My Life Story: Fiddlin' Andy, the Happy Rambler from Ohio

By Andy Christo

A Life Story of Fiddlin Andy, The Happy Rambler From Ohio With the encouragement of his daughter, Bonnie Summers and Grandaughter, Nikki Summers, Andy began to compile this epic retelling the kaleidoscopic experiences. Local friend and author, Meryl Taylor, began to help shape the saga into a working manuscript. Andys tale recalls his myriad travels around the world as well as his journeys throughout his beloved country. The majestic Statue of Libery in New York Harbor and the wide, bustling streets of New York City; the inspiring waterfalls of Wyoming as well as the exhilarating trip through the Soo Locks of Michagan as seen through the eyes of a young sailor on the Great Lakes Steam Ships and various naval vessels.

Andy remarks the beautiful and wonderful places and friendly people make me feel good. This cowboy has an interesting and inspiring story to tell!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 17, 2012
• ISBN: 9781465310545

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Andy Christo is one of Conneaut, Ohio’s rare gems. Andy calls himself ‘Fiddlin’ Andy’and ‘The Happy Rambler’.

Andrew Christo, the middle child, was born in Conneaut, Ohio on a blustery winter night. December 5, 1923, to young parents Andrew Christo, the elder, and sweet Elizabeth (Wagonek) Christo. Andy’s father was a fisherman by trade during daylight hours and labored for the Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad at night. A veteran of World War I, Andy’s dad served from 1917-1918. As with many young families of this era, the Christo’s were a family only poor in material things. Their rustic home lacked modern conveniences, sporting an outdoor privy in the back instead of having costly indoor plumbing.

Young Andy and his two older brothers, Albert and Louie, in a tragic accident, lost their young father to drowning in 1927 when little Andy was but four years of age. Even though the boys were to grow up without a father, they had the support of one another, their dear mother and a compassionate extended family.

To add to the family’s coffers, the Christo boys went to work. One of their earlier money-making ventures entailed walking through the expanse of woods near their home to gather arm loads of wild flowers.

The youngsters traveled door-to-door selling the blooms, managing to sell every blossom. Returning home, the lads turned every hard-earned penny over to their mother. Elizabeth was constantly searching for things to cook or bake and she made sure the boys never went hungry.

During their school days, the Christo’s attended the old 15th Street school, Rowe School, and St, Mary’s school. Even while attending school, these young entrepreneurs held down several jobs, some days toiling at two or three positions. Between ages seven and eight they picked berries and did farm work; found work in coal and lumber yards; even unloaded fresh produce from semi-trucks at the local fruit markets to help support their family.

During the frigid winter months, the Christo youths would walk along the railroad tracks in search of stray bits of coal and wood to heat their home. Each small piece of fuel was deposited into a sturdy burlap sack held at the ready by little hands. In the easier summer months, the brothers had little spare time to fret about the depression era. They stayed busy weeding and hoeing the small garden that had been planted on a hill at the side of their humble house. Elizabeth dutifully canned the bounty of their harvest consisting of crimson tomatoes, succulent strawberries and ears of sweet corn. There were also juicy watermelons and crisp radishes to enjoy along with hearty potatoes that would last long passed the growing season. While the youths of modern times tend to grimace at the thought, these boys had fun doing it together.

At ages five and six, little Albert, Louie and Andy worked on the farm of Aunt Betty and Uncle Steve (Uncle Steve Hovan was a policeman in Cleveland, OH.) The family at home had recently acquired a pig, cow, and a few chickens and to supplement their feed the boys took on extra responsibilities. At the Pierpont farm, the young brother tending to duties in the milk shed as well as barn cleaning. After a long day they would still have plenty of energy for a rousing round of pitching horse shoes and after a hearty dinner, they reveled in running through the spacious yard.

CHAPTER TWO

Andy always enjoyed Hillbilly and country music. When finances would finally allow, Mrs. Christo bought the family a radio. They all loved listening to the styling’s of The Grand Ole Opry on Saturday nights. Andy and older brother Louie learned to play the guitar. Mother Elizabeth and brother Albert joined in the singing. They belted out country songs and mountain music along with Gene Green( Slim Randale), Bob McFadden would accompany on the harmonica. The Christo home was always filled with love and laughter due to the great times they all had together. As times got better, Andy acquired a Hawaiian guitar and a fiddle that his friends taught him how to play.

Cousins Bertha and Rosie; Susie and Johnny Shuster, Joe Steinoff would come over often. Johnny was a terrific tap dancer and would entertain at family gatherings with his fancy steps.

Around the ages of fifteen and sixteen, as the carnivals and circus wagons would come to town, the Christo boys would hire on to set up tents and stands. When not working, the youthful Andy would wile away the summer hours watching the gigantic ships slip in and out, thinking to himself Someday I’ll be on one of them steam boats and be sailing the Great Lakes.

Not many lifelong residents of our little town would believe this—but there used to be a fairly good sized airport on the east side of Conneaut! It was large enough to accomodate air shows where a variety of planes would dazzle on looker with acrobatic manuevers. Bi-planes and tri-motors; Piper cubs… Talented showmen from as far away as Canada would perform in our skies. During the 1930’s local pilot Ray Loomis would give airplane rides to the brave in his big tri-motor passenger plane. (Andy admits he never took advantage of this service.) Other area pilots, Ned Skinner of Kingsville and Al Gardener often flew into town. Andy describes the ‘two wingers’ and other aircraft would perform their stunts before an appreciative audience. These shows on Thompson Road were free and as Andy remembers, They were great fun to watch.

Along with many of his generation, Andy recalls milk delivery by horse and wagon. The noble horse also pulled coal wagons and even plowed the city streets. Conneaut boasted street cars on electric tracks and city taxi cabs as well as city buses. The Conneaut that Andy remembers was a booming town. City residents could spend time at one of the three theaters and avail themselves of the two post offices.

During his early teens, Andy Christo worked as a delivery boy for Dean’s Market, driving the delivery truck. Brother Louie and friend Carl Emerson all pitched in. All were still attending school at ages fourteen and fifteen. At the age of seventeen, Andy, mature beyond his years, signed on for a stint with the Civilian Conservation Corps that had been created by the federal government during the depression. The Conneaut and Ashtabula County enlistees were shipped off to Leeds, Utah. All of the CCC workers stayed in army barracks and adhered to army regulations.