Baseball

Papa’s World – before there was STAND BY ME – ELDRED

/ Tom / 18 Comments

In a little community five miles from the New York State border –

In North West Pa. – stands a village –

called Eldred.

Nestled in the Allegany hills by the river of the same name –

Home to me for my first thirty years of life.

The Allegany Mountains

With a population through out the years at 800 to 1000 people –

Everyone knew your name and parents !

And we had a CURFEW –

yes – the fire station siren –

would blast away at 10:00 every night !

It could be heard all over town –

Main street in the 1800’s

Many a night during the Summer –

sleeping out –

be it in my own back yard or front porch –

or that of a friend –

We found ourselves roaming the streets –

long after curfew !

We did not do anything wrong other than raid some gardens .

Smoke a cigar or cigarette

and later – up on the hill –

Drink some Colt 45 !

Rural Eldred

We had friends – from all parts of town –

I lived on North Main Street

A lot of my friends lived by the ballpark –

yes we had a ball diamond with lights !

And tennis and basketball courts !

Stand by Me

Grade school friends –

later High School –

There was a movie that came out

” STAND BY ME “

Well before that –

was “ELDRED” at least in my life !

My STAND BY ME FRIENDS – me second from left

We formed a group in my Freshman year –

one of my friends fathers named BUD formed it !

It was called “THE EXPLORERS” –

a step up from the Boy Scouts.

We did everything – raised money –

held the first dances in the area.

We went on trips – Pro football games –

And my favorite – a long weekend canoe trip –

down the Allegany River !

Here in this picture you can see our camp site by the river.

Streets of Eldred

We all played sports –

baseball – basketball and football.

It kept us busy and out of trouble –

It was our time in youth –

Some are now gone –

others I see once in a while –

But – all are memories of a time long gone.

ELDRED WWII MUSEUM

This little town has a big city Museum –

rather large –

thousands of square feet –

with life size displays of people –

trucks – jeeps – armaments –

and a TANK BUSTING THROUGH ITS WALL !

A must see on the history of this area and WWII

Part of the history of the area is that

manufacture of WWII bombs

and munitions

and bullets were made here.

It was a highly guarded site –

The museum has all

and more of the lore of the area.

Bus loads of people stop and tour it.

Work out center used to be Justice of Peace – before that – a grocery store – repurpose as the town ages

It is not a large town – small in fact –

the buildings from the 1800’s –

many are still there –

only in another form.

Main street has no red lights –

And in hunting season –

it fills up with hunters from the cities.

But it is a place where I grew up –

A place of friendship through the years

A place where NORMAL stands out –

and a place called ” ELDRED “

long before ” STAND BY ME “

TOM & SHERRY

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Welcome to Papa’s World

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Papa’s World – Remembering the past!

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While we lived in the Washington, D.C. area –

we made many trips to the baseball park to watch the Nationals play and the World Series in 2019!

We always enjoyed these games but it did get hot sitting there – so much so that at times we would

get up and go back into the shade!

REMEMBERING THE PAST!

My two sons – Troy on the left and Shawn on the right –

far away but close to our hearts!

REMEMBERING THE PAST!

The Metro station was only a few miles from our home in Brambleton, Va.

This is a suburb of Ashburn and on the back side of the Dulles Airport.

Countless times we boarded the Metro for a day trip into D.C and began our walking – exploring.

Here is one of the many flowering gardens and trees in the late springtime-

in Washington, D.C.

REMEMBERING THE PAST!

When we moved we wanted to golf as it was costly to golf in NVA.

Here we live among 30 golf courses and our friends live 40 minutes away.

We often get together to play 18 and always is a fun time.

REMEMBERING THE PAST!

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PAPA’S WORLD – REMEMBERING THE PAST!

Papa’s World – Early times – places – pictures!

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I remember the early days of golfing with Sherry!

But – she always hit the ball down the middle – me – not so much! LOL

I had a slice that made a right turn – around trees!

Those days were filled with laughter with our close friends the McBrides –

Buck golfed but Cindy didn’t!

Sherry and Cindy made fun of us for using the ball washer to clean the ball.

They would wear mittens with no fingers and laugh at us!

Those were the days of is – Buck and myself – “TEACHING” them to golf!

Today – in a scramble – us vs. them – they will beat “US”!

The early years are gone replaced by sighting the distance to the flag and selecting the ‘RIGHT” club!

I just grab the one I hit the best and go at it! LOL!

Those early years have turned into “US” years –

still playing with the McBrides but also going out by ourselves –

Our dream of living where we do is a reality –

Being together – sharing sun-fun and golf one day at a time!

While living in NVA – for about 20 years – we became baseball fans and attended many games –

We would drive into D.C. or go to the Metro – fifteen minutes away –

And ride it to the stop just a block or so from the stadium.

OUR PLACE IN THE SUN!

Beer – peanuts and hot dogs –

Some people think watching baseball is like watching “PAINT DRY”! LOL

But – we were there during the 2019 season and the WORLD SERIES run-

and the years running up to that magical year!

“TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME” still rings in my mind!

A picture of the early years back in NVA!

Cassidy and Taylor – now 14 years old – are here – The Brambleton town center –

most likely between 2 and 3!

Between houses for a year – they came and lived with us –

One day – I could not find them in the house-

the downstairs half-bath door was shut!

I knocked and they both said in unison – “HERE”! LOL

They had gone in and shut the door and set up the house with their dolls and toys!

That is an early memory I shall always carry with me!

So sweet and innocent – the early days of being close as twins –

having each other to play with –

I wish that could continue but growing up they had separate interests-

Taylor – riding horses and working in the barn and stalls!

Cassidy – gymnastics – arts and crafts and plays!

Both play the violin – both sing and both are different yet the same!

THE EARLY YEARS – MEMORIES IN PICTURES!

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PAPA’S WORLD – EARLY TIMES – PLACES and PICTURES!

Sarah – Cassidy and Sherry – MORMOR!

Papa’s World – Old pictures form new Memories!

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On one of our many seasonal trips to Florida – Sherry at a very old tree – OLD MEMORY!

Winter golfing with friends Cindy and Buck. We try to golf every couple of weeks – one of the reasons we moved to the South!

No snow or ice – a little chill in the air – good friends and “SHOTS” to sip on! LOL

The last time we were all together for a beach vacation – OLD PICTURE for a NEW MEMORY FOUND!

One of our many trips to National Park to watch a ballgame.

OLD PICTURE FORMS A NEW MEMORY!

When we moved South and found our new home and Community-

In the country but close to beaches and action – CAMERON WOODS COMMUNITY!

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LIVING LIFE TO THE PLUS ONE DAY AT A TIME: PAPA’S WORLD – livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Papa’s World – stop at CROOKED HAMMOCK then onto the PELICANS baseball game!

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At the Pelicans baseball park in Myrtle Beach.

We decided at the spur of the moment to buy tickets – got great seats just to the right behind home plate

and take in a minor league ball game.

When we lived in NVA – we often went and saw the Nationals play in D.C.

Now – I normally do not watch baseball on TV unless it is my team I follow.

But – minor league to me is different – full of little games between innings.

The cold beer and peanuts – a slice of pizza or a hot dog.

At Crooked Hammock in Barefoot Landing before the game.

But first, we stopped at Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach –

at one of our favorite places – CROOKED HAMMOCK!

This is a brand new brewery – perhaps opening a little over a year ago.

They sold beer out of a little RV trailer while consturction was going on to complete the brewery.

We like it here and stop in every so often – this time to buy a hat for our son-in-law

who requested one.

He had bought one when they visited us and wanted a new one.

So – we left early and stopped before the game.

The mascot for the Pelicans.

The divisions and teams in this minor league system.
View from our seats – $20.00 got us great seats.

Just a little time out and away from home – worth the money and a good time for a few hours.

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PAPA’S WORLD

Papa’s World – with family at the Durham Bulls Triple AAA baseball game!

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What a nice baseball park in Durham N.C.

It was Casey’s birthday – we went boating and now to watch the baseball game!

It turned out the crowd size was announced at 8400 fans!

That is quite a crowd for a minor league game.

It had all the things you see in a minor league game with between innings entertainment!

They got the fans involved by having different contests – the scoreboard was fantastic and had another one in right field.

The man here was adjusting cameras for the scoreboard and we sat right on the third base line!

Radar from Mash – one of my favorite TV shows.
Kristie Auntie Sherry

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PAPA’S WORLD

Papa’s World – growing up – ELDRED PA.

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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 – Growing up Eldred Pa. Part two !

/ Tom / Leave a comment

Those huge telephone poles –

with lights on top for night baseball games –

I never saw them lit up-

Games were played in late afternoon and early evening –

It was magical – Cars would line the first base line –

all the way down and then form a semi circle beneath the trees

in the outfield !

The men would stand and lean against the the chain mail fence

also running down the roadway –

They were the regulars –

This was growing up ELDRED PA.

GOOD MORNING
PART TWO

The park – where my life circled around –

To the creek – wading in the water –

The swings and teeter totter –

The thing that went around and around – whatever you called it !

The Volleyball court –

and of course the ball diamond –

where they would continue to DRAG it year after year !

A old bed of box springs –

attached by a chain to someones truck –

around and around they would go –

circling the dirt infield –

where I swear ROCKS and PEBBLES grew !

I watched a lot of ball games there –

When I was around 5 to 7 –

My father was the Manager of what was called THE TOWN TEAM !

And – they were good – traveling to other area towns and playing –

Our main pitcher was Freddie – he actually played and pitched –

in the Little League World Series for the team that advanced !

My bother Roger in the back ground.

Everyone has a Hero growing up –

Mine was my brother Roger –

seen here in the background with his friend Paul !

This would of been ’55 to ’57 –

He was ten years older than me –

I tagged him everywhere he went –

Then – he was gone – to college

He or they had a club in our basement –

I would sneak down and sit silently

watching – listening – until they found me

Roger – gone but always remembered

Later in life – he never came back – he moved on and away –

but I would always ask Mom – ” Have you heard from Roger “?

She would tell me of their conversation

or show me a letter –

The last ten or so years of his life –

we once again became close –

I cherish both those early times and the end of times.

He was my hero
The Villages
Sumter Square

There was the time I got a Davy Crockett coon skin hat –

complete with the tail and wore to school !

The Old Eldred school
where my brother graduated from
and I went till the fourth grade

There was a bridge on South Main street –

a cement bridge with opening so you could see below

That day I placed my hat on top of the cement railing

and slid my head through the opening so I could see the water below

Now going through was a little tight but doable

Then my EARS popped out –

and I was stuck !

My arms weren’t long enough to reach through and hold my ears back!

They had to call the fire department !

I’ve reached that age
big ears and all

Well –

that made him embarrassed

Everyone thought it funny

and later – we would laugh and laugh about it !

GROWING UP – ELDRED PA.

Sherry – Certified Health Coach

For HEALTH & NUTRITION

http://www.sf.juiceplus.com

email ssherrylynn49@aol.com

Part Three – next blog – GROWING UP – ELDRED PA.

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livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Email fitztdf@aol.com

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PAPA’S WORLD

where friends and family meet