Muscatine

LJ:  That field on Lucas was "Fletcher field" to us.  We also called a makeshift diamond in the cemetery property on Fletcher St. (just across from Bridgeman) "Fletcher field".  So, to us, there were 2 Fletcher fields. 

Most of the time we played in the mid to late 50's on the one on Lucas.  It was in the cemetery property just across from where Climer meets Lucas.  At that time it had a big wooden billboard there.  Next to it was George Stycks gas station (where the insurance office is now).  Next to that in the current 2 story building was Foster's Market.  

I remember Bob Feller coming to town in the 50's.   Went downtown to the sporting goods store (Carlisle's?) to see him.  He gave us autographed baseballs.  We took them home and played with them!  Remember playing with old worn baseballs and softballs with the leather cover worn off.  We used to use black electricians tape and cover them up to keep them from unraveling.

 Across from Fletcher field was Richmand's grocery.  He later became a Chiropractor and turned it into his Chiro office.   We used to play some all-day ball games there.  I think we used to ignore the score after awhile.  I remember getting into fights over those games, but the next day we would all be back and play again.

I think some of the grown-ups tried to organize leagues for a couple of summers and the different neighborhoods would play each other.  We'd then go to other neighborhood fields to play like Musser park, Iowa field, etc.   I can't remember going out to East Hill to play?  Maybe at Weed Park?

Remember Eversmeyer's pond?  Did you ever give in to 'meanness" and put a rock inside a snowball?

I do remember fishing in the slough.   We used to ride our bikes out to Lowe Run (way out Lucas)to play in the crick.  Those streams were always "cricks" to us ("creeks" was a sissy word).  

By the way do you know that Lucas St. was called Lucas Grove Rd. out past where Houser intersects now?  Or maybe it was before that intersection? 

Anybody remember:

White Elephant hamburgers

Sandy's hamburgers

Bob's Tavern

Mac's Bargain Mart

Chocolate Shop

Blueberry Pie at the original Maidrite

Fun night

The Rocking Chair that never stopped rocking

Wrestling matches on the riverfront

Roller skate tent on the riverfront

River ferry

Moose Farm

Hahnbaum's  Market

Hill's Corner Market

Harry's Tap

Excursion Boats

Knott's Second hand store

Buckeye fights

Spin the Bottle

Just some of the memories I have and I am sure there are many more.

Okay, since I'm not a native....what's the rocking chair that never stopped rocking?

I can remember going to see this rocking chair that never stopped rocking.  I don't know if it was a hoax, but as a kid I believed it.  If I remember right, it was in a private home and you had to pay the owner to see the chair.  hahahaha No kidding!!  Too weird to have dreamt it up.

I also remember going to see a guy buried alive with air hoses to the box he was in.  He was supposed to be hypnotized.  There were lights so you could look down this pipe and see him.  I think this was at the river front.   I had a weird dad who took me to these places.  I have to admit, that  chair really gave me the creeps for a long time. I think they claimed it was haunted by  a previous rocker.  No, not rocker rocker, but rocker.