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had cracks in the base, and great plumes of coal smoke would permeate the air from time to time. This could be helped along when some of the more brazen fellows would slip 22-caliber shells in with the coal and wait for the eventual popping sounds to begin.

Recess and noon breaks were game times. When the weather permitted games of tag, leap ball, red rover, bull-in- the-ring, red light and other similar activities were marked by the happy sounds of boys and girls having lots of fun. Winter brought snowball fights, fort building, coasting, and of course, crossing the field on the other side of the road to skate on the “big pond.” We spent many hours of healthy outdoor activity there after school until we were called home for supper. Older teens