Smallwood

Page 1     Page 2     Page 3     Page 4     Page 5     Page 6     Page 7     Page 8     Page 9     Page 10

A Fond Salute to
Otto and His Station

By Deane Heinz

If you were lucky enough (as a kid) to spend the summer in a place called Smallwood, N.Y., you had to know "Otto's Gas Station." One of the high- lights of summer nights would be to meet at the beach and then take a walk over to Otto's. The walk was about a mile, but, somehow, it always seemed too short.

When we arrived at the gas station we would rush up to the soda machine, put our money in, and a bottle of soda, dripping of ice would shoot out.

After that we would go in to say "Hello" to Otto still working on some-one's car.

It was always nice knowing that he would be there when we got there. I'm sure our parents thought so too!

We would buy some chips to munch with the soda and sit under the gas  pump lights (filled with hundreds of bugs) but... we had other things on our minds.

Many a young romance started (or) ended, on the way to and from Otto's ... sometimes even on the same night. Many a 'first kiss' was shared - and also special secrets NEVER to be revealed to a single soul.

The other night when I was preparing dinner, my daughter, Jennifer, 10 years of age, asked, "Mom, may I walk over to Otto's with the kids?" For a second I was back at the beach with my friends, headed toward Otto's.

I want to let Otto Schwamberger of Smallwood, N.Y., know how much "us kids" appreciated him in the "in between" years of our "growing up," for giving us a place we could go to and feel welcomed.

Thank you, Otto, for putting up with us!

This page has been visited

times

 Designed by Alexander Pereluka - "Orion Service"