The Crofts
In early August 1950 we moved to Bridgman, Michigan where we we lived in our 8′ X 26′ mobile home. It was parked on property owned by Clarence C. Croft, on the edge of his private but defunct airfield. His airplanes were still in the hangar except for one that was out in the weather. But, that’s another story. Bridgman was just a mile east of Lake Michigan, and about fifteen miles from the southern tip of the 400-mile long lake.
Mr. Croft lived in a 28-room house all year long, farming all his land. In the summer his wife and two children were there, but during the school year they lived in Fremont, Nebraska where Mrs. Croft was a school teacher. She and the two teenagers were excellent musicians, Mrs. Croft on piano; the son was my age and about my ability on clarinet, and the older daughter on flute and piano. I liked and appreciated every member of that family very much; and, they all befriended me. They were all well educated people, and were very nice. Also, they were generous with everybody I saw them in contact with. The names of their children are on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t spit them out. The Crofts seemed to be a happy family, always enjoying life with one another. But, I never learned how Fremont, Nebraska fit into their lives.
One day, after hearing her son and I playing clarinet together, Mrs. Croft invited me to perform at some dinner at a private club on a pier out on Lake Michigan. I don’t know what the occasion was, but it was for a lot of very wealthy people. Mrs. Croft was to accompany me on the piano, but we never got a chance to practice together; so, I performed unaccompanied. I played a number called “In the North; In the South.” It was a difficult piece of music, and I was really surprised at the enthusiastic response of the patrons.
Somehow the Crofts determined that Peggy and I were two of the most polite young people they had ever known, and told us so. I think we were just shy. Nevertheless, they invited us to accompany them for a day at “Deer Forest” where the deer were so tame they would eat out of our hands. Food for the deer was available in little machines that accepted a dime for a large handful of food. It was an enchanting day for me. A pleasant day to remember. The Crofts brought a picnic lunch from home, which was quite elegant. The meat was fried chicken, and their fried chicken was boiled before frying. It is some of the best fried chicken in my entire memory. I’m not sure, but I think Mother and Pop were with us that day, too.
How could I ever forget people who treated me as the Crofts did? What wonderful experiences we had together! There were other incidents that I could add, but this tells enough to remember them by. I’ve always had great respect for that family and I’ll remember them forever with warm and kindly feelings.