Dick Riffle Story Part II




I have had a request for pictures of the Rt.15 bridge over the Cowanesque River(NYS and Pa state line.at Lawrenceville) This person is especially interested in flood photos or those prior to 1941 . My e-mail address can be accessed by clicking on Kitty Pierce on the blog : then E-mail contact.




To continue Dick's story. The Frank Stuart farm was on the corner of Morgan Creek road and Smith road which went past the cemetery road to the eddy of the river. There was a black family who lived in the house just before the home of George Wood. The husband's name was North Roberts. They had a teenage son Robert. They were well liked in the community. North was the steam shovel operator for the town road crew. He himself told the following story. One day when North was on the shovel,Bob Weale and three year old son Marion stopped to talk to North. Marion was nicknamed "Red" because of the many freckles on his face. North asked "Red" to come on the shovel with him. While sitting on North's lap,"Red" turned and looked up into North's face and said,"Mr. Roberts ,you can't help being black can you,anymore than I can help having these "flyspecks "all over my face!" North thought it was hilarious and told everyone about it.


Next to the Methodist Church was the Alex Brown family. When I was about 14, I had gained the title of "checker champion"in the town. Checkers was played in Lee Buckley's store .Alex would sometimes challenge me to a game. He played what is called the "side game" I had learned that the "center " game was best. I would beat Alex several games and then let him win a game.


He would jump up and say loudly, "There! Its the last game that counts !" and he would not play me a game again for several weeks. If we were both in the store ,he would say ,"He's not so good! I beat him the last game we played!."


Note - The road pattern in this area was changed in 1953 when Rt. 15 was moved to the present location. Before 1953, Rt. 15 followed the river from the "rocks" to the present Lindley Bridge. (Kitty)


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