Kent State University - Chestnut Burr Yearbook (Kent, OH)

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'During those riots in '70 I'd see truckloods of those ogitotors come here.' --Shoup It was the agitators! During those riots in '70 I'd see truckloads of those agitators come here to the corner of Gougler and Mantua, get off the truck and it would go back for more. They came from the turnpike. They weren't Kent kidsf' Shoup stands firm on this belief and claims that he would sit on his front porch on Willow St. and watch the same people we'd see on TV in California go by. But they weren't students. We had lots of students on our street and they were all a fine bunch. He puffs on his pipe, nods and says, Nope, nobody bothers me.', John Shoup, opposite, watches Kent go by through the windows of his antique shop. Older toumspeople, below, enjoy visiting over a beer in Deleone's Bar on Franklin Street. WNA, ,, N , JU ! ! .:!6f :Z :- : o 2 :I Di 2 M. Bulvony

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what if used to be.' birthday. Isn't it pretty? Retiring to her rocking chair, Mrs. Kerr, in her sing-song lilt, tells why she thinks she's lived so long. I never went to dances or shows or went gallavantin, here, there and yon. I've always tried to live a good life. I always tried to read something that would edify me. Good clean readini. Vitamins? Ooooooh nooo, she says with shock and amazement, her eyes widening. I don't take vitamins to keep me alive! I hate medicine. I'm jest gettin' my prayers paid back now for my good life. God has been good to me. I have to give Him all the praise. He'll keep me all the way til he takes me home. She rocks in her chair, smiles and repeats, He'll keep me all the way til he comes to take me home. F ANYONE has seen Kent change over the years, it's Clarence V. Skaggs, a retired trackman of the Erie Lackawanna Railroad. Skaggs has been in Kent for 67 of his 70 years. Yep,,' he remembers, Kent ain't what it used to be. I remember when Water Street was all-l-ll mud and dirt. Skaggs is known as a regular at Walter's Cafe on Water Street. He's been retired for about 6 years and visits the bar every morning around 10:30. He's often there in the after- noon, too, but not at night. I used to come here at night, but no-o-o-0 more. Jesus Christ! They turn that damn jukebox upuso you can hear it from the next block because of all the students in here. Although Skaggs thinks some of the students are all right and some of 'em no goodf, he's most verbal on the latter. Average people are afraid to come down here at night, he scolds as he sips his can of Rolling Rock, 'fwith all those motorcycle gangs and hippies that raise a ruckus and break windows. It's that dope that,s doing it. With shaky hands, Skaggs lights another cigarette and shakes his head. I see things changin, all the time for the worse. Yep, there's more trouble all the time. Students tear up the restrooms and always breakin' the windows. 'Course not all students do it, some of 'em do and some of 'em don't. Yeah, I'd like to see it go back to what it used to be. It used to be a lot better. In the next tive years, itill be even worse than it is now. Anybody who's been around here can see that. Skaggs strokes his unshaven face, gives me a toothless grin and adds, But I like it here at Walter's. I eat here. It's home. Mary Kerr, opposite, delights visitors with her shamrocks and other plants Skaggs, above, makes his daily visit to Walter's Bar on Water Street.