By Ray Collett

Hello Readers, I finally have another column written and let's go straight to the mail bag. Harold Taylor, (Class of 1958) sent me an interesting email the other day that sure brings back memories. Let me share it with you. Harold writes,

Ray,
Thanks for all you do to keep us amused as we flash back to the " good old days ". I look forward to your articles. Ann was looking through some of her mother's old cook books recently and an old yellow article fell out . We looked at it with amusement as it told that Tom Fuller had gone back to Carson-Nweman,Patti McLoughlin, had the mumps, Miss Joan Evans had returned from a trip to Maryville, ect. We guessed that it dated around the late 1940s or early 50s. I turned it over on the other side and was really blasted with a memory from the past.We lived on Chamberlin Ave. across from the Fire Hall and I was a regular visitor and nuiance to Chief Arthur Lawson as he repaired guns and chased the shade around the corner of the fire hall in his straight back chair. It was always a thrill to hear the fire siren sound and and see that big La France engine come roaring out of the station. Those were the days . Any way, the back side of the article was a public service announcement of sorts. It would make a good Rockwood trivia question. What did the number of fire wistles mean. This article gave the following instructions, and I don't know anyone who would have gotten these....

WHEN THE FIRE WHISTLE BLOWS
When the siren of the Rockwood Fire Department sounds the number of blows determines the area in which a fire has been reported. For the convenience of the public ,The Times is publishing the list of blows used by the Fire Department and area of town each sequence of blows designate.

One (1) Blow - Town proper. Center of town, north to Strang Street, south to Rathburn Street, west to Wilder Street, and east to Kingston Avenue.

Two (2) Blows - Everywhere east and beyond Kingston Ave., north and south.

Three (3) Blows - Everywhere west of Wilder Street, including Old Town.

Four (4) Blows - North Rockwood, beyond Strang Street.

Five (5) Blows - South Rockwood, beyond Rarhburn Street.

Six (6) - Blows - Outside the corporate limits,or call firemen in ( which is necessary on out-of-town calls ).

One (1) - Continuous Blow - Hospital

I thought you might enjoy that article plus, I needed to pay tribute to Chief Arthur Lawson for all the agrivation a 8 or 9 year old can cause a person.

Thanks
Go Tigers
Harold Taylor

Thanks Harold, always good to hear from you. Harold is married to Ann Millican (Class of 1963) We look forward to seeing you both at our reunion in June...
A couple of weeks ago, I asked if some of you would send some emails about your memories of Rockwood, where you are living, how your life has been. It is always interesting to see how we all are scattered around the world from this tiny little town named Rockwood.
Gail Roddy, (Class of 1960) answered my call and was the first to write back. Gail has migrated to Texas. I always heard that if it wasn't for Tennesseans that the Texans would be speaking Spanish. I guess they were talking about Davy Crockett and Sam Houston......
Here is what Gail had to say.....

HI RAY. MY NAME IS GAIL RODDY. I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL IN 1960. I NOW LIVE IN WICHITA FALLS, TX. I HAVE BEEN IN NURSING FOR 38 YEARS. I GRADUATED LVN SCHOOL IN 1971, AND THEN GRADUATED FROM MIDWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY IN 1983. I HAVE BEEN A RN SINCE 1983. . I WAS MARRIED TO BOB BYRNE WHO LIVED IN TEXAS. I HAVE 2 SONS ONE IS 46 AND ONE IS 44 YRS OLD. . MY FRIENDS WERE PHYLLIS HAMILTON, CAROLYN MILLICAN, AND RUDY LONG. MY LAST HUSBAND WAS JOE BOYD.
I MISS ROCKWOOD VERY MUCH. MY SISTER IS BARBARA RODDY YOUNG, AND BROTHER WAYNE RODDY WIFE IS DIANE WHO STILL LIVE IN ROCKWOOD. MY OTHER BROTHER IS CHARLES RODD WFE LINDA RUTH NASH AND LIVES IN ROSSVILLE, GEORGIA. WHEN I WAS A TEENAGE WE USE TO HIKE UP TO BIG ROCK, AND TO THE FIRE TOWER. THE SPRINGS HAD ICE COLD WATER. MY DADDY USED TO WORK AT THE FURNACE AND I REMEMBER THE SKY LOOKED BRIGHT RED WHEN THEY DUMPED THEIR CARS. IN THE MORNING OUR PORCH LOOKED LOOKED LIKE WHITE ASH. BOY THERE MUST OF BEEN A LOT OF AIR POLLUTION BACK THEN. WE USED TO TRADE AT MC CULLEY'S STORE. WE USED TO WALK EVERY WHERE WE WENT. WE WENT TO TOWN EVERY WEEK. THE TOWN WAS BUSY AT THAT TIME. I STILL ENJOY LOOKING AT ROCKWOOD MEMORIES. I USED TO COULDN'T WAIT TILL I GREW UP AND LEFT. NOW I WISH I WAS YOUNG AGAIN, AND LIVE THE OLD MEMORIES AGAIN.
Thanks Gail......You can always come back...
Last Friday evening while broadcasting the "Friday Night Yonder Hollow Show, with Uncle Ray" on Rockwood's 580 AM, Ray Leffew (Class of 1962) came in to hear the music. Becky Farmer (Class of 1969) also showed up. They are both living around the Nashville area. Ray is just retiring from driving a Greyhound bus for more than forty years. He said he has driven in all of the states except two. Ray grew up on South Wilder with his cousins James, Billy Joe, and Mary. What football games we used to have in the back yards there, usually joined by Bill Blake and most of Clymersville. Ray, also is planning to attend the RHS reunion and is looking forward to seeing everyone. Becky said that her dad used to know Gene Horner and took up fiddle and mandolin making from him. I am sure she will attend the reunion too since her class is having their fortieth one. Back to Gene Horner, he is a well known craftsman living in Westel. He is known far and wide for his instrument making. As a matter of fact, Gene was honored a few days ago in Nashville by Gov. Phil Bredesen presenting Gene the Tn. Arts and Crafts award. I think eight people from all over the state were honored. A pretty good accomplishment for an "ole country boy." Gene says he makes "fiddles", but if the customer is from up North, or appears to have a lot of money, they are "violins." After all, violins have "strings", and fiddles have "strangs."
Gene is at "Yonder Hollow" most Friday evenings and is a delight to talk to.
Time and space has ran out.......Send me your emails and until next week......Ray