(Avatar Magic, by Gerald Franquemont, is on Kindle and downloadable to most computers and reading devices.)
I remember my days as a child when my family would visit Sagamore Hill, the three – storied home of Theodore Roosevelt. It’s simple, there was nothing so about it. Ha! Many of the walls of the great sunken living room were adorned by huge animal heads the likes of which I’d only seen or heard of in books. Menacing bear, tiger, and lion skins lay on the floors looking as if they might rise and pounce at any moment. Hard wood floors and large stairway banisters were all protected from the bright light of day by layered white laced curtains. These all helped to accent the many large oil paintings hanging on the walls throughout.
In the rear of this stately mansion was the kitchen, backed by what appeared to be a wood shed. Behind this was an ice house and finally, further off, stood buildings I thought to be where the everyday help lived-they were small, windowed wooden shacks not more than twenty by twenty as I recall. But the most impressive feature of all was the houses’ view of the harbor-one stretching out below this hill top location as far as the eye could see. Sail boat’s white sails flickered in wind as they scooted left or right across the bay. To the right of this panorama stood a trellised grapevine arching over a walk-way offering a bench or two to sit on. I was told it was here the President used to like to sit during the late afternoon hours.
I’m guessing back then visits to this house and others like it conjured up memories in my parents of a time gone by. Of course these times were shaken from our realities by World WAR, hardships, and perhaps by a better understanding of the limited world wide supply of goods, not to mention African Animals. I could only stare at this home wondering how ever was it all possible? Not that my home was any less then middle class. Actually I often thought of my family as being upper-middle class as I grew up. Still it was apparent to me, even as a small child, something had been lost along the way of prosperity-so I thought.
It is at best bizarre to think of the home I raised my children in when compared to the one I enjoyed as a child growing up. I almost have to laugh thinking if only I could have transported my 7,6 and 4 year old back into my childhood home! So much of what they might see there in my childhood home back in the 1950’s would be strange to them. Perhaps my home life would seem as different to their home experiences as I thought the things I saw at Sagamore Hill were different from my life so long ago. Oh, the things you’ll see!
The milkman usually beat everyone to our doorstep in the morning, though there was an egg man too who I never really saw much. Men would come to our door almost weekly to sell throw rugs, cleaners and most regularly the Fuller-Brush Man would show up too. The doctor came if you were sick; the knife sharpener drove his truck by clanging a bell as he passed. We could all run out and watch as he sharpened parents and neighbors knives on a big wheel he peddle pushed in circles. For my dad there was a beer man who also brought the soda I loved to drink. All these products, services and more were brought right into our community, right by our houses lining streets full of children playing upon hand chalk-drawn hopscotch boards or stick ball. But most of all, at least to me and the rest of my friends who had never heard of after school care, there was the ice cream men-two of them. And we all knew which one we liked better.
Now who first called the JUDY ANN ice cream man, “Judy Ann the garbage man” ,and rounded us up to chase this truck down our block until he was off it I just don’t know. But my whole group of six or so did regularly do this. I still remember the day this driver actually stopped his truck much to our chagrin. He got out, walked on over to us and asked: “WHY do you do this to me?” Funny at the time I don’t think any of us knew for sure, so this was a hard question to answer. I vaguely remember all of us running away from him as though a swarm of bees were attacking us.
But if truth be told I think the charismatic personality of Bud, the GOOD HUMOR MAN, was the main cause of the Judy Ann’s ice cream truck drivers nightmares on our block. We all just loved this man Bud. Heck, I’d even spend the six silver dollars my Grandma gave me on buying ice cream from this man over his protests against me doing so-Bud even offered to run a credit for me instead as I recall. But I was insistent-he should take the silver dollars. Boy-am I happy about this decision now! Not. Anyway, there was more proving this Bud man was a miracle PR person.
You see as much as I and my friends chased the Judy Ann the Garbage Man out of town we all knew he had, in fact, the best Italian ices going. Yeah on a hot summer day these Italian Ices could challenge any nutty buddy, chocolate eclair or coconut pop sticks the Good Humor Man had to offer. The bottoms of these Italian ice cups got all crystallized into a sweet syrup, so good for growing young children. But maybe, and I’d like to think it, our different reactions to these two different ice cream men was all about heart.
It was an odd day, an end of an era for me when Bud, the Good Humor Man, showed up at our kitchen door. He came telling my Mom he had quit the route. He said my mom shouldn’t let her children eat the Good Humor Ice cream any more. I was standing right there hearing him explain the company had turned from all natural ice creams products to artificial additives. He was upset-he said others had quit their routes too in protest. He hoped the company would change their mind and go back to a natural product. This all had to take place around 1958ish or even earlier.
Of course, the company changed nothing as far as I know and Bud became a past memory from my childhood. He’ll never really understand how much his daily rounds, ice creams and smiles meant to me and to all my friends as we ran out of the house flagging him down on hot, sunny afternoons. He used a special sequential ring of his truck bells I still recall today. I’m sure, if my brother were alive today, he could recall this ringing tune with me ring for ring. So many whiffle ball games interrupted by special ice cream pops. Our dog, Socks, always guarded the whole process no doubt waiting to lick the pop- sickle sticks or ice cream cups as well.
In these days our communities were busy places-full of street playing children, full of servicemen, full of mothers who stayed home and full of times gone by……..2/17/11 you should have seen 2/17/57.
Break time from baseball-
Franque
8 comments
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February 16, 2011 at 9:39 pm
Dale
I have to admit that I remember all of this and more.
The glass milk bottles left at our door, and you could skim the butter cream off the top.
We had a good humor truck too, maybe it was Bud’s brother.
February 16, 2011 at 10:25 pm
franque23
Aren’t memories of things once a part but now gone from daily living endless?
February 17, 2011 at 10:09 am
Abby Franquemont
You know, that brother of of yours dying was certainly a dick move.
As it happens, I remember him telling me about that same Good Humor man, and that he had a specific ring, and showing me that same picture of you and him and Socks, and just how totally alien that all seemed to me. I wonder what my kid sees that same way.
February 17, 2011 at 10:49 am
franque23
I was so lucky to have Ed as a brother—It makes me smile to think he told you the same story and had this picture too. It is one of my favorites. I feel certain I won that day at wiffle ball—NOT! I just had to post on his birthday–though it is David’s passing day as well.
Franque
February 18, 2011 at 5:48 pm
Jose lopez
I’m on public computer from SAn Juan, Puerto rico, enjoying trip. Great to see your picture, you and Buzzy and the dog, even recall the car. I did ride in it a few times.
CAnnoot take time now to read but will save it for future. Moving picture.
February 18, 2011 at 10:27 pm
franque23
My friend have the best of time in San Juan!
Franque
October 13, 2011 at 12:15 pm
mauravazakas
Franque,
I was just reminiscing about the ice cream truck of the good ol’ days and remember a Judy Ann truck. My friends back then didn’t remember that truck..they only remembered Bungalow Bar and Good Humor.
Anyways, i was telling them on facebook that I remember calling judy Ann the garbage man and shoo-ing the tuck away..JUST as you described!
I grew up in Garden City long Island..Where did you grow up? I can’t believe that someone else had called that name o the truck…very funny!
Anyways, great blog!
October 13, 2011 at 4:14 pm
franque23
Maura–How wonderful! I grew up in Roslyn Hts. but went to Mineola High! So close—we chased him down the street though, like I say, he had the best Italian Ices.! Thanks for reading and for your comment! I can still hear those ice bells.
Franque