Big Freeze in BG

by Tim Campbell · first published 16 January 2018 · his original post

This photograph documents perhaps the only game of ice hockey played in Blooming Grove as of yet. I believe this photo is from a collection of photographs that belonged to Ruth Ramsey and was taken in Blooming Grove in the late 1920s or early 1930s. The tank/pond may be the one that at one time was located near where the current baseball complex is. I remember it having somewhat of an island like the one pictured.

My father, Thomas Edgar Campbell, (in the next 2 photos) grew up in the Gradyville area or Old Town as folks called it, and remembered the winter when all the ponds froze over. He remembered walking out his front door one morning to see that the snow was so deep it looked like the family mailbox was laying on top of the ground. He tried to lick snow off a metal wagon wheel that day and his tongue stuck to it, which was not exactly a pleasant experence and should not be tried at home.

The 5th photo shows another snowfall at the home where Dad grew up in Old Town, built by his parents, Thomas M. Campbell and Etta Owens Campbell. This photo is circa 1940s. The house was torn down or moved in the 1950s. The old barn out back burned down when some local boys were smoking in it and caught it on fire.

In the 6th photo circa 1965, I am standing at age 4 years old, maybe 5, in our back yard in BG. In the background you can see the original BG football field including the goal line marker which hung on the fence, the "H" style goalpost (these were built by the FFA boys), and the visitor's bleachers which were made of concrete. The home and visitors dressing rooms were underneath the bleachers in back. On my waist is a real U.S. Army issued canteen which my father bought for me at an Army Navy Surplus Store. I'm sure I was on some sort of adventure, perhaps a wolf hunt or fighting the Axis of Evil.

And in the last photo is Sir Austin Campbell, about 2003 at our place south of Barry.