David 'Dave' Brinkerhoff

Posted on: Aug 17, 2024 at 1:33 AM

Posted on: Mar 14, 2024 at 9:53 PM

Dave Brinkerhoff shared the following:

I went to Vicky Elementary School from 1953 until 1956. Previously, I had gone to Mt. George Elementary School for 1st and 2nd grade; and then they built Vicky which was only a mile from my house. Vicky Springs and Briles Corner were closer. I spent many summers at the Vicky Springs pool, mainly playing the Pin Ball machines inside the Snack Bar since I didn’t swim in those days. I dropped a lot of coins in those machines in those days. I can’t remember if they cost a nickel or dime to play each time, but after a while when I got good on them, I got a lot of free games.

I wasn’t alone there most days, as my partner in crime was my best friend in those days: Gary Wilson. I got most of my money to play from turning in soda bottles we found on the road; or I would lift change from my Dad’s dresser (BAD DAVE) when he wasn’t looking.

Speaking of Briles Corner, which was a gas station and small grocery store and a lunch counter too, it was across the street from the Vicky Springs Pool. Mrs. Briles made the best burgers with fries plate, which I would order whenever I could raise the money to pay for it. She was great cook and I would sit on those tall stools and happily eat my burger after school. She got to know me, and even gave me a free burger once in a while out of the goodness of her heart.

I used to walk home from school in those days instead of taking the school bus (the
Old Atlas Peak Mule as we called it). It was only a mile walk with my friend.

Gary lived with his grandparents up the road from me about a quarter of a mile. Of course as boys of that age, we use to get into some trouble along the way at times. I remember stopping by Milliken Creek and playing there for a while, and teasing the Black Angus cattle that lived in the pasture along the way home -- which is now The Silverado Country Club. Clyde Owen lived along the way too.

I remember on the day we got out of the 6th grade (which was a half day). Gary and I went up to his house and then we went down to the prune orchard next door to play with some matches we stole from his grandmother's kitchen. At first, we were setting off some firecrackers which Gary had gotten, and then after a while we got bored. So Gary said to me: "I dare you to light that field on fire" -- which was the lower fields of his grandmother’s place (which was about 40 acres), which had high dry grass on a very windy day next to the prune orchard. I said, “No way.” Then he double-dared me, and me like an idiot, took a match and went over to the field and lit one and threw it into the grass. POOF! It went up like a forest fire. I said to Gary, “I lit it, you put it out”. He yelled “What did you do?" We both ran over and tried stomping it out; but it was too much for us so we ran to up his Grandmother's house and ran in and he yelled that I had started the field on fire; and she called the Forestry Department which came out and put it out after it had burned about two acres. The firemen were real nice and had a box of cherries that they shared with us. We told them that we saw a car drive by on the road (Hardman Avenue) and throw a cigarette out of the car into the field. They bought our story. I had to calm Gary down by this time, and he went along with the story. Forestry never talked with Gary's Grandmother, as she wasn’t feeling well and had gone to bed.

I caught hell when I got home because the sandals, which my Mom had bought me the week before, were ruined because they were all black and burnt from the fire. I confessed, and really got it from my Dad after he got home from work. Gary’s Grandmother called my Dad . . .

I have lots of memories of those days . . .

Posted on: Aug 17, 2023 at 1:33 AM

Hi Max, haven,t thought about you in many years. Welcome aboard the old timers pages. I hope you and your loved ones are well and happy.