HOOPIE HEAVEN: We obviously got that definition of “”hoopie””
right.[neWLine]

Ron Baughman writes, “”Growing up in the Mount Jewett area as a
kid we drove many hoopies around the lease and logging roads. And,
yes, you are correct about them being stripped down old cars or
junker cars still running that we would run further into the
ground.””[neWLine]

“”It was a great ‘learn to drive’ experience. We usually got
these ‘hoopies’ from the local junk yard for little or nothing and
a little tinkering would get them up and running, and using the
back roads of the ‘woods,’ managed to get them home.[neWLine]

“”Some of these vehicles would also come from relatives or
friends who would pass them down when they were no longer legal for
the highways for one reason or another. Many summers, time was
passed in the dust of the old logging, lease, and old railroad
grades!””[neWLine]

[neWLine]

LU-TE-FISK: It was just a couple weeks ago that a train derailed
in the Gardeau area, spilling thousands of gallons of caustic soda
into Portage Run and damaging much of the aquatic life
downstream.[neWLine]

We certainly don’t want to make light of that situation – the
stream will be years in recovery – but we couldn’t resist a
humorous take on one facet of the spill that a reader pointed out.
As background, one must know that caustic soda is also known as
lye.[neWLine]

“”I can yust hear it now… The ol’ Swedes in Mount Yewett and
Kane after seeing the ‘soaked fish’ on the front page of Monday’s
Era (7/3). All dat fish soakin’ in lute (lye) this long before
Christmas! Maybe the Mount Yewett Swedish Festival would be
interested?””[neWLine]

Bob Johnson of Coudersport, who sent along that note, points out
that the Swedes consumed this so-called “”lute fish”” which was
fish immersed in lye![neWLine]

“”LutFisk Dinners were popular long before the turn of the last
century. Dried cod was the chosen fish. Soaked in lye for about
three days, then is changed to fresh water daily until
used.””[neWLine]

“”Norwegians call it Lu-te-fisk. It all smells the
same.””[neWLine]

Bob adds, “”The former Bloomquist Store on the main thoroughfare
in Kane displayed the dried cod in wooden barrels in front of the
store.””