HOMECOMING: Perhaps it was a little “auld lang syne” but Barney
Snyder of Tucson, Ariz., wrote us on New Year’s Eve about a trend
seen in some communities:
“I have always enjoyed my trips to Bradford and I could retire
there. It would be fun showing my California wife how we can fish
tail the car on icy roads.
“Actually, I believe Bradford was even better in my day when we
had more snow, the Zippo slope was open with lights on school
nights ’til 10. We could toboggan on the Penn Hills slopes when it
was really cold and snowy.
“I’m old enough that it was so cold the salt on East Main Street
wouldn’t work. Bill Hanson and I would grab the bumper of the
public bus driven by Rocky and when he realized it, he would stop
and chase us off. We’d run right back and grab the bumper again.
Usually, by the time we reached Kendall Avenue from Hawthorne Road,
we had enough. Poor Rocky!
“Now, I’m too old for that stuff and would rather play a round
of golf on a week day in the winter here in Tucson. Ann Bowman and
Bill Hanson moved back to Bradford and don’t regret it. Nothing
wrong with Bradford. I won’t bad mouth it.”
We can think of a few Bradford natives who’ve return to the old
stomping grounds. If you’re one of them, we’d love to hear your
story.
30 YEARS AGO: Don Parrish of Beaver Falls remembers that
horrendous snowfall of Christmas Eve 1978: “I transferred from
Beaver County to McKean in April of 1978. On the afternoon of the
24th there was no snow in sight. My wife Nancy said, “What a
bummer! We moved to the mountains and we’re going to have a green
Christmas.” It began snowing around 5 p.m. in Mount Jewett and we
got 28 inches!”
Chauncey Kan of Panama City Beach writes: “I remember the 1978
Christmas Day storm well. I was 13. My father, Jim Kan, was holding
snow shovels for my two brothers, Casey and Scott, and I when we
got up for presents that morning. My brother Casey, the oldest,
will tell it was three feet. Scott, second oldest will tell you
four and I, the youngest, believe it was five feet!”
It’s all relative, right? (So said Einstein!)
