When play period became recess

August 8, 2016

Perhaps I should preface this little epistle with the observation that not very many kids in my class at Garfield Elementary ever became varsity anythings or even became intramural anybodys when we progressed into East Junior and Harding high schools. There were a few outstanding exceptions, but for the most part, my Garfield class didn't seem to fare too well in the field of athletics. A little research appears to bear this out.It was September 1944 at Garfield here in Warren. My classmates and I were just beginning fourth grade. Things had become a bit different. The two most ...

High cost of staying in Warren

July 26, 2016

Sometimes residing in good old Warren, where the cost of living is relatively low, exacts a pretty high price. I'm not talking about dollars and cents, I'm talking about the cost of not seeing those family members and friends who have gone away to other places for greater opportunities or maybe for a better climate.I am one of the few of my Warren G. Harding class of 1953 who have remained in Warren, because many of my pals and friends whom I hung around with while I was growing up have participated in that exodus.It is a strange thing to me, this traveling clear across the United States ...

Trade-offs of ‘good ole Warren’

July 12, 2016

"Just how old are you, Don?" asked a younger friend. At least he didn't say sir.I hesitated for a moment because my mind had quickly gone back to a time when I could flash a few fingers to show my age. Now, I would have to flash a whole handful of arthritic fingers (and a thumb) 16 times to indicate my age. I replied, "I'm 80 and a half." I could also recall when that half was oh, so important."Well, you don't look it," my friend said. I chose not to pursue that one. Sure, I thought, he probably meant I look 90.Anyway, that question brought me up short. Wow, I thought, I've spent all of ...

Baseball, Truman among first on TV

June 21, 2016

It was May 15, 1948. Each Saturday morning, after catechism class at Emmanuel Lutheran Church on the west side of Warren, I would walk down to the bus company garage at Buckeye and West Market where Dad worked a half day. I would wait around until he was ready to leave. We would then drive home for lunch.This day was different. Dad drove right across the street to a place called Warren Radio Electronics. It was directly across from the "OK Used Cars" Chevrolet dealer. We entered via the back door. I heard the sounds of a baseball game. Sitting there in the darkened repair section at the ...

Hot Dog Shoppe’s first patrons recalled

May 30, 2016

It was almost exactly 70 years ago - June of 1946 - when J.R. and Bud, both Harding High School buddies, were looking for their friend, Ralph Costantino. They walked into a little frame building eatery. It was up the hill on West Market Street across from the Hudson garage and next to the West Side Market. It was called the Hot Dog Shoppe.The place was furnished with old kitchen chairs and tables. There they were greeted by two guys, World War II veterans Paul Trevelline and Ralph Middendorf, co-owners of the little place. And there J.R. and Bud found Ralph Costantino.So what is so ...

What war was then, and what it is now for young Americans

May 17, 2016

Our motley little neighborhood gang of kids knew how to wage war during the Second World War. The older kids had pocked some of the open fields in the 88 acres behind our houses with foxholes that were useless to us because they had filled with water. An occasional garter snake didn't help matters much, either.All of us had weapons of some kind or another and a variety of military-type headgear. I had an almost authentic olive drab helmet liner, Stanley had an overseas cap, and Skippy had come up with an air raid warden's helmet. Heaven forbid that a kid would show up with a kettle on ...