In November 1956 we were living in the Great Stone House on my grandparents’ farm just outside Womelsdorf, Pennsylvania, but as my mother had been brought up in Richland and my father on a farm just outside Richland, and my mother’s parents still lived in Richland, we visited that borough frequently. On November 3 Richland's … Continue reading November 3, 1956
Richland
Ellen Weiant
Ellen Weiant in her senior class play. Ellen is on the far right dressed as a maid. Across the street from us when we lived on West Main Street in Richland was JoAnn Weiant (pronounced WEE-ant) and her three children, Julian, Ellen, and Kathleen. JoAnn had been a friend of my mother’s ever since their … Continue reading Ellen Weiant
Summer Break
In the last few days of spring term 1970, three of us (Carl Gruber, Perry Harris, and I) managed to sign the lease for a townhouse at Southgate Apartments for the following school year, but because of the expense we needed to find a fourth roommate. Perry left before Carl and I did, and he … Continue reading Summer Break
The Gass Boys
Our family moved into the house on West Main Street in Richland, PA, in late November 1957, and one of my first memories of that house is being sent to my room to take a nap. This was an all-purpose punishment whenever I did something that didn’t please my mother, or whenever she simply wanted … Continue reading The Gass Boys
Capsule Reviews
I’ve often mentioned going to the movies at the Neptune Theatre in Richland when I was growing up. I’ve also mentioned that my mother had a beauty shop in the rear of our house during that period. From time to time I’d peek my head into the shop to see if my mother had anything … Continue reading Capsule Reviews
Wanda and Reed’s Wedding
I don’t remember very much about Reed and Wanda’s wedding. I suppose I could call Wanda or Reed to verify a few details, but what fun would that be? Besides, they’ve long since gotten a divorce and each of them has re-married, in Reed’s case more than once. Reed Zellers, of course, is my uncle, … Continue reading Wanda and Reed’s Wedding
Kathy and Me
I don’t remember the arrival of Neal and his new family in Richland. From the photographic evidence, we were certainly there at my grandparents house to greet them, as why wouldn’t we be? I simply don’t remember it. In January 1954 I was four years old, a few months from becoming five, so that’s no … Continue reading Kathy and Me
The Welcoming Family
Pepper, Harry, Tillie, Fumiko, NealDebbie (Allen and Jane’s dog), Reed, Kathy Neal and Fumiko’s stay in the Zellers household was not a happy one, at least not to hear Kathy tell it. Reed, the youngest son, was the problem. I don’t know exactly what went on, but I know that in my dealings with Reed, … Continue reading The Welcoming Family
Love Conquers All?
According to my mother, my grandparents—that would be Harry and Tillie Zellers—tended to give their son Neal a hard time growing up. He was their youngest, after Allen, Arlene, Harry Jr., and Mark, having been born in 1930, and would remain their youngest child until Reed came along rather unexpectedly in 1946 when Tillie was … Continue reading Love Conquers All?
Terry and the Parents
When we were doing the morning program over the PA system in Elco High School as The Irregulars during our junior year (1965-66), we sometimes did book reviews. So it was that when I noticed that a new James Bond movie was being released, I decided to review the novel it was based on a … Continue reading Terry and the Parents