Floods

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

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My yearbook the year we graduated – June – 1967

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

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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.

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for her email

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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!

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

/ Tom / Leave a comment

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!

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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 !

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Tom ( PAPA ) JIM & Buck

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