Floods

Papa’s World – A look at early years to now!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

Way before I was born –

The roaring twenties of my hometown –

ELDRED, PA.

Here is Main Street –

Some of these buildings were still there when I was young.

Some had new store Fronts while others looked as these do.

It has always, I think, had that small-town feel.

I believe this might be even earlier.

Perhaps sometime in the 1800s?

This looks to be late 30s?

Or even 40s?

I recognize many of these stores!

An early picture of Scotty’s Eldred softball team.

Many of these men I knew growing up.

My best friend Bob – his father is lower right side.

I would assume this to be late 40s to mid 50s?

This was in the 1880s –

Our little town experienced yearly spring floods –

Into the summertime.

The Alleghany River ran in the upper center right of this picture.

Heavy rains and snowmelt seemed to always cause flooding.

The Eldred grade and high school!

First grade through twelfth grade.

I went to my first four years here-

And we combined school districts –

With Eldred- Duke Center and Rixford.

A new elementary school was built right across the street from the ball field.

I went to fifth and sixth grade and then was bused 7 or 8 miles to –

The Otto-Eldred High School in the seventh grade.

The old school – built sometime in the 1800s-

Being torn down.

My brother Roger –

Second bottom row from the right-

On the Eldred H.S. basketball team.

I knew many of these guys growing up.

My father – Bob- second from left –

Part owner of the Western Auto-

A supervisor for the South Penn Oil Company.

On the school board, when uniting the three school districts along with the township.

Here is the picture of when in Buffalo –

The Eldred team won the championship!

The Eldred fire department, as I knew it growing up,

I lived just up the street on the opposite side.

There was and still is –

A ten o’clock curfew –

The siren would sound every night, and you had to be home and off the streets!

My Junior year of H.S.

I am second row –

Third from right –

Number 65.

My senior year – I was in a car accident-

And spent 51 days in the hospital.

Not knowing if I would ever walk again.

My older sister, Donna, and her husband, Bill.

She worked for the town.

Bill was the Police chief when I was growing up!

And later became Mayor.

Today, this little town of Eldred, Pa.

It is home to a huge WWII museum.

All in this picture is the building.

Many tour buses make a stop here.

They come from all over the country to see the exhibits!

It is a marvel and a bucket list to see!

I have a lot to smile about!

Growing up here –

I would not trade.

This was home to me for 30 years.

Sherry and I – July 2024 – celebrating our 75th birthday on the beach with our families.

Growing old and aging as healthily as we can.

www.https://sfitzsimmons.juiceplus.com

PAPA’S WORLD – A LOOK BACK AT THE EARLY YEARS OF WHERE I GREW UP – ELDRED, PA.

Papa’s World – Pictures of the place I grew up- the early years of ELDRED!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

Back in the late teens?

A parade to honor a WWI veteran killed in action.

This is Main Street looking South.

The false fronts of stores –

Some remained as I was growing up in the 50s and 60s!

The big building at the top right was a hotel –

I never saw that as I was growing up

And was a brick Chevy dealership called Burrs-

Where I worked the summer between my Junior and senior years!

That also has been demolished, and a bank is there today.

An early view of the ball park and town.

I assume this to be the late 1800s or early 1900s.

Many of these buildings were gone by the time I was born in 1949!

The ballpark was way different when I was growing up!

A chain mail fence and a road ran alongside the first baseline.

Tall telephone poles with lights surrounded the field, and it was groomed to perfection.

The diamond itself was set back toward the right?

The outfield – we would meet and play tackle football.

There were tennis courts and a basketball court.

The park behind the home plate had restrooms and swings –

a small merry-go-round and a large covered pavilion-

slide and huge old maple trees.

A creek called Barden Brook ran down the side of the field to the Alleghany River.

Later, the Army Corps of Engineers made it underground because of the annual flooding!

Every Spring, it seemed we had water on Main Street.

Here are pictures from 1889!

In 1972, Hurricane Agnes dropped so much rain-

That up to 12 to 15 feet of water submerged MAIN STREET!

It was after that, years later –

The Army Corps of Engineers developed a dike system –

And I believe it solved the flooding problem.

Here is the busy main street of Eldred, Pa.

I grew up here much later than this picture.

Many businesses had moved to other locations by then.

This is looking toward South Main Street,

And those trees were still there as I was growing up!

The Gustafsons’ drug store had moved to the left-

And that building became Todd’s Ford dealership

We had Ford, Chevy, and Dodge car dealerships in town when I was growing up.

This was the fire department as I grew up.

I could see it from the sidewalk in front of my home.

It was here that I took the hunter safety course upstairs!

We had a 10 o’clock curfew –

The fire siren would blow then every night-

And I believe it to be that way now.

All kids had to be off the streets when the siren blew.

We would sleep outside overnight-

And the worst we ever did was raid gardens after curfew.

I hope you enjoy this blog –

My next blog will also be on Eldred, Pa.

Thanks for reading-

PAPA’S World

My site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

For over twenty years – AGING AS HEALTHY AS WE CAN!

http://www.sfitzsimmons.juiceplus.com

Papa’s World – Helena – Continueing Donations.

/ Tom / Leave a comment

Sherry’s friends from back in Mount Jewett, Pa.

– who lives in Hickory, N.C. –

Continue to purchase supplies –

and deliver them to the airport five miles from their home.

Here – Helicopters proceed to areas hard to access,

which is a coordinated effort.

We provide the funding for them –

through the donations given to us!

Linda and Pat have made multiple trips to the airport –

and many – many trips-

to stores to buy the items.

They inquire about what is needed –

and then buy the items!

We are blessed to have this link –

and still are receiving donations.

We have also received clothing –

and we have passed it on to our neighbor Kathy-

Who has a couple connections to see it get out to WNC.

We will continue as long as we can.

Humanity coming together –

We have received donations from TEN STATES –

and one from JAPAN!

I will continue in the following blog –

on the donations!

Thanks for reading and as always HGD!

PAPA’S WORLD-

my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Papa’s World – Collecting food for WNC – flood victims.

/ Tom / Leave a comment

Sherry and I started collecting money through posts –

we had to buy items and take them to a

spot on the Sunset Pier in trucks and trailers –

This was in response to a post made by the owners of the Pier –

Who happened to be from the area in WNC MOUNTAINS –

And wanted to help the region –

Collecting water – food – health items clothes and blankets!

We spent over 100.00 dollars of our own money –

But – then after our posts –

other donations started coming in.

Close to $1000.00 and still coming!

Folks who donated staying –

and separating items to be packed onto the trailer and UHAUL!

Sherry is in the top middle!

Our neighbors Patrisha Donna and Pete are friends.

We ran into other friends and neighbors who also donated.

Soon – neighbors were dropping off boxes and bags for us to take over.

These were the first of FOUR TRUCKS and TRAILERS –

They collected for less than Two Days –

and filled them up!

On Wednesday of that week –

arrangements were made by the owners of the pier –

To park a friend’s Semi-tractor trailer-

to park across the street –

and the donations to continue!

Slowly the people came –

and then more and more –

Two more trucks were added –

in less than 48 hours – all four were filled.

A second site was announced –

this one at OIB – a parking lot near the park and museum.

This trailer had a weight limit of 1600 lbs.

The water was transferred to the UHAUL –

The owner of this trailer was a man named Danny –

A retired police officer who lives in Calabash and rides a motorcycle!

Papa and Sherry – we made four trips to the stores –

With the money donated –

we were able to go to the Food Lion twice –

the Dollar Tree once –

Plus neighbors dropping off supplies to our home.

We went to the home of a couple-

who had just purchased it in July –

They had spent this weekend of the storm there-

They were going back to the mountains-

and needed water –

and food to help their neighbors.

We dropped off three cases of water and a large box of food.

On this day –

after we made our fourth delivery –

We went back home with $25.00 left.

I posted the results –

and vowed to continue if donations came in.

That night we went to bed with $375.oo in the account!

The next day –

we will continue –

and go forward –

As long as the donations continue –

we will deliver –

and continue donating ourselves.

PAPA’S WORLD –

my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Papa’s World – surrounded – by water – Eldred Pa. ’72

/ Tom / Leave a comment

It started with some rain –

I was working second shift –

in Olean N.Y.

Around 9:00 P.M. –

I looked out back at the river –

IT WAS TIME TO LEAVE AND GO HOME – TO ELDRED PA.

Good morning

I left and drove through Portville N.Y.

– still raining –

and I came to the bridge that turned right –

And would take me to the border and Pa.

They had just set up the barriers –

I would be the last car through.

I had to go across the “FLATS” and it already had started to flood.

Here we are in the hills or mountains of the Allegany River

which flows North into New York State –

before it turns South back into Pa.

Eventually ending up in Pittsburg Pa.

I pushed water with my bumper –

almost up to the headlight –

But after one hour to make a thirty minute trip –

I was home.

This would be the last time I would get out for almost two weeks.

We would be completely surrounded by water !

Main Street Eldred

In this picture –

I had moved from a apartment over top of the Western Auto

Six months before the flood from Hurricane Agnes

which dropped 12 . 5 inches of rain

The water would continue to rise another three to four feet in this picture.

I never went back to work for over two weeks –

Almost to second stories

The town was devastated –

one point five million dollars in destruction.

With a population of 800 to 1000 –

The water destroyed almost every business and home in the Boro.

We were lucky – we had moved to North Mani Street – high above the water.

We were constantly moving people and furniture only to see the water rise

and cover everything we had moved up.

A helicopter made trips into the ball field before it

( the ball park ) also vanished under water

Soon the Elementary school where we had set up a sort of place to meet –

was under water.

About twelve feet of water

Through all of this –

main street turned into a water way for boats –

As did the side streets

Supplies were getting thin –

trying the back roads through the hills –

was almost impossible as almost every community from miles around

was in water or surrounded.

Rain bow

But there is a good ending to all of this –

ELDRED survived and came back –

rebuilt -and a few years later –

The Army Corps of Engineers built a dike system –

And even though there were dikes before –

this was much improved –

And as far as I know –

has not flooded since!

The Sun came out and at the end of the Rain bow –

Main street Eldred – many of these buildings still remain

She still stands there today –

The little community –

Where everyone knows your name –

Continues on as it has since the 1800’s!

Tom & Sherry

I hope this brings back memories for those that lived it.

Hurricane Agnes in June 1972

wrought much destruction in our area-

This is but one point of view.

Thank you for reading.

For more blogs that I have written just type in the following

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For email to contact me

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For general HEALTH ( sherry is a certified Health Coach )

http://www.sf.juiceplus.com

for her email

ssherrylynn49@aol.com

Thank you for reading

and Welcome to PAPA’S WORLD

Papa’s World – attending school in Eldred Pa. – little community in the Alleghany mountains!

/ Tom / Leave a comment
One thing I learned

My very first memory of school – sitting on my grandma’s lap on the front porch –

“Grandma – when can I go to school”? I asked.

We had just watched a neighborhood boy walk past on the other side of the road –

His name was Denny and I later found out he was two years older than me!

So – I am thinking I was about four years old and I can still see him in my mind and me asking her.

The old Eldred school

I attended this old school until the fourth grade!

It was at that time – we merged with Duke Center – Rixford and Eldred to form OTTO-ELDRED.

At this time a brand new elementary school had been built right across the street from the ballpark!

I would not have to walk a mile to school in the mornings!

But – I remember that old school and my teachers and the classrooms.

The very first class was in the front and face the main street and I had Mrs. Shields.

We started off spelling the normal way – sounding out the words –

but soon after – we switched to the new way – MEMORY!

That went on for a couple years but it left me and others I know – very poor spellers.

The Alleghany River
The floodwaters of 1972

Across the main street and the railroad tracks – lays what we called THE FLATS!

And just beyond that the Alleghany River!

It seemed growing up part of life in the Spring were floods!

In 1954 or 1955 or thereabouts –

I was told not to go near the water flooded on the main street – I was maybe 6 years old.

But – I had made a raft and was sailing it on the main street – standing up and poling my way around

in about two feet of floodwater.

Unbeknown to me – a photographer from the local Bradford Era Newspaper – took my picture!

I was caught – standing on my homemade raft – poling my way around the main street –

ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE BRADFORD ERA!

But – I also shared that front page later in life with my dad!

He made a bet on the heavyweight champion of the world fight and picked

FLOYD PATTERSON – the bet – the loser would wheelbarrow the winner down Mainstreet

To Slavin’s Bar – my dad won and made that same newspaper front page being pushed by HERKY!

A WWII bomber pilot who had been shot down and made it to the allies’ lines!

The brand new Eldred Elementary School

This sits right across from the ballpark and tennis courts –

I was the first class in there in the fifth grade – Miss Cawley!

Mr. Harrington was my sixth-grade teacher and Principle!

Many games of RED ROVER RED ROVER please send ???? over!

Was played right there on that circle drive in front of the doors.

Later in life – I walked my youngest son down to those front doors and inside to enroll him in Kindergarten – and standing in the lobby with all those parents he reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a bunch of dirt and worms!

He had stopped on our walk and without me knowing – stuffed his pocket with dirt and worms!

THAT I shall always remember!

OTTO – ELDRED H.S.

We were bussed every day from the seventh grade on seven miles to school in Duke Center, Pa.

Three communities combined to have one single H.S. but each community had its own

grade schools and one township grade school.

We had to find our own way home after sports practices if we did not ride the bus.

My good buddy and I – later in H.S. road with his dad to school.

We had a science teacher called CB SAWYER – who had his own music system in his lab.

He would play up to date 45 records of music between classes all day long.

His favorite back then was PAUL REVERE AND THE RAIDERS – “GLAD ALL OVER”

and it was everywhere in the hallways – piped through the loudspeaker system!

OTTO-ELDRED H.S.

I have always said someday I would like to go back and rewalk those halls to that blast of music!

It was across from here I watched a fight between two seniors – and I was one of a hundred people!

I still see it in my mind and they were about three years older than us.

Their names were Ron and Jim!

My senior picture

Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD – livinglifedoingitmyway.blog fitztdf@aol.com

My yearbook the year we graduated – June – 1967

Papa,s World – a visit to River-walk in Conway S.C. – water so black !

/ Tom / Leave a comment
Entrance to River-walk in Conway S.C.

Sherry has a friend from back in NVA who also owns a home just outside Conway.

She told us we had to visit this town as it has large living Oak trees

and a historic part with a River-Walk!

The walk is along this river – known local as THE BLACK RIVER!
While these pictures do not show just how black this water is – you could see nothing!

I tried to see into the water – but it was black!

I guess there is a chemical released from the Cypress trees that line the banks –

that leaches into the water – turning it a almost black color!

It just gave me the creeps not knowing what or if anything is in there!

The trees and bushes were really beautiful as was the new walk way!

From all the rain they had – flooding of the River-Walk!
A portion of the walk was under water – making it so we had to find a way around it!
Geese swimming in parts of the park under water! You can see the water mark on the base of the trees!

We also came across a marina – with docks and boats – this area seemed to me – to be like a campground for boats! There were a number of boats with people living on them and they looked to be in pretty rough shape! I would not want to take them out onto the river. There was bathrooms here so I assume the people used them to bath etc.

These are some of the better looking ones – some were decorated outside for Christmas – others had lawn chairs and some had just things laying around!

Thank you for reading Papa’s World

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Papa’s World – there was a time I stayed up late!

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Back in my younger days – I started out working second shift –

only a little bit different –

I was scheduled to work 10 hour shifts – for 6 1/2 years!

My hours were 3:00 PM. to 1:00 AM. !

We ate on the fly so I was told – a paid lunch of 20 minutes!

So – my days were like mixed up from my inner clock.

I would get home – in bed by 2:00 AM. and up by 6:00 AM.

I had a son who was always up – so we would eat breakfast

and then I would take him for a walk up the street

to my parents house and read the morning paper!

Troy & Shawn my sons

Troy was my little buddy –

he would hold my hand as we walked up the street

You see – I had a apartment on Main Street

and my childhood home was a short walk up the North Main Street

in a little town in NWPA called Eldred.

Population 800 to 1000 people and everyone knew everyone.

If you saw the movie “Stand By Me” –

well it was a lot like that!

Donna – me – Bill – Roger and my mother Mary

Mom & Dad lived there for years – we were raised there

Here is the front porch and my sister and her husband

lived right next door.

In 1971 I bought a church and the house that went with it!

I turned the Sunday school rooms into two apartments

and then tore the church down.

I had managed to move six months or so before the ’72 flood

Which flooded main street almost up to the second story apartment.

Our little town was cut off by the flood waters from the outside

for over two weeks!

I was off work for almost three weeks

but the house and church sat on some of the highest ground

on North Main Street!

My mother actually had water come over the tracks behind her house!

It had never been that high!

My younger years are gone – staying up late

riding motorcycles

bars – music – dancing staying out late.

Playing softball – basketball – volleyball

Now it is walking – reading – traveling –

visiting friends and places on my bucket list.

My life is blessed for all that I have been able to do.

And even though I no longer wish to go out –

I do wish to go out and see our friends

to see new places and feel life.

Life has come a circle only with different meanings

and yes – I go to bed early and rise up early

for I love what each new day brings

another adventure and cross one more off my bucket list!

Thank you for reading Papa’s World

WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY!

http://www.sf.juiceplus.com

Papa’s World – Walking the Billy Goat Trail – Great Falls

/ Tom / Leave a comment

On Sunday after church service and adult education –

Sherry said

” Lets do something ” !

She had told me to wear my walking sneakers –

She said we can go to one of three places –

Georgetown – some where in D.C.

or Great Falls !

Sherry & Tom at Great Falls

Now – 18 or 19 years ago –

we went there – and have not been back since –

So – I said – how far do I have to drive

and she looked it up –

six miles – DONE –

I do not want to drive into Georgetown or DC !

Great Falls

I had forgotten just how beautiful this place is !

A man in a Kayak trying to go up the rapids

You actually can pay and go down the river in huge rubber tubes –

There were people getting ready to do this but we missed them.

The Billy Goat trail

Somehow as we were climbing up and over and trough the rocks

on The Billy Goat Trail –

They had put in and gone on their way !

We did however see one lone Kayak trying to go up the rapids !

There were several places along the trail

That people were going to rope down !

Flood stages over the years

It is really hard to believe that where she is standing –

FLOOD WATERS !

A lot of these dates correspond to major storms and ice and snow melt !

Mather’s Gorge

The Billy Goat Trail is full of rocks and boulders such as you see here.

I found myself gingerly placing my feet down in order not to slip.

It was dry and very hot out – 95 degrees –

I do not think I would walk this after a good rain.

Being it would be extremely slippery !

Below is where they put the tubes in

Most of this trail stayed away from the gorge edge –

but had little side trails that you could walk out to see over –

often times you actually could stand on rocks – NOT ME !

One of three overlooks

There were Three major over looks that had walls waist high –

Those I did – and were quite safe !

There were volunteers constantly walking the trail and overlooks –

making sure everyone obeyed the park rules !

I was surprised that they actually let people repel over the sides

and climb back up again !

I do not know if you have to have a permit to do that ?

I did read where you had to check in and register !

Old growth trees along side the canal

In 1784 – a series of five canals were constructed

and are still there

The main path follows along right where the footpath was

George Washington presided over the effort to construct the canal

and after completion in 1802 –

it operated for 26 years .

Old growth trees along side the old canal

It would take three days to travel the old canal from Cumberland Md.

To Georgetown – a distance of 190 miles –

the boats were flat –

pointed at both ends –

75 feet long and 5 feet wide !

After arriving at Georgetown

most of the boats were

sold for lumber

and the boatmen would then walk back home !

This area was a major trade center between the Indians and the colony.

View of the river

I was also surprised to see all the area to have picnics !

There were many tables and grills –

A host of families – and wide open spaces – shaded by the old trees !

A very nice visitors center and bathrooms –

along with a concession stand where you could buy Hot dogs

Pizza – other food and ice cream bars etc.

A deer eating 20 feet from us

I hope you liked our little side trip to GREAT FALLS PARK

On the Virginia side !

If you would like to read more of my blogs

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Tom ( PAPA ) JIM & Buck

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