Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Blackboard


I remember that we got our blackboard from the old one-room schoolhouse that Lucy Crotty had bought out past Northeast. Before she had it remolded she told the family that anyone who wanted a blackboard could go out and get one. So one summer evening after supper we went out to pick one out and bring it home. I guess uncle Mike also went because Nancy also had one in her back shed. Anyway, it would have taken two guys to remove them from the wall and carry them to the car. I wonder how they fit them into a car.


Dad put our blackboard on the kitchen wall, but before he could do that he had to cut a couple of inches off the side of it. He used hacksaw blades and it took quite a while.


Tommy remembers that sometimes we would run our fingernails down the board to entertain anyone that needed entertaining. He also remembers playing a lot of tic-tac-toe, and that we'd use the chalk until there was nothing left.


I remember writing at the top "57 days till Christmas", and then changing the number each day.

Also, sometimes Nancy would drop-in for a short visit, and on her way out the door she would write her full name - always on a 45 degree slant.


For a number of years, mom would draw a Santa on the board. No one would put anything else on the board at this time. Nancy remembers lining up chairs in her back shed and playing school with her board.


Our blackboard in now in Julie's garage in Katy, Texas.