Ticknor, Charles D., MM3

A little more about growing up in Stonington, When we had the
store we lived next door to Stroups, Rube and Annie they had
three girls Florence, Hennretta and Anna Jane. Also three boys
Bill, Henry, and Spikes. I had a lot of good times growing up
with Spikes, being of the same age and we were in the navy at
the same time.
We met in Sandiego, Calif. and went on liberties and had some
wild times.
For a few years I passed papers which was rough in the winter
I had about 100 customers which were spread out which made a
lot of walking.
My Sister June married the older boy, Bill, June was 16 years
old at the time, and had a girl Patsy, Mother was married when
she was also 16, That made Mother a grand mother at age 33 WOW.
After being discharges from the Navy, after spending my $300
mustering out pay, having a good time, riding my motorcycle,
roller skating, I had to earn some money, a lot of different
jobs, helping Dad haul coal to baltimore, working for Joe Duke
in the mines in bear Valley , Hauling coal dirt off of the
montian over at trevorton, later when Russ Yordy had purchased
some Army ten wheel dump trucks, Bill, Ken and earl Yordy,
hauled the dirt for the Williamsport and So. Side dikes from
where the Little League baseball diamond is now. Also later
hauled the dirt for the Sunbury Dike .
I also did different jobs for the Stroups, thrashing bailing
also the lumber work Rube had three saw mills, Even hauled
lagions up to the mines. One thing about thrashing you ate good
The first farm gave you breakfast, next at noon and last place
a good supper .Spikes and I put out a field of soy beans one
summer, made a few bucks .
Another thing I remember about Spikes, did I tell you back
then we called him, " Honey bunch "? I don't know where he got
that name , but back to Spikes, we roller skated a lot, so one
night these sisters from Sunbury was there and Spikes had his
eye on the one, I said to him go ask her to skate, he was
afraid she would say no , so I went over and said Spikes would
like to skate with you, she said well tell him to come on over
I won't bite . That led to them going togather and ended up
getting married.
My great love was riding motorcycles, my first was a 1947
indian , bought it in Baltimore on one of our trips hauling
coal to Baltimore.
I saw it sitting on one of the porches, with a for sale sign on
it,I ask the price, he said $275,00. I said can you load it on
the truck ? he put the tailgate up against the back and said
stand back, boy did he ever load it . From then on I had a lot of
Harley Davidsons untilI got married traded it in on a wife.. lol.
Another story, back in 1950, my buddie Marlin Zimmerman was in
the Navy, stationed in key West Florida, He called me and ask if
I would bring his bike down for him , he had a 1950 Harley .
I said where are you he said Key West, I said where is Key West ?
he said below Miami Florida, Back then route one was the main
highway. He said get on Route one and go as far as you can, boy
he was right. 16 hundred miles. What a trip, not much money, no
phone, no credit card etc. the only excitement was going through
Miami, trying to beat a traffic light, I got hit by a Greyhound
bus...No damage just scared the hell out of a lot of peope.
While in Key West Bud said why don't you get a job and stay awhile
I got a job buildig houses, while there a old guy ask me where I
was from, I said Pa. he said oh from up north, he said I was up
north one time, I ask where did you go ?" HE SAID MIAMI".
After about three weeks, ran out of money, and I am glad I bought
my ticket on the greyhound bus, and headed home, I had sent my
heavy clothes that I wore down on the bike home, being January
and pretty cold, I did,nt have a coat to ware, so whenI got off
of the bus in Sunbury, I looked pretty foolish thumbing a ride
home in a short sleve shirt ...
So I guess this brings me up to the early 60 's, putting in
a lot of hours for Goodling and also some time working for
Bassett electric, so Like I say most people that have jobs,only
have to know one thing, either a plumber, refrigeration, elect.
carpenter etc. We had todo it all, which also air Conditioning.
and never had any traning in any of them . serviced all A.C.
AND WATER COOLERS AT THE pp.L PLANT, a.c. AND REFRIG. AT bUCKNELL
ALL KIND OF SERVICE at the geisinger. and later the service work
for Coca Cola in 14 counties., Yes we were busy....
Most Xmas and new years was out at Mother ,s and Dad,s,
always had a good meal did I mention Mother was a very good cook .
While I think of it, Early 50's there was a house fire up at near Brosious which made us decide to have a fire co, So Tony
and I and a few others made arrangements to buy the old fire
truck from the Americus fire co. in Sunbury, it was a 1919 old
Americus LaFrance, we paid $500.00 for it , We kelp it in Tony's
garage, until we got a fire hall. I am a charter member,About
number 24, We had to beg borrow and sometimes steal, we with a
lot of voleenteer help we made it, we had festivals, square
dances etc any thing to make a buck. The fire co, still has the
old truck with a few new ones. When port trevorton burned the
river was low but to get water we drove old Bertha we called her
out in the river, she pumped for two days, true story .
1961 most of the same, bowling tournements, snowed in as usual
visited Aunt mable in Baltimore, Joyce was in the hospital had a
miscarrage.
1962 not much different, hooked up the refrigeration at the
new Giant food store .Which brings up another story about my nice
Sister Wanda. She had a job of a checkout girl at the Giant .
That is when she told me she was getting married to Wagne troxell
She was 18 at the time, I remember telling her why don't you wait
until you are 25, The ave, women lives until they are 75, that is
50 years, which is a long time, especially being MARRIED.

1963 seem to play a lot of golf, at a lot of different courses.
ha s dry spell, river lowest in 27 years. some repairs on the
old house removed the old chimley for a new one. this is the
year Pres. Kennedy was shot in Dallas Texas.
1964 very cold winter Xmas out home , was snowed in again.
Gary was in the geisinger hospital, I don't remember what for.
Vac in Brigantine again , last of the sel races for the year .
Still bowling still strugling with golf . Went to Williams Grove
to the races .Traded in the 1957 Chev truck for a 1965 truck.
1965 New furnace in the old house, WOW no more coal stoves.
WOW, Tammy was born, what a beautiful baby . Gary pitched his
first baseball game . Went to langhorn to the races to watch
the number 67 race car, that Butch and friends built.
1966 very cold lots of snow, as usual snowed in for a couple
of days. remodeled the Kitchen in the old house. Did I mention
we always had collie dogs, it got hit buy a car but lived . This
tear we celebrated New Years at Jesse and Shirls, they had a bar
in their living room . I am serious
Like I said before I write obout things as I they come to me,
Like getting Spikes married, Dude Wilhour was great skater he and
I Used toput on shows or should i say showing off , Any way
June a very pretty girl from shamokin, came down skating and
one night Dude said he would like to skate with her, and again
I went over and told her he was too bashful She said she would
be glad to skate with him, and yes they ended up getting married.
and while I am at it, I had something to do with Sonny and FAye
my cousin getting married. I have a lot of great memories I had
with Sonny, He had a 1959 desota, boy if it could talk.
It was through Sonny I got the job working for Goodling and
Bassett Electric, A sad day' he left us dec 30th 2015.
I will back track a little to 1958, checking my notes this is
the first year I started keeping a diary and a book of records.
still working for Goodling and part time for Bassett electric.
Clif Bassett made a electricion out of me , we wired a lot of
houses back then, had to put in new 220 v entrances. For Goodling
all the local resturants and bar rooms, plus milk cooler even for
the amish, back then some of them still had sulfer in them which
had to be changed over to freon. The 18 A&P stores kelp me busy
but my wages was around $3.00 a hour. now Rusty gets $40.00.
I have to write about these things as I think of them ,
Mother died Jan 1st 1973, I will have tolok it up how old she
would be ...
Also getting Joyce the job at the R. B. Winters park running
the concession stand, she started the year 1968 untill 1976, yes
I know it was suppose to be for a week or two . After running it
for the candy co. We had the chance to bid on it, to run it for
ourselves, You had to bid on it by a percentage, I ask Joyce to
think of a number, she said how about 13, that was just enough .
we saved the money we made and started going to Florida in the
winter, I think the first year Tammy was 6 yrs. old, and we
stayed at the Villa Capre.. Yes that is when Tammy locked her-
selph in the bathroom, what a time .
The 1970 's was very busy, We bought the new house from
Shuler Adler, after selling our old house for $12000.00, that we
bought 15 years ago for $5500.00, the new house was $15,500.00,
which we put on a $3000.00 lot in Penn Township. on the corner of
Herman and Ridge view. We picked this place because of the view.
We also took over the coke service full time, which covered 14
counties.Tom Quinn was the rep. for Coca Cola in the beginning
it was through him we got the job, a few years later Marshall
Hatefield took over the job, he was educated and tought me a lot
about life. He is still a good friend today 2016. I remember March
the 4th 1973 we had Marshall and his girl friend here diner.
Also still did some service calls for Goodling. We
bought our first service van 1970 for $3000.00. we slso started
leasing ice machines, the first at the Hut in Herdon. It did,nt
take long until we had 50 out on leases, some that we leased in
the 1970 ,s still lease them today 2016. Rusty took over the
leasing busness, still has about 40 out this date 2016.
While running the cocession stand, we camped at Hidden Valley
bought our first camper for $850.00, yes it was a small one ...
To pay the rent we furnished Dave with a ice machine.
The Shade Mountian Golf Couse open up July 4 1971, Which I
was a member and at one time was the vice President, I also
made a cd about the history of Shade mountian.
Feb 5 1971, the first man on the moon , remember it ?
Came accross this that Mother died January 1st 1973, yes much
too young .
March the 9th 1973, Joyce and her sister Phillis,went to
Hawii to visit their sister Weathy. Canyou believe Wealthy lived
until she was 101 years old, what a lady .
As busy as I was working for Coca cola , some calls for
Goodling plus putting in a lot of ice machines, still had time
for golf and Bowling. Joyce got new clubs this year, She was also
a very good bowler. She won the all events tourement in 1973.
Sept 29, 1973 Dad moved into his trailer at Bruce's place .
Back track a little, Dec 1969, our first trip to Florida, visited
Disney, I think it was the first year it was opened, Also later
we went down to Cape Kennedy, very nice vacation .
1970 was a very cold snowy winter, To get out to Mothers on
Easter Bruce came after us in his Bronco. Also this year Mother
and Dad flew out to Iowa to visit Wanda And Wayne, Wayne was
going to chiropractor school .
Also remember the pony we bought its name was Ginger, it was
always running awy, did.nt keep it very long ...
A good time to tell about me leaving Goodling for Coke Cola.
we used to work late hours and then have a few beers, so one
I said doyou mind if I go with Coke and still do calls for you,
he said well if you want to try it, he did ,nt think I would make
it .So then I said , you say you don't make money at .15 cents
a mile on the trucks, soI said how about me buying a service
truck, and give me the 15 cents a mile ? again he said " well if
you want to I guess, Then I ask him can I use your truck for a
trade in, I will pay you back with the mileage on calls that i
do for you .Again he said O.K. but iit will take a long time at
that rate ,Because I kelp tract of all the calls I knew how
many miles I put on for him, I had him paid off in 6 months.
I traded his old truck in on a new green ford van for $3000.00.
So full time for Coca Coa , service calls forGoodlig plus
helping with the concession stand at half way dam, playing golf
bowling, in stalling Ice machines, YES very busy .
Then we added buying the new Shuler adler House. It was so
nice movng into a brand new house . When the salesman ask me if
I would like a new house, I said yes but we don't have any money
he said he would sell our old house, I said how much can you
get for it, he said about 10 or 11 thausand, I said you are
kidding but if you can get that much we will buy a new one,
later when we got home from the park he was waiting and said he
thinks he has a buyer, when can he show it to the buyer, I said
anytime suits us, we will be up at half way dam. Was I surprised
when he said he had it sold. Later he ask when can he get the
keys, I said what keys ? He said to the house, I said we don't
have any, our house is never locked, he was surprised. That is
a true story. So the next 3 months was busy having the new house
built. I think we moved in around 1971. *********
Boy I will have to rewrite this, it is all mixed up ,so I will
just add things as I think of them. I remember the 70's we had a
lot of wild parties, sometimes drank more then I should have .
Feb 11 1977 a trip to the Bahamas with the Russells.
March 30 1979 remember three mile island power plant scare ?
Oct. 25 1969 My first and only Penn State game with Steve Coke REp.
Dec 3rd 1969 stranded on Wmsport mountian on a sheet of ice, boy
I thought I was going to have a heart attack .
Feb first 1979 Our first Vegas Trip with the moose .I remember Bob
Lakatis and Bob Dalton of Levies shared a room, we wer there for
five days and they were never in the room at the same time, Jean
Conz we figured was in her room about 10 hours, boy what a place.
Comming back on the plane, they give you little bottles of wiskey
on one trip back to the rest room I noticed one of the doors was
not latched and I looked in and it was where they kept the little
bottles of wiskey, so I took two and took them back to Joyce and
she put them in her pocket book ,later I made another trip back and
it was still open, so I took two more back t joyce, later on one
of the nice Stewardis stopped and wispered somethoing in Joyces ear
I thought Oh Boy wse are in trouble, She ask Joyce what kind of
wiskey does se drink ? She told Joyce because we wer so nice she
wanted to give her acouple bottles t take along home, her purse was
already filled...... True story .
Before we started going to Florida for our vacations we spent a
few years going down to Brigintine N. J. Most years it was Bruce.
Uncle Bill and Phillis, then when the Casinos came to Atlantic
City it spoiled vacations in Brigantine .
Boy from here on not too many stories , bet you are glad ...lol
Our first trip to Florida other then are Honey moon, I found a
deal on the enternet, ten day vacation in Florida including a
cruise to the Bahamas, $485.00, wow what a deal. the catch was
every place we went we had to go through a time share meeting
which lasted about 45 minutes. After a while I srtarted to enjoy
them but Joyce was.nt too pleased. I alwayes ask for a morning
appointment because they always had coffee and donuts . That year
we were in !3 different motel, Joyce got tired of packing and
unpacking, but the cruise wa nice, boy all you do is eat and good
entertainment.
1971 was our start to our vacations in Florida, the first year
we stayed at the Holiday Inn on route a1a in Daytana. Our stay at
the Castaway motel came about, we were driving up A1A and stopped
at a Hardee for a cup of coffee, the Hardees was in the Castaways,
While there, I said to Tammy go over to the front desk andask that
nice lady if we can get a room for next year . We stayed there for
the next 6 or 7 years. We got to know some people there that was
going up to the Americana hotel onThur. nights for Karaoki, boy did
that change our lives . one night a nice lady "Etia" ask if we
would lie to see on of there rooms, saying YES again another change
we stayed there until our last trip on 2015.
Can you believe we started singing on the karaoki nights, can you
believe they thought we were pretty good . Joyce sings " CRAZY " by
Patsy Cline, she is really good . Tammy sings " If I had this dance.
Joyce and I sing a theam song, " Were not as young as we use tobe "
which they seam to enjoy, and requests. And yes I sing Lucelle,
We really enjoy it and will miss itvery much .
I think this is about it for my life history, I hope someone will
enjoy reading some of it, I may add more if I think of something
intgeresting. I enjoyed writing it ......Smoke