police chief

Papas World – a small kid in a small town – growing up!

/ Tom / 3 Comments
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 tournaments
The Catholic church I attended
as a small child
confirmed in
Another 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 me
Oak hill cemetery
Where 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’S
Our team on the varsity
Bobby is number 83
and I sit to his left
number 65
Those were the best of years.

Thank you for reading Papa’s World

WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY!

My Site

livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

A small town growing up
ELDRED PA.

Papas World – when I was young – roller skating!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

Good day everyone –

ever get a tune in your head

over and over again?

” I HAD A PAIR OF BRAND NEW ROLLER SKATES “

Before I had my new WESTERN FLYER BIKE

I had a pair of Roller Skates!

” AND YOU HAD A BRAND NEW KEY”

Now – I just know you won’t be singing that little song! LOL

I am dating myself here – but – when I was 6 or 7 –

that is what I had – Roller Skates

and I would strap them on

and up and down the sidewalk I would go

and believe me – those sidewalks were land mines!

Great big Maple trees grew alongside them

causing them to crack – become crooked

and you needed to be a expert to navigate them!

” I HAD A BRAND NEW PAIR OF ROLLER SKATES”

Growing up in a little town in NWPA called Eldred.

Hours and hours I would skate up and down the street.

We lived on main street

heading East and West through Pa.

Going West to the border of NYS

Or East toward the far reaches of Pa.

All through the Alleghany Mountains

Lands of the Senaca nation.

I was a skinny thing –

so skinny my Mom wouldn’t let me take off my T shirt!

The blue veins stood out among the bones

she was afraid people would think

she wasn’t feeding me !

But – I ate and ate – see where I am today! LOL

I had one destination I would skate to down town

It was a Service Station / Furniture store

Called SLAVIN’S!

And it had a huge open paved area in front!

That was as far as I was allowed to go.

The other direction was Prouty’s saw mill!

This was it
Slavin’s service station
furniture store

I would hit that big open black top and was in heaven

after the mine field of the sidewalks!

Right behind that car was the service bays

and “Jack” – he worked in those bays.

And he befriended me

If you look close – between the bays

was a glass bottled COKE MACHINE!

And he would motion me over

And put in I think 5 cents and buy me a Coke!

I had to drink it there and he did not do it all the time!

We never had ” POP” as I called it!

And it was a treat for me.

My sister and brother in law – Donna and Bill

lived upstairs in the building next door

My Mom would walk my brother Mike and me down the street

at 5:45 am. each week day as she worked and my father

worked on the oil fields as a supervisor for South Penn

My mother worked for Alcas known the world over today as

Cutco Knives –

she retired from there as did my dad ( who died from cancer in 1969)

My Mom lived to be almost 98 years old!

We walked down in the cold Winter mornings

and climbed up those long stairs

seemed like 30 steps to me!

We would lie down – my brother in law had already

gone to work at the White Hawk Beef Company in town.

He later became the chief of police and mayor

Drove semi truck for Viko

which became Ethan Allen at the far side of town.

My sister would get us up – and feed us breakfast

and then we would walk to school.

” AND YOU HAVE A BRAND NEW KEY”

Sherry and Tom
http://www.sf.juiceplus.com

Thank you for reading Papa’s World

A little bit about me

” I HAVE A BRAND NEW PAIR OF ROLLER SKATES –

AND YOU HAVE A BRAND NEW KEY”

” LA – LA – LA- LA———LA”

livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY

Papa’s World – IF I COULD TURN BACK TIME !

/ Tom / 2 Comments

It was dark – only the street lights were on – cold wind – we were bundled up

We started our walk down the street – I was 9 – my brother 5.

It was a cold Winter day – pre dawn –

and we walked behind my mother.

You – see – my parents both worked –

my dad had already left for the oil fields

My Mom – she would be picked up by Oscar and Glady’s in twenty minutes

We – in turn –

would walk to my sister’s apartment –

Where we would lay back down and sleep until breakfast !

So it went – those early years –

my sister and brother in law –

lived a few houses away .

Bill – Donna – Tom

If I could turn back time –

I would love to see them again.

She was the kindest person you could ever meet –

And Bill ( Willy ) –

one of the funniest men you would ever know.

After my grand ma passed away –

it was Donna who watched over me.

She was fifth teen years older than I –

I wanted to be where ever they were.

This was Donna –

always seeing both sides

and understanding .

Bill – was a meat cutter –

truck driver –

police chief and Mayor !

He also played first base on our town team base ball squad.

That is where I first remember him –

as my dad was the manager.

He was fair in what ever he did –

all my friends –

could of been in trouble –

But he wisely led them straight .

He has a nick name for every one of us –

except me –

he called me Tommy –

which endeared me to him.

My gratitude to the both of them is endless –

Both – were always there for me –

Many times –

in H.S. she would talk with me –

( She cut my hair until I was in my twenties )

As would Bill –

It was a small town –

everyone knew your name –

If I could turn back time for just one day –

They all are in heaven now –

I am the last –

But –

The abundance of life comes through the love they gave me –

If I could turn back time –

Just one more hug –

one more smile –

EVERY ONE HAS A STORY

Today –

this is my story –

my thought –

IF I COULD TURN BACK TIME

Welcome to Papa’s World

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Papa& MorMor