Muddy Roads

By Doris Josephine Gray

When I was a kid in the late 1920's "General Elections" were fun events. My dad would always help hold elections in the polling place in Greenwood and, after the polls closed, he would have to take the ballot boxes to Sulphur Springs, the county seat, at night. And the best part of this was we children got to go with him. That was fun!

There was usually an Eskimo Pie and a movie as a part of the deal. One of the movies I remember best, from one of trips in the later years, was when I saw Roy Rogers and Dale Evans for the first time. Those were the good old days. And as someone has said, that was back in the times when people felt their children were safe and could be trusted to be let out of their sight.

But what was not fun during these times were the roads. If it even looked like rain we were told to gather at the car, as we would have to head for home because of the muddy roads. This was especially so having to do with Gregston Hill, which was difficult to navigate when it was wet and muddy. This hill was between where we lived in Stout's Creek Neighborhood and Pine Forest. The road to our place went by the Methodist church in Pine Forest. The Weaver roads were no fun, either, when it rained.

Thinking about those days makes me wish I had the gift of writing as some people do, as I can think of so many things that made our lives a happy time to live. I now live alone, but I seldom get lonely . . . though I do get bored at times. I do, however, miss my McClure siblings very much.

I feel better having said this, and I will say good night for now.

________________________ Doris, who now lives in Arizona, was born in 1917 and spent her early years in Pine Forest. She is the daughter of Charles H. McClure (b.1883--d.1959) and Rena (Minter) McClure (b.1885 -- d.1981). Rena was the daughter of Augustus H. "Gus" Minter (b.1861 -- d.1929)