We tried all along the way
to find a bearing, but no luck so far. In Malone they were so sure they had one
that they even took the car apart. Now
our next hope is Rochester. Stayed at Seeleys Motel, a nice place outside of
Pulaski, expensive but clean. We had a very good dinner here, later some beer
then to bed.
SATURDAY
SEPTEMBER 23 TO TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 26, 1961 - SEEKIRK SHORE PARK, NEW YORK
We visited our old stomping
grounds at Seekirk. The place is much the same, but somewhat enlarged. We took
shots of our campsites also of the community house etc. Dark, dark Saturday. We
left here by Highway 104 on our way to Rochester. The traffic was light, the road not so good but with a burned
bearing we traveled very slowly in hopes that we can make Rochester & find
the part we need.
We got as far as a small town of Hannibal & a scatterbrain of a 17 year old in a pickup truck was
coming the opposite direction when she spotted some boys on our side of the street
& without any notice, or signals or anything she plowed right into us. This
of course ended our trip to Rochester for a few days. Chas. was hurt the least
& he hobbled over to my side of the car & by slapping my face was able
to bring me to. My head had hit the windshield and shattered it to pieces. My eyes hit the rearview mirror & boy
what a pair of shiners I got. My knees and legs were black and blue & cut
where I went down and caught the heater we think. My chest is really sore; I could
have sworn my bones were all broken. There
I lie on the road until the Dr. & ambulance arrived.
We were both taken to
the Fulton, NY-Lee Memorial Hospital. I was immediately X-Rayed. Chas. was
treated for his wounds. His arm was badly cut & the Dr. put in ½ dozen
stitches. His leg also bandaged & his hip and thigh were very sore, poor
Papa. I looked like a sad sack.
I was put
to bed & here I stayed for 5 days & boy what a long 5 days, lots of
pain, bruises but thank God no broken bones. Of course shock is always a great
part of an accident & both of us suffered much of this. Bill & Grace
came and got Charlie & all our luggage out of the car & took it all to
Rochester where most of it was stored in the basement & bedroom.
Chas. & Grace came and
took me home to Rochester today. I feel pretty good but lots of chest pain &
back near the wing. We walked into the door & the phone was ringing. It was
brother Paul to say that Max was in critical condition & could go any time
& that they were going over to see him & wanted to know if we cared to
go along. We did want to go but my condition ruled me out. So only Chas. went
with Mary & Paul. Max was in a coma & very ill! They stayed awhile
& his condition remained the same. Chas. said Max was in a very bad way.
Perhaps I’ll get to see him today. We engaged a lawyer to handle our accident
& all we can do is hope for the best. Our car is really a big mess and am
sure it will cost plenty to repair. How we survived, only God alone knows.
My condition is still the
same, sore chest & right arm & shoulder. So today (Saturday 9/30) Chas.
and I went to another MD here in Roch. Dr. DiRoberto was quite disturbed about
the continuous chest pain, so has ordered a cardiogram just in case some harm
has been done to the heart tissue. This on Monday, all such places are closed
today. Chas. had neck & leg X-Ray, more pain here. Talked to Jerry yesterday
all’s well there. Max is still in a coma, his condition is unchanged. Talked
with Mary Jane. She had a call from Sophie regarding Max’s condition. Still no
word about cost of our car repairs. Grace & I went shopping & I got
Andy a pair of sneakers. We had a good dinner, played some blackjack &
beer, later went to bed. Chest was quite sore again, too much strain I guess.
All‘s still the same, no
change in Max. We fooled around most of the am. Later Bill took us for a ride
along the lake, a beautiful drive it was 7 then we had dinner at Crescent Beach
Hotel in Crescent Beach (down Charlotte Way). Chas & I treated them to
dinner for their 27th anniversary. We later visited Judy & Bud,
the newlyweds, in their apartment. Very nice too.
Stayed with Mary &
Paul, had new glasses made, very lovely too.
We stayed with Bill &
Faye all nite & went to Max’s funeral in the AM together.
We stayed with Bill &
Faye all nite. Bill took us to dinner at Colonial Inn.
Went to see doctor. I had lunch with Mary & Paul. Later joined Bill & Grace for dinner &
spending the nite here. Had dinner at Jerry’s with “The Group“ Luella, May,
Carolyn. Mary, Erma, Jerry. Had a nice reunion.
Bill took us for a long
ride around Canadaigua Lake, Naples, etc. Later had dinner
with their aunt & uncle “The Blake Rapalee” a grand evening.
Got information on car. An
estimate was given to insurance company of $880 to repair. No one wanted the
job there so Chas. and I scoured around town here & found a place that could
repair it in 2 weeks. Later we visited Paul & Mary & had dinner with
them & spent a quiet eve. Lawyer talked with Paul. Ted got all of Max’s
estate. She didn’t deserve it but that is her problem.
The Opel was towed to
Rochester for repairs, $70 towing charges. Garages in Hannibal and vicinity did
not want the job & if they did take it, it would take a year to repair.
Thus, the tow into Rochester.
Went to Batavia with Grace & Bill to the harnessraces. We had dinner in the
club house & nice warm seats to watch the races. We were about $2 out of
our pocket. The last of the big spenders.
Had dinner at the home of Bob
& Norma Gerlach. It’s a beautiful home and we had a wonderful evening. Two
of the boys had a birthday. Marilyn & Jim & children were there also. A
nice family gathering. We spent an hour or so at Faye’s. All’s the same here.
We had a “fish fry” at J
& L across from my old culver office. Fry place is run by a friend of Max
& Bill “Lou Sharp” found out too late.
We talked with Mary Jean
about the fall Johnny took. He cut his wrist on a glass bottle & had to get
ligaments sewn together. Quite a shock to all concerned, doing fine.
Spent all day with Jerry
& did lots of work on the new love of God & am hoping that I too can see
the light one of these days. Chas.
joined us in between naps.
Went to Dr. DiRoberto &
had diathermy. Went to garage to see about car, still unsettled. Went out to Maplewood
to dinner with Grace & Bill & Andy. Nice meal. Later went to see Paul
& Mary & Johnny who had fallen & had a badly cut wrist. Had some
beer & went back to Gerlach’s for the nite.
We’re at Gerlach’s. Car
business is still unsettled. Highest bid for junk so far has been $350. May Hagaman
was rushed to Highland Hospital for emergency eye surgery. Had dinner out with
Carl & Jerry, a wonderful dinner it was too. May’s operation is over &
as far as we can know it was a success. We looked at new cars all afternoon.
Bill Manclark took us car
hunting all over Rochester. I think it looks like we’ll wind up with a station
wagon after all, Rambler American. Mrs. Harrocks recognized me in in Sibley‘s today. This
amazed me since I have not seen her in 25 years or more. We‘re at the Gerlach’s
for a few more days anyway. Real nice folks. Had lunch with Bill at 277 East Ave.,
quite a spot, 99 cent meals, good too.
Spent 2 weeks with the Gerlach’s.
Had dinner on Sunday with Marilyn at her home. There were 8 of us, good food,
dnnks & cards.
We decided on the Rambler, $1995. We had $500 down & sent for the rest. Mrs. Frank‘s
sister died & we went to see her (Mrs. Hogan). Mrs. Frank bad and sure
enough on Monday, during the sister’s funeral she suffered a stroke. Her
condition is very critical. Frank was called & arrived late Friday evening.
No improvement on Mrs. Frank until Saturday eve. She recognized her son.
Andy Powell‘s birthday &
we’re invited there to dinner. We stayed all nite & had a good time. We
visited Mrs. Frank condition fair. May Hagaman doing fine after her eye
operation. Bill Powell wants to contest the will of Max. He wants our support.
We said OK but had no money for fees, he said OK.
Louis Smith arrived, he is
having an operation on Monday.
Bill & Grace asked
Mary J. & Paul over & Lennoyn was here too. Everyone had too much beer
but me. Grace & Bill sure blast each other! Said good-bye to the Manclark’s
& Gerlach’s & hit the road. We left at 1 PM and did 200 miles only.
Here for the nite (Ohio).
