Hey Linda,
I doubt this is what you are referring to, but Dave (I think Dave was there??), John and I built a "tree fort" on the Laurence (lawrence??) property that was so high we were basically afraid to go up into it. I remember hanging from the tree using two belts strung together to place the first boards. It was insane! I don't remember where we got all the wood, but I remember confiscating some of it from my dads garage. I doubt I told him about it! :)
Also, I have gotten great mileage over the years sharing exploits from the "Rat Barn".
I have enjoyed reading the accounts written by names I have only heard over the years. I moved onto Greenvalley long after some of you were gone. But that being said, even being a late comer, my life was deeply affected by the time spent there and the life long friends (and spouses) made. :)
Blessings to you all.
Bill Little
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Who could ever forget the Rat Barn? No one who was ever there. Though I have never shared stories of that with my son, he has had enough crazy ideas without adding to them. (Like Rule # 217: If you throw rocks at a wasp's nest, remember to run away fast.)
ReplyDeleteI was also remembering hiking though those glorious woods in the winter, near the creek that ran onto the Hodel's property. We gave names to all the tree-bridges that had fallen across the creek. Does Five Bridges sound familiar?
-Meagan
Meagan, it was so cool to see your name pop up onto my computer. The last time I saw you personal computers did not exist... let along email, blogs...
ReplyDeleteBill Little
OK, the Big Sister is being shocked by these references to the Rat Barn. I never heard about that! I guess Trish and I were much more sedate than you guys were. Or maybe less far ranging. Or more far ranging in a different direction. (Over to Janice's house.) In any event, as one of the founders of the Mauria (I think it was) Mystery Club, let me apologize to Nancy for her unfair treatment at the time of admission.
ReplyDeleteActually, Meagan, I think I do remember 5 Bridges. Joanne's comments about leaving stone markers so someone could find us also brought some smiles...we were so serious, and so naive, and having so much fun.
-Wendy
I'd completely forgotten about 5 bridges, but you're right!
ReplyDelete-Ellen
I suspect the "Rat Barn" was not officially designated or "discovered" until the late 60's or early 70's. Dare I say "after your time Wendy." :)
ReplyDeleteBill Little
My most memorable event in the Rat Barn was being there (with Shelley, John, and Doug Walter?) and opening that door on the second level, only to realize it opened to sheer air. We could have all tumbled to broken necks.
ReplyDelete-Nancy
The Rat Barn was the thrilling destination of many adventures. (For those of you among the founding generation it was the stables behind a large farm house on Middle Road; you could see it a half-mile or so from Farmview Hill during baseball games when someone else was looking for the lost ball ...) Anyway, because of a large amount of horse feed stored in the ground floor it had a thriving population of field rats that would skitter along the edges of the big rooms when we burst in, armed with hockey sticks and BB guns for hunting. We never actually killed any (right Bill and David?) but I remember being trapped in an upstairs room with Bill Little, David Seidel, a baseball bat and KING RAT.
ReplyDeleteJohn Chesley [formerly of the Aruffos' house]
The rats were so huge - big as cats. We caught them in large game traps. Often they would chew off their leg to get away. John earned the name "Pressed Rat" by closing himself in a closet armed with only a baseball bat to do battle with the infamous "King Rat".
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ReplyDeleteMemories of Green Valley Drive from Doug Walter.
ReplyDeleteI remember when Bill Little dropped his Dad's handsaw out of the huge treehouse in Lawrence Estate. The handle broke, so we rubbed dirt on the end and put it back....hoping his Dad would never know...
also, we took turns reading Portney's Complaint up in the treehouse.