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Barrel Jumping: Palmer Park; Detroit Mi. ca.1956

This 9x12 inch miniature is from one of my fondest memories of my childhood. We passed this duckpond at Palmer Park every Sunday just before we got to church. In the Spring just before church let out our Sunday school classes would go over to the duck pond and and watch the ducks as a spring outing. In the Winter of 1956 I got my very first and much and requested hockey stick for Christmas. It was my big dream to try it out on the frozen over duck pond at Palmer Park. It was also my dream to explore close up, the light house that for some reason was transported from some storm tossed rocky cliff from somewhere on the Great Lakes. My Mother took me there one Saturday and left me while she was helping out at church for some upcoming event. I took my proud possession onto the ice firmly gripped in my right hand and as I skated toward some boys my age who were playing hockey, I grabbed my stick with my left hand to grip it with both hands and I promptly fell flat on my face. I got up and started to skate to skate and fell again.... and again, and again. It finally occurred to me that for what ever reason, that I would never, ever be able to skate and carry my treasured hockey stick in both hands. I realized that the two handed hockey stick maneuver was going to take a heap of practice so I had better get started something. I then pursued my second dream which was to explore the mysterious lighthouse and climb to the top of the tower. It seemed so spooky just standing there in the middle of the duck pond I assumed it had to be haunted. I skated up to the island on which the lighthouse stood, climbed the stairs to the landing and the entry to the tower put my hand on the latch to open the door and found the whole thing had been nailed shut. I didn't succeed at my first two endeavors but I did get my chance to explore the the Palmer Park duck pond and the mysteries of the haunted lighthouse which still stands there to this very day guarding its deep dark secrets.

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jamie winter 10 Apr 2008

just awesome Stanton

Julie Mayser 10 Apr 2008

A really nice sketch, and with your text ( memories) a very interesting piece of writing! I cannot figure out what the series of 6 round objects are.... certainly not used in hockey, are they? They look about the size of bowling balls

Artist Reply: The round objects are the barrels the boys were jumping that day, but they were jumping them behind the light house, not in front as I have depicted them.

Regina Calton 10 Apr 2008

What a beautiful sketch - and with your memory, a wonderful way to share a happy and more simple time.

helen tyralik 10 Apr 2008

good work

Armando Salas 10 Apr 2008

Simple sketch but masterpiece.