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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Sherry and Pam – about to start our golf adventure – Pam could not golf – still recovering from a achilles surgery
On their last full day – Bob wanted to play golf – we last played together I would guess 1965 or 1966!
A very long time ago – and he had their clubs in the RV but had not used them all winter.
Pam – who was still recovering from surgery on her heel – would do the driving and Bob rode with me.
Bob and I went to school together from grade one to grade twelve.
They have wintered the last two seasons in their RV – this time it was in Florida.
They made it a point to stop here on their way to family in Nashville before heading home in N.H.
Sherry and Pam
Waiting to tee off – we like this course which sits right on Rte. 17 in Little River – S.C. It is a short course but fun to play. Sherry and I have golfed here alone and with friends.Now – she hits it on the fairway most times – and every once in a while – will hit it just right and bingo – it goes a long ways – here is a 298 yard hole for her – and this is her drive!
When you play a scramble and her and Cindy hit from the women’s tees – it is good to have them both on your team!
After a good day of golf – we scrambled to a 44 on both nines – we took them to Cherry Grove to one of our favorite places to eat – “SNOOKY’S” on the Beach.
This has become our go to place to take visitors – food is good – and you sit ocean front just yards off the sand.
We have many – many memories of growing up together in a small town in NWPA – called Eldred.
Many adventures of sleeping out under the stars – roaming the streets after curfew at 10:00 PM.
Nothing bad – raid a garden or two – sneak some beer – campfire – canoe trips down the river –
playing sports together – proms – dances – joining the exployer’s together-
driving – family – both his and mine.
Bob and Sherry checking out the beach where we walk every day!Pam and I a selfie while they discuss the beach!Ending our day together – walking to the cars. Pam and Bob!
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PAPA BOB PAM SHERRY Friends spending last full day together – golfing and SNOOKY’S!
SHERRY TAMMY DEBBY
SHERRY: CERTIFIED HEALTH COACH SSC THE JUICE PLUS COMPANY
Here is our before 9:am. early morning walk – a little more crowed but nothing not expected! Looking South to North Myrtle Beach from where we enter the access to the beach.
From the beach access looking toward Cherry Grove – a few more people – but not a lot!
But – this is the beginning of the week for Spring Breakers –
and we noticed traffic getting heavey.
We have found our way around and avoid the high traffic on rte. 17!
We take the side streets as far as we can – and one side street takes up to where we can shop!
Now – in the afternoon we decided to do a couple hours of a beach day – taking and carrying our chairs to the beach. Here is the same view looking toward North Myrtle Beach – a lot more people and a lot of people in the water. But we still had our own space – no one within thirty feet of us!
Here is the same view in the afternoon looking toward Cherry Grove! And – it will get more crowed as Spring turns into Summer with vacations! We are in the open space and avoid large gatherings which happen mostly toward North Myrtle Beach town center. A lot of young H.S. and college students gather on the beach there in a large group. You just avoid them as they will do what they do regardless!
Being here is still our dream – we will come back often as we like it here –
but also where we are moving too – no traffic – country quiet – we can walk –
and still be in access to the other two beaches!
The beach here is very wide – I have been told it is the widest on the Grand Strand!
I 