What a nice gesture! The busy Mayor Art Holland took the time to sit down and write the above letter to the editor responding to a column I did following the death of my Dad. The article had a photo of my mom and day and the article was entitled, "Together Again." It was one of those tear jerkers that I occasionally write and I recall that I was overcome emotionally as I wrote it. Now, I am approaching my mom and dad's age; the 80's, when my dear wife says that's when all the bad things happen to those of us who have managed to get out of the 70's.
HI TOM....I HAVE MENTIONED MANY TIMES ON YOUR SITE OF THE PLEASANT MEMORES I HAVE OF ART HOLLAND, WHOSE FRIENDS CALLED HIM "CHIRP". HE WAS AN OUTSTANDING SPORTSMAN AT TRENTON CATHOLIC AND PLAYED ALONGSIDE ME ON THE SOUTHARDS BASEBALL TEAM IN 1937. HE LIVED ON TYLER AVENUE AND HIS BROTHER JOE WAS A FREEHOLDER, WHICH PROBABLY WAS A FACTOR IN HIS FUTURE POLITCAL LIFE. ONE THING I RECALL ABOUT CHIRP WAS THE TIMES HE HIT A LONG BALL AND STOPED ON THIRD BASE. OUR MANAGER'S WIFE BAKED A CAKE FOR YOU IF YOU HIT A HOME RUN AND A PIE FOR A TRIPLE. HE LIKED THE PIES BETTER, AND SO HE STOPPED AT THIRD, IN GAMES NOT IMPORTANT. HE TOLD ME MANY TIMES THAT HE THOUGHT ABOUT BECOMEING A PRIEST. I VISITED HIM MANY TIMES AT CITY HALL WHILE I WORKED AT THE POST OFFICE IN 1940 AND 1950. BEST REGARDS,
ReplyDeleteI MIGHT ADD TOM, THAT ON AUGUST 30 I'LL BE 94 YEARS OLD AND STILL CAN RECALL THE EARLY YEARS. THE TIME I SPENT IN THE NAVY DURING WORLD WAR 2 AND THE MANY ADVENTURES THAT OCCURED ALONG THE WAY. BEST WISHES TO YOU AND THE FAMILY.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you, Ralph. You are one of our history experts on the Trenton area of old. Stay well.
ReplyDeleteTom
Glad I checked back in. Happy Birthday Ralph. Tom, nice to be able to write about your Dad, even at such a sorrowful time. Ron
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