Memories of Yankeetown

by A. Frank Knotts

A. Frank Knotts
Born: Chicago, Ill, June 23, 1926
Died: Somewhere, much later, with luck.
Full-time Yankeetown resident: 1926-1942
Yankeetown visitor: 1942-1988

Andrew Seely in cahoots with my wife, Linda, coaxed me into the idea that some folks in Yankeetown were interested in the early history of the place. At first, I thought, "Ho-hum." Then I began to reminisce--kinda fun. Then I began to put some of those reminiscences on paper. That was more than engaging. It took me places long unvisited, to feelings long unfelt; in short, a fun adventure. I feel grateful to Andrew and Linda for prompting the resuscitation of those comatose parts of my life. It helps an old man to wrap up the two ends of his life. At the same time it could serve some bit of usefulness to whoever in Yankeetown might find it interesting to hear about some old times.

My parents, Norma and Eugene, built and ran the Izaak Walton Lodge. I lived there with them and my older siblings, Tom and Nancy. Grandma McGrath and Uncle A. F. Knotts lived next door to the east and they often took dinner with us at the "family table." As a curious kid with big ears I observed a lot of what went on in and around the Lodge and around town.

Schools:

  • Attended elementary school at the old two-room schoolhouse on Riverside Drive from 1932 until 1936. Teachers remembered were Miss Delaino and Miss Dyer. Unremembered: She who used to whip us on the backs of our legs too often.
  • Sixth and seventh grade at the new rock school on 40.
  • Eighth, ninth, and tenth grades at Dunnellon.
  • Eleventh at Ocala High School. Skipped twelfth.
  • 1942-1944 Purdue University.
  • 1944-1946 served in U. S. Navy in the U. S. and the Pacific.
  • 1946-1948 Purdue University
  • BS, Colorado A & M, 1950; MEd Colorado A & M, 1951; PhD, Clinical Psychology University of Colorado 1965.

Odd Jobs: Laborer; Factory Worker; Forest Service Lookout/Fireman; Truck Driver: Lab Technician; etc.

Career: Practice of clinical psychology in Boulder and Denver, Colorado.

Mr. Knotts may be contacted at knotts@yankeetown.com

© A. Frank Knotts, April 2007