My Hometown
Burley Idaho
by
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My
Birthing
The year was 1937 and a major war was in the developing stages. Naturally I knew nothing about the problems that our country was facing and in fact the entire globe itself was on the brink of major destruction and conquests. I don’t recall my mother nor my grandparents discussing the war but of course I was somewhat below the age of any sort of reason and understanding. As my dad was absent at the time in our lives, my prime role model was done magnificently by my dear mother Rita along with ‘Nanny” and “Papa” Pence. We all lived on
Many great memories of chicken plucking and I do remember them so well with Papa Pence bringing a gunny sack to our home with fresh chickens doing the chicken last dance inside a gunny sack. Out would come the handy dandy single bladed axe and a previously bloodied board which would do the honors. In those times we didn’t have the pleasure of dropping over to the local super market and selecting an already cut, skinned, boned, and plastic wrapped morsel for dinner. The unlucky birds were pulled out of the bag one at a time and placed neck down on the sacrificial board and whamo, the bird would exit the scene running around like a ‘chicken with his head off’. It was not a pleasant site but somehow the experience didn’t turn me into some kind of psyco maniac. So much for those good ole days ladies. But that was what we did.
We didn’t have home freezers in those days and I remember the trips to the local freezer boxes owned by Mr. Thornton located next to the Burley Elks club. As various vegetables were prepared and packaged along with occasional meat items, we would venture into that most scary scene and push the mysterious plunger door opening. Entering the insides was a surreal experience and the cold was awful. But most of all was the continuous fear that I might be trapped inside with no way to open that door. Some of my favorite ‘butchered’ items had to be the salt pork bacon and that home made sausage. At that time high cholesterol and triglycerides hadn’t been invented.
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About the Book
PREFACE
I have been blessed with a very wonderful and uncomplicated childhood. My parents and family members were normal, my schooling was the best, and the people whom I associated with during those years were the best. I had role models and they shaped not only the course that our little farm town was taking but the course that I was also taking.
I have so many memories of growing up and lucky for me my mind still can recall most of them. Perhaps some of my spelling is in error and the names of some of the spouses may be fuzzy. I want the reader to go back with me to those simple times when all seemed so easy. Revisit some of the stores in their grandeur. Now, many are absent and more and more empty rooms with paper covered glass windows are all that remain. Times change and cities change. But not so their soul and heart.
I have tried to include as many names as I can recall in hopes that some will return back in time to recount some of their special memories. I am sure that they do exist. I have touched on some political concerns of mine and hope that they are taken in the light of good humor which I intended. For the new people, I hope that they can return to the early days and appreciate more and more of our little town.
Some folks will be left out and yet in my heart and mind they are still there.
The literary style, if there is any, is bouncy but that is the way my mind works. Pulitzer can’t be right all of the time. (Oh my, was there a Pulitzer living in Burley that I forgot?)
I have purposely omitted many people who might be nearer my age and generation. These people count but I wanted to speak to those early days in Burley
About the Author
Robert Bailey Lee Carmody spent his entire growing up period in Burley with his family on both sides who were solid Burley. Early he became acquainted with many of the then city fathers who became icons for him while growing up in Burley. A grandfather Thomas Bailey Lee senior became a Chief Justice of the Idaho Supreme Court. His fathers were involved in World War II; one, captured on the