Delta, Ohio
October 2006

Ye Old Stomping Grounds, Pt. 1

My Host Is: Lacy C.

Next: Ye Old Stomping Grounds, Pt. 2

The next 3 travelogue pages are dedicated to Tony, Lacy & Heathers old home town of Delta, Ohio. Located in NW Ohio, the closest major city is Toledo and the population was in the 1000's when Tony grew up there off and on during his youth.

At Tony's request, myself, Lacy and Tiki Jr went to visit today and are going to let Tony, more or less, tell you about Delta in his own words from this point on. >>>

I lived in Delta off and on during my childhood. Delta seemed to be the place we always went back to after living someplace else in the country. I think the small town atmosphere felt familiar, comforting and safe. It was a place that a 10 year old kid could wander the streets with no worries back then.

The street in the shot below, Washington Street, is that small town street that you see in so many movies. The place where the story starts for me. This is my street and my story.

As I look at this unexciting street in the midwest, tears come to my eyes. This street is my childhood memories. Ice cream trucks, neighbor kids, winter snow forts, autumn leaves and those seemingly endless summer days spent running around the neighborhood and going to the local public swimming pool with my cousin Kevin.

I can see each house, each yard, each family on this street vividly in my mind. Kevin, Rich, Tara, Vicky, Dick, Bev, George, Joanne, Philip, Jill, Jan, Joe, Randy, Mr. Gunn, Archie, Amy, Grace, Marie. Those are the names that come to mind but I still see the faces of those I can't recall the names for.

It was a small and safe world back then for a kid, or at least it seemed like it was.

This is the old feed mill at the end of Washington Street. As an adult I know that this is private property, but as a kid I don't think that was a concept we understood.

This was a busy place during the week and quiet on the weekend. It was a place for us to use our imaginations. Those silos were rocket ships and the smell of dried corn was everywhere.

The mill was actually the gateway to the real escape of our childhood which was the railroad tracks. I know it sounds cliche and Stand By Me but it is true. Anyone that has grown up near railroad tracks in a small town will tell you the same thing.

To the left was Bad Creek and the rope swing, wild strawberries, and the woods.

To the right was S*** Creek or so we called it because it was a sewage drain.

I forget the creek we use to ride intertubes down from the Old Park on the other side of town. And Dead Man's Cave. I have no idea why it was called this. Perhaps my cousins told me that was the name and I never questioned it.

This was the place we played, imagined, hid, got in to trouble and grew up. It was our domain.

A few blocks away up on Main Street was Gerry's Market, the carwash, laundry mat and dairy queen.

Gerry's Market was the single most important store in Delta for us growing up. It is where we bought our candy, ice cream and sodas. It is where we played a video game called Lady Bug. I actually wish I could play Lady Bug right now. It was a place with familiar faces like Mrs. Borne.

Those soda machines were a destination in their own right. I must have run those few blocks to these machines a thousand times!

Next to the market was the car wash. What a great place this was for a couple reasons.

First of all it was inexpensive back them. A few quarters later and the old bicycle was shiny and new. More importantly though was when we could wash our bikes for free using the remaining wash time.

The second great thing about this place is it was a contraband heaven for kids. I'm not sure, we as adults, realize that the things we throw away in public places become the domain of the kids in the area. I won't go in to the things we found here but I will say that many of them were abundant and often.

I don't say this to necessarily deny the neighborhood kids now any contraband that they may rightfully come upon, however, I'd rather not have my kids digging through the trash finding the things we found as kids. Just a heads up.

I don't think many people I knew owned a personal washer and dryer back in the 70's. This was THE place we did our laundry, looked for loose change and bought candy, popcorn and sodas. Bev H. was often a familiar face working here.

I remember, as a teenager, riding across town on my 10 speed with a duffle bag full of laundry to do.

Ah the Delta water tower. Wauseon, Swanton, and all those other small towns with these huge landmarks!

Maybe a quarter mile away was the Twisty Freeze. Delta's local dairy queen.

Though it is closed during the winter months, this place is very popular during the summer. Twist cones, deep fried mushrooms and Globs were the order of the day.

I also lived in a trailer park a few blocks behind the Twisty Freeze. Hey Manuel A. you still living back there?

Across the street was the bowling alley/mexican restaurant/club(?). It evolved in to many different things. Further on down was the A&W Restaurant and a few miles later was Swanton which was primarily remembered for having a McDonalds when I was a kid.

On to page 2...

(Photos: Lacy C. / Dialogue: Tony V.)