Comments Johnstown Journal
By jbuettner@atonementfriars.org
A friend of mine sent me the web site for the Johnstown Journal andI read some of the memories of Johnstown. Reading these articles broughtmany experiences and a feeling of home sickness. I would like to sharesome of my history of life in Johnstown.
From 1935 to 1940 I would visit my grandparents in West Taylor Township all summer vacation and then return to Cleveland for school inSeptember. In 1940 our family moved from Cleveland to my grandparents homein West Taylor Twp. after my grandfather passed away.
I attended Immaculate Conception School in Cambria City and then graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1950. In 1951 I resettledin Cleveland. Our family moved back to Cleveland in 1952. In 1966 Ientered a religious community The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement inGarrison New York and have been here ever since.
Growing up in Johnstown was the best experience of my life. I have never forgotten the small town atmosphere and I'm sure I never will. Ithink when were young we need to make a life for ourselves somewhere awayfrom home because the grass always looks greener on the other side of thefence. It's not, we only think it is. It doesn't take long to realizewhat we have given up. Unfortunately we keep moving ahead and never lookback until we get older and then we find out life somehow has passed us byand we realize just how much we have missed of what we have given up for thegreener side of the fence. It's a story so many of us could tell theyounger generation but then it falls on deaf ears. When were young we justdon't want to hear that we have and live in the best part of the world.
Well I'm beginning to ramble now.
I never went back to Johnstown because I felt I would lose all my memories. My father would always say to me "Joey if you go back you willlose your memories. Hang on to your memories." I am 75 this year and Ihope I will someday return to Johnstown just to walk through the citystreets, visit the incline, the Point Stadium, visit Central Catholic HighSchool (Now Bishop McCourt High School), Immaculate Conception Parish, StJohn's Cathedral and all the other wonderful places in Johnstown.I just want to thank you for your web site and the memories you shared with me.
Just one last thing, the motto "Cleveland is the best location in the world" is not accurate "Johnstown is the best location in the world" atleast for me.
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