Halloween In The 50’s By Neal Murphy

October 22, 2021 - I have always loved Halloween. Even now in my older years I still enjoy decorating my front porch with all kinds of Halloween items, and dressing in some kind of costume. I get a kick out of entertaining the children who come to my door playing “trick or treat”. They always leave with a treat, thus I have never had a trick played on me.

Halloween Regrets By Neal Murphy

October 15, 2021 - I challenge any of you readers who have grown children to do what I did recently. I asked my grown daughter what she considered to be the worst punishment that we meted out to her while a youngster. I was shocked at her answer, as this incident had drifted off to the far corners of my mind.

“America’s First Documented Ghost” By Neal Murphy

October 8, 2021 - How many of you readers believe in ghosts? How many are on the fence about this? How do we reconcile accounts of ghost sightings by honest, reputable people who evidently witnessed a strange event? I have never witnessed a ghost sighting personally, but have, I believe, been visited by angels, but that’s another story.

Among the strangest ghost stories ever recorded happened in the unlikely state of Maine. I have nothing against Maine, but I do believe that if I were a ghost I would select a more populated area should I want to reveal myself.

"Brass Monkey Business" by Neal Murphy

October 5, 2021 - I suspect that we are all familiar with the colloquial expression concerning brass monkeys. Most of the sayings have to do with weather – cold weather. When and how did this idiom arise, and what do brass monkeys have to do with the weather? Research on this reveals interesting information.

“Clowning Around” By Neal Murphy

September 27, 2021 - Being a deputy sheriff can have its humorous moments, some you can share and others you cannot. A number of years ago I was working security at the Shelby County Rodeo at the rodeo grounds on Highway 7 East. I had arrived early to watch people parking and entering the arena and just to be seen by the public.

“About Cedar Trees” By Neal Murphy

September 10, 2021 - The house that I grew up in was surrounded by six or seven large cedar trees. I never paid them much attention during my early days, except that they smelled good and my dad was allergic to them.

"The Disappearing Whitewall Tire" by Neal Murphy

September 3, 2021 - My Chevrolet sedan is about to need re-tiring – that is, a new set of tires. It came with blackwall tires, and I was thinking of sprucing it up with a set of new whitewall tires. I know that they are more trouble to keep clean and white, but the white dust in my neighborhood would be less visible on whitewall tires.

“The Steering Wheel Knob – Where Is It?” By Neal Murphy

August 20, 2021 - I purchased my first car in 1955 after my sister, Evelyn, loaned me the down payment. The car was a 1950 Chevrolet two-door with fender skirts, a sun visor, and an automatic transmission. I always referred to the transmission as “slush-matic drive” as it was rather sluggish on the takeoff. One final amenity was added to my chariot – a brodie knob on the steering wheel.

“Where Have Shoeshine Stands Gone?” By Neal Murphy

August 13, 2021 - When I was a kid growing up in the small town of San Augustine, Texas in the 1940s and 1950s, I recall our town having at least two shoeshine stands. They were located inside two barbershops in the downtown area. Mr. Stephenson owned a shoe repair shop where he worked with all kinds of leather goods including saddles and harnesses. He would also put a shine on shoes that he had repaired with new leather soles. Mr. Crawford had a shoe repair shop on the east side of the courthouse.

“Why Are Porch Ceilings Painted Blue?” By Neal Murphy

July 30, 2021 - In my younger days I occasionally hung wallpaper and painted in a few of the very old homes around East Texas. Two things I noted about these old homes: one, they always had large porches, some completely surrounding the home; and two, the porch ceilings were usually painted a light blue. As we know, porches have just about disappeared on the new homes built today, or else a front porch is like an afterthought. Why is that?

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By Neal Murphy