Secrets of the Stockport BridgeThis is a featured page



Clayton Williams lived across the street from us in Stockport, and although he was a couple years older than me, we hung around together. I sort of looked up to him as an older brother. One day about 1940, when we were trying to find something to do, he said "Let`s go down to the mill." Even though I was forbidden to go near the river I said OK and we were off.

We messed around the mill a while, climbed down the steep bank below the mill and went out on the sand bar. After awhile Clayton said, "Come on, I will show you where I hide my cigarettes." This came as a real revelation to me. Talk about "hero worship." Here was one of my friends that really SMOKED.

We went over to the bridge and walked out on it about 30 ft. He said,"Now you wait here and watch to make sure nobody comes along." I never was too sure what I was supposed to do if someone did come, but I waited & watched. He climbed over the railing, down the outside and disappeared under the bridge. After what seemed a long time he came back up with a pack of cigarettes and lit one up. He puffed away for a while and flipped it over the rail into the river.

Then he said, "Since you were the lookout I'll give you a couple puffs." Then I was really "in heaven." After a few puffs he said, "I got to put 'em back now," and disappeared under the bridge again. When he came back up he told me never to tell anyone where they were but if I wanted to get one I could. I remember thinking "fat chance of that."

I have thought of this a few times over the years ,and have wondered which was the most dangerous, climbing under the bridge or smoking the cigarette. I don`t know about Clayton but I never started smoking.

Bernie Porter
'Secrets of the Stockport Bridge - Silverheels Riffle













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LeilaN 		Latest page update: made by LeilaN , Apr 21 2008, 11:21 PM EDT (about this update About This Update LeilaN Edited by LeilaN


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anwag Cigarettes 2 Apr 6 2008, 11:07 PM EDT by cinwebb
Thread started: Oct 31 2007, 5:20 PM EDT  Watch
That is quite a story and brings back memories of my first try at smoking
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