Richard Thomas Memories

SOUTH HAVEN

I remember having a lot of fun in this Model A, going to South Haven and parking on Main Street in front of the drug store, or as close as we could, and watching the girls go by.  Going down to the beach to go swimming after the movies.  One time when we were swimming off the south pier with Lester Schrantz and Louie Koslink, Louie got caught in the undertow and was sucked into a hole in the side of the pier. Ralph and Lester had to go down and get him. It’s a wonder they found him, let alone get him out.  He had swallowed some water but was all right. We were all scared so we went home, and as far as I know none of us ever told anyone about it.

Richard Thomas Memories

 OUT OF GAS

 I don’t remember how old I was when this picture was taken but it reminded me of the time that my cousin Ralph Till and I were coming home one night in the winter time and we ran out of gas about one mile from his house.  I said to Ralph, I guess we are going to walk from here, and Ralph said no, we are going to ride. As he was removing the gasoline cap, I said how do you figure that? Ralph said get up here and pee in this gasoline tank.  Ralph had a 1929 model A Ford. The gasoline tank was above the engine and the gasoline was gravity feed.   Did you know that gasoline is lighter than water? Well it is. Anyway, in the bottom of the gas tank (all gas tanks back then) is a tube that sticks up about 1/4 inch or more, so we knew that we still had some gasoline in the tank. 

So... when we peed in the gasoline tank, the gas floated up to the top and the car started and we drove home.  The next day we removed the gasoline line from the bottom of the tank and drained out the water and gasoline and put in new gasoline. 

Richard Thomas Memories

SUMMER AT THE SADDLE CAMP 

 The first day after we unloaded all the horses two other boys and I decided to go for a ride. I picked this Texas pony because he was wild and needed to be ridden to settle him down so we could use him with other people.  We went down the road a mile or so and stopped to adjust the saddles, but when I went to get back on the pony started turning around and around. Finally he got away from me and he went back to the stable without me.  When I got back to the stable I sure was embarrassed. I had lost my horse the first day on the job. I got back on him and just he and I went for a long hard ride. When we got back to the stable he sure was tired and was not acting wild any more. 

 There were a lot of summer camps for both girls and boys near Paw Paw lake that came over to ride, so I got to meet a lot of nice girls. Needless to say, this sure was a fun summer.

Richard Thomas Memories

SUMMER AT THE SADDLE CAMP

When I was about 12 or 13 years old I worked one summer at Mr. Henry Meachum’s stable at Paw Paw lake across from the Pleasant View  bar and grill.  I lived in a one room building with only a small bed and a wash basin, and an outside toilet. I ate my meals at nearby restaurants and took my bath in Paw Paw lake.  I got to go home one night a week to get clean clothes and other things.  

One day a lady and her daughter came for her daughter to ride. She was around 5 or 6 years old. I put her on one of our ponies named Queenie and took her across the road to a field that had a circle that the horses would walk around. I started Queenie going around and went back to the stable to do other things. Then I heard the mother screaming so I ran out to see what was wrong. The mother was pointing across the road, and I saw that Queenie had laid down and the little girl was just sitting there waiting for something to happen. I went over and made Queenie get up and started her going around again.  Again I went back to the stable and started doing other things, and soon I heard the mother yelling for me. Sure enough, Queenie had laid down again. This time she got up before I got to her. I started her going around again but this time I stayed until time was up for the ride. All this time the little girl thought this was just great, and only the mother was upset. 

Richard Thomas Memories

PONIES AT THE HARTFORD FAIR 

I always had a pony at the Hartford Fair.  Some times I would have one from Don Chidester or from Bill Shepherd.  One year I had one from each.  I would sleep in the horse barn all during the fair. All the Hartford School kids were given the week off. The school authorities started that because of the 4H and because most kids stayed out of school anyway. My mother worked at the Methodist church tent so she would check on me each day before she went home. 

One time one of the ponies was from Texas and was kind of wild. I was riding him around in the race track infield when the bridle broke and the bit fell out, so the pony took off for the barn on a dead run.  My cousin Junior Till had his pulling team there and saw what was happening and ran his team out in front of the pony. The pony stopped, but I did not. Fortunately, I was not hurt.  

My cousin Ralph Till was at the fair the next day and said that he could ride that pony. When he got on the pony it began to buck and rear up, and one time the pony fell over backwards and almost fell on Ralph.  

PHOTO: I ran across a website with old pictures of Hartford. This is one of them -- Van Buren County Fair. I don't know what year exactly, but this was probably near the time that my dad had ponies at the fair.

Richard Thomas Memories

PONIES AT THE HARTFORD FAIR

One year I had a pony from Mr. Bill Shepherd. Sometimes he would let someone like us keep a pony for the fall and winter to ride. This saved them feeding that pony through the winter. Her name was Queenie.

I always had a pony at the Hartford Fair.  Some times I would have one from Don Chidester or from Bill Shepherd.  One year I had one from each.  I would sleep in the horse barn all during the fair. All the Hartford School kids were given the week off. The school authorities started that because of the 4H and because most kids stayed out of school anyway. My mother worked at the Methodist church tent so she would check on me each day before she went home.  

PHOTO: I don't know who the man and boy are in this picture. It was among my dad's family photos, so it's probably someone related to us on the Thomas or Ford side of the family.

Richard Thomas Memories

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. 

Happy Birthday, Susan

 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.

* * * 

 

 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

Richard Thomas Memories

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.

* * *

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.

Here is a screen grab from Google maps of the building as it looks today (taken from Center Street). It appears to be a doctor's office or health clinic now -- Holy Family Healthcare. From this angle, the parking lot would have been to the left of the building.

This picture shows where the parking lot was, between the bank and the next building. It's still there, more or less.

Richard Thomas Memories

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.

PHOTO: Main Street, Hartford, Michigan

Near the left side of the picture is the Heart movie theater.

That theater was still there when I was a teenager, and as far as I know it is still in operation.