We did it and it was not fun. I don't remember the gunny sack thing, but
Dad, Bud and I used a wheelbarrow and wooden ramps up out of the (maybe 9
foot cirulcar wine cellar and the six foot square coal cellar northwest of
the wine cellar. That was the basement found in the house when we moved in
after the 1937 flood.
The '37' flood water had stopped about Mrs. Shonkwiler's house and covered
the Scott's retaining wall in front of their house. We were at the foot of
Portsmouth's 'hilltop' and thought to be safe from another flood. I began
second grade at Highland School so it was probably 1940 when we moved into
the 1227 McConnell Ave. house that most of us grew up in.
In those early twentieth century times, most men like dad had no privilege
of using, or even having, spare time for much but work. They felt guilty if
they weren't working. Any male offspring were considered as available help
(slaves if you will) to their work ethics. Dad was a working supervisor,
but he was often on the road (N&W) and left instructions for us to go on
with.
I don't want to sound like a hero. I was just a lackey in this, but perhaps
the experience justifies my runninhg out of the house and three blocks up
the alley to Mound Park when I discovered Dad might be coming up McConnell's
first block hill from work. Believe me, I would rather play ball in the
park much above working with Dad. When I did assist him, he would often
send me to his unorganized garage (much like my unorganized office with my
computer) to get a left-handed monkey wrench or even real tools I didn't
know the nomenclature of. He would mutter something about my being some
kind of idiot when I took too long hunting for something I wasn't even sure
what it was I was looking for. Dad, as you probably know, could fix anything
with chewing gum and rubber bands. Actually he was a good back yard
mechanic.
The fully finished basement must have been 25' by 40' or one thousand square
feet vs the original 120 square feet (more than eight times the previous
size. We had a few wonderful Thanksgiving feasts down there with the Kegley
clan. The home movie which we watched at this 2009 Thanksgiving showed Dad
slicing the turkey, Bud and Norma (Newman Kegley pregnant then with Philip
who is now 55), and most of our siblings as youngsters. I am sorry that
upset you, our great Portsmouth nostalgist, but I enjoy mom and dad and
family on home movies. We all loved Forest Earl and Mary (Clark) kegley so
deeply.
Good question.
Sam
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Kegley"
To:
Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2009 11:47 PM
Subject: Family question
> Sam,
> I seem to remember you, or somebody, talking about helping Dad dig out
> the basement under 1227 McConnell? Am I dreaming, or did you and Bud,
> help Dad, by filling gunny sacks with dirt to be hauled away? I think I
> was too young when it happened.
> Jim
>>
>
>
1 comment:
Interesting posting. Thanks for the info. Keep up the good work.
Bathmate
Post a Comment