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I've Always Been a Jock
It may surprise you to hear that I'm related to the Jock family. My mother's maiden name is Jock, and many of the Jocks that you may have heard of are related to me in one way or another. That includes Pete Jock, my former colleague and a great teacher and then guidance counselor at Stafford Middle School. His father was Benny Jock, a great athlete at one time and my Mom's first cousin.
And Jess Jock, the owner of Jock's Lunch in Cadyville for so many years. Jess was my grandfather's brother. Talk about great food. I was addicted to the "chicken drumettes" meal at Jock's Lunch for awhile. I think Uncle Jess used to throw a few extra of those little drumsticks on my plate just because I was Viola's kid.
George Jock, another of my Grandpa Jock's brothers, was a painter for many years in the Plattsburgh area. All through my childhood, whenever I saw him, he would be wearing those white overalls splattered with about ten different colors of paint. His daughter is Marjorie Jock, who now works for the Plattsburgh City School District.
Recently Charles Jock passed away. He was another of my Mother's cousins. As we grew up we didn't see a lot of my Jock relatives. We spent a lot of time with my maternal grandparents, however. My grandfather was Floyd Jock, who was a railroad man. He was a larger-than-life guy, standing around 5' 5" but weighing in at over 300 pounds.
When he retired from the railroad he and my Grandma Jock ran a little neighborhood grocery store in Lacolle, Quebec. Most weekends we visited them on Sunday, arriving in time for lunch and staying until around five o'clock.
But this blog is really about my Grandma Jock, who would have celebrated her birthday today. She was born in 1900 in Cadyville. Her name was Alverda Monty. But she was always Grandma Jock to me, a mostly quiet nice grandma who always wore an apron.
While Grandpa Jock waited on customers, Grandma Jock prepared lunch, and, boy, did it smell good. Always. No matter what she prepared for our Sunday dinner, it was a feast. Arriving at the table for dinner was a joy. Big boiled white potatoes, some of them the size of a softball. Grandma's gravy, never lumpy, always tasty. Big bowls of corn or peas with a large square of butter on top.
And then, my favorite, roast beef that fell apart at the touch of a fork. We never went away hungry. And now you know why Grandpa Jock's waistline kept growing.
Grandma Jock was the first of my grandparents to pass away. I was around thirteen years old at the time and I didn't really understand about all those funeral procedures and processions. I sort of went through it all in a blur. I just saw how sad my Mom was and how supportive my Dad was of her during those times.
Tonight at our Gagnon family dinner, Mom reminded us that today was Grandma Jock's birthday. Wouldn't it be nice if we could go back in time for one more visit with our grandparents? Maybe that's why every summer I can't help but find an excuse to drive to Lacolle and drive past the house that used to be their home and store.
Little things like a birthdate can jog so many fond memories sometimes. And remind me of how lucky I was to grow up with a little Jock in me.
Comments
I too was a chicken drumette man as a a small boy. Probably been 35 years ago and I can still taste them. Long before the chicken wing was a delicacy the chicken drumette meal was just dandy.
I recall the expansion of Jocks Lunch to be a big deal somewhere in my childhood.
Posted by: rubble | August 18, 2007 5:46 PM
Wow! It's so great to know that I share my birthday with some great North Country legends!
I remember Jock's lunches and those chicken drums in the basket with fries were my favorite. Once in a while, when I went there for dinner with my grandparents, I would have to order a dinner, and nothing beat the meatloaf and mashed potatoes with the fresh green beans all drown in gravy!
Posted by: Kern | August 16, 2007 3:48 PM
Hi Foxy - This weekend I'll be attending a family gathering to celebrate the 100th birthday of my mother-in-law. Until recently she has been able to take care of herself but now lives at the Vilas Home. A hard worker all her life, she worked sun-up to sun-down caring for her family. I especially remember her generosity to extended family and visitors throughout the years. Always ready to bake more bread or perk more coffee. She also served in WWII as a WAC in New Orleans.
I noticed a few months ago your blog mentioned Frankie DeCarlo and the hayday of boxing in Plattsburgh, of which Frank was such an integral part, I'm currently working on a history of the Vermont Golden Gloves and wondering whether you know his date of birth and when he passed away? I also notice that Wendell "Buddy" DeCarlo is still listed in the phone book. I know this if off the topic, but any thought on our part would be appreciate. You might remember my son Tim, too - we've lived on Elizabeth St. forever...Bob
(Foxy's note: I'll try to get some info on Buddy DeCarlo for you. And congrats to you Mom-in-law!)
Posted by: Bob Winkler | August 16, 2007 10:44 AM
Yes, Foxy, I do know exactly what you mean about being able to - just one more time - take a little extra time to speak with my grandmothers. I have so many lasting memories of my two grandmothers. My grandfathers died when my parents were young, so I never had them in my life. My grandmothers didn't speak that much about them, so when I did my family geneology in the early 90s, I was able to catch a few glimpses unto their characters.
My grandmothers were amazingly strong women who I admire so much now. I do regret, though, not paying much attention to my Grandmother Nellie Parks Wood's stories about her family. What a great legacy that at the time I and my cousins thought was "boring".
As for your Grandpa and Grandma Jock's Lunch - it was THE place to go for the most delicious home cooked meals... more than we could ever eat! Boy do I miss that wonderful restaurant.
Also, today - August 15 - would have been John's 61st birthday. Yes, we miss him, but, what wonderful memories and I think of his grandchildren and how much they'll miss not knowing this gentle and loving man. I told the girls to tell them everything about him, as I missed out on so much of my own grandfathers' lives.
We're waxing nostalgic, Foxy, but that's good for our spirits. Our lives are one gigantic tapestry, woven with golden threads of those we knew and loved. Those whose lives touched ours and made us who we are now.
Please give my love to Vi and Erin when you see them.
Lynda
(Foxy's note: Thanks for your thoughtful comments, Lynda. And, yes, indeed, John is missed. Not only was a great craftsman at his job, but he was part of a special breed growing up; he was a Johnson Avenue boy!)
Posted by: Lynda (Bouyea) Bevins | August 16, 2007 3:25 AM