PAPER ROUTE
In the spring of 1948 I purchased a paper route of about 30 customers. At that time there were four paper routes in Hartford. Vernon Austin had one of the other routes so he suggested we buy out the other routes and split the town in half, so we did. That fall I sold the paper route so I could go out for cheer leading for the JV football team.
Departing from the format for today, I want to honor the birthday of a dear friend who meant the world to me not so very many years ago. Unfortunately, we lost touch and I was not aware until recently that she passed from this life last summer.
OBITUARY
It is with joyous hearts that we celebrate the life of Susan Ezell Patin, who went home to be with her faithful lord and savior on July 1, 2025, at the age of 78, in her beloved hometown of Mobile, Alabama. Born on August 31, 1946, Susan embodied a spirit of love and warmth that touched the lives of all who knew her.
A devoted member of Loxley Presbyterian Church, Susan was a vibrant force within her community, where her unwavering faith shone brightly and influenced those around her. Her steadfast commitment to her church activities was just one reflection of her deep-rooted values and her passion for serving others.
Susan was a nurturing mother to her two children, Greg (Melinda) Patin of Daphne, AL, and Aimee Patin-Mizelle of Loxley, AL. Her love encompassed not only her children but also extended to her grandchildren and great-granddaughter, who were a source of endless joy and pride for her. She is survived by her grandson, Michael Benjamin (Courtney) Watson, and her cherished great-granddaughter, Margo Watson, who will forever hold the memories of their time with her close to their hearts.
In addition to her immediate family, Susan is remembered fondly by her brother, Norwood Bailey Ezell of Wilmer, AL, and her sister, Libby (John) Wright of Birmingham, AL. The love of family was paramount in her life, and she cherished her relationships with her siblings and several nieces and nephews, who will miss her gentle spirit and laughter.
Susan's legacy is also carried forth by her special family friend, Debra Allen of Mobile, AL, who stood by her side through thick and thin, a testament to the deep connections she forged throughout her life.
She is preceded in death by her beloved son, Larry Michael Patin, and her devoted parents, Elmer and Margaret Ezell, who laid the foundations of love and compassion that Susan so beautifully carried into her own family.
As we celebrate the life of Susan Ezell Patin, let us remember her kindness, her unwavering faith, and the love she effortlessly shared with everyone around her. She leaves behind a legacy that will live on in the hearts of her family and friends, and she will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege to know her.
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The last time I talked with Susan, she was living with her mother, Beth Ezell, and taking care of her in the last few years of her life. Beth passed away in 2020 at the age of 100.
PHOTO: Beth Ezell, Susan Patin
ROLLER SKATING AT THE BANK
I remember when we wanted to roller skate we would all meet at the bank in Hartford because they had put in all new concrete and it was very smooth, but the people coming in and out of the bank were sometimes unhappy with us.
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Here is a picture of the bank in Hartford, as it appeared in 1992. The picture was taken from Main Street. It looks pretty much exactly the same as it did when I was in high school. In 1992 it was still a bank, though not the same name. The parking lot is behind the building.
DELIVERING SHOW BILLS
While we lived in the Carette house I got a job delivering show bills. This was a piece of paper about the size of 3” x 4” that advertised the upcoming movies for the month. We would go from door to door delivering them in Hartford, Watervliet, Bangor and Lawrence. I got a free pass to the movie every time it changed, so I went to the show any time I wanted.
CARETTE HOUSE
We lived in the Carette house on the east side of Hartford when I was 12,13, and 14 years old. This was the first house I remember having an inside bath room with a tub. It sure was nice. When you went upstairs there was a hallway that led to a bedroom but in one wall was a built in twin size bed. This was my bed until my brother Bernarde got married and I got the bedroom.
This place had a two car garage. It also had an out building where we stored our bats and balls, because we had a big corner lot that all the kids from that end of town played ball on. It was also used by one of our neighbors to train the dogs that they used at the circus. This was a Hartford Circus act that called themselves “The Happy Harrison Merry Makers” and were literally a dog and pony show.
STUCK ON THE BARN ROOF
This story is about the time I got stuck on the barn roof. I was about 12 or so and we lived on the Straight place. We had a silo next to the barn so I climbed up the silo and put a board across to the barn and went across. That was OK, however, when I went to go back across the board would always slip to the point it would fall off. Soooo... I sat on the barn roof for a long time trying to figure out how I was going to get back across. I was home all alone. I knew that when Mother got home she would be mad and hysterical and she couldn't climb up the silo to help, so I figured she would call the fire department. Well I decided that I would go across this time even if I fall. Smart, huh? As you know I did not fall and all was well. I never told mother of this adventure until after I had been married several years. Even then, she got pretty huffy about it.
World War II ended while we lived here and I remember the night we heard the news on the radio, my dad got out his old shot gun and fired it two times in the air. We could hear people going to town honking their horns so we got in the car and also went to town where we found people driving up and down main street honking their horns and yelling at each other. Every one was so happy that the war was over. My brother Bernarde had just gone into the army and was soon shipped overseas to Japan as part of the occupation force.
WAR TIME RATIONING
During the war everything was rationed - gas, tires, sugar, meat and most other things. Everyone with an automobile was given an “A” sticker and a book of ration stamps. An “A” stamp was good for three gallons of gas a week. If you needed your automobile for work, you could apply for a “C” ration and if you were a student who needed to drive to school you could apply for a “B” ration.
WORLD WAR II
One of the memories of my childhood was during World War II, when the Hartford fair grounds was a prisoner of war camp. I remember going down to the fair grounds and watching the prisoners and the American guards in the guard towers on the corners. I was amazed and somewhat scared because the prisoners had their German uniforms on.
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I wasn't able to find any pictures specifically from the Hartford POW camp, but here are some pictures that I got from the internet of WWII POW camps in Michigan.
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