I asked mom about television too. The neighborhood kids use to go over to Sam La Polts to watch Hoppalong Cassidy. Mom says that dad wanted to get a television, but she thought they were too expensive. Finally dad said his girls were not going to go to the neighbors anymore to watch TV, he was getting one.

I am sure that I remember this, we were so excited about it, back then you had an antenna, and there was no such thing as cable. Someone had to go out on the roof; another person was inside, they would holler back and forth until they had a good picture.

Grandma's house was entered through the kitchen, there was a front door too, but no one ever used it. In the kitchen stood a big, old, black stove. I can still remember when grandma got a new, modern stove. Mom says this must have been when they had electricity put in, which was after Grandpa died. In the summer she would pick me corn and lettuce from the garden or have me over for dinner, with her good home fries. Fried with bacon grease, of course. Were they good.

The corn was the best I've ever had. They use to pick it, take it right in to cook it. The tomatoes were good too; they ate them with sugar. The potatoes were used all winter, and though, they'd be like mush towards spring, they still were good.

Mom said at Christmas Grandpa Brucher liked to have everyone over; he would hand out all the presents. I do remember when he died. We were grocery shopping; Grandma told mom that grandpa had not come home. He must be out late. Later, of course we found out he had died out on the road.

Grandma came in and saw his fishing rod and started crying. Grandpa worked for the Town of Bethel on a roller used to flatten tar on the roads.

Mom and the others went to school in a one-room school, called Forestine School. This was down the road by Margaret Shaeffers. The road into the dam. They started school when they were about 8 years old. Aunt Marge started when she was 6. Some of the teachers were Miss Fry, Mr Brown and Miss Inona Kilcoin. There was a coal and wood burning stove that had to be started in the mornings. At times the students brought things to make soup and a biscuit from home.

The house where Aunt Marge was born and they all lived is still in Smallwood. Within walking distance of where mom still lives. Marge was born in August, the following December they moved to Black Lake into a duplex.

Beulah lived in a house in Bethel, we had a lot of fun there. We use to go up to the barn and play. We would go up into the loft. Out in the hay fields we would have tons of fun; at night we would play hide and go seek. There were chicken coops we would play in too. Beulah had a big white stove in her place. In winter we would go on the back roads and sleigh ride. What fun we had. In summer there was a garden, I remember rhubarb being there. We would go to the dances at the Grange Hall in Fosterdale.

Later on Beulah moved to Long Island, we were heart-broken. Bill and John were born there. The house I remember most was on Colonial Street. One year we had Thanksgiving there, I am sure Aunt Sell and Uncle Dick came from Plainfield, New Jersey. The table was in two rooms. I do not remember who else was there. It was really nice.

At one time Donna, Grandma Brucher, and I went to Long Island to visit Beulah and Ralph. We got lost and drove from one end of Manhattan to the other. Finally Donna got out and asked a cop how to get where we were going. We got there in the middle of the night. Everyone was worried about us. Grandma said she knew we would find it sooner or later. On Sunday, Ralph took us back into the city. I do not think I ever got lost again, later when I went, I use to go about 2-3 in the morning.

We use to go into town, Uncle Ralph would go in this place that sold pigs feet, they kept them in big jars. There was what must have been one of the first Mac Donalds, you did not go inside. Everything was 19 cents.

The grown-ups use to get together to play cards on the weekends, they played pinochle and canasta. At our place we would go into the basement and roller skate. There was a huge furnace down there. We would get drinks like orange soda. We played till we fell asleep.

Aunt Sell lived in an apartment over in Kauneonga Lake over the post office. I remember exactly how that apartment was. You walked into the kitchen, it went into the living room on the left side, on the other side of the living room was a bedroom. There were at least one or two other apartments there.

Later Sell moved to a house that was on the road where the famous Woodstock excursion later took place. I use to go stay with her quite a lot. Later she moved to Plainfield, New Jersey. At her first house we use to go down to watch the train go by, one time Dad took us into town, we went for a ride on the train. Later she and Uncle Dick bought the house he still has. 351 Carlisle Street, South Plainfield, New Jersey.

Aunt Marge lived in Bridgeton, New Jersey. Uncle Earl owned the Western Auto store there. Later they moved further out of the city. I always loved the first house they had. They had put a breezeway on it, Aunt Marge could never wait to get out there and use it. Donna stayed there one summer, brother Ronnie and I went down to see her. We would go when we were older and all go to the ocean. We went to Wildwood a lot of the time. There was a hit song by Bobby Rydell about Wildwood. Many times Aunt Sell, Uncle Dick and Barbara would go, we had a picnic in the car on the way.

Sell, Marge and Marion all lived around Scotch Plains, New Jersey at one time. Uncle Earl had a store there too. They lived in an apartment upstairs. I remember exactly how it was. I can remember going there. At one time the men delivered papers in the area.

One year we spent the summer, we were going to move down to New Jersey. I am sure the house we looked at where Aunt Marion lived, was white with black trim. I often wonder how much different my life would have been if we had moved, we seemed to like it.

There was the big highway that went into where they lived. There were all sorts of stores, they would have all this stuff hanging outside, I remember they seemed to have a lot of what I would consider things for the beach. When we went with dad we always stopped at this store that was built with stone, we got ice cream. This was on the little country road off the highway.

We can all remember one place we use to see, it has a big yard, with a stream going through it. Mom is not really sure where it was, just that she does remember it.

In Jersey we use to watch Howdy Doody on television. There were quite a few children in the neighborhood to play with. A little store was close by that we use to walk to. A Good Humor truck use to come by in summer. I use to go across a street there in the back of Aunt Marions to play with a friend.

One Christmas we were at Aunt Marges. The only thing I can really remember is that the song Silver Bells was played over and over somewhere outside on a loud speaker. I like that song till this day. Perhaps this was the time I was allowed to go down to the store and choose any doll I wanted.

Mom says one Christmas when we were at Marges I had already gotten a few dolls for Christmas but, we went somewhere and I wanted a doll I saw. Aunt Marion said if no one else bought it for me she would. But, Aunt Marge bought it. I named the doll Porky, this is odd as one of the few things I collect is pigs. Mom says the doll got torn up pretty fast. I did play with my toys pretty roughly.

Added notes*** At grandma's house we use to play baseball, especially at the re-unions. Croquet was another game everyone enjoyed.

One year there was a big anniversary party at Aunt Sells for Uncle Earl and Aunt Marge. Just about everyone was there. Marge and some got in Doug's convertible to go for a ride. We really enjoyed ourselves at these parties. For mom and dad's 25th anniversary a party was held down at Grandma Bruchers. A lot of people were there.

For New Year's Eve we went down to Uncle Georges for a party. At midnight you would call people that you knew and wish them a Happy New Year. Uncle George had the old Mattison family home in Smallwood. Downstairs there was a big kitchen, bath, living room, a big front porch and a parlor. We were not allowed to go in there, the room was always kept closed. I do remember it was pretty fancy. Mom says they use to keep nice dishes with candy in them in that room. We only got to peek in.

George would go shopping with us on Friday nights. There was a summer kitchen to the back of the house. It was made of stone. In recent years it has been torn down. Mom says that at one time people use to sleep out there in the summer. There were two floors.

Mom says there were dances with live bands. In the back was a real big barn. Uncle George use to help the Stevensons, who lived up past mom's house. We would get hay at Georges, then he would hitch up a horse or two, we would get on the back to take the hay up the 4 hills to get to the barn. We use to do this up in Bethel for some people that Uncle Ralph use to help. Uncle Ralph worked at the local saw mill, we would go over there.

On Sunday, September 28 1952 many in the family took a trip to Gingerbread Castle which was over in New Jersey. This was a fun trip. They had a place there that sold all sorts of souvenirs, they had these great big lolly pops. There were ponds with huge goldfish in them. I wonder if it still there? I have written the town this was located in with no answer, so, I guess it no longer exists.

Another time we went to Catskill Game Park for a family trip, this was probably on a Sunday too. We made many trips there during our younger years. We went with our school at one time. At times we would go to Newburgh, take the ferry across the Hudson River to Nyack. It was nice when Sunday was a day to go to church, rest and have fun. In later years Diana, Judy, Donna and I went to West Point. I still think that is one of the prettiest places I have ever seen. And, now I have seen both coasts.

High Point was another trip destination. One time Grandma Brucher wanted to go up to the top of the tower. They would not let her do this, she got rather upset. She wanted to go. She probably got someone to sneak her down to High Point and went up there by herself. Twasn't me! I do remember some of us went later on when we were older, I did go to the top. When I came down and went to drive, my foot was shaking.

Some remembrances from my mother... I have written a lot of this with help from my mother. I have learned to call here and there and ask about different things. Mom generally remembers more later and tells me about it.

Mom says that when they were a little older they would walk from Black Lake to Smallwood, especially on Sundays. Their Grandmother Mary Jane Mattison, would fix Sunday dinner. Then mom, Evelyn and others would go for a walk. She can remember going over where Smallwood Lake is located. There was a huge rock there. She can recall them making the lake. Mom was around 13-14 then.

The Mattisons had a real big house, it is still there. At times Evelyn and some of the boys stayed with their Grandmother Mattison. Grandma Mary Jane Mattison sold land to Mr Smallwood, as many others in the area did. Originally this was called Mountain Lakes. You had to have permission to come into Smallwood if you did not live there.

Another thing mom was telling me and laughing about was Grandma Brucher making Jell-O. She says that was a real treat. That grandma would make the Jell-O, then sit it out in the snow.

At that time they grew most of their own food. Grandpa would get 1/2 of a cow from his brother Charlie Brucher. When Grandpa Brucher bought the groceries anything else they needed was bought at Vassmers or Birnbaums. While they lived at the duplex in Black Lake the neighbors next door sold Jell-O and cereal.

When Uncle Ray started to drive they would go to the A & P in Monticello. She can not recall when this store was first there though. But, says it was there during the war. This would be World War ll.

Today..October 5 1997 I once more talked to mom. Here and there I think of things to ask her...I was wondering about Halloween. She says they never did anything when they were kids. She did not know about trick or treating. Not until they went to Long Island one year and tons of kids came around. When they started doing this up home mom says that at first her and dad gave out nickels to everyone. I know when we got a quarter, we were thrilled. You could buy the candy counter out with that.

Another thing I asked about was who had a car first. Mom says it had to be Uncle Ray. And before she told me when Ray got a car they started shopping in Monticello. She does remember Grandpa getting a car and teaching himself to drive with it. Grandpa use to have two motorcycles, there was a side seat. Grandma would ride in that. Sometimes when something was going on, he would take one, then come back, take another.

Mom told me today that Grandma Brucher's place use to be owned by someone with the name of Mitchell. Ray considered buying it, was not sure what to do, Grandpa told him the house was a good deal, he should go ahead and buy it. Dad and Leo put the addition on, this was Grandma's bedroom and bath. At one time there was a pantry along the whole side of the kitchen. I do remember this too.

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