Kathleen: After reading your bio I would have thought you were talking about the 1930-1940's when I grew up. It sounds like my dad somewhat and he was born 1900. I grew- up only 50-60 miles from your area in N.J. and I would have never thought life was the way you have explained it so much latter then when I lived in N.J. You have a God given ability to write and express yourself.

Thanks, Bruce, Seaweedman

Hi Bruce,

The beginning when I mentioned my father going to school in the sleigh, that was the 1930's40-'s.

My childhood and my sisters and brothers, that was the 1960-70s and early 80's.  There were 3 Catholic elementary schools and one Catholic high school in that small town of Conshohocken, and 1 public elementary.   There was a stronghold of Catholicism in that area, now all the elementary schools have been merged into 1 because of declining enrollment and high tuition.

The public high school I went to later was for the students of our town and 2 other towns.  We had to take a bus there.

My father's values of being raised on a farm himself, that is what he carried over into raising us, he wasn't a big man but he maintained order over 6 children.  We all had to help out around the house or...there was no or...there was an old thick leather belt that was always kept over a doorknob in plain sight.  That was the "or else" that maintained order.

Hi Bruce,

I forgot to post a pic for you, I had the link then I forgot because of memories of the belt.  I don't recall being belted but it was the intimidation factor of it!