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Chick Ludwig covers the Cincinnati Bengals. He also writes about his other passions: college football, basketball and golf.Home > Blogs > Chick Ludwig At Large > Archives > 2008 > July > 03 > Entry
Fourth of July at Tom & Agnes’ Delhi home
THE ‘FOURTH’ IS
ALL ABOUT FAMILY
When my uncle, Touchdown Tommy Ludwig (AKA “Teach”), married Agnes Lipps way back in the early 1960s, the wedding Mass at St. Dominic Catholic Church at the corner of Delhi Pike and Pedretti Avenue marked the union of two of the largest families in the Delhi Hills section of Cincinnati.
The families came together every year on the Fourth of July at Tom & Agnes’ farmhouse estate in Delhi, and the memories of those good ol’ days are one big blur …
… of burgers, brats & dogs on the grill … a swimming pool full of corn on the cob … baked beans and baked spaghetti … kegs of beer being tapped … and, of course, watermelon splattered across everybody’s faces.
Grandparents and parents, aunts and uncles, cousins and friends all in one location — kids running wild, adults directing traffic and everybody telling stories from “Sun Up Till Sun Down.”
A pipe protruded from the ground at one end of the property, and uncles Teach, Deacon and Kenny kept me and my cousins busy by tossing a firecracker down the pipe, then stuffing a rubber ball in that pipe. Seconds later, that rubber ball would be launched a country mile into the air.
Naturally, all the kids had gathered in a huge, open field … and we’d run, and run, and run, then circle under that dang rubber ball in a vain attempt to catch it.
The highlight, of course, was the evening fireworks show, courtesy of the nearly Delhi Swim Club.
For as long as I live, I’ll remember those times at Tom & Aggie’s house as some of the best times in my life.
It’s exactly what the Fourth of July is all about — FAMILY.
Wouldn’t it be fun to do it all over again? Just one more time?
Here’s hoping everyone has a happy, healthy and safe Fourth!
Contact Chick Ludwig at cludwig@daytondailynews.com
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: Bengals
Comments
By Todd
July 3, 2008 11:20 PM | Link to this
Those were the best times!!! But boy was I frustrated! I was too little to catch that ball between the towers that were you, Larry, Dan, Tony Jr., Greg, and countless others!!! But you forgot two main ingredients…. Horseshoes and Grandma Ludwig’s world famous German potato salad! I hope you and yours have a safe and fun holiday! :)By Pat (chick's cousin)
July 4, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this
Those fun times continued also when Uncle Tom and Aunt Agnes moved to Sunman. There had to be over 200 people. Chick, I think that ball was a tennis ball…I said to my husband this morning, that 4 yrs ago when the 4th was also on a friday, we had the family at our place in Okeana.. It is always great to see everyone no matter where or when. One thing for sure. Those were the good old days that we will treasure forever and ever. Love ya Chick. Hope we can get together again soon.By Janeen Coyle
July 5, 2008 5:08 PM | Link to this
Chick, I am here in the “Mother,” country, London, England celebrating the 4th!!! All Americans got a free Bud on the 4th at the Hard Rock. At Buckingham Palace, Queen Lizzy came out on the Royal Balcony to wave to her former colonial subjects on the 4th! At least, I thought it was a wave, until further inspection led me to believe she was using her digit in a most “un-queenly” like manner! Still bitter about 1776,I must say!