Mar 25, 2022·edited Mar 25, 2022Liked by H.D. Miller
Cool story. Makes one ponder what today's kids could do if we just turned them loose to explore. Not the same, but as 13 year olds in the early 70s we thought nothing of catching the train and kicking around Philadelphia for the day. And that was gritty, dirty, crime-ridden 1970s Philly.
This is a pretty neat story--the bit about the rustler shadowing the boys is one of those things you'd call contrived if you saw it in a movie. In a similar vein, check out "Flight of Passage" by Rinker Buck. It's the story of how he and his brother, aged 17 and 15, flew a J-3 Cub across America by themselves in 1966. It was a bit of a sensation at the time. This is a pretty serious undertaking purely on an aviation level, particularly given the state of navigation and communication technology at the time.
Navigation facilities in 1966 were pretty sophisticated, HOWEVER, a J3 Cub most likely was NOT equipped with anything more than a magnetic compass. So they would have had to navigate entirely by map. Aviation maps were readily available at the time, but imho, they probably used standard road maps….
We did odd jobs through the neighborhood to earn money for things we wanted. At 9 yrs old I started delivering newspapers. I believe work gives one purpose.
Jeremiah was called to prophecy against Israel at 12 years old. Samuel was called to service much younger. Jesus Christ taught the abbinical scholars at 12 years old. "A little child shall lead them."
This story made me think about Everett Ruess, a teenager in the 1920s and '30s who wandered the American West with his pack animals. He went missing in 1934 and his fate was never known.
I love unknown history. So glad you shared this. Children are much more capable than most of us think they are. Doing different things today obviously, a 10 year old driving a car across the States?😁 don't think so! But business-wise, managing bank accounts, that sort of thing, oh yes.
100% correct. The way the Abernathy brother paid for their trip was their father gave them a checkbook. They wrote checks along the way to pay for their expenses.
Fascinating story. Want another? This is a link to a NPS interview of Ned Chaffin, he grew up in SE Utah, early 20th century and his story kind of touches on the challenges, responsibilities and independence kids enjoyed back then. It's actually 2 parts so I pasted both links, hope some of yall enjoy the read.
You're welcome, HD. just thought Neds story might appeal to folks reading about them Abernathy boys. Hell, reading about them is what reminded me I'd saved Neds interview to my favorites. Plenty of pictures to go along with it, too.
Put your kids in the Scouts. We'll teach them how to sharpen and use a knife, axe and saw, and once they've learned they can own and carry them. We'll tie a rope to them and have them climb up and rappel down 70 foot cliffs - with one of their buddies managing the safety rope. Building and lighting fires, cooking their own food and cleaning up afterwards, canoeing for a week in Canada - we'll do lots of stuff with them.
What an amazing story! You almost can't believe it until you see the pictures. I grew up in the 70's and 80's and back then taking the bus and subway downtown unsupervised as early as 7 years old was normal. Today's parents would likely be thrown in jail for allowing the same, forget anything close to the Abernathy boys. I think this is a huge loss for kids because the sooner you learn how to protect yourself in dangerous places the sooner you can adventure on your own.
"The second sad thing, of course, is the closing of possibility." When I came to California in the '70s, it was full of possibility, the edge of the country, the last frontier. Now that it's "matured" there's no place left to escape to.
I learned of the Abernathys a couple of years ago. You add some nice details and context. I feel fortunate that in the mid-1960s, things were still lax enough that my fairly protective mother didn’t mind me, her 11-year old, riding five miles out into the farmlands and woods alone on my bike. At 13, I’d ride the bus 25 miles to the capital for the day, alone. Today, Child Protective Services would break the door down.
*Boys* could have such adventures safely. Probably mostly white boys. Girls alone? No. Now the risk from predators for young boys alone I think might be greater. Extremely unsafe for a young girl.
Cool story. Makes one ponder what today's kids could do if we just turned them loose to explore. Not the same, but as 13 year olds in the early 70s we thought nothing of catching the train and kicking around Philadelphia for the day. And that was gritty, dirty, crime-ridden 1970s Philly.
Things were cooler for kids back in the day. Like you, I grew up in the 60s and 70s and was free to ride my bike wherever I wanted at 12.
"Be home when the streetlights come on."
Great story. My dad and his pals used to ride their horses all over Portland, Salem, Clackamas when they were under 10 years old.
Too many humans in the states now to have any freedom; too many humans who should be jailed are not.
Now, all kids get is virtual freedom, especially being locked down for a disease that doesn't threaten them.
This is a pretty neat story--the bit about the rustler shadowing the boys is one of those things you'd call contrived if you saw it in a movie. In a similar vein, check out "Flight of Passage" by Rinker Buck. It's the story of how he and his brother, aged 17 and 15, flew a J-3 Cub across America by themselves in 1966. It was a bit of a sensation at the time. This is a pretty serious undertaking purely on an aviation level, particularly given the state of navigation and communication technology at the time.
I've got to check that out. Thanks for the recommendation!
Navigation facilities in 1966 were pretty sophisticated, HOWEVER, a J3 Cub most likely was NOT equipped with anything more than a magnetic compass. So they would have had to navigate entirely by map. Aviation maps were readily available at the time, but imho, they probably used standard road maps….
Sure, you go ahead and ask the average pilot of the past 20 years outside Alaska to fly across the country with nothing but a VOR and a map ;)
We did odd jobs through the neighborhood to earn money for things we wanted. At 9 yrs old I started delivering newspapers. I believe work gives one purpose.
Jeremiah was called to prophecy against Israel at 12 years old. Samuel was called to service much younger. Jesus Christ taught the abbinical scholars at 12 years old. "A little child shall lead them."
My cousin and I had some pretty amazing adventures when we were that age but nothing even close to what those two young men did.
This story made me think about Everett Ruess, a teenager in the 1920s and '30s who wandered the American West with his pack animals. He went missing in 1934 and his fate was never known.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everett_Ruess
That's a pretty interesting story. Thanks for reading and thanks for sharing that.
I love unknown history. So glad you shared this. Children are much more capable than most of us think they are. Doing different things today obviously, a 10 year old driving a car across the States?😁 don't think so! But business-wise, managing bank accounts, that sort of thing, oh yes.
100% correct. The way the Abernathy brother paid for their trip was their father gave them a checkbook. They wrote checks along the way to pay for their expenses.
It's been a very long time since I've read something of substance. How informative.
Thank you!
Fascinating story. Want another? This is a link to a NPS interview of Ned Chaffin, he grew up in SE Utah, early 20th century and his story kind of touches on the challenges, responsibilities and independence kids enjoyed back then. It's actually 2 parts so I pasted both links, hope some of yall enjoy the read.
https://home.nps.gov/cany/learn/historyculture/upload/NedChaffin_FirstInterview.pdf
https://home.nps.gov/cany/learn/historyculture/upload/NedChaffin_2ndInterview.pdf
Thanks for those links. That's a great story. Love this sort of oral history.
You're welcome, HD. just thought Neds story might appeal to folks reading about them Abernathy boys. Hell, reading about them is what reminded me I'd saved Neds interview to my favorites. Plenty of pictures to go along with it, too.
Put your kids in the Scouts. We'll teach them how to sharpen and use a knife, axe and saw, and once they've learned they can own and carry them. We'll tie a rope to them and have them climb up and rappel down 70 foot cliffs - with one of their buddies managing the safety rope. Building and lighting fires, cooking their own food and cleaning up afterwards, canoeing for a week in Canada - we'll do lots of stuff with them.
What an amazing story! You almost can't believe it until you see the pictures. I grew up in the 70's and 80's and back then taking the bus and subway downtown unsupervised as early as 7 years old was normal. Today's parents would likely be thrown in jail for allowing the same, forget anything close to the Abernathy boys. I think this is a huge loss for kids because the sooner you learn how to protect yourself in dangerous places the sooner you can adventure on your own.
100% agree with this. Kids need some independence.
"The second sad thing, of course, is the closing of possibility." When I came to California in the '70s, it was full of possibility, the edge of the country, the last frontier. Now that it's "matured" there's no place left to escape to.
I learned of the Abernathys a couple of years ago. You add some nice details and context. I feel fortunate that in the mid-1960s, things were still lax enough that my fairly protective mother didn’t mind me, her 11-year old, riding five miles out into the farmlands and woods alone on my bike. At 13, I’d ride the bus 25 miles to the capital for the day, alone. Today, Child Protective Services would break the door down.
Born in 1964. If I couldn't have been born in their Era, I got the next best .
*Boys* could have such adventures safely. Probably mostly white boys. Girls alone? No. Now the risk from predators for young boys alone I think might be greater. Extremely unsafe for a young girl.