Opinion

Class of '48 member shares memories of Fort Scott

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

The following story is our first one from another class. This story is written by Chuck Wegschider Class of '48.

Hi Marilyn, I can tell you what made your class of '49 so special. It was because you followed the Great Class of 1948 who set the terrific example for you. Doubt it? Ask Bob. Chuck Wegscheider '48.

I enjoyed reading Fred Clem's epistle, its strange but seems like the guys all followed similar paths.

In the late 30's and early 40's, I peddled the Saturday Evening Post and GRIT. You might not remember that little magazine. Then on to the Tribune on routes 4, 4a, and 5. Those covered the west to Tower Hill and Scott Ave., south to east National Ave. and west of Buck Run. Then through seniority I finally got to route 12. It was straight down Crawford from 3rd (Whiteside's) to 10th and back on Eddy to 3rd, then a stopover at Wilders bakery there on Crawford for a pan of their caramel-pecan rolls, yum. A stint at the Frisco Cafe by the Frisco Depot on Wall St. as a "pearl diver" (10cents/hr) and at the same time, selling boxes of candy bars acquired from Gladys at Galvins Drugs to the guys on the troop trains. I knew when they were coming because the crews changed at Fort Scott and the new crews ate at the Cafe. Then to Niles grocery. I got to drive Frank's pick-up delivery truck. I think it was a model T or maybe an A, but it was a hoot. My last employment in Fort Scott was, of course, at the Fort Scott Drug for Charley Ahrens and that lasted till I left for KU. That's about 10-11 years of employment off and on, and I got my Social Security card in 1939. How's that?

I guess we had rubber gun battles too but I do remember hedge apple fights between the Eastsiders and we Westsiders, I think around 10th and Eddy, can't remember who won, maybe Rabbit Campbell would. We too had to be home for supper. Then it was back outside playing kick the can or some other sport until tired. After that we'd just sit under the streetlights until we had to be home which was around 10 p.m. in the summertime.

Yes, we drank from hoses, didn't play with girls (that came later) and rode bikes backwards sitting on the handlebars with cards clothes- pinned to the fender to sound like a motor. Even the girls were unafraid to walk home alone after dark, most homes front door was unlocked, your neighbors were honest and caring. That's not today in the city.

Do you remember the polio epidemic in the mid 40's? No one under a certain age (I think it was 18) could attend any public event, like a football game, for risk of exposure. Well, we lived on Scott Ave. at the south end of Frary Field. They used to put up canvas on the fence so folks couldn't watch the games from the street. We had two huge elm trees, tall enough to see way higher than the fence, on our side of the street. Being an enterprising youth, I sold branch seats in our trees for 10 cents, pick your own branch, and we watched the Greyhounds game. Nobody fell and a good time was had by all. I wasn't thinking or I would have sold popcorn too. I believe there was a piece in the Tribune about one of their enterprising carriers.

The other was when a bunch of guys put Annie Harris's Crosley auto on the concrete porch next to the "Sweet Shop." It just fit north to south but really snug and she had a time trying to drive it off, can't remember who the guys were. Something to see though.

All in all, it was great fun growing up in our small town and sometimes I wish our boys would have had that opportunity, but it wasn't to be.

Chuck Wegscheider

Class of '48