When I was nine we moved to the fire station and dad became the full-time truck driver and station manager. We lived in a large apartment above the station. Bob and I loved all the activity of living down town. It was a great adventure. Especially for Bob as the train tracks were just outside his bedroom window.

During our time there Baldwin’s Hardware Store caught on fire one winter night. I slept through the all of the activity of firemen from many departments as they came to the station to warm up and get coffee that mother made for them, but Bob helped warm up their gloves and anything else he could do to help.

The police station was in the same building and dad was deputized as an officer and answered the phone and did other duties as he could without neglecting his duties at the fire station.  One day Marge came to play with me and as she started up the stairs a rat cornered her on the steps and wouldn’t let her go up or down. She screamed and the police on duty came running. When he saw what had happened he pulled out his gun and shot the rat.

Every two weeks Dad only had one Sunday off. By this time Charles and Alice were married and Vickie was a baby and they were expecting Katie. How I loved playing with my own live babies. I never tired of spending time with them. When they lived on the “farm” Charles would pick me up after work and take me home with him on Friday nights. When I was twelve we moved back home on Kilbuck Street.

Dad’s job changed to working every other day. On the days he worked mother or grandma would pack his meals in a basket and Bob or I would run down to the station with it. He only got the holiday off if it fell on his day off. We spent many Christmases without him.

Marilyn (Manley) Kilbourn – Childhood Memories

Carolyn, Ashley and Marge Chase are cousins to Marilyn.

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