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MEETINGS
The next two meeting will be December 14 and January 11, at 7 p.m. in Kings Restaurant Community Room in Sarver. If you want to eat dinner with other members, come at 6:30.
SANTA CLAUS TALKED TO ME
by Edward Straughn
Myth – any factious or imaginary story, explanation, person, or thing, for example; Santa Claus visits Christmas Eve.
Let me tell you what I think of that “myth.”
It was 1927, a year of great hope, when living was easy and not in people’s wildest dreams could they imagine the great depression soon to occur. My brother, Raymond, would be 9 on December 21 and I would turn six in February. This was a December I will always cherish.
As Christmas approached, we learned that Santa Claus would be on radio station KDKA in Pittsburgh. Of course my brother and I could hardly wait. To actually hear Santa was beyond our fondest expectations.
Waiting tried our patience and spirited our imaginations. Wasn’t he up at the North Pole zillions of miles away? How could he come to Pittsburgh during his busiest time of the year? What if he didn’t show up? Did the radio station make a mistake and he never intended to appear? Such were our thoughts. Time dragged on; days seemed 30 hours long with 9 in each week!
Finally the great day arrived. We would learn if our patience, or lack of it, was to be rewarded. We would learn if Santa really was in Pittsburgh.
A storm the day before left a 6-inch cover of snow and it was snowing hard again. The hemlocks were laden with the white stuff; here and there a lonely goldenrod remained erect.
My brother and I trudged our way through the snow to Grandmother’s house; we always called it Grandmother’s even though our Grandfather lived there also. Maybe it was because we thought he was an old grouch! Like all grandmothers, she was prepared. She had baked sugar cookies and a fresh cinnamon-flavored apple pie. And could she bake!! Since we were about an hour early, we constructively used the time to demolish those cookies and that pie.
As the scheduled hour neared, we sat down by a small table on which a crystal set was placed. Headphones were attached and Grandmother gave us each one earphone. The set was already “tuned in” by the manipulation of a thin wire needle over the surface of the crystal. I was amazed and mystified that voices could come out of that little crystal, through the wires to the earphones. More amazing was the fact that they traveled through the air all the way from Pittsburgh – a good 30 miles.
Music was playing when I put the receiver to my ear. Then a voice came on and announced that we were listening to KDKA in Pittsburgh, the pioneer broadcasting station of the world. He said that Santa Claus was there in the studio. I couldn’t believe it! Imagine the excitement for a little boy. I squirmed and held the earphone tighter lest I might not hear him.
Suddenly the announcer said that Santa wanted to speak to all the boys and girls who were listening; my heart was pounding so loud that I feared I might not hear him.
After a few breathless seconds, a hearty voice boomed in and said, “Ho! Ho! Ho! This is Santa Claus, come to wish all of you little boys and girls a Merry Christmas and to tell you that, if you have been good, I will come to each and everyone’s house on Christmas Eve. Now go to bed early and obey your mother and father. Get up early on Christmas morning and be surprised at what I brought you. Merry Christmas and good night.”
There was a click and a moment of silence before the announcer came on again. I didn’t know or care what he said because I was so overwhelmed by having heard the actual voice of Santa. What more could a little boy ask?
So, now, ask me, is it a myth or do you really believe there is a Santa Claus? You bet I believe there is a Santa! I know…because he talked to me on a crystal set from KDKA in Pittsburgh.
Ed. Note: Edward Straughn was born in Sarver (Kepple Pump Station to be exact) and attended Knob School for 8 years. He graduated from Freeport High in 1940 and now resides in Connecticut.
SAMUEL, WHERE ARE YOU
In recent months we received two questions about ancestors named Samuel. First, from Joan Barnes who writes:
“I believe that my great-great grandfather, Samuel Hepworth, may have emigrated to Freeport c. 1842 from Yorkshire, England, and may have worked in the woolen mill there. He and his family are in the 1870 census for Freeport, but I cannot find them in the 1880 census, suggesting he may have left Freeport by then. Can anyone help me find the family or does anyone have any info that might help me.” Joan would be grateful if you could help – email her anything you know or find.
And from Steve Dittmann, a question regarding Bishop Samuel Bowman: “I am helping my friend, Sam Wheeler, descendant of the late Bishop Samuel Bowman of the diocese of PA, who died aside the Freeport to Butler railroad tracks in August of 1861. We have a photo of a 10 foot high memorial obelisk erected next to the train tracks.” Anyone out there, perhaps retired railroaders, know anything about this?” If so, please contact Steve with your info. He, too, will be grateful.
DR. DAVID ALTER
In the previous issue of Grist we talked about the life and times of one of Freeport’s most renowned citizens. Let’s learn about some of his experiments and inventions:
Electric Motor
In 1837 he invented an electric motor, perhaps along some of the lines used later, but it ran the gadgets that he attached to it “like a house afire.” The use of electricity created considerable interest; however, we have no account of any practical use being made of it, though it was widely published.
Telegraph
Dr. Alter constructed a 7 wire system between his house and stable and by an electric current deflected a needle at either end. In this way he “talked” back and forth with his family between the two buildings. He was the first one who brought to perfection and put into successful operation the first electric telegraph system. The papers in that day often asserted that Dr. Morse had stolen his ideas from Dr. Alter, but Dr. Alter always gave full credit to Dr. Morse as an independent investigator and one who, with his Morse code, made telegraphy practical.
Photography
From his work in photographing the lines in the solar spectroscope by means of the daguerreotype-mercury method, Dr. Alter devised a new process in which, by use of chlorine from some of the scores of salt wells about Freeport, he eliminated the glaze of the silver nitrate. We wonder what Dr. Alter would think of digital photography.
Electric Automobile
Dr. Alter produced a real automobile a generation before these came into use in the town where he had lived. He did this by attaching an electric storage battery to magnets, which attached to his buggy and propelled it in the streets of Freeport by electricity. This was another example of the real genius at work in his active brain while he drove miles in every direction in his medical practice.
AND THE WINNER IS….
Tickets were drawn at the November 11 dinner meeting of FAHS. Winning the Amish quilt was Ron Bennett. Linda Gallagher won the pillows, and Jane Thompson won the Freeport throw. Thanks to all who sold and/or bought tickets.
MEMORIES
Here is another in our series on memories of long-time local residents.
Judy Young Hallman
Grist: Tell us about your parents, Judy.
Judy: My parents, Charles W. and Mary Louse Call Young, were born and raised in Freeport. Dad’s mother was Myrtle Todd Young. Her sister, Nellie Todd, was a member of the household and helped raise my father. Raymond Young was my dad’s father; I never knew him. My mother was born to Joseph and Maude Call who lived on Buffalo Street. My parents first lived in the Seitz apartments and then later bought a house at 558 Franklin Street. Nellie eventually moved in with us and was a big help to Mom. Mom could go shopping without dragging 4 kids with her and could accompany Dad on business trips because Nellie was there to take care of me, Charlotte, Jan, and Chip.
Grist: Did you and your siblings get along?
Judy: People don’t believe us when we say we did not fight. As teens, Charlotte and I might start an argument, then look at each other and laugh. We’re still good friends. My mother always said Dad made the bullets and she had to fire them. We had great respect for our parents and tried not to disappoint them. We were conscious of the position Dad held at Joseph S. Finch Company in Schenley and aware that Mom did a lot of substitute teaching in Freeport School District. We weren’t perfect, but we loved and respected Mom and Dad and tried not to embarrass them. I think we brought them many happy moments.
Grist: It is the Christmas season now; do you have Christmas memories from the early years?
Judy: Oh, yes. Christmastime was special in the Young household. We weren’t spoiled with material things; my Mom was very frugal. But Mom and Dad worked hard to provide holidays that we would remember with wide-eyed delight. We hung our stockings up and put cookies and milk out for Santa on Christmas Eve. When we went to bed there were no signs of Christmas, no tree, no decorations, nothing. In the morning we waited at the top of the stairs until Dad gave us the signal that Santa had come down our chimney. Dad would light all of the Christmas lights before he opened the pocket doors to a beautiful sight. It was sheer magic – a near-empty room the night before was now a winter wonderland, filled with a beautiful tree, lights, stuffed stockings and neatly wrapped gifts. How could we not believe in Santa??
One year Daddy built us a playhouse in the basement. We never realized he was creating this spectacular gift. Much later we learned that when he attempted to bring it upstairs, it was too big and would not fit through the door! Santa Young wasn’t very merry that Christmas Eve. He must have taken it apart and reassembled it upstairs because the playhouse was a big part of our Christmas that year. It was in our yard for a long, long time.
We were always taught and shown the real meaning of Christmas and Mass at St. Mary’s was an important part of our Christmas morning.
You might be interested to know that Miss Anna Hill always read a Christmas story to her 3rd grade class (in the current Junior High Building.) I guess she thought 3rd graders were too old to believe in Santa because you learned the “awful truth” at the end of the story. I know she was criticized for this. It didn’t work with me, I still believe in Santa!
Grist: There is a rumor you once jumped off the Freeport Bridge.
Judy: Yes, people still talk about it. I was just having fun at the river one day when I thought it might be fun to do that. This was the old bridge that preceded the Lobaugh Bridge. Some of the boys had been doing this; I was sort of a daredevil and wanted to “one up” the boys who were afraid to do it (Judy won’t name names!) To do this, you went over the edge, hung on and then let go and dropped into the water. Harry Carson helped me. I hung there and said, “I don’t know if I want to do this.” Harry said, “It’s too late – you have to let go!” It was a long way down and seemed forever to get back up to the surface of the water. I knew this incident would get back to my parents and I was concerned. That night Charlotte and I were camping out on the front porch when Dad came home for a meeting. I said, “Dad, didn’t you and your friends used to jump off the Freeport bridge when you were young?” He said, “Yes, but I wouldn’t advise you doing it.” I said, “Too late, I already did it today!” Years later, when I was teaching at Freeport, the new principal, Charlie Wall, came into the gym where I was jumping on the trampoline, in my street clothes. We introduced ourselves. When he heard my name, he said, “Oh, you’re the girl that jumped off that bridge aren’t you?” At my recent 50th class reunion, I was presented with a framed picture of the old bridge. This will remind me of my wonderful high school friends who won’t let me forget that day.
Grist: So, you were a teacher or Freeport?
Judy: Yes, I graduated from Grove City in 1960 with a degree in business and certified to teach or do executive secretarial work. I didn’t have to apply for a teaching job because Mr. F. L. Myers actually called me to ask if I’d teach physical education and health at the high school. I wasn’t certified in those subjects, but he took care of it somehow. They had me teach one business class each day so that the year would count toward my permanent certificate. In those days, teachers and business people dressed in a professional manner, so I would teach a PE class, then do a quick change into business attire, teach typing, then change again for another PE or health class. The first year I taught was when the Freeport District had double sessions at what is now the Junior High. The high school students went in the morning, junior high students in the afternoon. I had my afternoons free to do lesson plans, etc. The following year we were out at the current high school and from then on I taught in the Business Department. It was manual typewriters in those days; we knew nothing about computers. I also coached the cheerleaders and was a yearbook advisor. Our yearbook had a 45 record with it where you could hear the sounds of school activities. Most of the teachers didn’t get paid for the hours and hours of extracurricular activities and I can remember feeling as if I lived at the school.
Grist: Did you have a long teaching career?
Judy: No. At Freeport in those days, if you became pregnant, you were expected to notify Administration of the fact and then resign…immediately. Perhaps they thought the students would be harmed if they had to look at a married, pregnant teacher in the front of the classroom. Huck and I were happy to learn that we would expect a baby in February, 1965. So I resigned, but strange as it may seem, I was called to substitute that school year until Thanksgiving. Maybe it was because I was able to wear street clothes for much of my pregnancy. The rule didn’t bother me; I wanted to stay home with my children.
Grist: Have you always lived in the school district?
Judy: Almost. When we married we had an apartment in Tarentum; Huck was working in Pittsburgh. After our first son, Bobby, was born, we moved to Castle Shannan and were there 364 days. We had the opportunity to buy the A. R. Hibbs Insurance Agency and we moved back. I wasn’t sure I wanted to do that; I thought I’d like to see a little more of the world. But it was such a good opportunity for Huck that I’ve never been sorry. The business has been good to us; it’s a great place to live and raise a family and still a fine school district.
Grist: Did you resume subbing when you moved back?
Judy: Yes, Sam Goodwill, the principal at the Junior High called and asked me to sub. So I didn’t have to apply for the permanent job or for substituting. My mother was certified elementary and between the two of us, we did most of the substitute teaching – we were called for every subject. The James DeBlasio family lived across the street from us, and our boys, Bobby and Danny, ended up being like “their children.” It was great for all of us. Besides Jim and Dorothy, her sister, Marie Barry and brother Chuck Barry, and their Mother lived there. Marie and the others would take care of Bobby when I was called to substitute. When we moved to Sarver, Huck would take Bobby into town in the morning and I picked him up when I was finished teaching. I loved teaching, but when Bobby started Kindergarten, I stopped so I could be at home when he returned at noon.
Grist: Do you have other “growing up in Freeport” memories?
Judy: I have fond memories of the soda fountain at Lee’s Drugstore. Mr. Lee was a fine man and always had a smile on his face. We would go there for cherry phosphates, banana splits and other goodies. Mary and Freddie Petri had a restaurant across from the drugstore. Teenagers behaved well in both places; if we didn’t we’d be asked to leave and that would be a nasty punishment. Kids in that day were well behaved; and growing up in the 50s was fun. People didn’t lock their houses or cars and we trusted people unless given a reason not to. During October, we did play pranks – I can remember throwing corn, soaping windows and heard stories of country kids having fun knocking over a few outhouses. Trick and/or treating lasted more than one night and our parents didn’t have to x-ray the treats. I’m not crazy about the fact that I’m 68 years old, but I’m sure glad I was a teenager during the magical 50s. I still think our music was and is the best; I love hearing it still.
Grist: Is there anything about you that might surprise people?
Judy: I think many people would be surprised to know I am basically shy. As a child I was very shy, but worked on overcoming a trait that could keep one from knowing some wonderful people. I’m still basically shy. But it has taught me to think twice before I jump to the conclusion that a person is cold or stuck up or arrogant – perhaps that person is simply shy.
Ed. Note: Mary Lou Young currently resides at Concordia. Charlotte and Chip are still in PA and Jan is in Ohio. Young Bobby and Beth live in Fox Chapel with children Kate and Ben. He runs the Hallman Agency now and his brother, Danny, is a professional photographer in New York City. Judy, thank you so much for a very delightful visit. We are hoping the photograph will copy decently when Grist is printed. It’s a delightful picture of Mary Lou and great granddaughter Kate. Judy captions it -- “And the beat goes on….” |
