On The Sly

I knew a couple of Rowlsons while attending PHS, one a year ahead of me and one a year or two behind me. Anyway, I don't think it was "Big" Mike Beerman (Class of '62) who threw the discus into the crowd, but he did have problems staying in the box for the shot put and the discus. I don't remember it being one of our track members doing it.

You got me on why that area was called the Battery...maybe one of the "Old Heads" there in P'burgh would know!

Oh Foxy, on a different note...do you remember a gal, Cynthia Humphreys who went to OLVA but changed to PHS in '63 her senior year I think?

(Foxy's note: Of course I remember her! She was one of the most beautiful girls to ever walk the halls of OLVA. She smiled at me one day, and I was happy for a month!)

Miney I may be wrong, "Old Timer" would know for sure , but I thought the flats and old high school field was called the battery because at one time or another there was a battery plant somewhere around that area. Hence battery hill, which by the way, as a youngster I went down in a soapbox derby car! You'll only do that once!I still have the scars to prove it...Thank God good old Mag Provost was there to rescue me!

Paul Shirley, a flash from the past. I remember watching him put the shot and throwing that discus down on the Battery. The land the track and field behind the 'old' PHS was on what was called the Battery, why I don't know. One day, one of the discus throwers came out of the circle wrong and threw the discus early - right into the crowd and actually struck an older woman right in the face. Paul, do you remember who that was? Does anyone know why the 'flats' was also called the Battery?

In the late 50's I lived at 181 Oak St. I remember the beautiful snow falling, shoveling the driveway for my Father. There were times you could see the old high school at the other end of Oak Street and times the snow was so thick you could just make out Bailey Ave. Getting up early on Saturday and going to St. John's to play basketball all morning. Back in the afternoon to go ice skating. Sometimes go to the Strand Theater to watch a movie for a quarter. I always loved a beautiful snowfall, the peace and quiet it brought. Headache, maybe but I sure loved to watch it coming down covering the ground.

brother,brother brother!!!!
Don't you remember those basketball games in the back yard in the winter.We were all bundled up with hats, coats and gloves .Shoveling the driveway at night and early mornings after those big snowfalls (no snowblowers back then) You must forget those one on one football games in knee high snow, Yes and indeed fox hill was where to be sliding. Then the skating rink down there when our grandad Poppa was the bunkhouse chief. I think you did venture out a little more than you let on. I still enjoy all the activities with winter here!!!! Come for a ski in the woods with me this winter. I will show you what beauty we have right here in the north country, I serve snacks on my ventures I am sure you will enjoy. Then before you know it, winter's over. So many activities you can enjoy in the winter to make it fly by.

(Foxy's note: Yes, little brother, you are right. I do remember the basketball games on our icy driveway, but I have tried to forget those football games when you would run over me, knock me face-first into a snowbank and score another touchdown. As for now, I will spend the winter in front of the fireplace with a certain someone while you are outside freezing. But could you just bring those snacks over later?)

When my Dad got orders to tranfer to Plattsburgh Air Force Base from Savannah, Georgia, I was apprehensive about meeting new friends and living that far North. However when the first snow flakes started falling, I took to it like a duck to water. I really loved the Winters there in Plattsburgh during my short stay (4 years). I wore out 3 pairs of skates, two sleds and a toboggan. I remember one year Lake Champlain froze glass-smooth and I skated from the Air Base marina South past Valcour Island to the ice fishing shanties that were located out from the mouth of the Little Ausable river. I was to meet my Dad there when he got off work (SAC alert) to do some smelt fishing. I had 200 in the bucket by the time he got there so we left before dark. Of course I was 18 years old then and really enjoyed being outdoors. I also learned to snow ski, hunted snow-shoe rabbits, and fished all over that lake (summer and winter). I'm 61 now and live in a condo here in Ohio where I can stay warm and remember the good times, drink a toddie and let someone else shovel the snow. Thanks for stirring up those memories! I still chat with classmate Jack Premore and the Baker brothers. They keep me up to date on their deer hunting trips!

(Foxy's note: I remember you, Paul, from your PHS days. I was an OLVA boy. I just saw Jack Premore the other day at the mall, and I see the Baker boys often. Nice to hear from you!)

Speaking of snowmobiling, I remember one night Bobby LaMarche & I went snowmobiling out Beartown way. It was -20F which wasn't too bad, but with the wind that night it was -100F adjusted for windchill. Needless to say, we only got in 15 minutes of snowmobiling. Hey, remember the ice rink behind the old PHS? Good skating there too. Historical note, our parents' generation called that the 'new' PHS. The old one, where my grandfather graduated in 1911, is now the public library on Oak St. Fox Hill sliding? Yes indeed. But wow did that hurt your tailbone if you were the last one on the tobaggon and you went over those bumps. How about Woodruff Pond hill? Or Rand Hill? St. Peter's field also had a skating rink a few winters I think. And there was always the real hockey rink @ the Mount - you could sneak on late on weeknights after the boarders had to go study. The best skating, I think, was on the lake. Baldwin, Wagner & I used to go out in front of the Base Officer's Club with sleds - you'd wear a jacket but also a big oversized coat so you could open the coat and the wind, always out there, would push you @ 15-20 mph. Just don't fall!

The memories of winters past. In the forty's it seemed that we got more snow every year. I don't seem to remember the cold so much as the amount of snow. Most of our sking was done on Conway hill behind the Conway estate now behind the college dorms. It was adjacent to the St. John's playground. We would ski to school and then ski till dark. Once or twice a year somebody's parent would take us to Whiteface for the day. This was a real treat. There were many choices when it came to ice skating. The St. John's rink (easiest access), the college pond, (this we had to shovel ourselves), MAI (if we wished to play hockey) and the PHS rink (if you wanted to skate with girls). I think the fondest memories come from the sleigh rides we would have. Elmer Facteau had a farm on the Tom Miller Road and he would show up (for a small fee) with a team of horses and a sleigh and about 20 of us would proceed to ride all around the city, singing carols while sitting on a bed of hay under bear skins and the like. When done there was always a house open to us for home baked cookies and cocoa. It would seem strange now to have snow covered streets for a week at a time. At that time there were no streets south of Broad St. in that whole west end. You had the Leonard, Trombley and Flanagan farms between Broad and Rugar Streets. This area was used for cross-country sking before there was a name for it. Since there was almost always snow on the streets, traffic was much slower. A common pastime was hooking cars. Wait at any corner and when a car slowed, grab on to the rear bumper and hang on. You didn't know where you would end up. Times seemed so simple then and we seemed to enjoy so much more. Have a very Merry Christmas to Foxy, Goose, all the great Bloggers and all your readers.

(Foxy's note: Wow, how old is this Old Timer? I didn't realize he lived in the Little House on the Prairie days.Sleight rides all around the city? Singing carols? I wish I had lived back then!)

Everybody knows there are only two seasons in the North Country... winter and July 4th weekend! Besides, don't you think it's crazy to live near someplace like Saranac Lake that holds numerous records for the coldest place in the continental United States?

I also remember sledding at Fox Hill and flying down the chutes and over the jumps. The best was trying to crash into the dugouts! My aunt lived across the street from the hill, as well. And I remember going there and warming up with a nice tall cup of the thickest hot chocolate around. Another thing that was reassuring was knowing that the firehouse at the top of the hill ensured a quick response to a devastating collision. Which, incidently did occur all too frequently. Nothing funnier than seeing a 40 year-old man being taken-out by a 10 year-old on an innertube.

I couldn't stand the cold of the region myself, Carver. So I moved south, to warmer pastures, in Saratoga! This is just the first step. Only 11 more years here, until my son finishes school, and then its off to warmer weather and beaches for me!

Hey Fox, I always prided myself on being the biggest "winter wimp" but I now pass that crown on to you !
But I do have some fond memories on fox hill..
We pretty much grew up across the street from fox hill ... it's where my grandmother lived for oh like 100 years, during peek sliding weather her house was known to all as "the Fox Hill Warm up house" that was before the fences you see today, you could walk across the street into her house on any cold snowy day and find mittens, ski pants and hats lined on her heater, drying and kids of all ages shapes and sizes drinking hot chocolate like only she could make...then everyone headed back out on the hill!...as a new flock headed in for warming..(we knew some of the kids but not most but I think that's what she enjoyed most!) Those were great days..

I have never been a friend of winter, in fact it's been claimed that I've had streaks of up to 12 days without leaving the house.
It's not so much the snow. I like the snow it's the cold I can't handle..although there are a few modern convienences that I've found that may be useful to you...
1) flannel lined Pants are an absolute must, khakis and Jeans,I have 3 pairs of each and will wear them from now through the end of March, (just didn't want you to think I wear the same pair everyday!) they are the best!! found at llbean.com
2) electric socks are handy
3) a good hat with ear flaps...makes you look like a dork but boy are they warm!
4) snow tires ... don't bother if it's that bad we ain't going out anyway!

stop your whining and suck it up! Get out there and enjoy!!!

handy

A few suggestions:

1. Put in a heated driveway like some of the rich folks in Eastgate.

2. Try snowmobiling- The winter version of TV as Frank Loyd Wright called "Chewing gum for the eyes"- Professor George Abbe referred to snowmobiling as "Those Mindless Machines"

3. Expand your choice of women- go ice skating- can you imagine a more entertaining date than Tonya Harding. Also encouraged to bring a baseball bat along.

4. Without winter there would be no spring training.

Foxy,
I haven't been sledding at Fox Hill for years, my dad used to take my brother and I after the first heavy snowfall (and before the snow turned brown and was hard as a rock).

I also collect autographs through the mail and in person and have been doing so for years --- we should compare collections sometime.

Best,
Andy