Ferry Bulltown reunion slated
By LINDA L. HULL, Times Leader Staff WriterALL GOOD things must come to an end, and the "Bulltown Men's Association" in Martins Ferry is no exception.
Everyone has fond memories of the neighborhood where they grew up and spent their childhood days. The friends they made were as close as family and, in some instances, the friends stayed together for a lifetime. That has been the case for the Bulltown Men's Association. but on July 25 it will all end.
Sadly, the Bulltown Men's Association will hold its last reunion on July 25 with a golf event at Bec Wood Hills and a dinner dance in the evening.
According to John Applegarth, a member of the Bulltown Men's Association, the group got together after the "boys" in the Mackey Addition part of town grew up and realized what a treasure their boyhood memories were. And, they realized how much they missed each other and the good ole' days.
"The boys from Bulltown grew up when forming a gang meant having someone to go to the movies with or having buddies to go to the playground or fishing with," said Applegarth. "We did some ornery things, but we never hurt anyone, and we never carried a weapon."
Applegarth is not happy about the group disbanding, but he said, "We wish that these celebrations could go on forever but due to many obvious circumstances (which include the deaths of several out-of- town Bulltowners as well as some reunion committee men over recent years), this will be our last celebration."
The 2008 Bulltown Reunion committee includes John Applegarth, John Cika, Lou Di Clemente, Dom Gitto, Jack Regis, Sr., Alex Vargo, Bud Burley, Larry Deaton, Stan Gdula, Warren Hood, Joe Ruskowski and Jim Wilson.
No one is really sure how Bulltown got its name, but it's almost a sure bet that it came from the fact that the stockyards were constructed at the railroad tracks that ran along the Ohio River.
Cattle would be loaded and unloaded there and so it is the most popular theory on how the area got its name.
The Bulltown boys, according to an article written by Andrew Shemenski in 1988, had to make their own fun in the "old" days. Some of the activities included damming up the "crick" to make a pond for swimming, sailing toy boats, and, in the winter, making their own skating arena.
A cold running spring was the best spot to brew up a can of Beechnut leaves tea or Koolaid which was the new beverage at that time.
The boys also, from time to time, did some outdoor cooking with crawdad tails on the menu.
Shemenski said in the evening, they played music and sang old and new songs that they had heard on their homemade crystal radio sets. The music came from listening to WWVA Radio.
If they ran out of things to do, they would lay on their backs and watch the clouds float by or lay on their stomachs and look for four-leaf clovers.
Shemenski noted that in his day, the trees in the area were adorned with many swings. It was apparently easy to come by the rope because it was discarded on the riverbank by the boats and barges that were constantly gliding by.
Martins Ferry has seen many changes since its inception, but one thing is for certain. None will be missed more than the "good ole days" and the Bulltown Men's Association. Even so, one thing is for certain, the gatherings may be over but the memories and the warm feelings of love and caring will go on forever in the hearts of the "boys" from Bulltown.
Hull can be reached at lhull@timesleaderonline.com.
