john belcher sayre and roger sayre

00:00 Start okay. My name is Rodger Sayre and I'm here with my grant. I'm here with my grandfather. John beasts are senior and it's the 13th of June 2004 and we're in the storycorps playhouse here on in Grand Central Station.

00:19 And now I introduce to you my grandfather.

00:24 Say hello Gramps. Hello Rodger.

00:28 So I'm going to ask my grandfather was born in on January 8th. 1908 is 96 years old and he has lots of stories and I really good memory. So we're here to try to like record some of the memories of his.

00:46 So, what's your what's your earliest memory?

00:51 Earliest memory is being on the farm My Father's Farm where I was born. I don't know how old I was but the good memories of the farm. What kind of van was it? It was a dairy farm. My father had 2000 everything. It was a small small dairy farm in which eat produce milk and just as it was in those days. There's no I'm watching eyes they're oxidized or anything else was just straight to milk and he had it. I had a man working for him George would who was also a Helper but the others not into Carrigan Farm by himself. When was about 32 Acres send it raised mostly good corn for to feed the cattle.

01:53 I don't know what else you'd like to know about the poor. Am I I remembered it's the only thing I can tell you what date I remember is I was because one of the places where we sold milk inside this is this building is being built and it was built that when I was 8 years old and I was working on the

02:18 Milk route at that time.

02:21 I don't know what to tell you about it. If you want to know about the milk route. I can tell you that the milk route was run in the summer time in the afternoon. I don't know what a climate about the some somewhere around the clock on the morning because otherwise I'd have the milk out there because of those days milk for fries on outside. So we had to be very careful. We did that. I don't know what else I can find you for the carriage. How did you deliver the milk milk was delivered in the weather was different in those days because in those days around 1917-18

03:21 Were there.

03:24 Listen to seem to be a different world. It is right now weather-wise because there was no Street plowing because I don't wear no streets, but they had a van that the sidewalks be there was a cold winter day warmed up and sometimes you win. Sometimes you did the middle of the street, but the winter and summer was different. Where is the date today?

04:02 House of Bohn III another thing else you want to know about it. I'll be glad to tell you what I can think about it. That was why you said was I happy youth except that it I was not a happy using this site. I had no mother. My mother died when I was born and this was a great handicap during what's your bike young life? My father was a blind man when he was a farmer and hot I saw what you said a 7th grade education, but he ran as they ran is dairy and he ran up the cows and doodle all day should do we are not wealthy, but we were very comfortable and I had a high school alarm when she took good care of it.

04:52 Have you get better give me somewhere to eat or the game is over. It was about 32 Acres land. What happened was that I have a older half-brother and said about the 18 years older than they are and

05:23 Hey, what's osq school on Summit and what he what he got out of school day went to work for my father on the milk route nautique with that and I wanted to become a builder on the Bible father divided into two straights Greenfield Avenue and Busch have no ordinary houses and it's fully taken care of cuz I probably stop before 32 acres and saw they had two nice streets to work on.

06:09 You can look at Lewis Avenue in Greensboro today. They are like any other Street and Summit we would have named them Sayre street, but the already had his braids I would have named John Street, but we already had his John Street and Summit. So that's always a James Lewis Avenue, which is my brother's middle name. I read you loud noise was just what it was worth it just to Greenfield.

06:38 Got any more questions after the after you were done with the milk route. What was what was the next thing that you did? Well, where's the next after we're going into my life and not to the direction that the next thing. I just wish I went to school and Summit and and those days most of the kids in the school where I went or most of the kids if they got to be able to work that I quit school and the work so is a class that I was in school and some of us have graduated from Grammar School.

07:38 What's at work or at least that's what I do is I went to work and when I was 18 and where we are now in New York City or to work for General named Owen Wilson came over to school and I was the only one that qualified for what he wanted to do on young dumb young man to work in his business, which was women's and men's clothing got my and I went over listen to him and he said that he would he want me to get in his business and he was going to teach me properly and one of the things you would do is just send me to the Mills where we got our product and

08:38 England on Davis Rd Woodside me there and also thought he was timer to school unfortunately. Mr. Wilson, then live to keep his promise. He committed suicide after hours in the business about three years so that none of the things that he had promised me wood turned out to be anything at all, but I stayed with him and there was his building was left to his employees. As for the movie word for salesman and I stayed with him but the building the business was not portray something good and I am a very very poor sales for like this. I can't sell anything. It's all amarettos of a rainstorm. I just got my field but I stayed with him for about 10 years.

09:30 And I work the first letter sample Clark at a sports amplifier cuz they've mostly as a as a Salesman tell you much more about the role in business than that accept. It was working and white will in business and Mary came to my house and I want me to sign that he was going to enter the police department. And I said, is there an opening today? You said? Yes there was and so I went and got an application. I've tried the police are the complication. There were Police examination was made.

10:18 The New York the New Jersey state and there were 43 of us took the examination and I finished third into it. The first one was wasn't chief's son on the cycler was a guy who had worked there before so I felt that I did pretty good into it if I wanted to the

10:44 Police Department with intending to stay and I did was I stayed the course of the war came along and when the war came along police would look like the baby bought it so they came out of what I was doing traffic on a corner man who ran the knot time. So I'd say are we scraping the bottom of the barrel your next bike to broil? I left the police department and Uncle Sam's Navy I was

11:24 Alice C30 33 or 34 somewhere in there and you already had been married and children sign but I see where I was.

11:43 Join the Navy in the Navy and I like him. They seem to find a job for you in the Navy accept the job that they filed but it was I would say you really a jealous got the Navy jail called The Brick and I did most of that in the in the Deep South watch when I came back from the net Daisy. I was there. I think it's larger than the police department. I can't remember exactly well, but that way when I came back and went back in to the police department and I by chance leave right from farmboy to take to fly from Fort Boise Police Chief and I got to be free for the police department that it was.

12:43 Set an essay on 54 and takes care of the Paw Patrol girls that take care of the meters and the dog warden and after. Smell that fights about that I was so I spent 15 or 30 years and the get a chance to be Chief. I spent 30 years after I got to be Chief. I understand. Why are now I'm not going to tell you because I want all cops are Breakers in the lights are the Titanic go to rest of the nice things that I did have two would be true and half. I think it's like magic Nation since I'm not alone in that the my valuation of policemen and other things but I don't think they are.

13:43 Really help to this organization. So if you got anything else you want to ask her to go ahead.

13:53 What what year what year was that? I join the police department good. Where do you think for a minute number?

14:05 41 1941 Miata

14:10 Okay. And do you have any I know you have some stories but can you tell if I was like when you first started on the 4th before or after the more lies, but I had to I guess I had many things that the property outside you one story. I don't know if it's worth telling about the Boston stories are who got shot in the who didn't but this was in the early days when we first went on the apartment. We walked was known as there was a police car drove around with the sergeant but the police wouldn't walk and most of the time that you got night jobs Summit how many homes and the one of the things that you did you walk to the Village?

15:10 Send a funny house was Drake energy and why you took care of it. So I was working on that the Park section and a friend of mine and Billy done with some of the other side kitchen and there was there are call boxes were policeman and police whatever you get through with your bite to call Billy. Who was ahead of me, which I knew who I was going to be the next one to answer the call box. So he was walking along and possum was the road and you know it possible to play dead. Sorry washing play dead or Willie whacked him with the club and then put them in the call box. So I should a good welcome exactly work that way. What happened was he put them in the call box out of shots of Jack those things up running the headquarters.

16:10 Started to check the mailbox at least three guys possibly call box and nobody ever ever told about it was my bus story but I always been a long very early. Everybody was going to ask question. Did you ever shoot the kids always happening. Did you ever shoot? Anybody. Did you ever get shot answer? The first question is I never shot anybody. I just like an places that I didn't get shot. But the man who had my job before he got shot.

17:00 Also, it was policemen are at least she saw it out and said that's as far as I know. I don't know if there's anything else until Friday interest anybody draw your gun.

17:25 They are not saying did you ever get shot at what you have a crazy man in the house for the gun. He doesn't pick out clothes to see what he shoots a tiny bought it and Ivan Shawna in that sense. Seanado. I don't know. Sometimes I do I resize we had a problem with people that's that's all I can do. Now I can tell you about what was interesting the kids always asked about the shooting for what. Was shooting is a part of being a police run but the I would say that the most important part of the most important part of being a doctor bro. This is where you know exactly what's going in town and who's sleeping with who and who's doing that if I can if you

18:25 Set a reminder for Monday for long time sitting with The Men Who coming off at night and the girlfriend. Was it coming on the daytime as you listen to that, you know pretty much what's going on in summit summit say change time now change was due to it. I was a wealthy people from New York when I'm spent the summer now wealthy people are in Summit to live. I had to say expensive place to live and most of my men.

19:05 Be there. I think it wouldn't is there cannot afford to be there as a result. I have no friends. My friends are all dead or moved away wishes. I probably complained it's a fact but I live a happy life because I'd like to say I have a happy family and Roger knows as much about the happy family is as I do what the they might people come to see me every once every other week. Why is my body so bad that considered everything? I thought I saw a happy life, but very lonely. I never thought that I would be lonely but then I can't you know, I'm not a camper look at my legs are no good, but it 96 years old you you can't expect to be running races. So that takes care of that.

20:05 But I guess any other questions or

20:10 I told about I don't have even been here first night on a force finding a car that you had to push across the county line.

20:21 You and you and you and a buddy found out. I think it might have been a suicide in a car. I don't remember that little I probably do it, but my memory is not as

20:37 Good as I once was mine if I could see nothing is so good on me as I woke up to find a man who is 96 or close to it. Either there is nobody there are a lot of women that are they they just live on forever. I don't try to keep track of them. But the it's at my age. It's a it's a different life and I'm ugly lights yet. I got to say that I feel good. I ate my sandwich today, and I don't have

21:28 Where are you? Don't do anything. You don't need to eat very much. Like I just just don't feel like that a lot a lot to eat when you are.

21:45 Guy from the Woolen industry came to your school. You said you were the only person I was qualify. What what how do you qualify for more than other people? Well high school graduate.

21:59 And I wanted a job.

22:02 On the word idea of the whole lot. I think there was three people went to college and the rest of them had jobs. I don't know what no flocking to her dog. Like I was the only one to get me out of out of body water that people who could see the graduating class said that I was the only one that could I don't I don't think it was any

22:42 Price of a b maybe somebody else took it I think it might would have been better. One of the things I said before one of those things is that actually if you were good sales, but I'm sure you would have made a good living and I'll do it. I made just a fair living item the police department by the way played paid. Well, we were there.

23:10 I was the highest paid Chief in the county when I was Chief. I don't know why but they both are fire that plays for the bottle away is Busch Light all that's true in New York, but it is Summit the police firemen get the same salary of a police chief in the fire chief for a sergeant in the police department on the man opposite him in the fire department get it same salary remember any stories of your Playmates when you were young remember? What about Joe Smith and tying his bathing suit to a kite or something like that. Is that ring? A bell long story and I don't know how much time we got. Well, of course, yes, I used was a good youth Summit was

24:10 People couldn't go to get you and Automobiles are not under your friends were the ones that live near you today and I can have one of the summit and grandma I'll bring you over and be with anybody you want but what I was going up there was school was entire your work was entirely different one friend Bobby Jindal and if you went through the woods feels so to speak to you got to have a lot to say for 5 minutes. I will live by the river and the Rio summer you swim and fish in the winter and the river was like they were those days was pretty high on the Wheel by the river and played with practically nothing. I can't remember have enough with pool or anything I did.

25:10 Ave a tennis ball, I would like to bounce against the barn and that was it about the story that you asked about it was that the down at the river. I wish we didn't have them put bathing suits on and off trolley car was going over the river about the same place. We would jump out of the water and shows that we were boys not girls a little while a man came down to the one we're skating and complimented us on our swimming on it. Where do you live? And I told him and my Bobby where do where do you live in that are not on the next night for supper? My father's I thought you go swimming today.

26:09 Do you wear a bathing suit, so I went the next day I went to get a bathing suit bottom which is across the river and want to get the bathing suit and coming home. I went past Bobby Taylor's house and he came out where it's walking and he was flying his kite in the field.

26:51 So you want to watch me somewhere over while we were taxes on which is this their did that and finally it was needed for tail. And so sorry, but the bathing suits on and it went up and open up and the next thing you know, it went off the people who live there was people named Vanderpool who are very wealthy. I have no idea it was to be like for what must be something Secret in there. Anyway, I can tell you that. The only problem was that he cried in the snow. I gave me another half a dollar Spanish soup. That's the true story of the bed.

27:51 Add lots of other stores and had lots of police department the sad ones and I liked it. What the hell did I say that we're a few I guess and I should get ahold of you or you forget what the what you do? Okay.

28:17 Story about the local play house on Halloween night and a staircase that got removed.

28:25 Health at 1

28:30 See

28:32 You pulled away a staircase from a playhouse and a guy came out and fell into a garbage can.

28:39 Oh that one of the actors from the from the is like a theater, I guess. I don't know but I don't remember it. Well Joe Schmitz today was actually Lauren Smith and he was a nephew question. I played with him a lot and kind of grew up with him. I guess he and his brother and sister are all three are going to bed now like the rest of my friends, but the there's nothing I have lots of experiences with Jose and I suppose I report them at the bottom but the mechanic

29:30 Do you know the story about racing up a ski jump at Lake Placid with George Rogers?

29:36 I know of it. Yes. I I modify that was one of the guys but this is why I don't think that's funny interest anybody else got out of a plane over there was the mountains are where they hide hide the ski jump over. It was a big they will hide it or what we did, but now they didn't have a mother.

30:15 Who took care of you? I was good luck. That is a good question. Why my father had what they called housekeepers are they were Maiden lady said that I took our just just I said it took care of the house. And for some reason I was he didn't pay them or what was with we hot. We had a lot of them. I know there's a world so itchy fun wasn't with me. Either. One of them was that they were I got to know them do them by their name and what not and I was I'm sure I was a nuisance to them because that was part of their job to take care of it. I remember all of them, but the thing I guess I remember best as I thought in a farmhouse there is no bathroom and it was no. No bathroom and went out.

31:15 Take me out in a 10 by 10 best up in the kitchen and bath of once once a week. I got a I got a bath and US1 woman Miss Lovely. I think her name was was lovely. Somehow had a theory and I don't know what the hell she got it. At the end of the baskets like the bus with cold water on you so you can see why I remember that son-of-a-gun. I swore while we got to be big enough. I tell her experiences with her with that.

32:15 Is I ignored at the time but is it the hard very hard thing to overcome? I mean because my teeth I got to go. I'll buy these what the hell? Why does it take all those days? Nobody tells you where do you buy the dentist all the sudden you wake up with a toothache for 10 years ago. I guess I have a lot. So it was the fortune. I guess you're almost late is just this good you don't know it at the time. I thought I was just like

33:15 Everybody else except bison Avenue mother on Mother's Day everybody with a red rose. I wore white when I just asked about a lot of Mexicans didn't have any indoor plumbing. When did electricity come to your place and some Farmhouse there was nothing

33:43 Don't know what I know about Side Plumbing loud house. There was no telephone we going to telephone and it was for line for party line on telephone and the girl was a question. He would that every time the phone Drake she would answer if we were numbers free phone number 3 race. Why are you doing that why you're answering the phone and she want to get the gospel the neighborhood, but the telephone was slowly Teleflora. Our lights came in slowly and plumbing a game in

34:43 How long we got them on my way again? I try to look back on our finances as a growing up as I can say is I guess that we were comfortable. I never asked that for my father for everything that he didn't either.

35:01 Get it to me or don't meet this is why we can't do it. I mean I so I would say that the ad he was he was a good good father and I didn't bother you damn. Well need a good father.

35:22 No know when you when you were a kid, I know what you're talkin about. No, I I am sure that's where this is. One of the things that I would know about it why brother-in-law trucking business and his

35:43 Kaiser drove the truck game over blocking by our house and when which is where the trucks are coming from and they

35:53 Golden Maltese and they parked out and I don't know what we work. But as soon as we got to be old enough to provide locks onto soda, that was a model of a I've learned my driving these very very young. I can't remember how old I was.

36:20 If you want cheese, where do or the thing to have in those days?

36:28 No, I don't. Remember. I remember driving question a lot of fun. But I don't remember anybody. I don't think anybody taught me. I think the 405 us together and with Bobby's Inland the Smith boys and I guess we got a toilet each other for is that was the thing to do but I think that's the way with date. I guess. We're we're coming to a close now at the archive for centuries become. Do you have any where's the wisdom from live to be ninety six and this is what I learned about life one sentence kind of the word. Enjoy your life as it comes along and it would be the best advice I can offer. Has anybody died of

37:28 Pleasant life so to speak our experiences. I've just enough to probably more than anybody.

37:40 Ordinary People army knife between the police in the world and business in the farm. I had a I had a good life.

37:48 I have a quick question to remember.

37:51 Lindbergh find across the ocean. Like I just I just remembered that it happened. I thought I did first.

38:05 They are pointy came over our house on the farm and I swore it almost hit the blind. It was up to Miles the air but it's the first place the first plane I ever saw was flying over over the house sales last. I remember things that I remember a little break and I also remember Jack Dempsey fighting, you know or not. I was I was not a boxing

38:38 So I would say what but if and I'll put I was a little bit and so this is not that it doesn't take. It was one of the experiences that I had with my father and brother are there was some Laurel Gardens in Newark, which is a place where they had fighting Sunday and my brother decided like my father down to the fights we were there and they came out.

39:10 Start a 5-minute by father and is calling the cows Voice by God bill is going to kill him. He took the house. And I always try to crawl under some place where it would be seen a face which way to say yet training camp wishes from China and other Fighters came out there and I got to know if we can bring the water but not that I got to know Dempsey and I never bought should I be more sensitive?

40:09 Is a little boy yes. Yes. Yes. I do. I members were watching the parade Uptown UFO was dragging it watertight behind them on the out of the kitchen. So you want. And a guy said to ask him what's in there? They said who was the head of the German Army? I guess they declared a Pearl Harbor. We were you when you found out about Pearl Harbor. Do you remember that?

40:53 Oh, yes. I was home. I just was outside to remember but that's about it.

41:01 Obviously you would have been all right, I'm Rodger peltzman the facilitator and thank you very much for listening to my story at a hundred mile. Not sure but if I do I'll be down.