Wayne Fitz recalls the time when he was knocked off his bike by a cow at the intersection of Sanford Road and what is now the West Ashley Greenway
What do dirt paths, shopping at Edward’s 5 and 10, bicycles, and cows have in common?
Sounds like the basis for quite the story and Wayne Fritz tells it well.
Navigating St. Andrew’s Parish via bicycle is a recurring theme in many a story told about growing up in the Parish during the 1940s, ’50s, and ’60s, especially from older men recounting fondly their time as boys with their pals. The parents may have had concerns about the explorative nature of their young’uns, but the stories rarely include this element. The story is mainly about the adventure.
Wayne Fritz grew up on Cross Street in Rotherwood Estates. A small neighborhood that’s now a part of the neighborhood group known as Dupont Station. Two of his very close friends were Chad Chadwick and Terry Adams. They played football together, rode their bicycles in the neighborhoods, went on adventures, and just generally hung out.
Often, they found themselves riding along the known system of paved neighborhood roads, railroad tracks, farm tractor roads, and dirt paths that connected Rotherwood Estates with St. Andrew’s Center. The draw at St. Andrew’s Center was the Edward’s 5 and 10, where candy and toys awaited these youthful explorers. In addition, there were often large events at the Center like a circus that set up in the parking lot.
One summer, the boys were twelve, they were headed to Edward’s 5 and 10 for another day of exploring the new toys and candy displays. When it was time to return home, they retraced that well known path system—from St. Andrew’s Center down Savannah Highway to the dirt road that’s now Markfield, then left there at the dirt road that’s now Sanford.
This dirt road would connect into the neighborhood and they would be home. However, on this day, at the intersection of the dirt roads, the boys were captivated by a group of cowboys chasing cattle down the Croghan Spur tracks of the Atlantic Coastline Railroad. (Today this old railroad right of way is the West Ashley Greenway.)
As Wayne recounts, one heifer saw them, put her head down and went for Wayne like he was a matador with a red cape. Realizing the inevitable, Wayne positioned himself as best he could on his bike as, and I quote: “She laid into me.” Bike and Wayne went one way. The stunned cow went the other.
The cowboy rode up. Checked on Wayne. Then quickly tied up the four legs of the stunned cow. Wayne recovered enough to adjust his bike so he could ride home. The boys mounted their two-wheeled steeds and rode into the future to tell quite the tale about just another summer day in St. Andrew’s Parish.
Stories of adventures in St. Andrew’s Parish? Contact Donna at westashleybook@gmail.com
