So in my hometown, i've noticed something.
I wanted to finish one of my college papers over the summer, so i decided that my town's history would be a good subject.
But at the libary's reference center, some dates are gone.
From index cards, to maps, everything around June of 1974 is missing. Even looking at Microfilm scans of the local paper went from June 2nd, then
to July 10th.
I asked the lady up front if the newspaper archive is not complete, but she assured me that they are, even with evidence.
Her answer put me off so much it made me wonder:
My first thought was to ask my dad, he grew up here like i did.
But he told me that he was too young to remember (about 9 or 10) but he did remember that 1974 was the year that
"The town started to fall apart and break down." in his words.
He was right, half of the town was down in the valley. But it is just abandoned homes and stores. I was taught that mining left town because the mines ran dry, so peaople moved out.
But nowhere in the newspapers or archives say they left, or any mining company was here in the first place. So now im not sure what to think.
But we are not allowed down there due to one of the mines collapsing and causing anyone who goes down there to get really sick.
That isn't wrong, i've seen it first hand.
In the 4th grade. my best friend Oscar went down there on a dare to grab an object from his grandpa's old house. I waited by the only road down there.
I heard him cry for help, so i ran to my mother to call the police and explained that Oscar was stuck in the valley.
She put in the 7-digit help number and i ran back to the road entrance to wait for them.
When he was being carried out, he looked so scared and sick, like the life was taken from his eyes. You could tell he was crying a lot.
I felt so horrible for daring him to do that, especially because that was the last time i saw him healthy again.
He would come to school every so often, but only briefly. He stayed in his wheelchair, motionless and pale.
Then about a year later, his family moved out, and nobody has been down the valley ever since.
Thinking about Oscar is making me hate myself all over again. I need some time to calm down and maybe figure out what to do.
I have some new info I have gathered over the past week.
With it being summer, yard sales in my town have started to pop up. i went through some boxes at one of these sales to help clear my mind.
I came across a box of old phone books for my town and the surrounding areas. most of them were from the past 10 years, most likey from a horder.
But 3 caught my eye: one from 1973, one from 1974, and one titled "1974: revision." I asked the old lady for them, and she gave them to me for free!
In was able to scan in the front cover here.
I am looking through at the moment, will be in touch soon.