So I start up Bridge Street and the first thing I see is the funeral home where my grandfather was viewed. I had had other relatives die before, but Grandpop was different, he always called me “Bir Head” because I always had a very short hair cut. I also remember not wanting to go to the funeral and doing everything I could to be late. Problem was, my brother Bob was waiting for me. When I walked in the door I was ambushed. He questioned me about not going and I guess at some point he was tired of listening to me and “jacked me” up against the wall and said, “This is your mother’s father, you owe it to her to be there for this. Now get your ass upstairs and get yourself ready.” I did what I was told. I did view grand pop and sat through the Mason’s ceremony. It was ok and I guess I am glad I went. The next day after, the short service in the funeral home, we were sitting in the cars waiting to go to the cemetery. The mood was heavy and dark, my mom was desperately holding back the tears. While we were waiting a patient from Pennhurst walked past the car. For those of you that remember the patient’s at Pennhurst that were better, often held jobs or were permitted to walk into town. Sadly their clothes were not always in fashion. There had been a TV commercial running about Krass Brother’s Men’s Suits. This man walked past the car and Bob said, “I guess he didn’t buy his suit at Krass Brother’s.” Just in that instance the mood in the car completely changed from sad, somber, and quiet to one of hysterical laughter.
As I proceeded up Bridge Street, I passed the Rescue Squad which was famous for hosting dances, that were apparently pretty wild. I never went so I never found out. Next was Debbie Batten’s house and across the street from her was Teddy “Boom Boom” Bauman's. Debbie was a grade or two ahead of Teddy and I. On a sadder note, Debbie’s grandmother was my 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Godshall. What I remember about her was that I spent a great deal of time in the back of the room facing away from class looking into the coat closet. It also sticks in my mind that I was chewing gum, and that was a fate worse than death! So she made me put it on my nose for a while. Thank God I was having all kinds of experiences being humiliated in my childhood. It certainly prepared me for humiliation in my adult hood! Ted, Debbie, and I hung out a lot together. There were others, but I could not tell you who they were. I passed “Blanchie’s Hill.” This was one of the best sledding spots in Spring City. Sometimes Teddy and Debbie would walk to my house and then we would walk up to the hill in driving snow and freezing temperatures. We would stay out until very late at night sledding or having some hot chocolate at Teddy’s place. Teddy’s mom and dad were older like my parents so they hit it off. I was often up there for meals or Teddy was at my house. I rounded the corner (the really bad corner on Bridge Street) and headed up toward - Hmm was it 724 that took you down to Phoenixville and up to Pottstown? Someone will tell me I am sure! The main branch of the bank I went to was on the left side of me, a gas station to the right of me, across the street was the shipping company (It was Jones and employed many people), and across from that was the place we often got food.
I made my right hand turn and headed towards Pottstown. I remember the outlets they had in Parkerford and that my friend Dave Willauer lived there. I drove further and past what had been Countryside swim club. The place where I got soooo sun burned that I had to take an oatmeal bath. Further down the road was Dr. Peterman’s. He was a friend of the family and so we took our dog Blackie to him when she was sick. Right next to him was a place called TOGG’S. After TOGG”S opened I swear if we were not getting food from Andy’s on a Friday night, we were at TOGG”s. They had fried chicken in a basket that came with fries and cole slaw. Mmmmm now that was good living and eating.
Finally I arrived at the juncture I needed to take to get on Rt 422. I made my right and continued. This area looked basically the same except the brush had grown up. When I got to the High or Keim Street exit, I took it and decided to ride through downtown Pottstown. This is where we did most of our shopping. My mother and I could take the train from Royersford for pennies and arrive in Pottstown. Public Transportation - who knew it would be in high demand now! Mom and I had our stores we always shopped in. The biggest and the one most frequented was The New York Store. A fairly nice store with a variety of products. The other was Penny’s, which was up and across the street. There was a 5&10 next to a Woolworth’s that had a soda fountain! The trick was to convince mom she needed something from the soda fountain. It also helped if the fountain wasn't full. If it was full, sadly I left somewhat dejectedly. If we sat down, I always had a standing order. A Hot Fudge Sunday with a Cherry on top and no nuts. For someone in his formative years, this ranked up there with TOGG’S!!! I suppose this may have been the start of my addiction issues as well. Ah that’s right, in case you didn’t know I have a severe addiction to ice cream. No like seriously severe. It is almost scary severe. Anyway after our sundays we general went to Bechtels Sporting Goods. If she needed something for my brothers we walked down the next block to Weitzencorn’s Now this place was hip for sure! Always had amazing displays. I so wanted to buy my clothes there,but I was still in children’s sizes and as my mom pointed out, they only sold man sizes. Hmmm not a man??? 15 years of Therapy here I come! Once we were done - we would either head back to the train or out the back of the New York Store, because that is where we ALWAYS parked. We would ride in circles until a spot opened up. It was free parking, no meters! This would be one trait I did not pick up from my family, being frugal with money. Though I have gotten better than I could have ever imagined, it took a very long time for me to get there. I decided to “cruise the circuit.” I can’t tell you exactly the names of the streets the circuit started and ended on, but you would start down around the McDonald’s near the hospital. Then you would drive slowly all the way to the Manatawany Creek. You would turn around and head back down. You might spend three or four hours doing this. It became such an issue due to drugs and alcohol, that they eventually had the police out to see how many times you went around and if it was too many they would write you up. I think for a while it stopped altogether. I am not sure but I think they are back to doing it again.
After one trip around the circuit, I decided it was time to move on. I went back out to get on 422 and headed towards Reading. From this point on, the trip was not really very surprising because over the past 20 years or so, I had been down to the Coventry Mall many times.
All the way home, my mind was flooded with the memories of those years. My mom and dad, the things we did together, and the surroundings. It was a true trip down memory lane. After about an hours worth of driving, I pulled into my parking space, walked into my house, and readied myself for bed. Yes, it may have taken me a long time to get home, but I had the treat of re-living some of the best times of my life. Yes, there were a lot of things that were wrong with my life growing up, things I had to deal with, but Mel Schrader is right, I was lucky to grow up in a small town, and thinking about all of this helped to realize all of that!
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