1 remember when Mr. Rob Stevens had 
the Ford dealership where Caroline's
Comer is now located. He also owned
Steven's Funeral Home across from the old
R. E. Lee High School. Mr. Stevens had a
part-time employee named "Uncle Johnny
Barker." He would walk the streets all of
the time getting to know the people. The
story goes that when he found someone
sick, he would visit them. If someone was
in very critical condition, he'd stay the
night. When the person passed away, he'd
recommend Stevens Funeral Home.

I remember when, during World War II,
there was a gas shortage and everyone was
encouraged to ride bicycles. It became so
popular that the city and county officials
sponsored a bicycle parade. It started on
the Courthouse Square, went down
Bamesville Street, onto Mill Avenue, North
Main, County Road, up 5th Avenue to
Goodrich Avenue where the traffic light is
now, and then back to the Square. This was
one more big event. It was estimated that
500 bicycles were in the parade.

I remember when Mr. Albert Matthews
had an alligator pond behind the Old Mill.
All of us kids loved to visit it. Sometimes,
people who had cats and dogs they no
longer wanted would bring them to this
pond. They would throw the animals over
the fence and the alligators would eat them.
The best I can remember, there were about
six alligators. To this day, I have never
learned the purpose of the alligator pond.
[Editors note: others who remember the
pond tell how sometime parents would say
to misbehaving children, "The alligators
will get you."]

I remember when East Thomaston had
a jail. A tragic event happened. The police
force was one man, riding a horse, whom
everyone called "Uncle Jack Moore." One
day Uncle Jack arrested his own son for
drunkenness. While in jail the boy set it on
fire and thus ended his own life.