Notes:

Notes for CHESTER JAY BASTRESS:
Chester worked for 27 years as a drop forger at the Keystone Forge, Northumberland, PA. He had the gift of
"water witching" or "dousing." Chester was a member of the August Baptist Church and was a bell ringer for
years.

Chester and Lester were twin brothers.
The brother's got to watch President Herbert Hoover's motorcade come through Northumberland on Duke Street.
While working for Keystone Forging the brothers got to go see President Harry S. Truman's Presidential train. The President's daughter, Margaret, came out on the platform on the back of the train and waived to everyone.
Edible treats were sassafras root, birch bark, and yellow May apples.
The twins earned spending money by selling moleskins for five cents a bundle. At the Blue Hill canal bed, moles were stomped on. A hollow tree was laid on top of canal lock. A wire was strung across inside the tree with fire lot on one end to dry moleskins. Licorice root was bought at a store for one cent a piece with their earnings.

Memories....
The farmhouse was on RD#2, Sunbury.
The large shrub bush at side porch
Dog Trixie laying behind the coal stove
Bags of beans lying around house
Big rocking chair in the Kitchen
Large maple trees lining the front yard
All ages of people sitting and talking on the front porch.
Poplar trees lining the road to the barn
cousins playing hide n' seek among the lilacs and a favorite place for the chickens as well.
trudging through the woods to find the "perfect" Christmas tree and setting it up in the parlor.
Friday night visits with the men sitting in the kitchen and the women sitting in the living room and the cousins outside playing or inside listening to whichever conversation was liveliest.
Watching Ray Bolger, Lawrence Welk, & Friday night fights.

Family/Spouse: Houser, Ella Rosetta. Ella was born on 27 Sep 1922; died on 19 Oct 2002 in Sunbury, Northumberland County, PA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Nancy married Gass, William Clayton [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Susan married Sharr, David William [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Scott married Hoffman, Laura Lee [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]