FORGOTTEN TIMES
by Dick Graves
A short time ago, I had the honor of being the guest speaker at a 50th wedding anniversary at the Castle Hill Grange Hall. It was a most exhilarating moment for me in the last many years, because the reason for me being there is truly a rare story, indeed.
It all began 56 years ago in Washburn when a person named John Doody made the determination to purchase a brand new black and white TV (they were all black and white until 1955) for his family. Speaking of rare, just buying a TV in 1953 was an uncommon act; few families in that year had likely ever seen one and, if they had, most likely didn’t have the money to buy one. I’m certain that my family didn’t have our first TV until the mid 1950s. Unknown at the time, that set, which John Doody bought in Caribou, would be the very first TV purchased in either Crouseville or Washburn.
So, for years and years the Doody family enjoyed TV shows from the ‘50s, the ‘60s and the ‘70s on the old Zenith. Now that included Albert Doody, one of John’s sons. In high school — 1958 or so — Albert, then 16, had a girlfriend, Ethel, whom he had met when both had been working on his father’s farm on the Cross Rd. in Crouseville during that fall. Often Albert invited Ethel over to watch a little TV on the Zenith, perhaps a little “I Love Lucy,” maybe “The Jackie Gleason Show,” Jack Benny, Red Skelton, “Perry Mason” or Danny Thomas, any number of great shows from the ‘50s. Anyway, Albert and Ethel married in July of 1959 and, of course, moved into their own little nest and raised a family. The TV naturally stayed with father John; Albert and Ethyl could get their own.
John Doody was locally famous for never throwing anything away — kept everything. Even the grandkids, when visiting their grandparents, enjoyed the old Zenith, at least for a few years; nothing lasts forever, you know. Eventually the TV was cast aside in favor of a newer model, but, John, famous for his never-throwing-anything-away way of life, somewhere stored the Zenith rather than taking it to the dump.
A couple of years ago, Dick Campbell, a friend of mine who has known the Doody family for umpteen years, came to my office just to perhaps talk about the old days. He and Albert had sat in front of the ol’ Zenith back in the 7th and 8th grades. Years after, Dick got into the radio business; he was well aware that I had a collection of old radios and TV sets on display at the office. Most of the sets — 1952 GE, 1953 Zenith, 1959 Philco, 1949 RCA and a mid-1960 RCA — don’t work, but the cabinets are in great condition; they often evoke a conversation about the “good ol’ days” which is one of my favorite subjects. He said he had a very good 1950s-something Zenith that he purchased in a recent yard sale and wondered if I’d be interested in adding it to my collection. “Yes, of course,” I added. “Show me.”
The next day I motored out to his house in Mapleton to view the set. For a 1953 model, it was in remarkable shape. He said it came from the Doody family in Washburn. At that moment, it didn’t make a lot of difference to me where it did come from (it certainly would later). I paid him a few bucks and lugged it to my office where it sat on display, along with the others, for the last two years.
One Saturday afternoon last summer, we had a cleaning-out sale in front of the office — stuff from our cellars, junky stuff we had accumulated for years. While inside, I was approached by an older couple (my age) inquiring about a certain Zenith TV I had. That Zenith had belonged to his family back in the 1950s and he wondered if I’d part with it. It was the same TV his father had purchased when he, Albert, was in grade school. I readily agreed that he should have it, but rather than give it, I’d rather trade for something. His wife, Ethel, was a sister to Mary Baker who owns and single-handedly operates a nice little restaurant in Washburn, one of my favorite eateries in all the world. I told him I’d trade for a lunch at Mary’s. The deal was done. They could have it when I was through with it which might be in a few years. The TV was practically his again after 55 years; he and Ethyl were overjoyed.
A few weeks ago I received an invitation to attend Albert and Ethel’s surprise 50th wedding anniversary at the Castle Hill Grange, asking if I’d consider surprising the couple with the Zenith at the family celebration. I was more than happy to fill the request.
So, on the 18th day of July, 2009, 50 years after their marriage, 56 years after Albert’s father had purchased the TV, I had been given the honor of presenting the couple with that great old TV, still in marvelous condition, which had been gone from their lives for many years. It was a glorious moment when a blanket, which covered the Zenith in secrecy, was lifted. That special moment brought down the house with oohs and aahs at first, then a thunderous applause filled the hall.
It’s likely that with such sentimental value, the old Zenith will remain in the Doody family for at least another 56 years. No doubt in my mind …
Photo courtesy of Dick Graves
SPECIAL GIFT — Ethyl and Albert Doody were honored recently with a 50th wedding anniversary party, held at the Grange Hall in Castle Hill. In addition to many gifts and cards, Dick Graves presented the couple with a television, once owned by the Doody family, that they enjoyed watching together during the early years of their relationship.
