Dr. and Mrs. Walter Smedley
by Ron Nachbor
When I was 2 1/2 years old, I sat on Bill Norman's front step, looked across the street, and yelled "Hi, Mrs. Smedley." Gladys Smedley was so taken back by this knowledge of who she was, by such a small child, that she became my instant friend and friends we remained until she died at all most 100 years old..
Doc Smedley was the town's veterinarian. Not really the dog and cat kind but more the horse and cow kind that an agricultural community needs. His office was in his garage and it was always full of interesting test tubes and other paraphernalia that a man in his profession would have. I didn't understand all that stuff but I was fascinated by it just the same. There was also a unique smell that came from that garage that was a combination of chemicals, pipe tobacco, and white ocean sand..
Gladys and Doc spent their winters in Florida. Doc was an avid fisherman and Gladys spent her time collecting seashells that she brought back to Herman, by the box full, and sorted in the garage. After she sorted those shells, she gave all her "extras" to the kids in the neighborhood. Doc brought home a deep dark tan and showed it off by wearing Bermuda shorts through the summer. He was the only man or boy in town that dared to do such a thing in those years and that convinced me I should do the same. I took my share of harassment for doing it but "Hey, Doc Smedley could do it so why couldn't I?".
The Smedley's never had any children and maybe that was why I was always invited to come and go there, as I wanted. Their home was another of Herman's houses that always smelled of pipe smoke and well it should have, as Doc was never seen without his pipe. The house, itself, had been Herman's first school house and Doc had bought it and converted it into a large home with green shutters. The house in many ways looked like a giant dollhouse. Both Gladys and Doc had been around when Herman was just about a brand new town and much of their furniture had come from parents and grandparents with a history that went back to the early 19th century. It wasn't lavish and seemed a little like a museum but I really enjoyed going there for visits with both Gladys and Doc..
There were a few years when I thought they must really be a bored couple because everyone in town had a TV set or at least seemed to be getting one. Gladys and Doc didn't have such a thing and had no intentions of having one either. When you passed their home late at night there was always a light on in the living room. If the Venetian blinds were pulled up and the window open, because of a sultry summer evening, you could easily see the two of them playing cards and listening to the radio. They were never tempted by the new entertainment fad of the fifties. They were busy doing what they did and enjoying it. If you went there for a visit in the evening you found that comfort with them. Conversation, pipe smoke, maybe some cards but the radio was turned off..
To read more of Ron's stories click on any or all of the names below.
Bill Norman
Nels H. Nelson
George Leigh and Earl Newberger
Clarence Andrews
