Here we go again...
As a "Valley" guy, I'm beginning to be a little shy about telling stories that show how much more fun we had than those that lived elsewhere. But we DID have fun, and we knew we lived in a special place and LOVED it!
At about this time of year there would be a festival at the Smith Valley Community Center. I can remember a huge deep-fat fryer and lots and lots of delicious fresh fish being served there. Our family simply referred to this festival as "The Fish Fry", and it was a big deal-
Live music, lots of booths displaying arts and crafts and other doo-dads for sale. Games of chance...
The Fish Fry always drew a big crowd...
It was very much like a Mini-County Fair.
I remember one year they had a dunk-tank to raise money for charity. Diana D's Dad was the "monkey" in the tank. For a buck you got three baseballs to try to hit a lever that would drop the seat from beneath Diana's Dad and dunk him in a three-feet-deep reservoir below. It was a hot night and I remember thinking it might be refreshing to be dunked now and then, so I asked him if I could be the "dunkee".
I think he pulled a "Tom Sawyer" on me...
"Oh no, this is too much fun. I really don't want to give up the job."
But I begged, and he relented. I ran home and put on my swimming trunks. It only took about three or four dunkings for the "refreshing" dip to get old. I think I was the monkey for an hour or so before Diana's Dad took pity on me and sent me home to put my street clothes back on.
My memory of the Fish Fry was tweaked by Crown and Coke's comments about the Johnson County Fair this week. (By the by, how'd that go C&C?)
How long has it been since they had a festival at the old SVCC?
I know I'd gladly drive the distance home to attend one!
Okay, by now you know the routine-
It's Friday...
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27 comments:
It has been a quiet group for the last week. Hope you had a good visit with your son. The Johson County Fair starts July 19 and runs through July 25.
Gosh, I don't remember ever going to these things. Wish I had. The dunking tank thing reminds me of a couple of summers ago on base. I was going to lunch at the cafeteria and noticed a dunking booth with a Naval Officer in uniform sitting on the dunking seat. They were raising money for their annual Navy Ball. I gave the money-taker $5 for three balls and told him I wanted all three balls at one time. They probably didn't think some ol' lady could accurately throw a ball, but let me tell you...I've got dead aim. (I once threw a dirty, rolled up sock at my husband and embedded it in his mouth!)
Anyway, I held all three balls in my arms, and then dropped them to the ground. They sailors looked at me kind of funny. But then I said, "...out of respect for the officer". They loved it!
Cissy: Perhaps if Leroy had shut his trap he wouldn't have been eating "sock furr".
As to the dunk tank. Nice one.
I remember the Fish Fry. If I remember correct it was fish squares. It was great. They had baseball games then changed to softball I think. My bike knew the way without me even looking. You could smell it all the way to Morgan Town road. The money was used for the fire deptment I think??? Later I think they had horseshoes. I would like a nickle for the hours I spent there. Darts were always fun. I remember winning a dollar at the dart booth.(big money then)How many times did you get sick on the merry-go-round??? Kids today do NOT have half the fun we had.
HF
HF: I didn't remember the fish frys but I do remember the baseball games. I can almost picture the swingset that was there and it seems like there was one that was a baby swing with a bar that I still fit into.
The community events stopped a really long time ago. I wonder what's there now. I can't make myself go there anymore since Dad died and Mom moved away in the early 90's.
I hadn't driven down Paddock Road since then until last year when Mike drove me past the old house on our way to a family funeral. It's just too sad to see a community look like it was dying.
Oh geez, I wasn't intentionally bringing down this post.
Let's think happy thoughts, shall we?
I remember the baseball games, the baby swings and popcorn at the community center. Does anyone know who was actually playing ball? I thought it was adults at the time, but it could have been high schoolers for all I know.
It was a great place to hang out then. And I think we actually went there at night without our parents, which means Cissy must have been in control. Oh God Forbid! Mike was the only one who escaped her wrath.
In the beginning it was the little league that played there. Then we moved to CG. Then the fire department moved to Runin?? road. The fish fry move also. The Center was taken over by the community. Later on the Church took it over. One of the worst cussins I very took was at a Church league softball game( we won the fight) not the game. As I remember it were the local boys would play ball there very day or it seems like it now. I think they use to square dance at the "fish fry" hf
GB you started this now I'm on the way to the beach. I will find some fresh grouper or snapper for supper. We are going for the week, Family from Indy and All my kids and the best part the GREAT GRADKIDS. Sounds like sun burn city to me. HF
The Smith Valley Community Center wore many different hats over the years. I remember a few of them. As HF states - it seemed like the local kids played ball there most every day. On nice days, we all just seemed to show up. As far as the organized leagues go - Little Leagues, Church Leagues, Fast Pitch Leagues, Slow Pitch Leagues, Ladies Leagues, etc... Managers were mainly Fathers and even a few Mothers. Umpires were uncles, brothers and anyone that was willing - from the stands. More than a few hot tempers flaired. Don't remember many real altercations, though. Cetainly a few coaches thrown out who would then refuse to leave the bench. Lots of angry words - more blustering than anything. The next night everyone would be right back at it. I remember a few fans (in the bleachers)that got tossed, as well. Common words spoken between fans and umpires - Umpire would say "You're outta here!" Fan would reply "You can't do that!" Umpire would say "Well, I just did!" The next night - those tossed fans were sitting right back in the same spot - doing the same thing. The organized leagues did not play hard ball. The left field fence was way too close. The local kids like to play hard ball and more than a few windows got broken.
The cinder block building also served in many differnet ways over the years. It was a fire station. I remember a few nights when we would wake up to the siren going off. A few times, the phone would ring - needing more volunteers. It was a dance hall at one time, a movie place, a skating rink, the building housed various small businesses after the fire trucks moved out - but mainly - it remained symbolic to the Community as a Community Center. It's role was to bring the Valley Commnuity together - it did... Many times...
During ball season, it brought the whole county together. At tournament time, even some surrounding County leagues got involved. The play ground had swings sets, sand boxes, slides, a great merry go round, monkey bars, etc.. Early on - even out houses. These kept getting turned over - sometimes, even a few times when they were occupied.. Always at night and at the end of October.. Funny stories to be told about that... Parking you car on a busy night was wherever you could put it. Sometimes, you had to wait to leave because you were blocked in. That never seemed to bother people - they just went back and sat in the bleacher. Parking was never organized - even though, a few of the men tried to organize it. Some night, there were even 'attendants' who would wave and point you in a certain direction. Funny, no one ever seemed to listen to them. As crazy as it was at times, you never heard about scratches, dents or much of anything. Of course, Mothers worried about the kids on the playground and I think there were plenty of dents, scrapes and scratches on the kids - but never because of a run in with a car.
The Fish Fry(s) were the best. Some great entertainment, mainly local - if I remember right. The Carnivals were great. For some of us - the Smith Valley Community Center ranks right up there with Effie's, the Store (across from Effie's) and the BeeHive. As a kid growing up and not really knowing much else - the Valley was a happening place.
Thank you, GB, for the posts.
Man HF, rub it in why don'cha?
Have a great time, be safe, and hug everyone.
Update us as you can!
I remember my dad, Vic & Betty Goad, and a few others starting up the very first business meeting for the brand new "Valley Riders" horse club. We had our first meeting in the Smith Valley Community Center. It was during the winter or early spring because everyone was wearing coats and drinking hot coffee that we had made at the Center. I can remember some of the people that were there in attendance.
Golden Horse, were you there? DJ, how about you?
I also remember having a horse show behind the Comm. Center, either in or beside the baseball diamonds, sometime during the summer. It was the first time Elmer West rode my horse Joker in some of the events. Joker absolutely hated men, but he didn't mind Elmer riding him. Elmer also rode Joker in a regular horse race at the Johnson County Fair grounds, one time. He didn't win, but he was right up there near the front. (can't remember what place he came in) Ahhh, the memories.
Anyhow, back at the Community Center horse show. My whole family was there and my mom took my picture of me on Joker. I still have that picture and if I had a scanner, I would show you.
Everyone at the horse show made a day of it by bringing their own food & refreshments.
It was real hot that day and a good time was had by all.
Does anyone remember the horse show(s) at the Comm. Center?
We also had a horse show down behind Sutton Trailer Park and I do remember seeing Golden Horse at that one.
Aloha gang,
Wow, what memories. Just got back from 18 days on the mainland, new grandbaby and we got to be there. Daddy is deployed right now. A little girl, 8 lbs. 12 oz. and a beauty. So says grandma. Mira is the apple of grandpa's eye like you wouldn't believe.
As for the fish frys, OMG, the fish I ate over the years. The pony rides, etc. you name it. The best cod going.
I played softball there for Gerald and Harriet Williams. Wonderful people. Nothing was better than the community center.
Joker, Yes, I was at the first VRSC meeting, I was elected Jr. Activities chairman, don't know why??
Was in the club for many many years.
Got to be horseshow chairman for the Johnson County Fair two years running and it was amazing. I had Tony Pickerel announce the show and it was the start of a great announcing career for him. He was perfect for the job.
I was at the first show there and there was a lady, Barbara ?? with the most beautiful black horse, I think her name was Shadow, do you remember her?
Also took square dancing lessions there. Were any of you there? Had a ball back then. I don't think I could do si do anything these days.
Does anyone remember the movie nights at the new Fire station on Runyon Rd. and walking home late at night and the older "boys" hiding in the tree at the little curve in the road, scaring the bejesus out of us?? Now those were the days.
GH,
Yes I remember Barbara (?) with the little black pleasure horse named Shadow. I believe she lived down by Spearsville. I remember passing her house one time and her horse was out in the pasture. She won almost every pleasure class she entered, and one time she entered the barrel race at the Johnson Co. Boots & Saddle Club and I think she won that day.
Ahh, now VK's have begun to repeat themselves...
Your question about the movies at the Volunteer Fire Department made me go searching, GH, and I found this post from more than three years ago.
But it's a time and tale worth repeating, wouldn't you agree?
Aww GB you caught me, the memory bank is not too deep these days.
If I repeat it enough, maybe I will remember it.
I still wouldn't give those memories up for anything. By the way, were you one of the guys that scared us to death up in the tree that night after the scary movie, or you one of the guys running us over, getting away?
Joker,
You are so right, Shadow won just about everything she was in. I would have loved to have had her.
She was a beauty.
Good memories sparked by your post GB. I have to tell the truth, the best thing about the Community Center was it was a great place to go parking at night. One night my junker was broken down so I borrowed dads x-cop car, it still had the spot light, me and ( i forget who i was with) were parking there and another set of parkers pulled in saw my dads xcop car and took off. I thought this is a sweet setup! we had 2 way of getting to the Community Center, one by rode and one by the creek trail. we lived next to the old tressel bridge on Paddock rd. me my bro and some buds cut a bike trail from the bridge all the way to the Community Center. it was treacherous to say the least, as my brother found out one day, but is was a cool way to ride to the CC. When I get a call down that way I drive thru there. It's in sad shape, but man does it bring up some wonderful memories, Great post GB takes me back to some mighty good times.
You went parking in the old '71MERCURY!!!! Gross. Yuck. I drove that car when I was 16! Gross. I loved that car. It has amazing speed. Gross!!!! Please don't divulge anymore of your gross teenage year make out stories.
Ha ha, didn't have a huge back seat? and with a 429 police interceptor Big Block V8 and interstate gear ratio, that thing had no top end.
Backseat? I don't know, I DIDN'T USE the backseat.
But I do remember flooring it one time when some crazy guys decided to "pass" me on Smith Valley Road and then decided to hang out in the other lane while gawking at me. Once I figured out what they were doing, I left them in the dust. It was SWEET!
And I remember pulling into the parking lot at school and everyone whipping their heads around because they thought a cop was around. It was so cool.
"Backseat? I don't know, I DIDN'T USE the backseat."
How big was the FRONT seat in that rolling apartment, Rita? (I had a '60 Oldsmobile, and the front seat was almost the size of a twin bed.)
I'm once again reminded of how times have changed...
A 429 Merc probably used copious amounts of fuel. I bet it burned "Ethyl" too. Can you imagine anyone trying to feed that monster at today's fuel prices?
A fellow class of '65-er (David H.) had a '53 Chevy into which he and his brother had shoe-horned a 365 horsepower fuel-injected Corvette engine. We drove that beast out to "The Pole" one night...
Filled it up before we left home...
Filled it up while we were cruising...
Filled it up in order to make it back home.
I shudder to think what that would cost at today's prices.
GB...Are you fibbing about using the backseat? How about in a T-Bird? Just curious.
Hey, Wait a minute. When you start naming models it sure shrinks the playing field down! But for that matter, no one has mentioned an MG midget? And NO, I'm not posting a name.
Front seat, back seat, blanket from out of the trunk spread on the ground...
It all depended on the weather, Anon. The "back seat" comment was a quote from Rita, not mine.
As I have freely admitted here at VK, I once had a very pleasurable experience in the back seat of a T-Bird chauffered by our own Hawkeye.
But I have to ask...
An MG Midget?
Did anyone get photos of that?
GB;
None that I'm aware of.
How about a corvette ? Dam floor shift.
Don't forget the horse shows Vic and JB hosted at JB's place on Olive Branch over the years.
Didn't JB have at least one show over at his place off of 37 down towards sutton's trailer park?
dj
Yes, he did.
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