Growing Up Glendale

"Growing Up Glendale" is the true story of one boy's life as he experiences every day in a small New England village. Through his eyes, you meet all the residents, and learn of the events that made the village a magical place to live in. The story winds through time as the boy grows and learns all that the village has to offer. It's that intimate kind of old-school town where everyone knows you and your dog's name. The village was simple, it had a two-room schoolhouse, one market, one restaurant, one gas station, two churches, a volunteer fire company, a textile mill, and several dogs. Many events would be repeatedly discussed through the years. The dramatic rescue of the boys trapped on an island in the middle of a nearby river during a great flood, the meteor that once streaked through the night sky, and the Halloween nights filled with mischief and stolen pumpkins. The wonder and simplicity of this village would only last for so long however, and as the story pushes on you'll come to witness the gradual decline of this special place as local institutions close and neighborhood events stop. For those who remember these special times, they all say the magic has been gone for many years, and when the magic finally died, the village became nothing but a place to sleep.

"Growing Up Glendale" is the true story of one boy's life as he experiences every day in a small New England village. Through his eyes, you meet all the residents, and learn of the events that made the village a magical place to be. The story winds through time as the boy grows and learns of all that the village has to offer. It's that intimate kind of old-school town where everyone knows you and your dog's name. The village was simple, it had a two-room schoolhouse, one market, one restaurant, one gas station, two churches, a volunteer fire company, a textile mill, and several dogs to go along with it all. Many events would be repeatedly discussed through the years as they cemented their place in the local folklore. The dramatic rescue of the boys who weather the great flood but ended up trapped on an island in the middle of a nearby, the meteor that once streaked through the night sky, and the Halloween nights filled with mischief and stolen pumpkins. The wonder and simplicity of this village could only last for so long however, and as the story pushes on you'll come to witness the gradual decline of this special place as local institutions close and neighborhood events stop. For those who remember these special times, they all say the magic has been gone for many years, and when the magic finally died, the village became nothing but a place to sleep. This is an autobiographical account of the author Bill Pepler's fondest memories of life while growing up in Glendale, Rhode Island. This charming, small New England town had much to offer, including familiarity, kindness, and trustworthiness. In-depth descriptions of Glendale and the surrounding areas portray a place with brooks, bridges, rivers, blueberry patches, apple orchards, and more. Join Pepler in reliving his experiences as a child, many of which relate to the adventures common in childhood– sledding down steep hills, ice skating on the pond, holiday get-togethers, riding bikes, building a tree house, playing baseball, and catching fireflies, to name just a few. The central theme, the fire station and the firemen, influenced his life's passion at an early age and is a touching tribute to first responders. He eventually became a junior fireman in high school and then a fire captain as an adult. Pepler describes various emergency calls that he responded to with his fellow junior firemen as well as the volunteer firemen. Take a trip down memory lane as he recalls the 1960s and 1970s, describing historical events of the time as well as rock and roll's famous bands and music, Saturday morning and Sunday night TV, movies, and more. This tale of another time in a special place will provide readers with a warm and enchanting look into the past that might feel long gone today.

BILL PEPLER is a retired Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director. He has spent the majority of his adult life protecting others. He graduated from Golden Gate University with a Master's in Public Administration. He is also a graduate of both the police and fire academies. He holds several national certifications including Certified Emergency Manager. Bill has taught at several colleges and universities and served as an adjunct instructor at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland. This is his first novel. He lives in Scottsdale, Arizona with his wife.