From our Oral History Project
Reminiscing with... Marjorie (Slipp) Tuckerman
Growing Up in Killingworth
I grew up on Roast Meat Hill at the "Harris Place." We lived with my grandfather, I. B. Harris, and my grandma, Pena Heser Harris. My mom was Leeda Harris Slipp and my dad, K. Wayne Slipp.
The Welding Shop was my dad's business and my Grandpa Harris ran the hardware store. Both businesses were on the property. My grandpa also had a sawmill "over back" of the property.
I loved to walk over in the fields (over back) and down into the woods. The woods road went all the way to Route 81. Of course I didn't go alone when I was little; I always had a friend with me...either Peggy Walton (Kinne) or Evelene Nash (Rabou).
The Nash family lived two houses up Roast Meat Hill and they had horses, which I thought was the best thing ever. I wanted a horse so badly, but every year I would get sheep to care for or a calf to raise. I had a dog named Trigger that I taught to "ground drive!!" I loved them, and got credit with 4-H for raising them, but what I wanted most of all was a horse!!
When I turned 13, my parents gave up hoping I would outgrow the "horse phase" and got me a little Morgan gelding named Beauty. Then I could ride bareback in the fields and explore the woods on horseback! I was in heaven!!
Then, the summer between 8th grade and high school at Morgan, Dorie Leekley (Clarke) moved into the Canby's house next to Pete and Gertrude Marcinek, and she had a horse she was keeping at Pete's! We became fast friends and rode all over the place together. Sometimes venturing to places that were "no trespassing" but causing no one any trouble and enjoying ourselves thoroughly!
Our parents never worried about us, although we, of course, had no cell phones and never told our parents more than we were meeting up somewhere. They just knew we were together and "going riding" after school.
Looking back, what a wonderful freedom we had with our horses enjoying the great out of doors! No worries!!
A wonderful way to spend one's childhood!
The Welding Shop was my dad's business and my Grandpa Harris ran the hardware store. Both businesses were on the property. My grandpa also had a sawmill "over back" of the property.
I loved to walk over in the fields (over back) and down into the woods. The woods road went all the way to Route 81. Of course I didn't go alone when I was little; I always had a friend with me...either Peggy Walton (Kinne) or Evelene Nash (Rabou).
The Nash family lived two houses up Roast Meat Hill and they had horses, which I thought was the best thing ever. I wanted a horse so badly, but every year I would get sheep to care for or a calf to raise. I had a dog named Trigger that I taught to "ground drive!!" I loved them, and got credit with 4-H for raising them, but what I wanted most of all was a horse!!
When I turned 13, my parents gave up hoping I would outgrow the "horse phase" and got me a little Morgan gelding named Beauty. Then I could ride bareback in the fields and explore the woods on horseback! I was in heaven!!
Then, the summer between 8th grade and high school at Morgan, Dorie Leekley (Clarke) moved into the Canby's house next to Pete and Gertrude Marcinek, and she had a horse she was keeping at Pete's! We became fast friends and rode all over the place together. Sometimes venturing to places that were "no trespassing" but causing no one any trouble and enjoying ourselves thoroughly!
Our parents never worried about us, although we, of course, had no cell phones and never told our parents more than we were meeting up somewhere. They just knew we were together and "going riding" after school.
Looking back, what a wonderful freedom we had with our horses enjoying the great out of doors! No worries!!
A wonderful way to spend one's childhood!