I opened my back door one day last week and found a “Dog Day Cicada” on the step. My first thought was that it was announcing six weeks until the first frost- but this guy wasn’t “tooting” its horn – yet.

It set me to thinking that these are the “lazy, hazy days of summer,” the mid-way point – school begins next month, which sets in motion all the activities that go with it. But I like to ponder the days of my youth when those leisure days meant taking a break from the farm chores to read a book from the library- borrowed under the watchful eye of

Librarian Gertrude Mack. I loved reading it while stretched across my bed in front of the window in my upstairs bedroom with the cooling breeze floating over me. Other reading choices included the latest “Modern Screen,” or “Superman” comic book – I loved variety.

Leisure time Sunday afternoons included playing croquet with my great uncle my father and sisters with the wicks set up in the barnyard. Then we made ice cream in a hand stirred freezer – hmmm-good.

The taste of that ice cream on those beaters could never be matched. In the evening my sisters and I would catch fireflies and keep them in a glass jar- watching them light up the jar – eventually freeing them – we would play games- such as Grey Woolie – after the sun set. What fun.

During the week days when it was threshing time- and as I noted earlier I was fortunate to experience those days for just a few years before contracted combining became the thing. We each had our assigned task as we did when hay was cut and placed in the hay mow. These tasks were completed during the hottest summer days.

Looking at old photos of my female ancestors, great grandmother and neighbors – garbed in long dresses and realizing they were cooking for threshers in hot kitchens – no fans, AC, I still marvel at how they did that.

Fast forward, “lazy, hazy days of summer” while raising my family meant taking the boys to the State Park to fish, or swim at Lake Erie or Pleasant Hill Dam, picnics at different parks- or just Sunday afternoon walks around town.

Nostalgia washes over me- for those times in my life that now give me a sense of peace but some longing “for the good old days.” Just remember, those Cicadas will soon, if they haven’t already, announce the next season of our lives in 2016.

July of 1926

The Alum Creek School had petitioned to become part of the Peru Rural District. No action was taken by the country board of education whose president was R. F Mosher.

Popular song in July, 1926 “Am I Wasting my Time on You?”

July of 1966

John T. Sweeney was to open his office at 26 South Main Street, Mount Gilead, for the practice of general surgery.

Morrow County’s unemployment rate was 2.2 percent HPM gave five $500 scholarships: Vicki Ashbrook, David Frayer, Patricia Effland, Margo Lamson and Paul (Max) Heimlich

Popular song in July, 1966 was “Sunny” by Bobby Hebb

July of 1986

An earthquake had been felt in Morrow County. Its epicenter was near St. Marys .

Pictured was the interior of an ambulance-hearse designed b Walter E Long in 1941 for the Curl Funeral Home. A Hudson automobile provided the body for the vehicle.

Popular song in July, 1986 was “That’s What Friends Are For.”

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By Evelyn Long

The Sentinel

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