I enjoy looking behind the obvious scenes, which is why details are so important. More things are happening than we can see at first glance. A lot of life takes place in hiding. Maybe the good folks of Maple Valley aren’t hiding on purpose, but not everyone sees everything they’re doing. That’s good. No one should see everything they’re doing.
The gravel access road at the loading docks of Maple Valley Manufacturing has been the site of many misdeeds and misdemeanors. Years ago, Randy Quillsham and Mack Burtz lit some fireworks on the road and started a blaze in the dried brush, resulting in damage to the factory and some railroad ties. It was not a happy day in Maple Valley.
The fence behind Smith’s provides cover for adventure. It’s best to conceal mischief since “out of sight – out of mind” is a commonly held theme in Maple Valley. There is no visible graffiti on the barn because Erv Smith Sr. caught a bunch of boys with spray cans and made them repaint the siding.
Why the empty tool shed near MVM has never been either torn or burned down is a mystery. For more than a generation, the youngsters of Maple Valley have found the shed to be the perfect place for trying a first puff on their granddad’s pipe, or for stealing a kiss, or any number of other things. Maybe it’s the kids who are protecting the shed from being demolished.
Anna Wizzleby’s uncle Clem walked with a limp. The story goes that he and his friends used to dare each other to hide in the Newtown tunnel and wait for the train. They had to hold their foot on the track until the last second to avoid being called “scaredy-cat”, a fate worse than death. Clem won.
Climbing the Maple Valley water tower is forbidden. Therefore, it’s required for kids who want to prove just how brave they are. Slim Cloverton, Shorty Cloverton’s father, was the bravest of the brave. He climbed the ladder and stood on the edge of the tower roof and looked down. He proved it was impossible to fly to safety from the top. His leg and arm eventually healed.
The turnout behind Maple Valley Lodge of the Select Few is legendary. Many years ago, on a sunny boring summer day, some boys moved the switch from the main line to the MV Manufacturing spur. Luckily, the freight wasn’t moving fast, but by the time engineer Berton Ribble put down his baloney sandwich and coffee and applied the brakes, engine 457 ran off the end of the rails. It was time for Berton to retire anyway.
Stealing penny candy from Perkzy’s General Store is a standard summertime dare among the guys in Maple Valley. They know better than to go in large numbers, but a single boy is easier to watch than a group of four. So four kids go in together, knock something noisy off the shelf, and while Kabe Perkzy III is yelling, the “picker” grabs a hand full of candy and runs out. The kids meet later to divide the spoils evenly. (Kabe would gladly give them each a hard candy or two if they just asked. He looks forward to the almost daily heists.)
By the way, it was right in front of the Nesbitt’s Root Beer sign that Haney Fitterman stole a kiss from Candy Morzelle when they were in fourth grade. She was so surprised she kicked him in the shin, but then grabbed him and made him kiss her again. They’ve been married forty-two years, have three children, and seven grandchildren. Haney is one of the engineers of The Old General, Candy runs the ticket counter at the train station.
The Maple Valley River Trestle continues to be a favorite place for dares which often end with injuries. Every summer, boys climb the timbers all the way to the train rails while the other guys cheer them on and the girls hold their breath. Phlyn Jecks once fell from the top. Luckily, he missed the rocks and did a terrible belly-smacker on the water. That was the last time Phlyn climbed the trestle.
The steel girder bridge over Maple Valley River begs for kids to stand beside the rails while a train rolls by. They’ve been doing it since the bridge was built, and no one tries to stop them. In fact, there’s a sign at the end of the bridge that says, “If you’re dumb enough to stand on the bridge, stay back!” Evidently, there’s been lots of dumb kids of all ages in Maple Valley.
The Maple Valley Railroad is one of the few remaining lines still using a caboose. Trains don’t run fast through town, so there is nothing more inviting to a young dare-devil than to grab the handrail and hop on the caboose for a free ride on the rails. Rumors say the conductor keeps a bag of candy from Perkzy’s General Store for any kid who jumps aboard.
A Coffee State of Mind 
I enjoy your articles Dale, always entertaining to read the stories behind the scenes on your Model Railroad.
James.
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