Bob and Thelma, Had a great time last weekend with everyone who attended our get together, and for the lovely lunch and entertainment.

Hope to see you all in two years.I do wish that we had started getting  together sooner but I guess we were busy with our own lives. Time sure does fly away fast.

Hope we all keep healthy and happy. See you all in 2017...

Sharon Cameron (Lewis)

Boy, what a wonderful weekend reunion we had.

 Classmates came from as far away as Ottawa, Toronto, London and points in between to attend.  It was so great to meet everyone, after a few years, and be able to reminisce all of our super childhood adventures....some of which were ones that were....well.....maybe we will not go into detail.

There were tours to the Wingham Museum, Cameron Vintage Automobiles, together with a Wine & Cheese get-together at Bob & Thelma's trailer, which was parked in the Wingham Trailer Park, next to the Wingham Legion,

Bob & Thelma hosted a luncheon, which consisted to salads and cold meat trays----yum---yum...yum.  Bruce Robertson entertained us with quite a few "country oldies" and ended with a very humourous sing-song.  Everyhone enjoyed themselves immensely.  Thank you Bob & Thelma for a weekend reunion I am sure everyone will not forget for quite awhile.

We look forward to another reunion in 2 years, until then, keep in touch and good health to everyone!

Mac MacKay

After Attending A Class Reunion This Past Weekend And Rubbing Elbows With Some Ex-Winghamites That

I haven’t seen or heard from for almost 50 years. I Thought The Following Would Be Most Appropriate

And A Sign Of Our Times Growing Up In A Small, Closely Knitted Canadian Community.

With Fond Memories, I Remembered Most Of These Often Spoken Phrases And Words. 

“Life” The Was So “Simple” But So Darn Great. Swimming In River, Camping By The Lake, Sing-Songs On The Beach,

Corn Roasts, Hay Rides, Teen Town Dances, Skating Parties, Roller Skating, Four “H” Clubs etc.

It Was A Time Of Innocence’s But Its’ Ups And Down And Of Course Its’ Devilish Moments. 

                     So Please Read To The End And Reminisce

Hopefully It Will Trigger Some Recollections That Will “Tickle Your Funny Bone” Or “Put You Down In The Dumps”. 

          Also, I Trust You Will Be “Hunky Dory And Tick-A-Boo” After You Read This Amazing Excerpt . 

   (ENJOY)      Donnie 

WORDS AND PHRASES REMIND US OF THE WAY WE “WORD”.

                      By Richard Lederer

About A Month Ago, I Illuminated Some Old Expressions That Have Become Obsolete Because Of The Inexorable March Of Technology. 

These Phrases Included "Don’t Touch That Dial," "Carbon Copy," "You Sound Like A Broken Record" And "Hung Out To Dry." 

A Bevy Of Readers Have Asked Me To Shine Light On More Faded Words And Expressions, And I Am Happy To Oblige:

Back In The “Golden Old Days” We Had A Lot Of Moxie. 

We’d Put On Our Best Bib And Tucker And Straighten Up And Fly Right. 

Hubba-Hubba!  We’d Cut A Rug In Some Juke Joint.

Then Go Necking, Petting, Smooching, Spooning, Billing, Cooing, Pitching,

Or Go Wooing In A Hot Rods Or Old Jalopies In Some Passion Pit Or Lovers’ Lane. 

Heavens To Betsy! Gee Whillikers! Jumpin’ Jehoshaphat! Holy Moley! 

We Were In Like Flynn And Living The Life Of Riley, 

And Even A Regular Guy Couldn’t Accuse Us Of Being A Knucklehead, A Nincompoop Or A Pill. 

Not For All The Tea In China!

Back In The Olden Days, Life Used To Be Swell, But When’s The Last Time Anything Was Swell? Swell Has Gone 

BY The Way Of Do, Do Bird, Beehives, Pageboys And The D.J’s., Of Spats, Knickers, Fedoras, Poodle Skirts, Saddle Shoes And Pedal Pushers. 

Oh, My Aching Back. Kilroy Was Here, But He Isn’t Anymore.

(continued next page)

Like Washington Irving’s Rip Van Winkle And Kurt Vonnegut’s Billy Pilgrim, 

We Have Become Unstuck In Time. 

We Wake Up From What Surely Has Been Just A Short Nap, 

And Before We Can Say, “I’ll Be A Monkey’s Uncle!” Or “This Is A Fine Kettle Of Fish!” 

We Discover That The Words We Grew Up With, 

The Words That Seemed Omnipresent As Oxygen, Have Vanished With Scarcely A Notice From Our Tongues And Our Pens And Our Keyboards.

Poof, Poof, Poof Go The Words Of Our Youth, The Words We’ve Left Behind. 

We Blink, And They’re Gone, Evanesced From The Landscape And Wordscape Of Our Perception, 

Like Mickey Mouse Wristwatches, Hula Hoops, Skate Keys, Candy Cigarettes, Little Wax Bottles Of Colored Sugar Water 

And An Organ Grinder’s Monkey.

Where Have All Those Phrases Gone? Long Time Passing. 

Where Have All Those Phrases Gone? Long Time Ago: 

Pshaw. The Milkman Did It. 

Think About The Starving Armenians. 

Bigger Than A Bread Box. 

Banned In Boston .

The Very Idea! 

It’s Your Nickel. 

Don’t Forget To Pull The Chain. 

Knee High To A Grasshopper. 

Turn-Of-The-Century. Iron Curtain.  

Domino Theory. Fail Safe. Civil Defense. Fiddlesticks! 

You Look Like The Wreck Of The Hesperus. Cooties. 

Going Like Sixty. I’ll See You In The Funny Papers. 

Don’t Take Any Wooden Nickels.

Heavens To Murgatroyd! And Awa-A-Ay We Go!

Oh, My Stars And Garters! 

It Turns Out There Are More Of These Lost Words And Expressions Than Carter Had Liver Pills. 

This Can Be Disturbing Stuff, This Winking Out Of The Words Of Our Youth, 

These Words That Lodge In Our Heart’s Deep Core. 

But Just As One Never Steps Into The Same River Twice, One Cannot Step Into The Same Language Twice. 

Even As One Enters, Words Are Swept Downstream Into The Past, Forever Making A Different River.

We Of A Certain Age Have Been Blessed To Live In Changeful Times. 

For A Child Each New Word Is Like A Shiny Toy, A Toy That Has No Age. 

We At The Other End Of The Chronological Arc 

Having The Advantage Of Remembering There Are Words That Once Did Not Exist 

And There Were Words That Once Strutted Their Hour Upon The Earthly Stage

Now Are Heard No More, Except In Our Collective Memory. 

It’s One Of The Greatest Advantages Of Aging. 

We Can Have Archaic And Eat It, To

Oh!!!....Goodness, Gracious, Great Balls Of Fire!!!

 See ‘Ya Later, Alligator!.....After While, Crocodile!

Donnie Lee    London Ontario

Seeing your latest photos brought  back memories. I recall driving Byron's Grandfather's car on several occasions. He was a very trusting man to lend it to a couple of teenagers. And, through an Air Cadet scholarship, doing my flying training at the London Flying Club in July 59. Half the class trained on Fleet Canucks, but I was assigned to the new Champions. But, I did do an hour of dual on a Canuck.

Paul Bennett

When I was about 12 years old a couple of years after my Mom died, my Dad decided to build the dream house that he and Mom had admired in House Beautiful.  It was a very modern design at the time.  I suppose Dad wanted to work out his sorrow by engrossing himself in a project.  Although my brother and I weren't particularly enthused about helping, Dad found a task that I liked.
It was wiring the electrical system.  I was only 12 or 13 years old.

The system was unusual because it involved relay operated switches. I was able to do the job (even enjoyed it) and Dad must have been a good teacher because there was only one wiring error.  And, yes, it did pass inspection!
Anyway, I'm not sure I would trust a kid that age with that task. It must have been OK though because the house is still standing at the south west corner of the High School in Wingham on Victoria Street. 

Lawrence Stuckey

i know that this comment has nothing to do with our grade 7 and 8 class but i want to comment on Dick Roorka's comment on separate school funding--- ---i find it comforting to know that there is still a school that one can go to hear about God and the commandments and the Beatiudes--a great foundation for our morals----in these 'tax-payers' schools one can say Merry Christmas  and put up Christmas trees ......where i live Catholic schools are thriving----i think a lot of  parents want their children to grow up with a christian foundation just like our forefathers in Canada---------the alternative to me is very ,verry, scary.   Nancy Boll (Slosser)

     In the early 1950s the public schools were essentially Christian (protestant) schools.  School boards even specified protestant teachers in their ads.  Readers included scripture passages from the Bible.  Children hymns were sung and the Lord's Prayer was recited every morning.  In many schools pastors of local churches taught religious education.  It was also a subject in Tearchers College.  Today, any inclusion of religious references in the public school system is frowned upon, and considered "politically incorrect."  Even Christman is securalized.  Christmas trees are supposed to be called holiday trees.  However, stories about witches are deemed OK even though it is considered a religion!

     Only the Roman Catholics are given the choice of a separate faith based system paid through taxes.  Any other faith has to fund its own schools completely!  Considering that many RC churches are closing their doors, I think these schools have passed their usefulness, and should be phased out, or as is the case in Alberta, all faiths should be treated equally. Don't expect any major political party to tackle that hot potato any time soon. 

     In the past, readers were strictly Caucasian.  Negroes did not exist in them.  Families were pictured with fathers dressed in suits, and all girls were dresses.  Now, all races are represented.  Have you noticed that advertisements try to cover all the race bases?  In one old reader story, the polar bear cubs are named Tuffy and Fluffy.  Guess which is male and which  female!  I don't think readers now would be so sexist.  I wonder how long it will be before persons of different sexual orientations will be represented in literature used in schools.

     When we were in public school, desks were in straight rows, coming in sets of three on skids.  It would also be quiet under normal circumstances.  I volunteered in a Grade 2 classroom 18 years ago and the kids were allowed to wander around during the playing of O Canada!  I sang along, but seemed to be the only one doing so.  I suspect that when a classroom is quiet now, it will be thought that something is amiss.

     Report cards were much simpler in the past.  They called a spade a spade.  "Dick never pays attention!  Dick ;is sloppy!  Dick has attention for everything but his learning." (These are taken from my report cards, translated from the dutch.)  Progress, or lack thereof was simply ranked A B C D and F.  Nowadays, any negative comments are discouraged, and report cards are major positive literary efforts!  Negative concepts are hidden in language that some parents might find difficult to interpret.  "Johnny should direct his social interraction in a more productive and less intrusive manner."  In plain English, "Johnny should shut up and sit down!

    So much for the good old days in education!

Dick Roorda

A rubber-band pistol was confiscated from an algebra class, Because it was a weapon of math disruption. editor

 

<span style="font-size: l

  BLACK SUNDAY

September 24, 1950

I was stimulated to remember that fatal day in 1950 by the recent fervour regarding the eclipse

OFFICIAL DESCRIPTION

A mysterious day when the sky became dark as night during the middle of the day. The explanation by local officials was that a forest fire had occurred in Canada - but none were ever recorded on this date for Eastern Canada. Moreover, there was no smoke involved in the darkened skies as there has been in all other forest fires around the country since that date. Most people at the time thought that the world was coming to an end and that it was a sign from the heavens. Was it actually a Western Canadian forest fire? Or, was it really a 'sign' that marked the 'end of times', as man has begun to play God.

MY RECOLLECTION

I remember the incident quite well.  We were at the time living in our first house in Wingham at the back of the school.  I was in grade 2 at the time.  I had always thought it was later than this but on reflection  we were only in the house for less than a couple of years so it had to be around that date so I was 8 at the time having arrived in Canada in 1948.  I remember standing outside the house with my Mum  wondering why, in t e middle of the day the sky xas totally black.  Obviously a lot of people were alarmed   that it was a nuclear explosion or something but it was a huge forest fire in Alberta.  I have combined an image of the fire centre and a copy of the Toronto star analysis image.

Curiously another similar incident occured in 1780

May 19 1780: In the midst of the Revolutionary War, darkness descends on New England at midday. Many people think Judgment Day is at hand. It will be remembered as New England's Dark Day.

A definitive answer came in 2007. In the International Journal of Wildland Fire, Erin R. McMurry of the University of Missouri forestry department and co-authors combined written accounts with fire-scar evidence from Algonquin Provincial Park in eastern Ontario to document a massive wildfire in the spring of 1780 as the "likely source of the infamous Dark Day of 1780."

Editors Note

I to remember that."scary day".

BobMcIntyre

I do remember the flour sacks. My Grandmother made pillow cases out of them and also T towells. She of course bleached them out and some times did embroidery on them. They lasted forever.

Remember the 5 cent icecream cones especially at Rutherford's store up where the mini mart is now. They were huge and we used to add peanuts ro tihe top. Delicious..

Sharon Cameron (Lewis)

This is a email that was sent to me by Nancy Boll, it has evolved into an interesting story, read on. Bob

The crew cut, as I recall, was the fad of the day seguing through the duck tail, or versions of it ,to your Elvis/Buddy Holly look.  And if you were part of the in group, you had Mutt Hayden cut your hair. My dad was an Andy Slosser customer, and as Dad wasn't too keen on any type of haircut other than a buzz with full ear showing  and nothing longer than 3-4 inches up top, parted at the side,  Andy was the direction in which I was pointed. The expression, going to get ones ears lowered certainly applied to me. But I did sneak into Mutts  for a couple of  "in" cuts. Mutt played the role of buddy buddy with the young people. Whether it was on purpose or not, I got the impression that Mutt tried to project the image of being "with it" with we young unns.  I remember the facial expression, the thick glasses,  and the  whispering comments he made to quietly give this impression. Maybe I am all wet here, but that is what I remember of the visits to Mutt. Mostley however, I was shorn  by Andy. 

     Back in the 1950s, when we were in school, things were very different from what they are today, and have been for a number of decades.  In Wingham Public School, and in most schools, all the teaching staff was full time.  Mr. Beattie didn"t even have an office to call his own, and no secretary!  In country schools, enrolment in the one room situations was often quite high.  I heard of one situation recently where over 60 students were in attendance.  Of course there were others where there might be 10 or 15.  All grades and all subjects were taught except music, which was taught by an itinerant teacher once a week.  Teachers were expected to practice during the week.  this was especially true where music festivals were important.  Today, we have all sorts of itinerant personal for remedial, speech, etc.  etc. and teachers assistants, besides the secretary.  And principals have no class now.  Prep time.....in country schools recess and noon hour and evenings at home were all the prep time teachers had everywhere.  Now a certain amount is legislated through contracts.  Some of that is made available through French classes.  In the past there was one "dreaded inspector" for a certain geographic area.  (As an aside, when the inspector was known to be in school, a pair of scissors was relayed from classroom to class room as a warning.)  Mr. Kinkaid was the one for this part of the county.  Nowadays, there are supervisors for various subject areas.  I would suppose that each of them would have a secretary.  And over all of Avon Maitland School Board there is a Superintendent of Education.  And over that we have the provincial government dictating what must or must not be taught or talked about in the classroom.  Small boards who knew the community used to look after each school in the past.  Nowdays, we have a monster lokoing after "our good."

  Salary negotiations...."Would $100 more be satisfactory?"

  "That would be great!"   End of negotiations.

     In the case of a larger school, a visit to the chairman, in the back of his drug store by two representatives of the school might be the only step necessary.  Salaries and benefits were the only items up for negotiation then.  Now the provincial government handles negotiations, and the teachers union hires professional negotiatiors and everything is negotiable.  

      Teacher training for elementary teachers  has also changed drastically since the 1950s.  There were three routes that you could take.  There was the one year program that you took at Normal School after grade 13. There was the two year program you could take after grade 12.  There also was for a time when you took one summer courses, taught that fall, took another course the next summer, and taught the next year.  Following that, you took a one year completer course at Normal School.  Now you need a degree, which you can get in conjunction with your teacher training.  This could take 4 years.  Of course teaching has been made much more complicated too! 

Dick Roorda

Editor's Addenum

TEACHER: Why are you late?
STUDENT: Class started before I got here.
____________________________________
TEACHER: John, why are you doing your math multiplication on the floor?

JOHN: You told me to do it without using tables. 



Brian and Paul's raft stories brings back memories for me too.

Looks like we were not the only ones who built rafts from something other than old cedar  fence posts.  I recall Bob McIntyre and I harvesting abandoned telephone/telegraph poles along the railway tracks and dragging them down to the river.We built a 2-man [or was it 3-man] raft,using 5 of these, held together with 2*4's and 6" spikes. I don't remember where we got the latter.

Paul reminded me of our adventures on the Maitland river in our

luxuriously constructed raft - ok it was a few logs roped together but to us it was the epitome of raft design.  we spent a lot of time in those days on the Prairie which was just a few yards from my house and indeed right at the very back of Jimmie Wild`s and John Merkley.  In the early days we spent a lot of time in the winter practising our skiing_ I remember one day hurtling down the hill only to break through the thin ice and end up in the freezing water - still I digress.   The other end of the Prairie was just over the road from Paul`s house so we often used to wander across to each others houses.  I also remember on a few occasions we encountered violent thunders storms and on one occasion a lightning bolt hit a tree just a few yards from us.  However this story is about our rafting adventure.

Using the various lumps of wood around and about we cobbled together a wonderful luxurious raft - with all mod cons.  We were going to install a tv but we couldn`t figure out how to get such a long lead to the raft so we gave up that idea.  At least it seemed to be capable of holding the pair of us.  So after what seemed to be as long as Noah building his ark we were finally ready to launch.  We announced the launching to CKNX  but they didn`t seem all that interested.  Anyway we were off on our trip down the Maitland.  After a few hours we reached the lowertown bridge and feeling a little hungry and not a little thirsty we decided to have a break from our adventure so we parked up and  walked home for some sustenance.  the next day we resumed our trip downstream but a fairly short distance from the bridge we encountered 2 farmers trying to erect a fence across the river.  We shouted `quick take it down we are coming through` but they just carried on and so did we, tearing down their lovely new fence.  There followed a heated debate. I , in my typical barrack room lawyer style argued that it was illegal to fence the river which should be open for all to enjoy.  they equally argued that they needed the fence to stop their livestock from swimming away.  the argument lasted for some hours but they were determined and we were not a little peed off so we helped them put the fence back up, abandoned the raft and walked home again.  It was a very eventful trip but one which we never bothered to repeat.  I never liked sailing anyway - give me a plane any day.  In fact Paul acquired his pilot license a little while afterwards

Paul Added

I think we should mention (as I recall) that our ambitious plan was to sail all the way to Goderich. Which, in a straight line is not that far, but if we had ever looked at a map is about three times as far on the river. And that in those days the so called prairie flooded extensively every spring. Possibly still does. So, I was really more Noah than Huckleberry Finn. Although, we made no attempt to take my cat.

Paul

Just a little more information re the misisng Jim Foxton.  I have now found the reference to Jim Foxton who died in 1965  at the age of 28.  His father is listed as Albert Foxton but the full name should have shown his father as Thomas Albert Foxton.  So we now have confirmation that Jim  was the son of Thomas Albert who was the owner or at least operator of Foxton Dairies and who was also the brother of Gerald`s Father.  It just shows how some genealogy records can be confusing and downright incorrect

 In looking back over some of the stories from last year on the web-site, I came across the article written by Bob about the singing.  I remember that day too.  There was only space for so many choir members that could go to the music festival.  To me at the time it seemed rather arbitrary, and I had high hopes of going too.  But, I too didn't make the cut.  I don't think it was because of lack of singing ability.  My brother Doug and I a year later, in No 14 Stanley, won first prize for our duet in Exeter at a music festival.  The negative experience didn't haunt me as it appears to have done for Bob, however.  The point is, the culling should have been done more sensitively.  Criticism can have a profound effect if it is not done sensitively.

 On the other side of the coin, positive comments and praise are important to all of us.  It is not that we are looking for them, but it is nice to be recognized sometimes.  It also validates what we are doing.  An example from my own experiece as an organist for over 50 years: in my early years in this voluntary position, there was never a word of encouragement, except from the church custodian, an elderly lady, occasionally.  Thankfully, this has changed through time.  More and more, members of the congregation do stop by the organ when I am packing up to give encouraging comments.  Last Sunday when I was still playing, an elderly member simply put his hand on my shoulder.  Remember, one thoughtless criticism can do more harm than 10 words of encouragement.

This brings to mind the incident where a lady passing the organ said, "You made a mistake!"  Without stopping to think, I replied, "Is that the only mistake you heard? " Not very Christian on my part I must say!

 The point in all this is, don't hesitate to compliment someone when you see a job well done.  For example: the boy packing your groceries, the consistent timely delivery of the paper etc.  Look for opportunities for encouragement.  It will make you feel good and certainly the recipient.

I was inspired by Dick to add a contribution on the subject of singing:-

I remember for some reason or other Pat (my sister) and I were very popular on the WPS  singing trips and we had quite a bit of success in the early years -  I think it was up to age 12  In fact I have the last prize showing CHANGED VOICE  (at age 14)- that was  my downfall -  slap bang in the middle of the concert which was being held on the stage at the town hall, my voice decided to break?  I was mortified and was tempted to dash off the stage there and then but the adjudicator encouraged me to bravely continue so I had to finish an octave lower.  Purely because of my bravery I believe they gave me a 3rd prize for this, apparently new, category of changed voice.  That was the end of my singing career.  I never quite made it into rock and roll but I did become a DJ for a few years.  Lots of fun but no money. 

 I think I touched upon the tales of the Wingham Crazy Gang doing the rounds of the milk bars etc.  Initially we were just crazy.  First off we would go into Wings (or was it Lees) Chinese restaurant and sit and drink cokes, but with a twist - we poured sugar into the coke and shook it up and then proceeded to spray it at ourselves and the rest of the restaurant - a bit like a Formula 1 celebration.  We were not popular.  From then we proceeded to make a bigger nuisance of ourselves when one day we went in and ordered a dozen cokes;  I believe there were three of us -  the waiter was a bit surprised but, by now,  quite used to our antics but the resultant mess with the added sugar was too much to bear and -Mr Wing  (or Mr Lee)  _ decided he had had enough and banned us  from his restaurant.  With that We proceeded with our festivities at Foxton`s  and still enjoyed our F1 celebrations.  One day we opened a brand new bottle of Coke or something similar and, to our horror,  there was a fly in the bottle. We pointed this out to one of Gerald`s  - or at least his Dad`s - employees and they immediately replaced the bottle.  Suddenly we had a brainwave(  Aha or Eureka! The next week we took our own flies in a paper bag and produced one at the appropriate moment; indicating to the waiter we had another fly in or soup or coke, as it was.  we got an immediate replacement but this time we hadn`t noticed the fly until the bottle was three quarters drunk

What a wheeze -  we tried this a couple of times and felt a bit guilty about abusing our schoolmate so we went back to Wing`s  (or Lees )  and pulled the stunt a couple of times but eventually we figured this hustle had no more life left and the only way forward was to go to Teeswater or somewhere.  However the economics of the logistics defeated us so unless we could hitchhike it wasn`t worth the effort.

Today I feel a little guilty about all of this but it was a great piece of mischief at the time

Refering to Brians note re Lees and Foxtons--I notice that Brian refers to Gerald Foxton---I don't ever remember Gerald working there and he was not the son of the owner, Mr Foxton ---I don't'   even know if he was related------I lived next door to Foxtons and worked there part time in the summers--  there only sons name was Jim who was a victim of polio and died in his 20's of either  heart or lung failure-----he was a wonderful person and a dear friend of mine --i still miss him--Brian and his friends, i think were quite thoughtless about this "Trick"- ----but,    I guess boys will be boys

Nancy Boll 

Thanks to  Nancy for pointing out that Gerald was not the son of the owner.  Obviously with the name I had assumed he was.  I have had a trawl on the internet  and discovered the following.

The real owner of Foxtons was   Thomas Albert Foxton who was the son of William Foxton and Mary Jane Walker - William was born in Wexford, Ireland in 1852.  They had a total of 15 children - although some records only state from 9-14.  But it appears that the two earliest children were probably born in Ireland and little seems to be known about them.  The first child born in Canada was John Foxton born in Toronto in 1882..

However Thomas Albert was born in 1896  and Herbert Foxton was born in 1903 but Herbert also had a twin brother Harold.  So Herbert - the father of Gerald - was in fact a brother of Thomas Albert so Gerald was actually directly related.   Most of the later siblings also moved to Wingham and died there at various times.

Thomas Albert is shown as having three children (two girls and one son) but not a Jim?  Thomas died in 1979 so he would still have been around in 1956 but he is shown as Operating  Foxtons not Owning.  I am now wondering whether there was another relative in the Dairy who was in management and had a son called Jim as the only son of Thomas died very early on.  Although there were quite a lot of Foxtons in the Wingham area the information seems sketchy about many of them and crucial information is missing even though the records have been updated to March this year.

 By the way the picture I found shows Foxtons around that time with piles of snow.  possibly the big snow of the late 40`s but the vague images of the cars seem later?

 Lyman's recall of the barber shops and billiard hall tweeked a few memories...

 I don't think I ever got a hair cut at the barber shop until I was in High School... My Mom did all of us boys and my Dad.. I think Dad did eventually go to Andy Slossers.. Being in business, the barber shops were a good place to catch up on local gossip and maybe other important happenings.. 

When I was in High School, I worked at my Dad's dealership on Saturdays... washing cars etc... I did get paid and remember springing for my first Barber haircut.. I think it was Andy but do recall some at Mut Haydens as well.. I even think I got a haircut at Bill Hendersons.. he was down by Staintons' Hdwe.  I took clarinet lessons from him so guess I felt obligated..   

I don't have as much trouble deciding a style of haircut anymore.. I remember having a crew cut... Now I just have a haircut.. ( all the crew has bailed on me now!!) 

I remember spending some time at Camerons pool hall. I even remember running a "tab".. he would let me play and he would keep track of our time and I would pay him at the end of the week I believe..

On another note on the pool hall, every spring or fall, the Kinsmen Club would have a paper drive. the locals would save up there newpapers and bundle them all up and put them at the street curb.. The Scouts would be volunteered by one of the leaders to assist  with the pickups.. I always volunteered and did my best to get on the truck that was going to do the main street businesses... Special service to Camerons pool hall as he did have some leftover comic books and magazines that were old stock.. I did get a few comic books but the front cover was taken off because I think any unsold book could be returned to the supplier for a refund.. It was also a place that some "gentlemens" magazines would also be in the bundles of returns.. I vaguely remember (or somebody told me) that the odd bundle from Camerons' was placed in the cab of the truck versus the rear cargo area. hmmmmmmm!!

The things we remember!!!

Bill Crawford