Willard is a dentist in Cuba, NY. We have been going to him for 40+ years. He is a good guy, his brothers are too. Scuff is quite the gardener and also cans his harvest. Mike is known for his gardening skills also with a specialty in garlic and dahlias. In the spring he is busy with maple syrup which he also sells locally.
The next farm was the Hastings, which had been abandoned long before I lived next to it. The kids on the upper Run thought it was haunted. We bought the Henry Terrette farm. This was one of my favorite homes, the first one I had ever lived in with an upstairs. The stairway was beautiful and had a cubby under the stairs with a little door, my private place. It also was a Holstein dairy farm.
Our neighbors were Peg and Ducky Leilous. I don't even know his real name. When I lived next to them they had 2 daughters, Joyce and Linda and one son, Donny. Well, the girls and I had great fun together but Donny was a little fire cracker always causing trouble. I think daily his mom would say, "Donny wait until your father gets home!" For a few years we would pick elderberries by the bushel. Ducky would take them to Clark Brothers and a couple Italian guys would buy them for $5 a bushel to make wine.
Next to the Leilous property was Lloyd and Emma Babcock. Their children were all older than me, more the age of my brothers. Clarence (Babby), Ed and Don, their daughter married Ed Bell.
Next on the left was the Hathaway home. They had 3 boys and 2 girls which helped add to our neighborhood baseball teams. Across from them the Bells. They had 2 boys, Ed and Randy and a daughter Eileen, more for the baseball teams. Just above Bells was Lyle Sloat and his family, I also babysat for their little boys. Across from them was the Leo Osburn family and a farm owned by Irelands with their two daughters Gloria and Linda. They also contributed to the baseball teams They also had two young sons.
Now the next dairy farm on the left was owned by Clara and Bill Southerland. Another family that I have good memories of. They would visit mom and dad which was exciting because back then we very seldom left the farm. Other farmers were the entertainment. I remember my dad telling mom, "you know Bill's daughter Margie married a tall guy good with horses. Again, odd what sticks in my mind! Margie and Bob Visseau's home is on Horse Run but on the NY side.
Last is Ken and Glenice Sloat, yep farmers too. Glenice was quite the cook and baker.
Horse Run was a dairy farm valley but so were others, Sunnyside, Bells Run, Jander Run, Coons Crossing, Eleven Mile, Honeoye Rd, Plank Rd, Clara Rd, and Kings Run. They were all full of dairy farms. Gone, all of them but a few that raise beef cows with the exception of Denver Drake and the Hoffman Family (yes Holstein) Dairy Farms.
Not to be forgotten, two little side roads. One was the "old Horse Run Rd" my Uncle Orville and Aunt Nina lived on a dairy farm there. It was beautiful and Nina took pride in her yard and flowers as my mom did. They were always trading new plants to each other. My husband worked for Orville in his early teens putting in hay. The old fashion way, loose! That is a hot hard days work. Nina made the best molasses cookies!
The second road is Park Ave. which was to the left of the "dump road". On the left was the Strickland family home, Jerry and Hope Cone own it now. Farther down on the right was Marie and Elno James with their daughter, Delores and son, Ricky. Here is one of my all time thank you very much Marie lessons. She taught me how to crack my gum! Not more than 10 I would sit on her porch and take lessons. She was so patient and the day I mastered the every bite crack will always be remembered. Of course my dad and even my husband could not stand hearing me do it. I loved it!
Then there was Ricky, he was always picking and one day even tried to make me eat a worm, that will always be remembered! In all fairness Ricky is a great friend and was a welcome moment when I broke my leg/ankle 10 weeks ago. He was driving the ambulance, the joy of living where I grew up! Guy Danforth lived farther down. Keep on going turn right and the road would take you back into Shinglehouse, the bridge has long since been closed.
There are a few of my growing up memories on Horse Run. Back to Clara and the place that fills my heart with peace and satisfaction.
Tonight we ate out, roasted hot dogs over an open fire, fresh green onions from the garden, relish and beets canned from last year. Simple but so easy and good. Just peace and quiet in the valley.
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| A reminder on the longest day of the year what the shortest day looks like. |
