Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Cauley Memorial



The Cauley Memorial was built in 1957 the year after I graduated from St. Patrick's School. Parishioners made a pledge towards it's construction, and would then make monthly payments as I remember mom and dad doing.

Uncle Harry used to coach basketball, and his sons David and Billy (aka Bumpy), and cousin Mike R. played when they went to St. Patrick's. I know that they had championship teams, but I don't know any details.


When Tommy and I were in high school we would go with our friend Joe to the Friday night record hops. Father Plunkett hired us to clean up afterwards, so we got in for nothing. After we finished he would sometime drive us home in his Imperial. It seemed his car just glided over 4th Street which was brick between German and Parade.

We used to watch wrestling on TV around 6 PM on Saturdays. We liked to see the Gallagher Brothers, the Miller Brothers and Bobo Brazil who was famous for his "coco butt". One time the Gallagher Brothers wrestled at the Cauley. We peeked in and saw them as we couldn't afford to buy a ticket.

The famous rhythm and blues/rock and roll group, the Coasters, also performed at the Cauley. I remember that they each drove up in their own Cadillac. Again, we couldn't afford to buy a ticket, so we missed the show.

In the 80's the church had an October fest. They would show movie clips of horse races and you could place a bet on each race. Then there were the St. Patrick's Day dinners. I think Barb and I went about three times with mom and dad.

Recently the Cauley was sold to Erie Insurance.