I moved to The Rock in the summer of '59. I knew no one and, as we now say, I didn't have a clue. I had little going except that down the street on Doremus Ave lived the twins Jim and Jack Tent who quickly took me into their circle. I can't remember how I lucked out but it sure made my three short years in Glen Rock a magical time.
The Tents wanted a car. We spent months together going to the myriad of used cars dealers in Little Ferry. That was the place to go to get the widest selection. The goal was a Chevy and after many trips the boys (and their Dad) finally ended up with a copper and cream colored '56 Belair convertible. It was the ultimate top down ride with a back seat. I learned to drive in the Tents ragtop.
Before the Belair, a bunch of us including Jim and Jack often spent Friday nights driving through downtown Patterson in a big old ugly 39 Buick sedan owned by Dick Gilbertson (GRHS'61). We would get up to speed, turn off the ignition and let the car coast. This built up unburned gas fumes in the exhaust system. When the ignition was turned back on a loud explosion occurred and flames came out of the tailpipe. Shamefully, we timed this prank to scare the hell out of innocent pedestrians. Many ran for cover thinking shots were being fired.
The worst thing we ever did was to drive residential neighborhoods in the 39 Buick with a car full of boys. We had baseball bats in the back seat and drove down quiet residential streets at night swerving from side to side hitting mailboxes. We got caught and hauled into police HQ. There we were grilled in separate rooms until someone confessed. Most of us were Scouts and all were good kids. The police released us to our parents and no one was arrested.
As I remember, Jack was captain of the football team and could run the 100 yard dash in 10.8 seconds. He was a jock and a hell if a nice guy. I left Glen Rock a month after graduation and have not returned in 50 years. I spoke with Jack about 10 years ago. He was as friendly and upbeat as the day I met him.
Michael Anderson
I moved to The Rock in the summer of '59. I knew no one and, as we now say, I didn't have a clue. I had little going except that down the street on Doremus Ave lived the twins Jim and Jack Tent who quickly took me into their circle. I can't remember how I lucked out but it sure made my three short years in Glen Rock a magical time.
The Tents wanted a car. We spent months together going to the myriad of used cars dealers in Little Ferry. That was the place to go to get the widest selection. The goal was a Chevy and after many trips the boys (and their Dad) finally ended up with a copper and cream colored '56 Belair convertible. It was the ultimate top down ride with a back seat. I learned to drive in the Tents ragtop.
Before the Belair, a bunch of us including Jim and Jack often spent Friday nights driving through downtown Patterson in a big old ugly 39 Buick sedan owned by Dick Gilbertson (GRHS'61). We would get up to speed, turn off the ignition and let the car coast. This built up unburned gas fumes in the exhaust system. When the ignition was turned back on a loud explosion occurred and flames came out of the tailpipe. Shamefully, we timed this prank to scare the hell out of innocent pedestrians. Many ran for cover thinking shots were being fired.
The worst thing we ever did was to drive residential neighborhoods in the 39 Buick with a car full of boys. We had baseball bats in the back seat and drove down quiet residential streets at night swerving from side to side hitting mailboxes. We got caught and hauled into police HQ. There we were grilled in separate rooms until someone confessed. Most of us were Scouts and all were good kids. The police released us to our parents and no one was arrested.
As I remember, Jack was captain of the football team and could run the 100 yard dash in 10.8 seconds. He was a jock and a hell if a nice guy. I left Glen Rock a month after graduation and have not returned in 50 years. I spoke with Jack about 10 years ago. He was as friendly and upbeat as the day I met him.