Friday, July 16, 2021
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I had a surprise visit from Jeff recently on Memorial Day weekend. Jeff dropped by and popped out of his vehicle holding a Crossman 760 Power Master BB gun. Jeff asked me if I wanted it. I was completely surprised and honored. Jeff knew this was the same model that I grew up shooting as a kid, and he thought I would appreciate it. I cherish it. Jeff, Dennis and I spent many days walking, roaming, plinking and hunting with BB guns in the woods and fields around our houses. Jeff was a real lover of airguns as am I. I grew up a neighbor to Jeff and Dennis and have many good memories spending time with them. We played scary hide and seek in the dark at Bowmans farm, unloaded hay at Walters farm, fished and swam in the Manatawny Creek, made long treks on foot to fish along the island where creek split, we called it the “Divide”…no-mans land back then. There was another place along the creek we often fished that we nick-named the rainbow hole, we always caught Rainbow Trout in the fast waters that flowed there.
I have memories of being dropped off to fish the Boyertown Water Dam, as well as at my Aunt “Hons” house to fish for native Brook Trout in the little creek that flows through the meadow downstream of the dam. Jeff and I journeyed to the Delaware River to fish for Shad at Skinners Falls, in New York.
Jeff was a year older than me and I recall being envious when he turned 12 before I did. That meant he was able to start hunting and I was not. I think Jeffs first shotgun, was a brand new Remington model 1100, 20 gauge. He was so proud, it was beautiful and I really adored it.
A unique and somewhat funny/dangerous memory that I have….is one time on the first day of trout season we decided to be a little devious. Jeff, Dennis and I sat atop the cliff behind their house and threw rocks…plunging into the creek from way above. The fisherman were screaming mad. One fisherman got so mad he hiked all the way up the cliff and came right up on us and stomped on Jeffs leg/ankle. That was a bit scary, we definitely stopped throwing rocks after that.
The photo that I added shows Jeff wrestling with Dennis, probably from a birthday party at my house.
I have a lot of good memories growing up with Jeff…God Bless you and your family.
R.I.P. my friend,
Matt Prout
