Clay Hill

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David
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Location: Hamlet, NC
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Clay Hill

Post by David »

Clay Hill
by Russ Lancaster

If you know of or can remember a place that had the ability to draw entire families together and was totally free of charge, thee you know of a place like Clay Hill. The hill was steep and ran down at it's steepest between Minturn Avenue and Jefferson Street, then a slight dip, and down it went again all the way to the brush that separated the dead end of the road from the railroad tracks below. It was a dirt road in the fifties when I remember it best and lost only a bit of its personality when paved during the sixties.
Clay Hill sat there with its few middle class families all year long but in the winter, when snow would come, it became the focal point for all the families in the area. You see, it was the absolute best place in town to gather when snow had closed schools and businesses. It was the best bill in town to sled down or to ride cardboard boxes, inner tubes, trash can lids or whatever. No one cared what you used to make your way down the hill, I even saw a skier or two try it in my time.
The best time to be there was after dark when 50 gallon drums were filled with firewood for warmth and light at the top and bottom of the hill and even at the Jefferson Street midsection between. Hamlet fire and rescue teams were on hand to help the injured and to enjoy the excitement themselves.
Moms and Dads brought sons and daughters, teenagers brought their girlflrends, boyfriends or just themselves. Neighbors brought out hot chocolate and marshmallows, there would be singing of folk songs and carols, tales of daredevils from the past and their downhill escapades. Brothers and sisters watched out for each other. It was a grand old time for all.
There are probably hundreds of other small towns with their own little private "Clay Hills" that we don't know about, but those of us who had the pleasure of living in Hamlet in those times will never forget those snowy nights and the spirit of friendship that lived on Clay Hill. Yes, I remember Clay Hill ... and I Remember Hamlet...


Clay Hill 3-11-1960 OH.jpg
Clay Hill 3-11-1960 OH.jpg (587.49 KiB) Viewed 2468 times
Clay Hill 2-7-1961 OH.jpg
Clay Hill 2-7-1961 OH.jpg (364.54 KiB) Viewed 2468 times
1-28-1966 Clay Hill OH.jpg
1-28-1966 Clay Hill OH.jpg (275.56 KiB) Viewed 2468 times
1-31-1966 Clay Hill OH.jpg
1-31-1966 Clay Hill OH.jpg (280.18 KiB) Viewed 2468 times
1966 Clay Hill OH.jpg
1966 Clay Hill OH.jpg (411.16 KiB) Viewed 2468 times
1967 Clay Hill OH.jpg
1967 Clay Hill OH.jpg (217.53 KiB) Viewed 2468 times
1968 Clay Hill OH.jpg
1968 Clay Hill OH.jpg (291.14 KiB) Viewed 2468 times
1968 Clay Hill 2 OH.jpg
1968 Clay Hill 2 OH.jpg (231.93 KiB) Viewed 2468 times
1980 Clay Hill OH.jpg
1980 Clay Hill OH.jpg (250.21 KiB) Viewed 2468 times
1980 Clay Hill 2 OH.jpg
1980 Clay Hill 2 OH.jpg (185.3 KiB) Viewed 2468 times
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