EARLY SCRAPES

When asked what was difficult about running his Don's Carry-out business, Don did not hesitate to cite some problems he encountered when he took over the store from his maternal grandparents, Ellis and Ethel Glardon.

Don had been told by his grandfather that he knew some locals had been stealing from him; however, he could not catch them in the act. So, when Don took over the store, he was on the look-out.

Soon, the guilty parties learned that, as the saying goes, "there was a new sheriff in town."

Don caught a couple of the scoundrels in the act of theft and confronted them - which put a stop to that practice ... but, not without a few "scrapes" - to use Don's word.

One individual was escorted out of the store in a manner that resulted in some damage to the store's screen door.  

HALLOWEEN AND TWO CHOICES

Back in the middle of the last century, many houses in Darrtown lacked indoor plumbing, which meant that outhouses were a common feature of the village landscape. Unfortunately, for the homeowners, the outhouses, which were taller than they were wide, were susceptible to being rather easily tipped over - usually, on October 31st ... aka Halloween!  

Don shared an incident that involved two groups of teenage boys and one upset village resident ... in the person of Constable Owen Kelly.

On this particular Halloween, after darkness fell across the village, unbeknownst to each other, the two groups of boys took to the streets and alleys of Darrtown looking for outhouses that had not been anchored to the ground. Keep in mind, that neither group knew about the presence of the other.

One group, of which Don has personal knowledge, wandered into the vicinity of Constable Kelly's residence on West Oxford Street and quickly learned that the Kelly outhouse was already on its side. As the condition of the outhouse was registering with the boy, Constable Kelly appeared out of the darkness and confronted them in an less-than-pleased manner. The youngsters immediately tried to explain that they had just arrived at the scene of the crime and that some other kids must have tipped over the Kelly outhouse.

Despite their claims of innocence, the village lawman, drawing upon his native New England brusqueness, informed the boys that they had two choices: put his outhouse in the upright position where it belonged ... or go to jail.

And, thus, the boys in the second group quickly transitioned from juvenile miscreants to good Samaritans, by righting a wrong - that they might have committed themselves - had not the other group of wayward lads beaten them to it.

After the Kelly outhouse was back in its upright position, the boys decided to halt their Halloween hijinks and headed back to their cars - which they had parked at the outskirts of town - somewhat disappointed; but happy that they had avoided the threat of jail time.

JOE MCDADE - AKA, "PONY JOE"

Through the years, Darrtown and vicinity has had a lot of memorable "characters." People who are remembered fondly for the charisma of their personalities, eccentricities, habits, etc.

Don Beckett has known lots of people from in and around Darrtown, in his 50-plus years of running Don's Carry-Out. Interestingly, in this June 2021 phone interview, Don was quick to mention memories of "Pony Joe" McDade, who lived with other McDade family members on a farm at 2151 Scott Road, about two miles east of Darrtown.

Typically, Joe traveled between home and Darrtown and back, via a pony-cart, powered by one or two ponies. Don said Joe's usual purchase at the carry-out consisted of 12 bottles of Wiedemann's beer.

Don recalls that Joe's ponies were named "Bones" and "Old Yeller." While in town, visiting at Don's Carry-Out, the Hitching Post, or the village garage, "Pony Joe" would tie his ponies to a sturdy post or tree. On occasion, while Joe was engaged in conversation and/or consumption of some liquid pleasures, the ponies would get loose and head home, back to their stable on the Scott Road farm, leaving their owner stranded in Darrtown.

Webmaster note: Joe McDade can be seen in two photos on this website.

Click the following links to open two "Snapshot" pages.

When the pages open, please scroll to these images:

1. Joe and one of his ponies hitched to a cart.

2. Joe sitting with other men at McVicker's Garage.

OTHER DON BECKETT RECOLLECTIONS...

If Don shared any other recollections, they will be added here...