My parents, two sisters, and I moved to Frederick in 1960 to the house at the top of Frederick Hill. There were more homes and families than there are now. Frederick then had a store, post office, school, and a coal dock at the river. It took my family some time to get used to the noise as the trucks came over the hill hauling coal to the river from the mine near Pleasant View. Besides shopping, the store was a place for neighbors to visit. The school had two excellent and strict teachers in Mrs. Mildred Drawve who taught grades 1-3 and Miss Una Moyer who taught grades 4-6. Mrs. Olive Strong cooked us delicious home cooked meals in the school’s kitchen. During Christmas, we students performed in an operetta under the direction of Miss Esther Knowles, the music teacher who traveled from school to school. One year as she arrived for the operetta, she fell on the ice. She insisted on staying and playing for us with a broken hip. At Halloween, there were costume contests, parties and cake walks. I believe most of the town attended all of these school events. It was a way of coming together with friends, neighbors,and family. Everyone knew everyone. We kids were always outside. If we were sledding on Rebman’ s in the pasture, we could go to anyone’s home to warm up because we were welcome…that’s just how it was. On Friday night’s, several of us went roller skating in Rushville. Our mothers took turns taking us. As we got older, parents would take turns taking us to the movie theater or basketball games. The mansion on the hill coming into town always held so much interest for us kids. It is one of my first memories moving to Frederick seeing it standing proudly through the trees. They weren’t so tall 50+ years ago. We walked up there or rode our horses up there to get a peak. Now, the store, post office, coal mine are all gone. The school stands but the roof is badly in need of repair. The creek we played in at recess is still there with all of its memories. I can still see the teacher holding her hand out of the window ringing the hand bell for us to come in. Most of the people I grew up with are gone including my mom. My dad moved in 2002. History states that Frederick was a wealthy community in its day thanks to the Farwell family. Their mansion is a reminder of this. I’d like to see Frederick as somewhere people drive to not through. I’m proud it’s my hometown.
-Susan Murk
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