My Book…………..LILAGCS (8)

October 25, 2010

Preparing the Oyster Stew

I remember that every time there was going to be a fire meeting in the winter months I was always anxiously waiting for the firemen that always prepared the meal to arrive to begin their preparation. As I said before, a fireman named Cliff Hodges was always there and the other one I remember was George Franklin.

Cliff and George let Me Help

Cliff and George let me help set the tables with them and get the oyster stew cooking on the large commercial stove in the kitchen. In addition to the stew, they always had ring bologna, cheese and oyster crackers. (see pictures below)

    

I guess they also had coffee available, but I never had coffee there at the dinner meeting.

                           

I remember when we opened the large containers of oysters; they search through them for these little red crab-like creatures that would come with the oysters many times. Also George and Cliff would say, “Dave, look at this as they would take and uncooked oyster and with a cracker eat the oyster and cracker at the same time.

Taught to Prepare Oyster Stew

The Right Way

Milk was put on to warm and the oysters were placed in a large pan to warm also. I remember that butter and salt and pepper were added to the oysters as they warmed. George always told me that you would know when it is time to add the oysters to the warm milk when the oysters start to curl around the edges.

                                                        

While the oysters and milk warmed, we cut the cheese into small bite size chunks and also cut the baloney into pieces.

          

We placed the plates of cheese and baloney into the refrigerator covered and also placed the oyster crackers on the tables. I would help set the table with spoons, knives and forks. I also helped place the drinking glasses out in a buffet-type fashion.

The Firemen adopted me as their Mascot

There were about 20 to 25 volunteer firemen all together. They adopted me as their mascot, I guess. My mother lettered shirts for all of the firemen with “Spencer Fire Department” on the back and each of their names over the pocket. Mom also made me a shirt, same color and in addition she made a raincoat, rain hat and found boots that I placed right next to all the real firemen’s equipment.

                                                                   

One afternoon at naptime, I was missing from my bed. After searching everywhere, my parents found me sound asleep with my teddy bear right next to the opening to the brass pole. It was about 30 feet to the cement floor below. This prompted them to construct a wooden enclosure with a lock around the brass pole opening next to our apartment door opening.

I Learned to Slide down

the Brass Fire Pole

                       

After I was a little older, almost three, my parents told me that I had asked so many times to slide down the pole like daddy did that they finally decided to let me try. Mom said she got at the top and dad waited at the bottom and I would grasp the pole like the firemen did and slide down the 30-foot pole to the ground level 30 feet below.