Growing Up On South Road
Continued

Where Bull Road intersects with South Road is the old foundation of the Bartholemew farm. We used to play in that hole and I remember an old well there. For some reason we were filling it in with rocks and I remember Denis Languel getting bit in the behind by a dog belonging to the Gardellas up on Bull Road. We figured felt that Denis was a threat to one of the kids because he was carrying a big rock. Ouch, right on the butt. That old foundation hole is still there to this day.

Bartholemew Foundation

I remember Denis breaking his leg while we were all sliding on that big hill visible from Plymouth Road when looking towards the radio towers. We hauled him out of there on a sled.
Just down from the Bull Road intersection is an old road that goes all the way down to the brook. Of course its all down hill and what a great trail to slide on in the winter. If it was crusty we could go all the way from South Road down to the brook. Of course if you broke through the crust, your sled would stop cold and your body would keep moving forward across those little nails you forgot to hammer back in on the sled. Holy ripped jeans batman! Damn, is that blood? There is a small turn half way down and there used to be a tool shed at the corner. Never knew who it belonged to as no houses were even close. A little further down was an old Maple surup / sugar oven. (Still there today).

Oven as it looks today

The best part about that was the old wagon that was parked in the tress right along side the oven. To my dismay, some local kids pushed the old wagon out from under the tress and tried to ride it down the hill. It crashed into the tree and was totally wrecked. Some of the wheels were salvaged and became neighborhood lawn ornaments.
Halloween Night on South Road was always an adventure. I remember the fun it was putting together the little packets of treats that we gave away. An orange napkin filled with candy and sealed with an elastic band comes to mind. Back in the day the church was always open it was a challenge to get in there and ring the church bell on Halloween. George Griben and another constable who lived just up the hill always got a workout chasing someone. There were gangs of kids all over the road. It was kinda us, the kids from down the road, against the kids from the center area. Nothing ever happened as we were all friends but we used to kinda stalk each other on that night. I have to admit that sometimes clothe lines were cut, vehicles were waxed and pumpkins were smashed a little too often. I never had anything to do with the annual tipping over of the out house down at center school.
Behind our house, long before Lilly Pond Road was built, we had a path that led all the way to Halleran’s Pond over by the Fairgrounds. Spent many days there fishing for the big one; Old Oscar. That’s another story in itself.
My mom and dad had this house built in 1939. I have many pictures taken here including one of my parents standing next to a spruce tree on the side of the house. My dad is taller then the tree in the picture. I estimate the tree to be about 80 feet tall now. My mom canned everything that we grew in the large garden. We had corn, tomatoes, lettuce, string beans, squash, cucumbers, peas, asparagus, cabbage and anything else my dad could throw in the ground. We also had some chickens. I can remember going up to the chicken coup and collecting eggs. I even remember one time sticking my hand under a hen while she was sitting in the nest box and had a warm egg laid in my hand. I remember the surprise when I found that it was somewhat soft for a few moments. Guess that explains how such a big egg could exit the rear door of such a small bird without ripping the door off the hinges if you know what I mean. My mom was a great cook and a wonderful baker. Her cookies and pies were second to none and probably explain why I look like I do today. She also used to make Root Beer once a year. I remember our entire porch being lined with Root Beer bottles. I guess they had to sit for while and I remember some of them exploding. I still have the big tub she used to brew it in.

Click For Next Page