Greenly Drive, the Water Works on the right – (East Bay Municipal Utilities District Water Filtration Plant)
Mike had no close classmate friends at Burckhalter those first years, almost all the boys in his class lived past the Water Works on the other side of the school. His closest friend was Mark Tweeten, a year older than Mike having two older sisters, Joann and Carol, the Tweeten’s living across the street. The two boys spending hours together emulating their favorite matinée movie, or radio program hero’s in activities, the Cisco Kid, Lone Ranger, Gene Autry and Gunsmoke, episodes enacted with many a roll of caps being spent in shoot-outs after school and on a weekends.
(1948) Front – Nancy,, Esther Pepitone Back – Milton Pepitone, Mike, Mark Tweeten, Katy
When Mark entered the the 4th grade his most envious and greatest personal possession was his bike. Mike’s first bike riding learning experience was on Marks bike and with this accomplishment he began his effort to secure a similar mode of transportation. To his dismay, the Tweeten family announced they were moving to Concord and he could no longer use “Well Mark has a bike” as a reason for his parents to get him one, the quest for a bike now seemed more unattainable. After Marks move he received an invitation to spend the night at Marks house in Concord, his Dad providing transportation for this last visit. It was a double blow, losing his best friend and being a victim of the family imposed bicycle rule. NO BIKE UNTIL YOUR TEN YEARS OLD.
Richard Brehmer & Gordon Meyers
The building of a new house on Greenly Dr. catty-corner across Shone Ave was finally completed, a family named Telford moving in. The Telford’s had a son, Larry, a year older than Mike whom he soon discovered wasn’t very sociable. It may have been because he was an only child or possibly because his dad was an undertaker and for some reason mike thought it bothered everyone. Mike was somewhat envious of Larry after seeing his big bedroom located downstairs next to the garage, but it wasn’t the size it was what was in it. Lining the walls on two sides was a continuous expansion of a shelves displaying dozens upon dozens store-bought miniature metal cars. Mike having but a few and in the past entertaining projects, constructing roads in the dirt, parking area’s. Deciding the difference between him and Larry was, Larry never took them off the shelf, they were always on display.
The only boys in Mike’s class that lived on his side of the school was Gordon Meyers and possibly Richard Brehmer. Gordon’s house was a block from the school and Richard lived somewhere on the other side of Mountain Blvd, a pretty good distance from his house. The youth didn’t share any interest with Gordon but if he had a bike he could visit Richard, as well as Roger Monroe, Karl Kreplin and those that lived on the other side of the school. He briefly thought about using “No Bike, No Friends” as a valid approach to his parents to get a bike, but decided that wouldn’t work because next door lived a house full of kids, younger, but still company.
Diamond Pepitone
The family of next door neighbor Bob and Diamond Pepitone numbered five. Mike could never figure out the association of the kids nicknames with their real names. The nicknames, Babe, Sis, Turnbay, Turtle and Bugs, translated into Milton, Esther, Faye, Christine and Diane. The eldest was Babe, the only boy in the brood, 2 1/2 years younger than Mike, his sisters Kay and Nancy spending much more time playing with them. He would join them in a game of hide-go-seek or kick the can and it was becoming more often now that he was devoid of a best friend.
View of the East Oakland hills
Four blocks down Shone Ave. and across mountain Blvd. rose the East Oakland Hills , its forestation, fresh water springs, valleys, and relics from an earlier era were beckoning. The hills cresting at the 1100 ft. elevation on Skyline Blvd. high above Oakland, providing a panoramic view of San Francisco Bay, Mike wanting to ventured into this vast uninhibited expansion, the youth knowing it was hiding untold secrets just waiting to be discovered by an inquisitive person aspiring for excitement and adventure. His Mom wasn’t to keen on Mike trooping off alone into the hills and the young man knew this, but a plan prevailed, a hillside picnic outing with his sister Nancy, the two eldest Peptone’s, Babe and Sis joining them. This first organized outing for the group was a start and the beginning of many, Mike was now able to explore but finding himself being accompanied by what he referred to as the Tag Along Gang.
The hidden valleys
Cresting the first hill and walking down to what is best described as a small valley wandered a deserted unkempt dirt road which in years past had probably been subject to the ferrying of horses and cattle. Standing before the youthful explorers was an old stable, dilapidated by the years neglect and rain-soaked wear. The old timbers attempting to maintain the crumbling stalls, the air still retaining the smell that only old barns and stables have, even through time this remnant odor, its pungency still permeating the air of primordial history. In all probability, the young people making up this group probably didn’t realize or understand the significant of what they were experiencing, but there was one inquisitive among them that recognized and felt the indelible imprint of the past and the quest that remained.
Cardboard sliding on 82nd Ave.
During the summer, the grass and sedges grew tall, sedges resembling what most people thought was wild wheat, turning golden in the late spring and abundant thru out the state for three seasons , thus giving California its name, The Golden State. This was a great fun time for the itinerant group of youngsters, gathering cardboard to use as sleds, the tall grass and sedges on the hills providing a natural slope to sail down. The prime area was the unpaved top section of 82nd Ave. the city deciding not attempt to connect 82nd with Crest Ave, the hill being too steep, a switch-back being built around it for motorized traffic to reach the top. Another area was across Mountain Blvd above the dirt fire break road that led to the Oak Know Naval Hospital, mother nature providing these recreational downhill slides. To everyone’s disappointment, by the third or fourth day of use the grass lost its slickness, and the sliding season was over for another year.
26 inch mobile transport
The Day of reckoning finally arriving, Mike’s transportation problem reconciled, a new Monarch, 26 inch bike with center tank and luggage rack over the rear fender, he was ready, the world would know no bounds anymore. Like all new owners he had designs for changes, the fenders could stay for now because he was a rain or shine riding person and fenders were definitely a necessity. A color change for the existing red and white stock paint but this too could wait for another day. His answer for deliverance having finally been conceived with the arrival of this new acquired conveyance, it would be the young mans best friend for the next five years, not his only friend, but truly his best friend.
Inquisitive Quest 