Does anyone remember CADDY MUSTARD ? (Scranton, Wilkes-Barre: house, theater, live)

[mingo9516]

Caddy was a real hobo who had family in Hanover Township. The last time I remember seeing him was back about 1960.

[thecoalman]

Don't remember him as it was before my time but this post reminded me of that guy(or possibly guys) on the wagon that used to sell pencils around public square in WB and over by Kmart and some of those other strip malls in Edwarsdville/Kingston. Must of had someone drive him there and drop him off, this was in the mid 70's.

[theatergypsy]

When I came here in 1975, there was a man who roamed the Wilkes-Barre downtown and he always wore a long, heavy coat - Summer and Winter. I realize he must have been homeless.

The other man I remember seeing wasn't homeless - I think he lived in Edwardsville or Plymouth and he used to ice skate at the rink in Wilkes-Barre. He called himself "Champ" and he was up in years in the late '70s, early '80s. What amazed me more than anything wasn't his excellent skating skills but the fact that he walked from his home to the rink!

I'd like to know more about this Caddy Mustard person, if anyone knows.

[mingo9516]

I remember the pencil sellers around Public Square in the late 50s. I suspect now that they were injured miners or ww2 vets.
As for the skater, if I remember correctly, my Dad told me he was once played semi pro hockey.
There has to be more of these people who need their stories told.
Thanks for the input.

[poconoproud]

Like my Uncle Cleet. Cletus Kaiser was his name and when he was a boy he contracted a sickness (scarlet fever, i believe) but afterward he always had the mind of a child.

He loved, loved, LOVED the firefighters and firetrucks near his home in Lee Park and he hung out there all the time, and would walk around Hanover and Lee Park all the time. The firemen let him walk in parades and everything.

If you ever had a talk with him, he would in all probability have told you that you were "a baldy, you're bald-headed" or something to that efffect. He liked to tease people that they were bald as much as he loved the fire station.

He was a sweet heart and I miss him.

[theatergypsy]

Certainly, the story of Pete Gray has been told before, but it bears repeating for all the younger people who never heard of the one-armed major league baseball player from Nanticoke.

Pete lost his right arm when he was only six, but adapted to being able to field the ball well enough that after spending time in the minors, he was picked up by the St. Louis Browns and had a rather respectable season before returning to the minors. If he had been able to handle the bat as well as he was able to field the ball, he would have stayed longer in the Bigs.

He ended up a curmudgeonly recluse and was lost in alcohol and gambling. I know his story because a friend, a budding reporter for a local paper, managed to get an interview with Pete after promising to focus on his career and not his life after baseball.

It's been almost 75 years since Pete played for St. Louis, and I think his story is inspirational for what he did, not what he became.

[mingo9516]

Now I remember Cleet. I forgot all about him. When I went to catechism classes at St Al's, early 60s, he was usually around and sometimes he and I would walk up to my uncles house up on Wyoming St. Cleet was a very kind person, knew everyone on the way up. I'm glad I knew him.

[poconoproud]

Originally Posted by mingo9516

Now I remember Cleet. I forgot all about him. When I went to catechism classes at St Al's, early 60s, he was usually around and sometimes he and I would walk up to my uncles house up on Wyoming St. Cleet was a very kind person, knew everyone on the way up. I'm glad I knew him.

It's awesome that you remember him.

[MrPandy]

Originally Posted by theatergypsy

Certainly, the story of Pete Gray has been told before, but it bears repeating for all the younger people who never heard of the one-armed major league baseball player from Nanticoke.
...
He ended up a curmudgeonly recluse and was lost in alcohol and gambling.

My dad grew up in Lower Askam and told us about playing poker with Pete Gray, which I'd imagine is a little difficult with only one arm.

[Johnny Five]

Growing up in the West Side of Scranton, lived a man similar to the ones in your stories. I think there is one in every small town in America.

Namaste..

Duke