By Ray Collet

Hello Readers, My email bag this week contained a nice letter from Harriet Frady Dsouza. " I remember a lot of good things about Rockwood. The one thing that stands out in my mind, is the snow on Rockwood Mountain, "What a view!". My Mom died back in 1978, her name was Mary Mae Frady. Rockwood being a small town, there were a lot of friendly people there. I remember "Live and Let Live Drug Store, Booth's Funeral Home, and the hospital where I was born, and good old BlackHollow where my grandmother lived. I still have aunts and uncles and cousins who still live there, my older brother and sister lives in Kingston. I have a lot of good memories of Rockwood growing up there, and even though I moved to Florida, Rockwood is still in my country heart. Thank you for my time about Rockwood." Thank YOU Harriet. I am sure a lot of readers will remember you.
An advertisement in December 8, 1951 Rockwood Times caught my eye. Here is what it said. TELEVISION
Can now be received in Rockwood. WSB-TV in Atlanta now
has 50,000 watts and has the best NBC TV programs. It can
be received in most locations in Rockwood, but needs good equipment
and special installation to be extra good. For more information from one
who has been experimenting for over 2 years with his own TV set call
FRANK'S RADIO SERVICE PHONE 77 S.FRONT ST.
I remember Mr. Holloway very well. Let's dig on down in the mail bag from 1953 and 1954. This is what fell out of Santa's mail bag... Nov. 27, 1953

Dear Santa, I am a little boy 7 years old. I am in the 2nd grade. Please bring me a watch,
farm set, stethoscope, reels, punching bag, boxing gloves, cowboy hat and a Roy Rogers two gun and holster set, Your little boy.........Harold Holloway

Dear Santa, I am a little girl 6 years old and go to school everyday and I try very much to be good and I have a little sister 2 1/2 and she is very good too. So we are not asking for too much for Christmas but we would like for you to bring us a doll and doll buggy, and a set of dishes, plenty of nuts, fruits, and candy. Don't forget the other boys and girls. Your little girls, Shirley June and Vickie Lynn Warner

Dear Santa, I am a little boy 8 years old and I am in the 3rd grade. Santa I want you to bring me a Roy Rogers two gun holster set, punching bag and anything else you want to bring me. And Santa, don't forget my little niece Sandra Kay Stone, this is her first Christmas. Good-bye Santa, I am your little boy. Butch Phillips

And Dec 23, 1954 brings these two letters. "Dear Santa, My Mom is writing this letter for me. I am 4 years old. Please bring me a doll and a stove and my brother Paul a teddy bear and truck. Your little girl and boy, Lois Ann and Paul McCuiston

Dear Santa, I am ten years old and in the 5th grade. I want a View Master. Here is the kind of films I want, Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Snow White, 3 Little Pigs, and Donald Duck. I want fruit, candy and anything else. Don't forget my sister and two brothers. Please don't forget the other boys and girls, with love, David McCuiston.

I wonder if "Ole Santa" answered those letters? I bet he did. Almost everyone, I mean most all of us, asked for apples, oranges, candy and nuts. And we always thought of the "other boys and girls."
Someone asked the other day if I know what the highest scoring game in Rockwood's football history was. Here it is, October 26, 1932, "For the first time in Roane County football history, the century mark was reached. Rockwood humiliated Coalfield at home in Rockwood, 105 to 6. Leading Rockwood's attack was John Sartin who tallied three touchdowns. Other outstanding players were, Seward, McCluen, Abels, B. Barnard, E. Barnard, Orr, King, Earl and Ed Sartin, Fulks, and Poston. Sorry, but I can't recall any of their first names, I missed that game.
Another business now has my book, "Rockwood Memories" on sale in time for Christmas. Live and Let Live Drug Store in addition to "Shacks, O'Those Were The Days Antiques, and Yonder Hollow all have a supply. Or you can call me at (865) 354-7680
Until next week, Ray