An early picture of me holding my niece and my little brother – both have passed away – in fact – all my close family except two nieces and two great nieces are gone that I grew up with.
A early picture in the ’50’s of my older brother Roger on the basketball team. He also has passed on.
My early childhood was spent in a little town in NWPA called Eldred.
Near the NYS border and just across the mountain from Bradford-
home of Kendall – Penns oil – Quaker State and the South Penn oil fields.
My older brother Roger and myself in The Villages shortly before he passed away.
Growing up here was like the movie “STAND BY ME”
I had friends like that – and road my bike everywhere!
Curfew for me was BE HOME BEFORE THE STREET LIGHTS COME ON”!
My brother in law Bill and my sister Donna – both gone but not forgotten. Bill was once interviewed by Larry King – he was a truck driver but also the Chief of Police and later Mayor – Mr. King found that to be a interesting story!
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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 tournamentsThe Catholic church I attended as a small child confirmed inAnother 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 meOak hill cemeteryWhere 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’SOur team on the varsity Bobby is number 83 and I sit to his left number 65 Those were the best of years.