When I first started going to Oakton the road from Clinton to Oakton was graveled. I remember the sharp curve about two miles from Clinton was not raised yet and the banks on both sides were high and steep. Just around the curve there was a hill and the road would usually be full of holes making for a rough ride. The graders then were not self propelled but had to be pulled by tractor or dozer so they did not get around too often. I rode it on bicycle many times. Had a few flats but kept a hand pump and extra tube as well as small tire tool to fix the flat. As I could not carry a tire a roll of black friction tape was a must. Needless to say tape around a tire and wheel did not last too many miles and made a bumpy ride bumpier.
When we were old enough to have access to cars we were regulars at Columbus Belmont State Park. Back then there were a lot of rough trails to keep us busy with BB gun fights and exploring the entrenchments in the undeveloped area at the north end. There was once a look out without a roof on the point at that end of the park and it gave a great view up river. There was a trail from near it angling down to the river below. There were some big rocks there and we swam in the eddy. Naturally we did not admit this to our parents. I got caught though. We were playing tag in the water and I was going to tag another boy when he pulled his belt knife and made a slash with it. He had no intention of inflicting pain but I reflectively reached for his arm. When he saw me reach he pulled back to keep me from being cut. I grabbed the razor sharp blade and it sliced my first three fingers to the bone. I grabbed a towel and closed my fist pulling a corner of the towel into my fist. To keep from getting blood on the upholstery I rode the fender to Clinton. Once in Clinton they cut the towel above my hand leaving the corner in place. The fun part was when I had them pour alcohol and then iodine onto the piece of terry cloth. I never let my parents know how bad it was and my guardian angel saw to it that everything healed perfectly. I hate to think what would have happened if I opened my hand before healing. There had to be muscle and tendon severed and it healed with no problems. I consider this proof that God assigns each child a squad of guardian angels. I know I got that many or one has sure worked overtime. No pun intended.
It must have been about nineteen fifty that Hickman County youth took a hard hit by Polio. I had a fight with my friend and neighbor Frank Earl Turner and the next morning they hauled him off in an ambulance. I just knew that I caused him to catch polio. He was home before too long but across the street from us Donnie Wyatt was hit hard. All the neighborhood boys would put a blanket on the strip between the sidewalk and the street in front of his house and spend most of the day there. We would reach up as if to pull the chain on a truck air horn and the truckers would blow the air horn for us. There were no C B radios then but the word got around that two of our group had polio and one could not walk at all. Most of the regular truckers would even blow when we were not out there after the word spread up and down highway 51. Day or night it made no difference to them or us. I think that show of emotion, from the truly Knights of the road, was a lot of the inspiration for both to beat polio and lead normal lives. Donnie and Frank Earl were an inspiration to the rest of us.
Donnie, Frank, Joe Lillard and I all had basketball goals even if we did not always have a ball. Most of the kids in town joined us for some unusual basketball. We had our own rules. Our teams sometimes meant five starters on each team and sometimes more or less. Like I said we were not hampered with rules.
Something I have not seen in years is marbles. To us marbles was the game of the day every day. We did not allow steelies as they broke the glass and agate marbles. We drew a circle on a bare patch of ground and the object was to knock the opponents’ marbles out of the ring. Sometimes we played keepers and if my marble was knocked from the ring my opponent got to keep it. There were some really pretty marbles but the finest were the true agate ones. Everyone used a slightly larger marble for the taw to shoot with if he had it. It was not unusual to see one that was dull from so much use as often they would split into when hit or tiny chips would get knocked out of it. At Oakton marbles were taken more serious and most games played were keepers’ games. Jackie Groaning was probably the best I ever saw. The real agate marbles were really a piece of art and highly desired. They were ground and polished from the agate stone or more correctly chalcedony quartz which is very colorful and striated.
On Saturdays in Clinton the downtown was always packed with a few cars and trucks and many more wagons, buggies and teams lining the streets. The barber shops were all full but most of the men were not there for haircut and shave but to trade knives. Many times I would see a barber and his customer leave the chair with the job half done so they could watch a trade. The same thing went on to a lesser extent at the benches lining both sides of the sidewalk to the north entrance of the court house. There would also be some at the benches on the court house corner near the traffic light. All the kids carried knives and we traded as well. Anyone who could truly put a good edge on a knife could easily trade up for not that many could bring a razor edge even if they had a good steel blade to work with. Cheap steel does not sharpen well.
I used to wonder what happened to the old guys who were always sitting on the benches outside the courthouse and it finally dawned on me that we moved into the restaurants where it is more comfortable.
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