all the years ago.
In the mailbox is a journal and a pen for you to sit down and leave a message.
these are collected-
and are at a University for recording the history of “THE KINDRED SPIRIT MAILBOX”!
Thank you for reading PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
PAPA’S WORLD – A DREAM OF LIVING NEAR THE BEACHES!
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