Allegany Mountains

Papa’s World – A look back in time!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

It only seemed like it was yesterday –

Taylor and little Cassidy –

Carrying her umbrella!

Both had their name tags on –

and they were on their way to the school bus!

Cassidy and her cowgirl boots!

Taylor with her shy look-

and she still does that today!

Now they are 14 years old –

and in the eighth grade –

And little Cassidy is catching up to Taylor –

who is 5’8″ tall!

Takes after their MORMOR –

who is 5’10” –

Cassidy cheerleads –

and Taylor rides horses.

Cassidy does gymnastics –

and Taylor works in a horse barn.

A LOOK BACK IN TIME!

Here are two of my oldest buddies –

Buck – on the left –

we were neighbors in WNY –

many memorable times –

Buck and I took his wife Cindy –

and Sherry golfing!

They had never golfed before –

and made fun of us for cleaning the balls!

They wore mittens –

a lot of fun times

and since then –

we have traveled the world on vacations with them.

They moved to N.C. –

and when we moved to OIB –

we ended up 38 miles from them!

In the middle is Jimmy –

who also grew up in the same town as I did –

in NWPA – ELDRED!

We played softball together all those years ago.

He worked for the same company as did Sherry and I.

After we transferred to NVA –

He transferred to Va. Beach –

with the same company as we did!

Now – we are all retired –

and he and Dottie –

also moved to N.C. –

although 3 1/2 hours away.

We all still get together 2 or 3 times a year.

A LOOK BACK IN TIME!

A look at the KINZUA VIA DUCT RAILROAD BRIDGE –

just outside Mount Jewett, Pa. –

Where Sherry was raised.

Today it is a state park –

once when it was built –

was the tallest RR Bridge in the nation!

Today it stands as you see above –

It was almost destroyed by a Tornado –

Now it is a state park –

and you can walk out to the end –

A thick glass floor allows you to look down to the valley floor –

over 300 feet.

The other half of the bridge lays where it crumpled down-

as a testament to the construction back in the 1800’s!

Sherry’s father used to ride his snowmobile across it –

after the trains stopped using it!

This is the Allegheny National Forest-

and the Kinzua Valley –

An Indian name –

and the Seneca Reservation are about twenty miles away!

Today – hunting for bears turkey and deer.

A segment of FINDING BIGFOOT was filmed here!

Also, wild Elk herds are nearby –

And the town of Mount Jewett –

Has a Swedish yearly festival.

This whole town was settled-

and built by Swedish immigrants!

Mount Nebo Cemetary-

and the church still stands –

built in the 1880s by the men of Sweden.

Sherry has many relatives in that cemetery-

along with her mother and father.

A LOOK BACK IN TIME!

Second from the left – MY FATHER – Clarence Russel Fitzsimmons –

Known as BOB or FITZ.

A member of the school board –

and the town council.

Part owner of the Western Auto store –

and A supervisor for the South Penn oil company in NWPA!

An avid golfer and bowler.

Coach of the Eldred Town Team baseball.

He graduated from High School-

as a Sophomore-

But his father –

a teacher and superintendent –

Kept him in school for two more years –

as there was nothing he could do being so young!

He was a “DOWNHOMER” –

A term given to people –

who was from the Brookville and Corsica area in PA.

He met my mother –

who also was from that area-

and they married.

She was an Aiken –

IRISH CATHOLIC –

My dad was an IRISH PROTESTANT –

His mother was a Kennedy.

Made for many dynamic interchanges at the family dinner table.

But – although he was six feet tall –

and her a little over 5 feet-

She ruled the roost.

He passed away at 59 –

when I was but 19 from cancer.

Gone but not forgotten in my mind.

A LOOK BACK IN TIME!

Papa and Sherry on the ICW in Little River – Vareen Gardens – S.C.

Thank you for reading my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

It is but a little look back in time of our family –

friends, and places we hold dear in our hearts!

PAPA” ‘S WORLD – A LOOK BACK IN TIME!

Papa’s World – Memories from the past – part Seven!

/ Tom / Leave a comment
Historical Mt. Nebo Lutheran Church

In North-Western Pa. in the midst of the very ancient Alleghany Moutains –

Sits a village known as Mount Jewett.

A town was built and settled by Swedish Emigrants.

Sherry’s mother and her mother were Swedes – her grandmother was born in Sweden.

Memories of past generations.

Historical Mt. Nebo Lutheran Church

Built in 1885 by the Swedish men – this is a replicate of an actual EIGHT-SIDED church still existing in Sweden. This church was built for them and services were held there regularly through out the 1900s until the early ’60s.

When a new church was constructed by the ancestors of the Swedes of the 1800’s!

Memories of generations!

Today it is on the Historical resgister

It is completely surrounded by graves of those early settlers and this view is almost from the graves of Sherry’s parents and family members.

The interior of the church is a Octogon and consists of two levels.

The mural behind the altar was painted by a traveling artist and signed in the early 1900s.

All the original altar – organ – pews and communion vessels remain.

Memories of a congregation of immigrants.

Nearby is the historic Kinzua railroad bridge – the highest bridge built at the time in the 1800s.

A tornado came through and took down half the bridge – today it is a tourist area and a state park.

It also was the location for the TV series ” FINDING BIGFOOT”!

Memories of a long-gone dream of transit railroad through the mountains.

The little Swedish coffee shop

KAFFE SOL – Swedish for coffee shop – sits in the heart of the town of Mount Jewett.

If you like homemade cooking and great tasting treats of cinnamon rolls etc.

Then this is a must to stop and eat.

But it closes in mid-afternoon so they can go home and start that homemade cooking all over again.

Memories of sights and smells of the past in NWPA!

The center of town and their little town square.

Thanks for reading Papa’s World

MY SIGHT: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

MY CONTACT: fitztdf@aol.com

PAPA’S WORLD

Papa’s World – growing up – ELDRED PA.

/ Tom / Leave a comment

Sitting on the front porch of North Main Street –

It was a wide and deep porch –

The kind to sit through a rain storm –

and not get wet !

GOOD MORNING
Welcome to Papa’s World

I guess that is why now when I look at houses –

The very first TWO THINGS I look at are –

Front porches and screened in back three seasons rooms with views !

My childhood had the first but not the last !

Memories – some you just can not duplicate

My grand ma – siting out there on her lap –

I somehow do remember that –

which would make me 3 or 4 years old.

Roller skates – the kind that had a key –

I would strap them on and down the street I would go.

The street on both sides was lined with huge old trees –

The kind that six kids holding hands could not encircle the trunks !

Much – much bigger than this one

The roots had made the side walks uneven –

and to navigate them did not seem to slow me down !

I would turn around at Slavins – furniture store –

Back then it was also a service station –

And I remember Jack – he worked there.

There was a Coke machine that sat outside between the bays

Sometimes he would buy me a coke that came in a glass bottle !

Main Street in the late 1800’s

I lived all the way to the top of this old picture on the left –

some of those buildings still existed when i was growingup

And a few are still there today.

You can see the beginning of those trees even back then.

Then – I got my bicycle –

A red WESTERN FLYER !

The mountains or hills where I lived

That bike – I had those streamers coming out of the rubber handle grips

And a clothes pin with a card on the spokes –

both front and back.

I rode it everywhere – to the park –

across the tracks –

Up Barden Brook –

And just making it home when the street lights came on !

The streets I rode on

The park – my second home away –

base ball diamond – tennis and basketball courts –

But – the outfield of grass –

beneath the huge telephone poles with lights on them !

Where we choose up teams

and played football for hours !

Back home playing golf in the mountains – hills

Papa’s World – Growing up ELDRED PA.

Part two to follow

after all –

to much to see and tell !

If you would like to read more – just type in

livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

email fitztdf@aol.co

Sherry – certified health coach

For HEALTH & NUTRITION

http://www.sf.juiceplus.com

email

ssherrylynn49@aol.com

Thank you for reading Papa’s World

Part two coming

Papa’s World – after sixty two years – I am still a fan – Saint Bonaventure University – BONA’S

/ Tom / Leave a comment

My dad was a big fan of the basketball team at Saint Bonaventure University!

He had season tickets and when they played away games –

He would either listen to them on the radio or go down to SLAVINS!

This was the local town bar he and his close friends would go to have a beer.

Russ and Tootie were the owners and BIG BONA’S FANS also.

Every game the radio would be on and dozens of people would lean close to listen!

To understand the fan base of this basketball team – you first have to know –

this is one of the smallest College Universities in the USA!

If they have over 2000 students -that would be large!

Yet – they are giant killers in Division one basketball!

Have been since the early ’50’s and to the present.

The campus sits in the magical mountains along the Alleghany river –

Just on the town line of OLEAN N.Y. and Alleghany N.Y.

Some 65 miles South of Buffalo.

Yet – they compete on the big stage year in and year out!

To get here – you have to fly into Buffalo and drive the 65 miles through the country and back roads to Olean.

Where you might secure a room in one of the few hotels in the town.

And that is the beginning of your game madness in the Reilly Center – seating some 5200 rabid fans.

Sitting on four sides right on the court!

Mind you – the student body is around 2000 – and the town of Olean on a good day is maybe 12,000.

Yet – while I was young – there was a waiting list for those season tickets.

My father finally got his!

The team has been in that time frame had a high ranking in different years

as Number two or three in the nation!

They have gone to the FINAL FOUR only to lose when they lost their big man –

Buffalo ” BOB LANIER” to a knee injury and out for out for the final game.

Many thoughts throughout the nation – they would of won!

Now – the promise of next year looms before us BONNIE FANS!

PRESEASON POLLS – if they indicate anything at all – has them at the following!

What hurt this year was not the starting five – who all come back – not one senior on the whole team.

Was the bench – not very deep – ( what there was – 3- transferred out)

and when one of there best players twisted his ankle early in the game against SEC LSU –

Well when he returned he was a shadow of himself.

They went on to lose by 11 points!

THE HOPES ARE HIGH FOR NEXT YEAR and that fan base –

from every small town around –

is looking at these preseason polls with hunger in their eyes.

Now the GOOD NEWS!

Early commitments seem to have shored up that bench.

Three have transferred out – hardly playing and could not support that really good starting five.

In their place as of April 13th. FOUR MAJOR RECRUITS ARE COMING!

Two are transfers – who can play right away –

One starting Shooting guard from the ACC – Wake Forest – Quadry Adams – 6′ 4″

One starting power forward from another ACC school – Pitt – Abdoul Karin Coulibaly- 6′ 8″

One high JUCO transfer center

that was recruited by the power five conferences – Oluwasegun Durosinm – 6′ 9″

And a high Canada prep player regarded as a top prospect –

Justin Ndjock Tadjone – a shooting guard listed at 6′ 8″

They still have three scholarships left.

BUT THE CALVARY HAS ARRIVED!

The bench is now there!

My dad -My father would of been so excited – he passed that excitement onto me those 62 years ago!

For years I would bend over close to that same radio and listen to those games –

I would do the same as he did – keeping score with X’S and O’S –

The names of each player written down and the fouls each had.

Yes – I did that and to this day – I watch them on national TV!

We – before we moved South – had those precious season tickets.

The fans right on top of that floor at the Reilly Center –

Rated as one of the most feared and toughest places to play in the entire country!

PAPA’S WORLD livinglifedoingitmyway.blog fitztdf@aol.com

IT IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THOSE YEARS COME FALL WITH THE BONNIES!

Fasten your seat belt – this little Division one University of some 2000 students and Friars

are gonna take you for a ride – who knows – just how far they will go-

They finished 16 and 5 with no bench – now they have one!

SAINT BONAVENTURE – THE LITTLE SCHOOL WHO COULD ONCE AGAIN SLAY GIANTS!

IT’S HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE and maybe – just maybe the third time is the CHARM!

Papas World – a small kid in a small town – growing up!

/ Tom / 3 Comments
There is a small community
in North Western Pa.
Just a few short miles
from the New York State Border
Situated in what are called
THE ENCHANTED MOUNTAINS
of The Alleghany Mountain Chain

Rolling green hills now -once as large as the Rockies

millions and millions of yearsago

now considered as just “Foothills”

Back in the late 1800’s
or early 1900’s

The small community is well

a place where every one knew your name

you parents and exactly where you lived!

Coming into town on North Main Street
from the border of NYS
sits a junction known locally
as The Kendall Bridge
The Alleghany river runs beneath it
as does the Rail road tracks and trains
A span comes off it
and a road runs under it.
The Kendall Bridge
looking Northward
to the foothills of the mountains
and New York State

The age to drink was 21 in Pa.

But 18 in NYS!

Traveled this road many times

to legally have a beer! LOL

And believe me – the adults knew!

Main Street
Eldred Pa.
and one of the reasons
we moved South
SNOW !!!!!

The post office to the left – the old red fire hall

to the right as I grew up.

And the building up farther in brick

The doctors office & the dental office

and also the Masonic Lodge!

I spent a lot of time there

Dental and Doctor!

Today the leading business
of incoming funds
The Historic World War ll Museum

A full size tank bursting through the wall

a Museum that also encompasses the next large building

Tour buses stop every day!

It is a quality sight to behold!

This little town had many WWll heros

Purple hearts -medal of honors

And I knew everyone of them!

King Street
my stomping ground
when we slept outside
after curfew at 10 PM.
Running and hiding
raiding gardens
Just growing up!
The park where I played baseball
tackle football
and flag football
Softball
And everyday rode my bike to!
The park below the tracks
where in my 20’s
we all chipped in and helped to get it started
and mowed and tuned into a softball field!
Playing our home games here
and holding many tournaments
The Catholic church I attended
as a small child
confirmed in
Another small church
on King street

My older sister Donna on the right and my cousin Patty

Donna helped raise me

as she was 15 years older

and lived right down the street

and later on next door!

My best friend
Bobby Goodman’s house
spent many a night there
on the porch sleeping out
and he at mine
we did not want to sleep inside!

My sister Donna -caught us one night

we had gotten into my parents whiskey!

And she came outside and there we sat on the curb in front

of her house and mine.

After so many questions

I had her almost convinced we were not drinking

Bobby not saying a word!

A car came down the street and we were in its headlights

And that is when Bobby got sick

and threw up in front of her!

Later she laughed and laughed

and always reminded me we did not fool her!

My brother in law Bill – was the police chief

and always took care of me and my friends

as long as we did not get into trouble or do anything bad.

Back after the war
Eldred had a top notch
soft ball team
made up of many who came back
from the war.
My best friend Bobby’s father
is at the bottom right
I knew almost all these men
later in life!
They almost were all my fathers friends!
Most of us joined The Explorer’s
when we were 16
and took many a trip
to Pro games
here we took a three day canoe trip down the river
which when I was in my mid 30’s
I – along with our pastor
took a youth group down the same river
Bobby – far left and then me
Oak hill cemetery
Where in winter
we would ride our sleds
down the hill
between and around
the tombstones!
The high school
where I graduated in 1967
Known then as it is today
OTTO – ELDRED H.S.
Home of the TERROR’S
Our team on the varsity
Bobby is number 83
and I sit to his left
number 65
Those were the best of years.

Thank you for reading Papa’s World

WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY!

My Site

livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

A small town growing up
ELDRED PA.