Bruce's Tales


	OURHAMLET.ORG

		A place for you to share memories and information on the history and happenings of Hamlet, NC.

Hamlet Tales
by: Bruce Osburn

We thank Bruce for giving his approval to post his Tales.

Things Remembered

My memories are nothing more than fragments of information stored away somewhere in my brain. I don't have any control over them; they just pop up from time to time to remind me of what once was. Most are just snippets of information about an event and some are the result of merging several events into one longer memory. I'd be hard pressed to relate what happened just before or after one of my memories for I'd be able to recall only that part of an event that was unusual or - do I dare say it? - memorable. And, I confess, some of my memories still exist simply because I've told of them so often.

Some of my memories are of fun things; things that gave me pleasure. And then there are the sad memories; the ones that made people cry. Some events were insignificant and of no consequence while others had life-long effects on my behavior because the important things I remembered from my young years guided my behavior in my adult years.

I invite you to step back in time with me to an era when life seemed much less complicated, a time when families visited on Sundays because that's what kinfolk were supposed to do. There was no better way to keep in touch with brothers or sisters and aunts or uncles. Read one of my memories; maybe it'll remind you of your young years. And, who knows? - maybe you'll want to read more.

CONTACT

David
at
OurHamlet.org


The Old Swimming Hole	fun and near tragedy, ca 1950-51
Hanging out time	young years in Hamlet, 1948-53
Wild Man of Borneo	a terrifying day at the fair, ca. 1948
Buttercup Ice Cream	....was good! 1948-50
The Grape Tree	encounter in the woods, 1948-52
Our Pond	boats, frogs & snakes, 1948-53
Liles Lake	a fun place, 1948-52
Pansy Fetner	a school remembered, 1948-50
The School Bus Route	and kids I remember, 1948-53
The Lumberjacks	child labor? early summer 1952
Survival Skills	and useful info, 40s - 50s
Pig Tails	and copper pennies, early 50's
Drive-In Theaters	fun for the family, 1948-53
The Paratrooper	excitement from above, 1951
Guns Guns, part I	and more guns, 1948-53
Guns Guns, part II	and more guns, 1948-53
Lackey Street	where memories were made, '48-'53
Trains & Hobos	handouts & secret signs, '48 - '53
Our Neighbors	the Helton family, 1950-53
Uncle Richards' Farm	life as a sharecropper, 1950-51
Maxine	sweet voice of sadness, '40s - '50s
Radio & Uncle	2 quick tales, 40's - 50's
The Good Old Days	a myth exposed, 1944 - 1953
The High Hat Club	surprise in a booth, late 40s, 50s
The Boogerman	and other spooks, 1940s
The Matriarch	my Aunt Cecil, 1920's - 2001
Saturday Baths	in tubs & creeks, 1940s
Osborne	a community that was - 1910-60s
Visits to the Dentist	open wide, 1948-53
Hamlet Avenue School	games & a fool's errand, '50 - '53
Things that go bump in the night	and mysterious lights, 1950-52
Mischievous buddies	Aulton, Arlo & Bruce
Mom's sweet voice	would bring us home, 1948-53
Dangerous Playgrounds	and stupid experiments, 1948-53
School Bus Hi-Jinks	old number 10, 1948-53
Our House	cold nights & mashed toes, '48-'53
The little engine that could	failed inventions, 1949-52
Superstitions	and home remedies, 1948-53
Our Chevy Truck	faithful til the end, 1948-53
Santa Claus & Gene	don't tell the kids, 1943-44
Sally	not easily impressed, 1951-52
How I became invisible	the day the devil got me, 1943
Hog killing time	disturbing revelation, 1948-53
That old house	lured us kids, 1950-51
The hen doctor	where's them eggs? 1943
Sunday smokers & spitters	dibs on that butt, 1948-53
Mr. Knight	no slacker, he - 1948-53
Rockingham Railroad	a secret worth keeping, 1951
Harley Davidson	and treasure hunts, 1949-50
Roller Skates	and a prankster uncle, 1950
My 2 speed bicycle	quick change sprockets, 1950-52
Beverly	a generous girl, 1950
Too many hamsters	where'd they go? - 1950
Games we played	taking a flying leap, 40s-50s
Shooting Pool	one bag of collards, please - 1951
Copper Treasure	looks can be deceiving - 1952
A Southern Tradition	our legacy - 1948-53
Okra	my punishment - 1948
The Maintenance Man	My dad - 1948-50
Pig's Place	Penny bubble gum, 40's-50's
Trick or Treat	Bull Durham remembered - 1952
Visits to the Doctor	Emergencies only, 1948-53
Snakes I have known	and the sham cobra, 1948-53
Outhouses	Why 2 holes? 1943
Baby Sitting	and stinky diapers, 1951-53
T. Texas Tyler Brooks	Hupmobile and banjos, 1950-53
Party Favors	I'd rather have cake, 1950-51
Chewing Tobacco	don't forget to swallow... 1943
Black Beauty	the ebony venus, ca. 1952
Old Man Jim Patrick	My grandad, 1880-1959
Comic Books	bane or boon? 1948-52
Our Tractors	toys for the big boys, 1945-50
Red Bird's Fence	a shocking surprise, 1948-50
Things I remember	short anecdotes, 1943-1950s
Corporal Punishment	running in circles, late 40s, early 50s
Strickland's Place	at the forks, 1940s - 50s
A Country Church	Ghosts and more, 1943-44
Matches	and their several uses, 1950
Cottonmouth!	A close call, 1973
Making Donuts	Out in the cornfield, 1974
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts	A Carolina favorite, 1950s
Wild Hogs and screw worms	Waycross, Ga - 1955


	This Hamlet, NC site donated and maintained by David Lindsey