Clearfield

538 East 250 South (Cherry Hill)

1960

Our Street

Sledding

Winter sledding on our street was a pretty big deal. There were about 10 boys our age in the neighborhood; and we would use the level part of our street (the top part) to get a run & jump on our sleds. We would then sled on our icy street down to its bottom. It was quite a sight to see 10 young boys running toward the slope of the street and slamming prone onto their already sliding sleds. Watching a group of approximately 10 sleds sliding rapidly toward the bottom was also quite a sight to see. We had learned to make this experience even more enjoyable. Sliding along on our sleds, we were often not very far from any of the sleds that were just ahead of us. We found that we could reach out with a hand, grab the sled in front of us by its runner; and turn the sled (out of control) sideways to the sleds behind us! The sled and rider were then left to the fate of those that followed. A particularly good disruption came at the head of the group where the entire group ended up in a pile in the middle of the street. Undoubtedly, in today's age this would have been considered dangerous! But we considered it great fun; and sledded on the street for hours at a time. With the development of slick streets due to our sledding, it was sometimes difficult for cars to go up our street and into their driveways. The slick snow and ice made it difficult for tires to avoid spinning on the icy surface. This was particularly (bad for the drivers) good for the sledders. And a new fallen snow took hold on the top of the already existing icy surface. Nevertheless, it was tolerated by those that lived on the street; and we boys found it to be great fun amidst the snows of winter.

Fireworks

Fireworks

On the 4th of July, we would enjoy some of the Independence Day festivities that took place at our City Park. A parade always took place down Main Street; and quite a crowd developed to watch. There were hot dogs and hamburgers provided at the City Park and various games and activities that one could participate in. This often took place in the morning to early afternoon. We would then go home and enjoy the afternoon together as a family. This was often accompanied by a watermelon (cold in the water of a wash tub) in the backyard. Then as the evening grew on, we would sit on our front steps (which was a cement platform followed by about four steps) and enjoy the firework display that took place from the City Park a short distance away. By watching in the western sky as the darkness, grew we would be alerted to the firework display by the first explosion and watch excitedly. Our neighbors also watched it from there front steps. It was a rather good display of fireworks and often took up over 1/2 hour to complete. By this time, darkness had completely fallen, and the finale was exquisite.

Little League

Little League Baseball

By the 5th grade, Jay and I both we're of an age that we could join a Little League baseball team. So, Jay and I tried out for the same team and became part of it. Jay played the first base; and was pretty good at it. Throwing left-handed, helped him to excel at that base. I played in the outfield, playing various positions, that is - left, center, and right fields. While I was just average at fielding the balls hit to me, I eventually developed a pretty good arm. Eventually, I was able to “peg” the throw all the way to home base! My father observed readily that we needed baseball mitts; and he bought identical mitts for both me and Jay. To my dismay both mitts were first base baseball mitts! Though I didn't like to play with the first base mitt in the outfield, I was glad to have a mitt it all. I remember numerous afternoons spent at the dusty, dry baseball diamond located immediately to the West of our elementary playground. We spent the afternoon catching flyballs and practicing grounders hit by our coach at home base. Our coach’s son played on our team in the outfield; and to be frank, he was downright poor at it. I remember during one particular game, watching him throw his mitt up and down from right field. He continued this until his father angrily called out to him and he quit. Nevertheless, the damage had been done and I lost all respect for this boy (the unfortunate recipient of nepotism).

Como Springs, Morgan, Utah

Como Springs

At least once during the summer, our family would join with the Ford family; and enjoy a day spent at the Como resort in Morgan, Utah. While there were a number of facilities at this place, we were most drawn to its cool, clear outside pool. It was not a particularly big pool; nor was it a small pool. Grandma and Grandpa Ford would meet us there along with several of our relatives; and we would enjoy a day spent at Como. I was not particularly old at this time; and I remember that I did not know how to swim. My father being a good swimmer was in the deep end at the end of the diving board. He would ask one of his children to walk to the end of the board and jump into his arms. This seemed to be great fun for both Hugh and Jay . But I remember standing at the end of the diving board; and timidly protesting having to jump to him. Finally, after much persuading, I turned sideways and jumped off the side of the diving board (where my father wasn't). Being a non-swimmer, I immediately began to sink into the water. Conscious that I was helpless in the deep water, I rapidly wondered what I was going to do; and quickly began to panic. Just as I seem to be running out of air, an arm reached down and grabbed me by the arm; pulling me toward the surface. There I found my father and abundant air! After calming me a little bit, he queried why I had jumped into an area where he wasn't! I was unable to give him an answer; but I remember the event as an experience where I almost drowned. I'm sure this was an exaggeration; but it seemed real to me! I remembered grandpa walking back from having fished in a ditch that was on the Como property. (Como was rather near the Weber River.) The ditch was no wider than about 3 feet. Nevertheless, grandpa was walking back; carrying a stringer of ~2 fish. I remember believing that grandpa could catch fish in a bucket if he wanted to! There was an old bowling center in the Como compound. We seldom if ever used it. Nevertheless, one summer, we discovered that we boys could set up the pins for a given bowler for about 10 cents a set up. (They did not have an automatic pinsetter.) Thus, I remember spending several hours setting up bowling pins for various players during that afternoon. 

Vellinga Cousins

I remember during one winter that my father and uncle Clarence Vellinga arranged to go rabbit hunting in the snowy hills with their children. The Vellinga boys we're our first cousins, and very near our age. Thus, it was common for my brothers and I to play with the Vellingas when we went to see Grandma Davis. The Vellinga home attached at the rear to my grandmother's home; and if we couldn't be found at grandma's we would be found at the Vellinga’s! Apparently these two men had decided to go rabbit hunting together; and thought they would take their sons along for the trip. I don't remember exactly where we went; but I remember it was in the hillsides near the mouth of Weber Canyon. We had no real luck in shooting rabbits; but I remember the day as a very good one wherein we could confirm and expand our relationships with our Vellinga cousins!

5th Grade Class Picture

5^th Grade

I spent the 5th grade in Mrs. Allen’s class. Mrs. Allen was a small framed older woman; who did a reasonably good job as an elementary school teacher. Undoubtedly, we as a class tried her patience from time to time. And I remember a particular time when my neighborhood nemesis - Frank Barnes, physically fought Mrs. Allen. Neither Frank nor Mrs. Allen was very big - physically. Nevertheless, Frank was an irritating, small boy with a particularly oversized opinion of himself. (Frank had been held back in the 1^st grade; and I believe he was undoubtedly affected by this. He seemed to have a very distinct “short man's” complex.) Frank failed to concede to a verbal confrontation; and he and Mrs. Allen had allowed the conflict to develop. Finally, Frank began to fight Mrs. Allen in front of the entire class. This caught the entire class by surprise (But all new of Frank’s disposition). Though frank was about 4 inches shorter than Mrs. Allen. I wondered if he would challenge her to the point where she could not “handle him”. Fortunately, Mrs. Allen displayed little difficulty at all in wrestling Frank into submission. Frank definitely did not relish this moment; and began to cry. Mrs. Allen excused herself and Frank to talk quietly in the hall for a short while. As they entered the room, all were very quiet. All of us students gave Frank a ‘wide berth’ thereafter. I considered Frank to be an emotionally stunted fool to try such a ‘juvenile’ antic!

Decathlon

Once a year, during the spring, our school would conduct what it referred to as a Decathlon! the participants were mostly comprised of boys who wanted to compete in the various activities included in the Decathlon. I remember my friend, Paul Jensen, competing rather effectively in the high jump. (We would practice vigorously in his backyard.) There were numerous competitions; and most of us older boys enjoyed the opportunity to compete with fellow classmates. One particular event was throwing “free throws” into the rim of a basketball backstop located on the blacktop of the playground. These free throws word to be conducted from the free throw line of the painted basketball courts. Having no particular interest (other than playing basketball), I commenced along with the others to compete in this basketball free throw. To my surprise I became the participant with the highest number of successful “free throws” (40 free throws) I had not intended to accomplish such a thing; but was glad that I did. A week or so later, the school conducted a recognition for those excelling in the decathlon at a school presentation. Knowing that I had won the free throw event, I responded to the request to come forward and receive my trophy. I was somewhat pleased with myself (though I was probably just as surprised at my prowess). A few days later when I was walking in the hallway, another student approached me; and claimed that I had deceived the school. He claimed that he had won the event and took issue with me privately. I remember being rather irritated with this boy’s behavior and unsubstantiated claim. (There had been an observer and counter accompanying all free throw attempts.) I reminded the boy of the observations and independent counts. Nevertheless, the boy did not seem to be satisfied and privately countered my win thereafter. Thus was my first exposure to someone's disparaging behavior! I never liked that boy thereafter!

Playing Four Square

Four Square

At the East end of the playground (on the blacktop) we're a number of squares about 8 feet wide. These squares were subsequently divided into 4 additional 4’ squares. These were layouts for a game we called Four square. It was a game where each student would attempt to bounce a rubber ball into another player’s square in such a fashion that the other player could not address the ball. In the 5th and 6th grade, we got pretty good at playing Four square and we came rather adept at bouncing the ball into a given players corner so that they could not address it. Having played this a number of times, I got reasonably good at this and was recognized among my co-players that I was a force to be reckoned with. I enjoyed playing Four square with my fellow students.

Foldup Lunchroom Tables

Dodgeball

If the weather was too inclement, our class would participate in physical activity in the lunch room.  After the lunch tables had been put away (recessed in the walls), the lunchroom became a physical activity room. Here the classroom would be divided into two teams; and they would participate in dodgeball with several rubber balls. This was also a good physical activity to break up the day when the weather outside would not allow us to leave the building. 

Pineview Reservoir