 | Faye Graves, a native Wichitan, attended school at Friends and Wichita State, concluding at Midwestern Theological Seminary. He has been active in media for many years with Channel 12, KIRL, KFDI, KOOO AM & FM (Omaha), KFRM & KICT 95, as an owner, manager, producer, director and announcer. He has served as President of the Haysville Board of Education. He has also served on several national boards of the Southern Baptist Convention. Faye currently serves as Executive Pastor and Director of Administration and Education at Immanuel Baptist Church, 1415 S. Topeka, Wichita. You may contact Faye by e-mail fmgraves@amenibc.org, or by phone at (316) 262-1452. |
Nostalgia
2011-12-27 09:12:16
Remember...
Q: How about some first of the year memories from the past?
A: I sure have them. It seems like January is always the coldest month of the year, but winters seem to be more mild than they used to be back in the 30’s and 40’s when I was a boy. Back then, the snow seemed to come down with heavy accumulation and stayed longer because of the cold temperatures. The pipes in houses, because of less insulation, would freeze quite often. I remember my Dad having to crawl under the house with a hand torch and unthaw them. This, of course, is not a safe thing to do and would easily cause a fire. I remember my parents leaving a faucet dripping to prevent pipes from freezing.
The coal stove that was always located in the center of the house would be tended to all day and through the evening to keep the house warm. While we were sleeping, the fire would always die out. My Dad would always be the first one up to get it lit again and the whole process would start all over, thawing out our frozen house from being without heat much of the night.
Wichita only had a few street plows and they were mounted on dirt movers. Only the very main streets were cleared of snow. Each time we would have a heavy snow, if you would turn off on a side road, you would be headed for trouble, getting stuck and probably would be there much of the day. Many of us used chains on our tires or had snow tires installed. The chains were always a nuisance because you had to take them off when the snow melted. When it would snow and then melt several times through the winter, it was more of a nuisance.
I lived in Omaha, NE for a few years in the 70’s. There, the law required you to have snow tires on your car or receive a stiff fine if you got stuck and impeded traffic.
We kids dressed in bundles of coats and sweaters and galoshes, or torturous rubber boots that slipped over our shoes. These were always hard to take off. At school, these were always placed in a coat room. Each of us had a hook with our name above it. Coats and caps for the guys (usually WWII aviator Caps with goggles and ear flaps) and sheepskin hoods for the girls were everywhere. At noon, most everyone went home for lunch. I remember there always being a mix up as few could find their wraps and headwear in such a small place. Sometimes the coat room was used by the teachers as a punishment for something you did that was not allowed. They would put you in there for a period of time. I remember being put in the coat closet a few times. One time, one of the persons that had been put in there, had switched the clothes to different hangars. You can imagine the traffic jam that created.
One convenience we had back then were the times we would pull into what we called filling stations. We did not have to get out of the car as the attendant would pump the gas, check the oil, water and anti-freeze, while you waited to pay in your car. We didn’t call it full service back then, but that is certainly what it was. Today we get out and do it ourselves, no matter what the weather is, in most places. Lots of changes over the years have been good but that is one I miss from the “good old days.”
Have a safe and Happy New Year.
