Growing Up in Auburndale
Those readers who are not from Auburndale and happen to stumble on this BLOG, feel free to substitute your home town for mine.
‘Tis funny how some things stick in one’s mind and other important occurrences do not. Some events that have stuck with me through the years:
The hard scrabble life of the Great Depression; the absence of running water, electricity and using the WPA “outdoor privy”.
Attending the free show on Tuesday evenings in the vacant lot between the A&P Store and the Auburndale Pool Room. Buying popcorn for a nickel a bag when we could scrape up a nickel.
Shining shoes downtown on Saturday afternoons and evenings. Competing with about a dozen of other shoe-shiners. Sing-songing, “Nickel for one shoe, a dime for two”.
Resting in the City Park listening to yarns by the park denizens while teasing the Perry boy who sold peanuts or “Guitar” Willie who chewed tobacco, and never played his guitar.
Being the first on the scene in front of the depot after an ACL train hit Mrs. Outlaw’s ’36 Ford, killing her and injuring her kids. My first experience with death.
Riding my bike around Lake Ariana and stopping at a crowd of people ogling the body of an airplane passenger that crashed in the lake. The fish and turtles had made mess of him. My second experience with death and not a bit pleasanter.
Getting haircuts at the Park View Barber Shop and shining shoes on Sunday morning outside the shop’s front door. Hoping Mr. Hardiman's beautiful daughter would stop by.
Rasslin’ with Harold Bagley in the first grade during recess and letting him win ever now and then because he got mad if he lost often and he was tough when mad.
Counting eighteen alligators at one time in Lake Stella while walking to school by the haunted Baynard house, now known as Kersey's Funeral Home.
My first-grade teachers: the strict Miss Adams (Driver) and the pretty Miss Bunting. The incredible division of the students into Yellow Birds, Red Birds and Blue Birds.
Fussing with a girl named Ernestine Garner who criticized my crayon coloring in the third grade. I later double-dated her with Willie Jean Gibson when Ernestine returned several years later. I couldn’t believe that I did it!
Jimmy Harold and I having to help clean up a mess made in the cloakroom by a nutty classmate because we laughed so hard. The teacher refused to let the nutty kid go to the bathroom for the fourth time during the same class, so he used a bucket in the cloakroom. Bad scene, but funny to twelve-year-olds.
Falling in love the first time…with my fourth-grade teacher, Miss Carson. She had the longest fingernails that I had ever seen and she could snap her fingers as loud as a “cracker” could pop his cattle whip. Boy, was she pretty! Raven hair, dark eyes......wow! Back then, I wished I was older--not now, however.
My first girlfriend, Hazel Buchanan with whom I used to sit in the Park Theater and hold hands while her Ma and Pa watched from a few rows back.
Getting knocked out when I hit my head on the corner of a school ground bench while showing off for Hazel.
Otis Outlaw stabbing me with a lead pencil for messing with his girlfriend, Martha Watson in the sixth grade. I still have a black spot on my thigh.
Mrs. Durrance’s ruler used more to swat wayward hands of her students than measuring anything. Man, she was tough! They’d put her in jail now! She didn’t see Otis stab me and I wouldn’t squeal.
Being threatened by Billy Williamson for my attention to his girlfriend, Peggy Jolly. He didn’t stop me though. She was cute. So was another “older” woman on whom I had a crush; Juanita Cannon. Wow! What a cheerleader! Another fantasy love was the lovely Vernel Etheridge, Betty Ruth's older sister, freckles and all.
Competing with Jimmy Harold, Wilson Grant and others over the attention of Winona Wilson in the seventh-grade while overlooking another good choice, Maurceil King.
Being humiliated by "Old Spot" Smith sentencing me to the corner of the classroom for the duration of the math class for asking what possible good algebra would be upon graduation.
Being chastised by home-room teacher, Mrs. Corley for correcting her pronunciation of “Soviet”. Never could understand why she seemed not to appreciate my help. Maybe it was my lack of savior faire??
Regrettably, giving Miss Harley such a hard time in English class. I’ve found out that the importance she put on English grammar was and is one hundred percent right and I was a dumb-dumb for not recognizing it then.
Working twice as hard for Miss McBride in her algebra class because she was much prettier than Mr. Smith. What a nice person; Miss McBride that is….
Passing notes to my life-long friend and mentor Patsy Bolin in the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth etc. etc etc. She coached me with regard to learning about girls while I chased after Peggy Cooley in the sixth grade.
Being taught to slow dance at high school outings at Mac’s Beach by Patsy Bolin and Betty Ruth Etheridge to “Stardust” and other great tunes on the nickel Juke Box.
Being taught the correct “KT” (kissing technique) by Evelyn Traylor when I flunked “Post Office” and “Spin the Bottle”.
Being elected the captain of AHS basketball team when Bill Smith was kicked off the team for smoking.
Playing tackle beside Glenn McAllister on the football team. Coach Ed Crews had what he called an “A-Right” formation that played both tackles on the same side. Later Glenn and I doubled dated girls in Mulberry, Frostproof and Avon Park.
Blocking for Dean Brooks who was the best running back of the day. He made us linemen look good. And, when the rest of us had trouble winnings basketball games, the coach talked him into helping us there too.
Intercepting a pass and scoring my one and only touchdown in a game with Ft. Meade, a team we were supposed to beat easily, but was giving us a hard time. In my excitement, I almost stopped running at the other team’s ten-yard line; thought it was the goal line. I wondered why the fools from the other team kept chasing after me and all the Bloodhound fans were screaming at me to keep running.
Thanks to Mrs. Brantly’s organization, dancing in the gym during noon recess with Lola Jean Hindman, especially to “Blue Bird of Happiness”. We danced so hard in the old gym that were covered by sweat by the time classes restarted. Well, I sweated, she "glistened", as they say. No comment on how I smelled.
Dating Lavonne Quinn with her red hair, using Herbert Forsyth’s (the indestructible Clara Mae's husband) pink 1934 Ford which I used to deliver his customer’s dry cleaning. Lavonne had a fit when I drove up for our date in the shocking pink Ford that decidedly clashed with the color of her hair.
Vying with Leroy “Sasroy” Helms for “King of Stunt Night”. I think my younger brother Joel’s campaigning won the day for me by eliciting votes from his classmates in the lower grades.
My beautiful “Queen of Stunt Night” Louise Allred. And, not taking note that my lovely bride-to-be Mary Kate Griffin was a member of my court.
My lousy performance in the senior play; barely getting through the performance with Patsy Bolin’s off-stage coaching. My best buddy, Joe Etheridge, stole the show!
Senior “Skip Day” at Silver Springs. Watching Ross Allen milk rattlesnakes. And, wrapping an indigo black snake around my shoulders for photos. Donald Smith did it first and the snake didn't eat him, so the rest of us boys tried it.
My days spent shooting pool in Paces’s, and later, Ropiki’s poolroom on Pontotac Street and barely squeaking by “Moody” Wright and choking when I lost to Jimmy Harold for the championship.
Working in Fred Baugh’s Shoe Shop for a while alongside the wierd kid, Navarre DuBois; then soda jerking in Taylor’s, Jim’s, and Bowen’s drug stores. Later “trucking” fruit at the old Stuart’s Packing house. Still later on, watching a local packing house burn one night. Man, that was a fire! Lots of us thought it was perdition for sure.
Smoking cheap cigars in the city park after work at the All-American Store with Carroll Kirkland. Puffing the cigars while lying down made us dizzy, but then maybe we were just dizzy anyway. After work, we always went to the “midnight show” at the Park and later the Auburn Theater, wobbling down the aisle because of the effects of the nickel cigars.
Graduating from high school with nowhere to go until one of the Gatlin boys suggested I join the Navy. Max Haiflich, sister of Janell "Frog" Haiflich, decided to go along with me. Never saw him again after the swearing in! And, spending four years away from home between the ages of 17 and 21.
Returning to Auburndale after my hitch in the Navy and working for the Continental Can Company until a strike was called. Standing night picket duty during the strike with Mary Helen Little keeping me from getting too lonely.
Finally, taking a job putting tops on cans of frozen concentrate at Minute Maid for $1.00 per hour for 12-hour shifts; 7:00 P. M. to 7:00 A. M.
My miserable summer working at the Elwood Indiana Continental Can Company plant with several of the Auburndale “Can” guys, including Wesley Thompson, Henry Brown, Commer, Hughes and several others.
My visits to the Rainbow Club. Drinking beer, chasing girls, dancing and fighting out-of-town boys.
Those readers who are not from Auburndale and happen to stumble on this BLOG, feel free to substitute your home town for mine.
‘Tis funny how some things stick in one’s mind and other important occurrences do not. Some events that have stuck with me through the years:
The hard scrabble life of the Great Depression; the absence of running water, electricity and using the WPA “outdoor privy”.
Attending the free show on Tuesday evenings in the vacant lot between the A&P Store and the Auburndale Pool Room. Buying popcorn for a nickel a bag when we could scrape up a nickel.
Shining shoes downtown on Saturday afternoons and evenings. Competing with about a dozen of other shoe-shiners. Sing-songing, “Nickel for one shoe, a dime for two”.
Resting in the City Park listening to yarns by the park denizens while teasing the Perry boy who sold peanuts or “Guitar” Willie who chewed tobacco, and never played his guitar.
Being the first on the scene in front of the depot after an ACL train hit Mrs. Outlaw’s ’36 Ford, killing her and injuring her kids. My first experience with death.
Riding my bike around Lake Ariana and stopping at a crowd of people ogling the body of an airplane passenger that crashed in the lake. The fish and turtles had made mess of him. My second experience with death and not a bit pleasanter.
Getting haircuts at the Park View Barber Shop and shining shoes on Sunday morning outside the shop’s front door. Hoping Mr. Hardiman's beautiful daughter would stop by.
Rasslin’ with Harold Bagley in the first grade during recess and letting him win ever now and then because he got mad if he lost often and he was tough when mad.
Counting eighteen alligators at one time in Lake Stella while walking to school by the haunted Baynard house, now known as Kersey's Funeral Home.
My first-grade teachers: the strict Miss Adams (Driver) and the pretty Miss Bunting. The incredible division of the students into Yellow Birds, Red Birds and Blue Birds.
Fussing with a girl named Ernestine Garner who criticized my crayon coloring in the third grade. I later double-dated her with Willie Jean Gibson when Ernestine returned several years later. I couldn’t believe that I did it!
Jimmy Harold and I having to help clean up a mess made in the cloakroom by a nutty classmate because we laughed so hard. The teacher refused to let the nutty kid go to the bathroom for the fourth time during the same class, so he used a bucket in the cloakroom. Bad scene, but funny to twelve-year-olds.
Falling in love the first time…with my fourth-grade teacher, Miss Carson. She had the longest fingernails that I had ever seen and she could snap her fingers as loud as a “cracker” could pop his cattle whip. Boy, was she pretty! Raven hair, dark eyes......wow! Back then, I wished I was older--not now, however.
My first girlfriend, Hazel Buchanan with whom I used to sit in the Park Theater and hold hands while her Ma and Pa watched from a few rows back.
Getting knocked out when I hit my head on the corner of a school ground bench while showing off for Hazel.
Otis Outlaw stabbing me with a lead pencil for messing with his girlfriend, Martha Watson in the sixth grade. I still have a black spot on my thigh.
Mrs. Durrance’s ruler used more to swat wayward hands of her students than measuring anything. Man, she was tough! They’d put her in jail now! She didn’t see Otis stab me and I wouldn’t squeal.
Being threatened by Billy Williamson for my attention to his girlfriend, Peggy Jolly. He didn’t stop me though. She was cute. So was another “older” woman on whom I had a crush; Juanita Cannon. Wow! What a cheerleader! Another fantasy love was the lovely Vernel Etheridge, Betty Ruth's older sister, freckles and all.
Competing with Jimmy Harold, Wilson Grant and others over the attention of Winona Wilson in the seventh-grade while overlooking another good choice, Maurceil King.
Being humiliated by "Old Spot" Smith sentencing me to the corner of the classroom for the duration of the math class for asking what possible good algebra would be upon graduation.
Being chastised by home-room teacher, Mrs. Corley for correcting her pronunciation of “Soviet”. Never could understand why she seemed not to appreciate my help. Maybe it was my lack of savior faire??
Regrettably, giving Miss Harley such a hard time in English class. I’ve found out that the importance she put on English grammar was and is one hundred percent right and I was a dumb-dumb for not recognizing it then.
Working twice as hard for Miss McBride in her algebra class because she was much prettier than Mr. Smith. What a nice person; Miss McBride that is….
Passing notes to my life-long friend and mentor Patsy Bolin in the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth etc. etc etc. She coached me with regard to learning about girls while I chased after Peggy Cooley in the sixth grade.
Being taught to slow dance at high school outings at Mac’s Beach by Patsy Bolin and Betty Ruth Etheridge to “Stardust” and other great tunes on the nickel Juke Box.
Being taught the correct “KT” (kissing technique) by Evelyn Traylor when I flunked “Post Office” and “Spin the Bottle”.
Being elected the captain of AHS basketball team when Bill Smith was kicked off the team for smoking.
Playing tackle beside Glenn McAllister on the football team. Coach Ed Crews had what he called an “A-Right” formation that played both tackles on the same side. Later Glenn and I doubled dated girls in Mulberry, Frostproof and Avon Park.
Blocking for Dean Brooks who was the best running back of the day. He made us linemen look good. And, when the rest of us had trouble winnings basketball games, the coach talked him into helping us there too.
Intercepting a pass and scoring my one and only touchdown in a game with Ft. Meade, a team we were supposed to beat easily, but was giving us a hard time. In my excitement, I almost stopped running at the other team’s ten-yard line; thought it was the goal line. I wondered why the fools from the other team kept chasing after me and all the Bloodhound fans were screaming at me to keep running.
Thanks to Mrs. Brantly’s organization, dancing in the gym during noon recess with Lola Jean Hindman, especially to “Blue Bird of Happiness”. We danced so hard in the old gym that were covered by sweat by the time classes restarted. Well, I sweated, she "glistened", as they say. No comment on how I smelled.
Dating Lavonne Quinn with her red hair, using Herbert Forsyth’s (the indestructible Clara Mae's husband) pink 1934 Ford which I used to deliver his customer’s dry cleaning. Lavonne had a fit when I drove up for our date in the shocking pink Ford that decidedly clashed with the color of her hair.
Vying with Leroy “Sasroy” Helms for “King of Stunt Night”. I think my younger brother Joel’s campaigning won the day for me by eliciting votes from his classmates in the lower grades.
My beautiful “Queen of Stunt Night” Louise Allred. And, not taking note that my lovely bride-to-be Mary Kate Griffin was a member of my court.
My lousy performance in the senior play; barely getting through the performance with Patsy Bolin’s off-stage coaching. My best buddy, Joe Etheridge, stole the show!
Senior “Skip Day” at Silver Springs. Watching Ross Allen milk rattlesnakes. And, wrapping an indigo black snake around my shoulders for photos. Donald Smith did it first and the snake didn't eat him, so the rest of us boys tried it.
My days spent shooting pool in Paces’s, and later, Ropiki’s poolroom on Pontotac Street and barely squeaking by “Moody” Wright and choking when I lost to Jimmy Harold for the championship.
Working in Fred Baugh’s Shoe Shop for a while alongside the wierd kid, Navarre DuBois; then soda jerking in Taylor’s, Jim’s, and Bowen’s drug stores. Later “trucking” fruit at the old Stuart’s Packing house. Still later on, watching a local packing house burn one night. Man, that was a fire! Lots of us thought it was perdition for sure.
Smoking cheap cigars in the city park after work at the All-American Store with Carroll Kirkland. Puffing the cigars while lying down made us dizzy, but then maybe we were just dizzy anyway. After work, we always went to the “midnight show” at the Park and later the Auburn Theater, wobbling down the aisle because of the effects of the nickel cigars.
Graduating from high school with nowhere to go until one of the Gatlin boys suggested I join the Navy. Max Haiflich, sister of Janell "Frog" Haiflich, decided to go along with me. Never saw him again after the swearing in! And, spending four years away from home between the ages of 17 and 21.
Returning to Auburndale after my hitch in the Navy and working for the Continental Can Company until a strike was called. Standing night picket duty during the strike with Mary Helen Little keeping me from getting too lonely.
Finally, taking a job putting tops on cans of frozen concentrate at Minute Maid for $1.00 per hour for 12-hour shifts; 7:00 P. M. to 7:00 A. M.
My miserable summer working at the Elwood Indiana Continental Can Company plant with several of the Auburndale “Can” guys, including Wesley Thompson, Henry Brown, Commer, Hughes and several others.
My visits to the Rainbow Club. Drinking beer, chasing girls, dancing and fighting out-of-town boys.
