Great Grandpa and High Gate

I can't remember if I've put this story on here or not, but I prowled around the archives and don't think I have. With the big gaps in my family generations, I didn't have the pleasure of knowing any of my great-grandparents. But I have been able to read things, see photos and hear stories. Dad told a few things about his grandparents, from when he was a little tyke.


In my home county, there's what's called "the loop," many miles of country road that makes a big loop through the southeast part of the county, through what is mostly ranch country. My great-grandpa worked for one of the ranches 'way back in the day, so he and great-grandma lived down in this area.


On the south "leg" of this "loop" is a certain point called "High Gate." It's on a little hill, and in modern times there's a cattle guard. Perhaps back then there was literally a gate there.


So Dad told me stories about going to see his grandparents, and about High Gate. It seems his granddad was kind of a "gruff" man - he would put his watch on the table and expect mealtimes to be served on the dot. He didn't like the grandkids being noisy when they visited. And such.


Well. Dad said his granddad would head to town (?- or somewhere) in the wagon, and then ... his grandma would let the kids cut loose! They got out the piano rolls and played the player piano, they did whatever noisy, playing kids do. BUT, they would watch High Gate, and when they saw their grandpa coming through that point, they would put the piano rolls away, etc., and things would be all calm and quiet again by the time he got to the house. I kinda figure my great-grandma must've been a little more "laid-back" in nature!