NOT DECEASED:
John Shaw was our immigrant ancestor from Northern Ireland, arriving in Charleston in 1772 before it was the USA. Ervin David Shaw for whom Shaw AFB in Sumter was named is his first cousin once removed. Sumter Mayor, Priscilla Shaw, first female mayor in S. C. in 1952, was also his first cousin once removed. Ervin graduated in the class of 1962 of Edmunds High School (https://www.edmundshigh.com/alumni.html?x=info&c=62).
**********************
His daddy could not be drafted into the military due to 4F status (due to "flat feet"). But, after the surprise bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7th, 1941, his daddy...a graduate of Clemson College (a military college at that time)..., though married & without children, got on a train from Sumter to Washington, D. C. to implore his congressman to contact the draft board & demand his induction into the Army for stateside duty only. In 1943, his parents were stationed at Maxwell Field in Montgomery, Alabama. When his Momma was near term, his Momma & Daddy road the train home to Sumter so that Ervin would be born in Sumter & be a Sumterite. When they moved back to Sumter after war's end, they built a home on the Brewington Road out at Shaw's Crossroads. Later, they moved to the Shaw home at 312 North Salem Ave.
Sumterites born in the 1940s did not have television or air conditioning...neither had yet been invented. For those who did not own a milk-cow, glass-bottled milk was delivered early every morning in the city. By 1950 or so, milk was delivered in disposable waxed paper cartons.
In about the summer of 1950, they moved to 521 West Hampton Ave. where the home was heated with fuel oil in the winter & any summer cooling was just by small rotating table fans in rooms. Next-door neighbor, G. W. Parker & Ervin walked to the school on Washington Street for Ervin's first grade the summer of 1950. The move was made to 341 Bowman Drive a block from Crosswell Drive Elementary school in the summer of 1952; the home had a fuel oil floor furnace & the room fans plus a window fan or two. In about 1957, his daddy had an attic fan installed which would suck in cooler summertime night air through any open window. Heavenly!!! Window air conditioners were invented in 1932 but were very expensive. In the summer of 1958, they moved to 7 Frank Clarke Street across the street from Edmunds High School and got a couple of the now much more affordable window air conditioners installed down stairs. It would be many years later before air conditioning was in automobiles.
Many folks had radios to hear news & programs carried on local & distant radio stations. At the end of WWII, Heyward Crowson brought a 7 inch TV set back that he got from China in a trade In for a camera; it was installed by Sumter Radio Shop in 1949 in his home (The Item, issue of 02 Jul 1949, Sat · Page 1). Heyward was the brother-in-law of Ervin's maternal uncle, "Bunk" Cain & reception from WBTV station in Charlotte was terrible. When Ervin's family got one in about 1955, the reception from WBTV was very poor & fuzzy but seemed miraculous! In those days, radios & TVs signed off at midnight with the National Anthem.
In the summer of 1952, Ervin's family moved across town to 341 Bowman Drive, and 3rd grade would begin that Fall & go through 6th grade. Ervin road his bicycle with friends to grades 7-9 at McLaurin Junior High at 219 West Calhoun St.
As noted above, High School was attended from the home across Purdy street. On April 26, 1962, Ervin cut a class to go up to the band room where there was a TV & see the Ranger 4 USA space launch impact onto the moon's surface. Incredible. It was maybe in the 6th grade that cousin Bobby Brown had gotten a telescope for Christmas and, one night at Bobby's house, let Ervin look through it to see craters on the moon for the first time. Amazing experience! As with both grandfathers & his daddy, Ervin played high school football; Edmunds was in the league of largest high schools in S. C. Ervin weighed 155 pounds and was 5 feet 8 and 3/4 inches tall & co-captain (with best friend Henry Harder) and full back his senior year. He also ran track...the 440 run.
John Shaw was our immigrant ancestor from Northern Ireland, arriving in Charleston in 1772 before it was the USA. Ervin David Shaw for whom Shaw AFB in Sumter was named is his first cousin once removed. Sumter Mayor, Priscilla Shaw, first female mayor in S. C. in 1952, was also his first cousin once removed. Ervin graduated in the class of 1962 of Edmunds High School (https://www.edmundshigh.com/alumni.html?x=info&c=62).
**********************
His daddy could not be drafted into the military due to 4F status (due to "flat feet"). But, after the surprise bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7th, 1941, his daddy...a graduate of Clemson College (a military college at that time)..., though married & without children, got on a train from Sumter to Washington, D. C. to implore his congressman to contact the draft board & demand his induction into the Army for stateside duty only. In 1943, his parents were stationed at Maxwell Field in Montgomery, Alabama. When his Momma was near term, his Momma & Daddy road the train home to Sumter so that Ervin would be born in Sumter & be a Sumterite. When they moved back to Sumter after war's end, they built a home on the Brewington Road out at Shaw's Crossroads. Later, they moved to the Shaw home at 312 North Salem Ave.
Sumterites born in the 1940s did not have television or air conditioning...neither had yet been invented. For those who did not own a milk-cow, glass-bottled milk was delivered early every morning in the city. By 1950 or so, milk was delivered in disposable waxed paper cartons.
In about the summer of 1950, they moved to 521 West Hampton Ave. where the home was heated with fuel oil in the winter & any summer cooling was just by small rotating table fans in rooms. Next-door neighbor, G. W. Parker & Ervin walked to the school on Washington Street for Ervin's first grade the summer of 1950. The move was made to 341 Bowman Drive a block from Crosswell Drive Elementary school in the summer of 1952; the home had a fuel oil floor furnace & the room fans plus a window fan or two. In about 1957, his daddy had an attic fan installed which would suck in cooler summertime night air through any open window. Heavenly!!! Window air conditioners were invented in 1932 but were very expensive. In the summer of 1958, they moved to 7 Frank Clarke Street across the street from Edmunds High School and got a couple of the now much more affordable window air conditioners installed down stairs. It would be many years later before air conditioning was in automobiles.
Many folks had radios to hear news & programs carried on local & distant radio stations. At the end of WWII, Heyward Crowson brought a 7 inch TV set back that he got from China in a trade In for a camera; it was installed by Sumter Radio Shop in 1949 in his home (The Item, issue of 02 Jul 1949, Sat · Page 1). Heyward was the brother-in-law of Ervin's maternal uncle, "Bunk" Cain & reception from WBTV station in Charlotte was terrible. When Ervin's family got one in about 1955, the reception from WBTV was very poor & fuzzy but seemed miraculous! In those days, radios & TVs signed off at midnight with the National Anthem.
In the summer of 1952, Ervin's family moved across town to 341 Bowman Drive, and 3rd grade would begin that Fall & go through 6th grade. Ervin road his bicycle with friends to grades 7-9 at McLaurin Junior High at 219 West Calhoun St.
As noted above, High School was attended from the home across Purdy street. On April 26, 1962, Ervin cut a class to go up to the band room where there was a TV & see the Ranger 4 USA space launch impact onto the moon's surface. Incredible. It was maybe in the 6th grade that cousin Bobby Brown had gotten a telescope for Christmas and, one night at Bobby's house, let Ervin look through it to see craters on the moon for the first time. Amazing experience! As with both grandfathers & his daddy, Ervin played high school football; Edmunds was in the league of largest high schools in S. C. Ervin weighed 155 pounds and was 5 feet 8 and 3/4 inches tall & co-captain (with best friend Henry Harder) and full back his senior year. He also ran track...the 440 run.
NOT DECEASED:
John Shaw was our immigrant ancestor from Northern Ireland, arriving in Charleston in 1772 before it was the USA. Ervin David Shaw for whom Shaw AFB in Sumter was named is his first cousin once removed. Sumter Mayor, Priscilla Shaw, first female mayor in S. C. in 1952, was also his first cousin once removed. Ervin graduated in the class of 1962 of Edmunds High School (https://www.edmundshigh.com/alumni.html?x=info&c=62).
**********************
His daddy could not be drafted into the military due to 4F status (due to "flat feet"). But, after the surprise bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7th, 1941, his daddy...a graduate of Clemson College (a military college at that time)..., though married & without children, got on a train from Sumter to Washington, D. C. to implore his congressman to contact the draft board & demand his induction into the Army for stateside duty only. In 1943, his parents were stationed at Maxwell Field in Montgomery, Alabama. When his Momma was near term, his Momma & Daddy road the train home to Sumter so that Ervin would be born in Sumter & be a Sumterite. When they moved back to Sumter after war's end, they built a home on the Brewington Road out at Shaw's Crossroads. Later, they moved to the Shaw home at 312 North Salem Ave.
Sumterites born in the 1940s did not have television or air conditioning...neither had yet been invented. For those who did not own a milk-cow, glass-bottled milk was delivered early every morning in the city. By 1950 or so, milk was delivered in disposable waxed paper cartons.
In about the summer of 1950, they moved to 521 West Hampton Ave. where the home was heated with fuel oil in the winter & any summer cooling was just by small rotating table fans in rooms. Next-door neighbor, G. W. Parker & Ervin walked to the school on Washington Street for Ervin's first grade the summer of 1950. The move was made to 341 Bowman Drive a block from Crosswell Drive Elementary school in the summer of 1952; the home had a fuel oil floor furnace & the room fans plus a window fan or two. In about 1957, his daddy had an attic fan installed which would suck in cooler summertime night air through any open window. Heavenly!!! Window air conditioners were invented in 1932 but were very expensive. In the summer of 1958, they moved to 7 Frank Clarke Street across the street from Edmunds High School and got a couple of the now much more affordable window air conditioners installed down stairs. It would be many years later before air conditioning was in automobiles.
Many folks had radios to hear news & programs carried on local & distant radio stations. At the end of WWII, Heyward Crowson brought a 7 inch TV set back that he got from China in a trade In for a camera; it was installed by Sumter Radio Shop in 1949 in his home (The Item, issue of 02 Jul 1949, Sat · Page 1). Heyward was the brother-in-law of Ervin's maternal uncle, "Bunk" Cain & reception from WBTV station in Charlotte was terrible. When Ervin's family got one in about 1955, the reception from WBTV was very poor & fuzzy but seemed miraculous! In those days, radios & TVs signed off at midnight with the National Anthem.
In the summer of 1952, Ervin's family moved across town to 341 Bowman Drive, and 3rd grade would begin that Fall & go through 6th grade. Ervin road his bicycle with friends to grades 7-9 at McLaurin Junior High at 219 West Calhoun St.
As noted above, High School was attended from the home across Purdy street. On April 26, 1962, Ervin cut a class to go up to the band room where there was a TV & see the Ranger 4 USA space launch impact onto the moon's surface. Incredible. It was maybe in the 6th grade that cousin Bobby Brown had gotten a telescope for Christmas and, one night at Bobby's house, let Ervin look through it to see craters on the moon for the first time. Amazing experience! As with both grandfathers & his daddy, Ervin played high school football; Edmunds was in the league of largest high schools in S. C. Ervin weighed 155 pounds and was 5 feet 8 and 3/4 inches tall & co-captain (with best friend Henry Harder) and full back his senior year. He also ran track...the 440 run.
John Shaw was our immigrant ancestor from Northern Ireland, arriving in Charleston in 1772 before it was the USA. Ervin David Shaw for whom Shaw AFB in Sumter was named is his first cousin once removed. Sumter Mayor, Priscilla Shaw, first female mayor in S. C. in 1952, was also his first cousin once removed. Ervin graduated in the class of 1962 of Edmunds High School (https://www.edmundshigh.com/alumni.html?x=info&c=62).
**********************
His daddy could not be drafted into the military due to 4F status (due to "flat feet"). But, after the surprise bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7th, 1941, his daddy...a graduate of Clemson College (a military college at that time)..., though married & without children, got on a train from Sumter to Washington, D. C. to implore his congressman to contact the draft board & demand his induction into the Army for stateside duty only. In 1943, his parents were stationed at Maxwell Field in Montgomery, Alabama. When his Momma was near term, his Momma & Daddy road the train home to Sumter so that Ervin would be born in Sumter & be a Sumterite. When they moved back to Sumter after war's end, they built a home on the Brewington Road out at Shaw's Crossroads. Later, they moved to the Shaw home at 312 North Salem Ave.
Sumterites born in the 1940s did not have television or air conditioning...neither had yet been invented. For those who did not own a milk-cow, glass-bottled milk was delivered early every morning in the city. By 1950 or so, milk was delivered in disposable waxed paper cartons.
In about the summer of 1950, they moved to 521 West Hampton Ave. where the home was heated with fuel oil in the winter & any summer cooling was just by small rotating table fans in rooms. Next-door neighbor, G. W. Parker & Ervin walked to the school on Washington Street for Ervin's first grade the summer of 1950. The move was made to 341 Bowman Drive a block from Crosswell Drive Elementary school in the summer of 1952; the home had a fuel oil floor furnace & the room fans plus a window fan or two. In about 1957, his daddy had an attic fan installed which would suck in cooler summertime night air through any open window. Heavenly!!! Window air conditioners were invented in 1932 but were very expensive. In the summer of 1958, they moved to 7 Frank Clarke Street across the street from Edmunds High School and got a couple of the now much more affordable window air conditioners installed down stairs. It would be many years later before air conditioning was in automobiles.
Many folks had radios to hear news & programs carried on local & distant radio stations. At the end of WWII, Heyward Crowson brought a 7 inch TV set back that he got from China in a trade In for a camera; it was installed by Sumter Radio Shop in 1949 in his home (The Item, issue of 02 Jul 1949, Sat · Page 1). Heyward was the brother-in-law of Ervin's maternal uncle, "Bunk" Cain & reception from WBTV station in Charlotte was terrible. When Ervin's family got one in about 1955, the reception from WBTV was very poor & fuzzy but seemed miraculous! In those days, radios & TVs signed off at midnight with the National Anthem.
In the summer of 1952, Ervin's family moved across town to 341 Bowman Drive, and 3rd grade would begin that Fall & go through 6th grade. Ervin road his bicycle with friends to grades 7-9 at McLaurin Junior High at 219 West Calhoun St.
As noted above, High School was attended from the home across Purdy street. On April 26, 1962, Ervin cut a class to go up to the band room where there was a TV & see the Ranger 4 USA space launch impact onto the moon's surface. Incredible. It was maybe in the 6th grade that cousin Bobby Brown had gotten a telescope for Christmas and, one night at Bobby's house, let Ervin look through it to see craters on the moon for the first time. Amazing experience! As with both grandfathers & his daddy, Ervin played high school football; Edmunds was in the league of largest high schools in S. C. Ervin weighed 155 pounds and was 5 feet 8 and 3/4 inches tall & co-captain (with best friend Henry Harder) and full back his senior year. He also ran track...the 440 run.
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