Dad: Unedited XVIII

(Although this was a bit of a typing job for me, I think it was worth it!  Dad asked me to include a couple photos, which I've inserted in the appropriate spots.  But, hey, I want to hear more about the monkeys!  Enjoy! -- Tracy)

La Blog de Derf!  Derf here once again.

In past writings by me I've mentioned that my dad had a store.  His slogan was "If it sells, we have it."  It was a 'super market' that he eventually called 'Gowen's Master Market."  Dad had some 'hand fans' made up which could be found in area churches and the tabernacle in Old Orchard Beach.  I'm sitting here looking at a fan with 'Gowen Master Market' on it and reminding people to 'leave where found."  Obviously I swiped a few that are now in my possession.


The fan also has John 3:16 and Matthew 22:37 printed on it.

The store had departments for meat (western beef as Dad was a good butcher), produce (complete with fancy showcases), and a complete line of groceries in various types of packaging.  He carried everything available in today's super markets.  There was also a paint department, hardware department, and even toys and bicycles.  It was a 'General Store' at its finest.  Every day there were products out front which were taken in at closing.  Hopefully 'Mainely Tracy' will post a picture of this.

However, a main attraction at the store in the late 1940's/early 1950's was a television.  At the time I recall Dad having one of the first televisions in Sanford, Maine.  There was an antenna on the store that had twenty-two guy wires.  It was similar to radio towers of today (not as tall), as one could climb up on the ladder tower.  I climbed it a few times for easy repairs.  The only channels were from Boston, Massachusetts, approximately 80-100 miles away.  Airplanes would cause the picture to fade in and out and occasionally it looked like a blizzard.  However it was quite an attraction.

Friday night fights, Saturday night wrestling, and Tuesday night 'Uncle Miltie' were all times that would draw a crowd.  Dad had built a set of bleachers for spectators and we would be in the store for the aforementioned shows.  It was a great time in our lives.  We shouldn't forget to mention 'It's Howdy Doody Time' with all the characters (Clarabell, Buffalo Bob, Phineas T. Bluster, Princess Summerfall Winterspring, etc).

As most of you know from previous blogs my dad became well-known for killing a wild porcupine with a bat.  Dad also had a fairly good throwing arm.  In a store with all the goods around, every now and then there would be an infiltration of unwanted species of creatures.  However, there were never any creatures in the store once we had "Chee Chee" the monkeys.  More about the monkeys later.

One night as we were watching the wrestling matches a gray furry creature came down from the attic and was strolling along a pipe about twenty feet from the TV watchers.  Dad was seated close to a Coke case and there were several empty bottles in the rack.  Dad grabbed a coke bottle and let it fly.  The rat never had a chance.  The throw would have impressed any scout involved in signing pitchers for Major League Baseball.  The furry little creature went kerplunk.  Of course now we had to find the creature and clean up the glass.  Another animal had met his Maker at the hands of the killer of Main Street....

Then back to the matches with such wrestlers as Gorgeous George, Ivan Rasputin, Verne Gagne, Ronnie Etchison, and a host of others including women and 'midget' wrestlers of both sexes.  These were exciting times for us.  I wonder what some of the folks who watched TV with us in its infancy would think if they were with me now on my couch watching our 42" LED High Definition TV.  A change indeed!  For better or worse?

Until next time.

Toodle Pip!  Derf