Rich Berry tells of his days in old North Madison

In “Growing Up in North Madison — 1945 And On”, Rich Berry tells us in rhyme about his childhood and teen years in a little town that’s no longer here.

Oh, the area is still here — part of Madison, Indiana, where Rich and I were classmates from fourth grade on. But younger Madisonians, and those who moved here from other places, will often look at you uncomprehendingly if you mention “North Madison.” In Rich’s and my day, however, it was definitely a separate, distinct little railroad town with its own town board and fire engine. Not a “fire department” — one truck, a 1937 Chevrolet hand-painted red and equipped with hose and ladders. It also had its own post office (still does), a bank (long gone), two or three Mom and Pop grocery stores, and the North Madison High School, which was a 12-grade affair Rich and I attended right through junior high. But by that time, the top four grades were long gone, too — absorbed by Madison High School.

Rich, who worked a 30-year career at the Indiana-Kentucky Electric Corp. plant here, and served a number of years as a deputy sheriff for Jefferson County, now lives in Markle, Indiana, with his wife, Judy.

“Growing Up in North Madison” presents a plethora of poems which no doubt will interest anyone who grew up in a similar small town — and others who have always wondered what it was like. But those who were Rich’s contemporaries in old North Madison will be most fascinated by this poetry — because they’re often featured in it, by name.

An example: “Classmates at E.O. Muncie” (it is the successor school to North Madison, and is still educating our young Madisonians, K through fifth, to this day):

“Janie Hines and Rebara Ramsey are first to come to mind, Like Donnie Marshall seldom hard to find.

“Marla Lindsay was a friend I haven’t seen since graduation, And Darell and Carell Alvey who overflowed with consideration.

“Mike Gordon was always laughing or smiling a lot, Often with Bill Courtney they’d cheer up.

“Dave Bentley and Ed Sudlow did well in class, My own goal was at least to pass.

“Alan Brittingham and Dickie Lewis were good students, too, Jerry Howard like most just wanted to get through.

“Bob Laughlin and Bill Pacey were two other friends, Always up to date on the latest trends.

“Bob Lowe was a competitor in sports like most, Doing what was needed and being a good host.

“Francis Wilson and Gavin Lodge were students well thought of, Always with their academics rising a little above.

“Jim Sellers was a star athlete representing our school, With the same girl on his mind always staying cool.

“I’ve missed some I’m sure but my memory lacks, But memories happen again since making their tracks.”

Rich and his family — father Russell, mother Alice, brother David and sister Marita Jane, lived in the small hamlet of Lancaster, a few miles north of old North Madison, for three years when the kids were young, before moving back to the railroad town. The Yuletide season was what Rich remembers most in “Christmas In Lancaster”:

“The few years I lived there have memories to stay, Especially about Christmas, a very special day.

“Somehow I’d learned Santa Claus wasn’t for real, But I didn’t want to risk ruining a good deal.

“Dad wanted to get a tree so we walked out back, It was a cedar I think, looking a little slack.

“We cut it down and drug it to our place, Decorating it till it looked good to any smiling face.

“Christmas Eve was a very special family time, Knowing good things will happen when the sun shines.

“Our family tradition was opening one gift the night before, We were fortunate with a mom and dad having love in store.

“Being better off than many as a youngster back then, Memories of great times will always be my friend.

“With Flip my big black dog and a few cats, We always enjoyed surprises, even littler boxes or mats.

“It was fun at least the early years as a kid, Before times changed and illness caused a big skid.

“Still the great memories of my family years ago, Will take over in days when thoughts are a little blue.”

In the last few lines Rich is referring to the cancer which was first diagnosed in his older brother Dave at age 16, and from which Dave passed away at age 26. One year later, their mother Alice died in a tragic traffic accident, and two years after that Russell Berry passed, also. There are a number of poems in the book recalling his family members who are gone, with sadness at their loss and gratitude for the time he had with them. Later in the book he writes of the many classmates of ours who also died too soon, with our 50th anniversary class reunion approaching. And he also devotes a number of poems, one each, to friends and classmates who are still with us. Will they recognize themselves?  They’ll have to read the rhymes to find out!

But in the main, Rich writes in an unorthodox but upbeat style, recounting experiences he and his friends had — sometimes doing things they “hadn’t oughta” — in childhood through high school. I got a number of laughs from THOSE poems; you probably will, too.

I’ll wind up this review what what I thought was one of the funniest poems in the book. It’s called, “What’s A Soap Opera?”

“I think a fitting name would be, ‘As the Stomach Turns,’ Which is what they’d all do for me if I had the yearn.

“They appear to all have the same problems it seems, They’ve all had affairs with everyone on the scene.

“Repeating the same things over with a different face, I’d rather watch a test pattern than to see their space.

“Another fitting title is, ‘The Young and the Worthless,’  Where testosterone is the daily medication to relieve stress.

“The same lines, expressions and pitiful looks, Fill most of the time that their agent books.

“I suppose it’s a lot like pro-wrestling that some will see, Becoming fans to the embarrassment of your family tree.

“A more realistic title for this type of stuff shown, Would be ‘One Step Beyond’ or maybe ‘The Twilight Zone’ .

“I’ll never be asked to think up a name, of course; I’d suggest something like, ‘The Intestinal Force.’

“Some day I’m certain they’ll reach a new level of bother, When someone determines they’re their own father.

“But I won’t watch, I don’t care what they do, At least they make commercials look more true.”

Rich also includes poetry in his book about family members, especially his beloved grandchildren; and the many guys who he worked with at the IKEC plant. A little added attraction near the end of the 380-page volume is several poems written, not by Rich, but by his sister Marita Berry; and his good friend from the “Class of ’63,” Larry Claghorn.

If you were a North Madisonian of the 1950s and ’60s; a school friend of Rich’s; or one of his friends from IKEC or the sheriff’s department, chances are you’ll see your name in “Growing Up in North Madison” at least once. Maybe twice. Or even more …

Also included in the book are a large number of Rich’s family pictures; a few from his childhood, and many of his daughters and grandchildren. The Berrys look like an All-American family, if there ever was one.

Rich doesn’t claim to be a professional writer, and his poetry style is somewhat unorthodox. But it’s unmistakably HIS style. Read a few of his poems, and you’d recognize his work anywhere.

Locally, the book is available at Village Lights Book Store, 110 W. Main St., in Madison.