Published: October 31, 2009 11:08 pm      

A fun reunion with old friends

I had the distinct honor and pleasure of attending my 55th high school reunion in early September. So many changes have taken place in Logansport since I left for service in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1953.

The places where I worked have all disappeared except for the Whitehouse No. 2 and the Pharos-Tribune. I delivered papers for the Tribune when the Press was a competitor in 1947-48. I set pins in the bowling alley in 1949.

I worked in the Whitehouse No. 1 with Mike when Lester started working in Whitehouse No. 2 in 1949. My friend Dick Dempsey and I worked at the Double Dip at lunchtime, at night and on weekends. After work, we would help Lester during rush hour, and we played the pinball machine until the wee small hours of Saturday night.

In those days, Saturday night was really “hot.” The farmers came to Peppas Bros. on Fourth Street to get their shoes shined. The whole town was buzzing and the stores stayed open until 9 p.m. every Saturday night. The restaurants and bars were all busy. The Whitehouse was always full at midnight Saturday and after the midnight show. Where have all the people gone?

When Dick and I got off work at the Double Dip on Saturday night, we would rush to the Whitehouse and help Lester with the “after movie rush.” Each time I get to come home, I get to see Lester as he was. He is truly a landmark and deserves all the credit you can give him. What happened to Mike Long? Sometimes we walked the night beat with him.

When I delivered The Pharos-Tribune in 1948, my favorite places to get warm were at Amelio’s bar and the Triangle Gas Station at Third and Eel River Avenue. Amelio’s is still there after all these years. Tell everyone in town to go have a drink for one of your old paper boys. I will send him some real California treats to serve. California green, ripe olives. Few people in Logansport have ever seen them. Californians do not see boiled eggs and pickled beets or tenderloins like Ike serves.

It is always great to see my old hometown and the wonderful people who stayed behind.

• Bobby Boughtonm a former Logansport resident, now makes his home in Auburn, Calif.