Chapter 27
CORNER OF OAK AND SOUTH NINTH STREETS
Here I built a three-bedroom
house facing Oak Street. The garage is in the basement with the entrance on
grade with Oak Street.
Oak and S. 9th Sts., Akron, PA
The second night we were
there, we were awakened by loud explosions and by the fire alarm. I saw a
bright red glow around the drawn window shade of our southern bedroom window.
When I raised the roller shade we saw that the paint factory, a few hundred
yards down the street, was on fire. I knew there was a large naphtha tank on
our side of the factory. I told Ado to quickly dress herself and the children
and get outside while I went to investigate. The fire was not in the plant, but
on the other side. Fifty-five-gallon drums of inflammable oils were blowing up.
It was soon under control, but it was scary.
While we lived here, our
children and some friends had a surprise 25th Wedding Anniversary Party for us.
We received many nice gifts. It was appreciated.
From the beginning, we
considered this house more temporary than the others. We wanted a bigger home
and mayhap a permanent one. We did stay three years in the next one!