The Main Street Sweepers

A few old timers may recall when first-class postage was 3 cents, gasoline was 25 cents a gallon and a haircut was 50 cents. At that time, there were no stoplights on Main Street, parking was parallel and the entire Ramona business district extended from 5th to 10th streets. It was a time when there was very little traffic to clog up Main Street, thus allowing the business owners to employ a street sweeper.

During the 1940s and 1950s, a wiry little bachelor, Johnny Smale, was the town sweeper who was hired by local downtown merchants to keep Main Street and the sidewalks in a respectable condition, and that he did for quite a few years.

Old timers will recollect Johnny with a long black cigar clenched between his teeth, pushing his cleaning cart up and down Main Street each day. And some may recall Johnny as he followed the horses in a parade, cussing all the way in his high-pitched, sarcastic voice.

Probably because he was so outspoken, some of the boys enjoyed teasing the feisty Johnny, and perhaps he either liked the attention or wasn't wise enough to ignore his tormentors, for on several occasions, his cart was found atop the Turkey Inn after Halloween. He was once found helplessly hanging by the seat of his pants from a telephone pole spike.

Johnny also worked at the theater with a younger man. A few may recall the noisy daily squabbles over which broom man got to go in first to look for loose change. While working at the theater, one of the pranksters there secretly confided in Johnny that scientists were perfecting a way to recycle old light bulbs and, needless to say, Johnny took the bait and soon had a monumental collection of used light bulbs hoarded away in boxes in every room.

He faithfully maintained this collection for quite some time while waiting for the day that he could cash in his bonanza before he finally became aware of the ruthless prank. And when he did, he cussed and fussed and he spit and fumed…and everyone stood back and had a great laugh…all but poor Johnny.

After Johnny retired sometime in the early 1950s and the boys had lost their favorite pigeon, two other young men, Gary Deftley and Charles Freeman, took over the street cleaning and other duties at the theater for several years. Still later, Bob Williams purchased a modern mechanized street sweeping machine, cleaning the streets for about a year. Shortly thereafter, Mickey Shidner took over for a while.

Eventually, Ed Meador began sweeping and soon became well known by all as he was easily recognized riding his old green Cushman kick-start motor scooter. It featured extra wheels under a front basket that carried his brooms and shovels and also kept him from tipping over due to his disabled leg. Because of his distinctive "green machine," he was dubbed Scooter Ed.

Ed, like his predecessors, cleaned the streets and sidewalks of Ramona for many years, ending his services in the 1960s after performing a worthwhile community service and being dedicated to his job.

Remembering the street sweepers of yesteryear is like remembering the country doctors who made house calls, the blacksmiths who could make anything, the cash or carry grocery stores, the self service gas stations, the soda fountains, the Sears and Roebuck catalogue or the many other ordinary matters making up a small town that have become but memories.

Darrell Beck is the author of "On Memory's Back Trail: A Story History of Ramona and the Backcountry of San Diego County." For information about the book, contact the author at 760-789-2534.