Dear Sun Spots: I was happy to read about the Flying Yankee in your column recently. I sure do remember it. In the 1930s, I went down to Pownal to visit my cousin Josephine. Her father used to take all of us kids in his old Model A type car and go racing down an old road to a wooden bridge up above the train tracks. We’d get out and stand above and watch the train go underneath. It was silver and very pretty. I loved it. My father, Charlie Moore, was a traveling salesman in the 1930s for the Auburn office of United Shoe Machine Corp. He rode on it a lot.

Nice to know others remember it too. – Alice Moore Unnold, Lewiston.

Answer: Alice, many thanks for sharing those precious memories with us. It sounds like you all had a fun, fun time. Having grown up in Ireland with lots of trains and opportunities to ride trains, Sun Spots has many favorite train memories also. It was always fun to go swimming at the Blackrock Baths on the outskirts of Dublin with my brothers and sister. We’d spend the entire day, (minus parents but with lifeguards all around) and watch the trains coming in and out of the train station beneath the bleachers. We’d listen to the whistle and dash to the fence to look down as commuter trains and office workers spent their summer days hopping on and off. Then, before catching our bus home, we’d get to stop at the local chipper and heat ourselves up after hours of swimming and sunning with hot, hot chips and vinegar. Our fingers would be wrinkled like prunes and would quickly heat up from our clutched bags of chips. Sometimes we’d even stroll the four-plus miles home, if we had the energy.

Dear Sun Spots: I love this column. I have always had such great responses to my requests over the years. Whenever I need anything, this is the first place I go to for help.

I am now hoping column readers will help me in my search for pine cones. I have a Christmas craft that I would like to do but am having a hard time finding any in the woods this year. If you have any you’d like to get rid of, I’d be happy to pick them up. Thank you for any help anyone can give me. I may be reached at 897-5091. – Jean Tardif, No Town.

Dear Sun Spots: In response to an inquiry posted on Sept. 2 about transferring 8 mm home movie to DVD:

VIA-VISION Film & Video in Lewiston can transfer 8 mm home films and most video tape formats to DVD. Please call 207-783-2550, 877-384-3367 or visit our Web site at www.ViaVisionProductions.com for more information. Please note, we cannot transfer 8 track tapes to audio CD because of copyright laws. It may be easier and less expensive to find the album in a music store. Feel free to call with any questions. Many thanks. – Francis Gagnon, Lewiston.



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