The six of us have been friends for about forty-plus years. Living as neighbors to Cindy and Buck and Jim and Dottie grew up in the same little town in NWPA called Eldred in the Alleghany mountains as I did.
Jim – Sherry and I all worked for Dal-Tile – (American Olean Tile) in Olean, N.Y.
And of course, being and working in WNY – we all were Buffalo Bills fans – and we watch them whenever we can by going to
Buffalo Bills sports bars in our areas.
Cindy and Buck live 30 miles from us and we get together often to play a round of golf – have dinner and just enjoy our friendships.
Papa – Dottie – Cindy – Sherry – Buck and Jim – Dottie and Jim live in Va. Beach and in the coming years will build on a piece of property in Northern North Carolina.
They will be about three-plus hours from us when they retire.
Sherry – Cindy – Dottie – Forty-plus years of being friends. When we all get together – it comes down to Gals vs. Guys in a golf scramble.
The last time we gave them two strokes – they missed a four-foot putt on the last hole for the WIN!
So we tied 37 to 37!
Sherry and Cindy – both into walking miles and miles – I try to keep up!
Thanks for reading Papa’s World – livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
Playing golf at Magnolia Greens in Leland, N.C. where Buck and Cindy live. Living life one day at a time!
Sherry – Sunset Beach, N.C. PAPA’S WORLD – HAPPY TIMES in NORTH CAROLINA WITH FRIENDS!
“JIMMY and PAPA” friends since 1977 – best buddies – friends – the same little town in NWPA!!!
Jimmy and I have played softball together – volleyball – golf – corporate cup competitions – family vacations – for years and years.
Friendships usually do not last that long – but this one is still ongoing – and he retired from the same company I did yesterday!
Dottie – Sherry – Cindy – Buck – Jimmy and Papa – friends all these years – neighbors – three of us worked for the same company – now all retired except Dottie who has a little over a year to go.
These friends go all the way back to 1980 – through thick and thin – NWPA and WNY – still going strong!
New years eve together for years and years – Cindy – Sherry, and Jim – starting off the end one year and the new one coming in.
Jimmy has been there since Sherry and I were married in 1982 – many vacations together with families – many times visiting each other – and soon – golfing together more often when Dottie retires.
A day on the ICW with all our friends and neighbors from back in WNY! Mike and Carol John joined us for a few days!
Thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD – A tribute to one of my best friends – JIMMY BROWN – the best is yet to come!
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
Main Street – just above the white truck to the left – is a brick-red building – with a huge Army Tank coming out the side – this is the ELDRED WWII MUSEUM!
When I was growing up – this was Fisbees Insurance and the Electric Company in the Cellar –
and right next to it was Slavin’s Furniture store and gas station.
I would roller skate down to the bays and Jack would sometimes buy me a glass coke out of the machine that stood there between the bays.
I do not remember his last name – but he was a really nice man and lived in Bullis Mills.
We also would come down here and ask for old cardboard boxes –
they all had a heavy layer of wax on them and were perfect for grass riding down the hill opposite of our front porch.
WWII MUSEUM
Today – both buildings are joined and form this fantastic museum – dedicated to WWII
and the munitions plant that made explosives for the war.
It has a full-size ARMY TANK that looks like it is busting right out the wall of the side of the building!
My stepfather – John Soules – who was decorated FIVE times with Purple Hearts and Bronze Stars
Once gave me a revolver he was given permission to bring back to the states
He had all the signed documents from the government –
Before he passed away – he asked for it back so he could donate it here!
A few years ago – I walked down and asked to see it once again.
They had it in a safe – and was told it was worth 30 to 40 thousand dollars!
He took that handheld automatic machine pistol off a NAZI OFFICER he had captured who was dressed as a civilian trying to escape.
I was told this pistol was not from WWII but from WWI and was very rare –
one of the first automatic machine guns ever manufactured by the Germans for WWI!
I got to once again hold it!
A reenactment of women working at the munitions plant outside Eldred during WWII is part of the museum.
As you walk through you come upon room after room of scenes such as this.
This MUSEUM is like something you would find in Washinton DC. yet it is here in the very small town
of ELDRED PA. in the mountains of the ALLEGHANY FOREST in WPA!
I do not know the full story of why it is here – but I do know before the PANDEMIC
regular busloads of people would stop every day.
It sits on North Main Street right across from the old fire hall.
A must-see!
Thanks for reading PAPA’SWORLD
Memories of my life growing up in a small town in NWPA called ELDRED!
WHERE EVERYONE KNEW YOUR NAME – the ’50’s ’60’s and ’70’s.
Our volleyball team after I quit playing softball – Back row – next to me – Steve and in front of him next to Sherry – Elaine. This couple are some of our oldest friends – and we still stay in touch today.
We are blessed in that we have so many dear friends.
Some – for me – go back to childhood.
Sherry – Papa – PJ – and Bob!
We have been friends since first grade – Bob and I.
We played sports together – stayed at one anothers homes.
Ran the streets after dark – drank a few beers together
and still – to this day – meet up and share old memories.
They will stop in on their way back home to N.H. in May.
HUGS TO P.J. and Bob.
Fred and Lynda – Sherry!
Freddie and I go back to 7th. grade
Playing sports together – card games – there were four of us that paled around
Freddie – Bobby and Jon ( deceased)
Lynda and Fred are the oldest couple still together as our friends.
Sherry – Buck – Cindy and Papa.
We have traveled the World together –
Spain – Gibraltar – Morocco – Canada – and numerous states on the East coast and the West coast
and in between.
Always planning new adventures.
Friends as neighbors since 1987!
Papa Jim Sherry Dottie – they have been married 40 years – and I knew them both before that – Jimmy and I played softball together for two teams in the late ’70’s!
Jim – Dottie and I all grew up in the same town in Pa. called Eldred.
Jim -Sherry and I all worked together in Olean N.Y.
It has been a long and rewarding friendship all these years.
When all the kids were young – we would vacation together at the beach.
Carol and Mike John, neighbors for 12 1/2 years in WNY!
We were neighbors and they were Buck and Cindy’s friends.
We lived beside them for 12 1/2 years
We would race our ride mowers up and down the street! LOL
We would play jokes on each other.
It was a great time in our lives and the McBrides and us left the hood
shortly after they left and moved South.
The John’s own a painting corp that travels the USA
painting various structures and energy companies pipe lines.
We will spend a long weekend with them at the lake house in WNY!
The Browns and McBrides also.
Jo Paul Peterson and Sherry
Jo graduated one year behind me
Paul graduated with Sherry from Smethport.
We got to know one another through reunions
and have traveled to their home in Phoenix and them to ours before the pandemic.
We have maintained that friendship for the last ten years or so.
Here we are at the WALL in DC.
Reflections of the soul I call this.
Gerhard and Jennie – our son in laws parents
For the last 14 years or more – we have bonded with his parents.
Always visiting them when we lived in NVA.
They have come down to visit us in North Myrtle Beach.
In laws and friends – FAMILY!
Our little group get together to golf.
There are times we try to bring us all together to golf.
Wish it would happen more often.
But when it does – it is fun and guys vs. gals!
If we are not on our game – they will beat us! LOL
Thank you for reading Papa’s World
WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY
FAMILY MEETS FRIENDS!
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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.
I 