NEIGHBORLY
By: Karen WeHunt Harden, Contributing Writer | wharden1950@gmail.com
In 1949, Claude Peeler built our home on the lot next to him and his wife, Minnie, on Fulton Avenue in Spartanburg. They were like grandparents to us. My best friend was Gregory Spiller who lived across the street. We felt free to come and play and the neighbors let us get drinks of water from their hose pipes.
In 1955, we moved to Robin Hood Drive near Camp Croft. We knew all the children in the neighborhood, and their parents looked out for us when we played in their yards. Along with hose pipe water, we often enjoyed Kool-Aid and sometimes Fizzies.
Across our street lived Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Latelle. He sold used cars in town and sold us our ’55 green and white Buick coupe and our ’61 tan Chevy Impala sedan. He and Daddy occasionally played horseshoes in Ralph’s backyard. Mrs. Latelle loved to work in her glorious flowers. After Ralph’s heart attack, our Daddy cut his widow’s grass as long as she lived. While clearing out Ralph’s garage, she gave Daddy Ralph’s electric drill and the old horseshoes. My brother, Doug, has the horseshoes in a toolbox at his home in Virginia today.
in foreground (courtesy of Karen Harden)
We have lived in our current home for almost thirty-nine years. We share ice, baked goods, batteries, kittens, and anything a neighbor may need. We have the best neighbors in the world. From an early age, we learned the way to have a good neighbor was to be one.
Author: Tracy Sanders
