OIL NOTES: Our columns about the history of the Bradford
oilfield have sparked some comments from Harold Pier:
“My father, Jerome Pier, worked for many years in the oil fields
on the Oakes lease on Bentley Hill and in Guffey. For his
‘retirement,’ he bought a grocery store in Mount Jewett and sold
Kendall gas and oil. I remember the hand-cranked kerosene tank on
the store’s front porch.
“When I was a senior in Kane High we had a career night and a
chemist from the Kendall refinery came up to talk to us. Right
then, I decided to study chemistry so that I could work for
Kendall.
“I did become an organic chemist and worked briefly for Sun Oil
and DuPont, but never went back to Bradford and have spent most of
my life as a teacher.
“Thanks to that Kendall chemist, whatever his name, for
inspiring me to pursue this profession.”
BOLIN POND: Our RTS Friday asked readers to remember back to ice
skating at the Bolin pond and swimming on Hedgehog.
Judi Robinson writes, “I did both of those things in the early
’50s. I also worked at the Bolin Ice Cream Parlor for a couple of
summers when it first opened. I remember they had the best peanut
butter fudge sundaes that I ever tasted and never have found
another place that makes them the way we did at Bolins. I even have
made it at home and it just is not the same. Memories, they are
great
“I hope to return to Bradford in 2008 for my 50th class
reunion.”
Harold J. Youmans writes, “Built many fires on the side of that
pond during the winters there and swam in that old swimming hole
more summers than I can remember. Lost my favorite knife in that
old pond also and never did find it. I guess that’s what we all
call the ‘good old days.'” His experiences were from 1953 to 1959,
he says.
He adds, “With 100 plus weather here in central Texas now,ð that
cooler water would feel great.”
TODAY’S QUOTE: “Media figures have been ‘selling’ themselves to
people in government for years. But the pay the toadies
traditionally get in return for their supportive opinions isn’t
actual money. It’s access, invitations to fancy parties, phone
calls from movers and shakers – the feeling of power,” said William
Powers, columnist, National Journal, 2005.
