“When harvest time is over, they cloak themselves in long johns, flannel shirts, and heavy winter coats and disappear into the woods. This time of hunting bear and deer, and sometimes rabbit or squirrel, seems to be their passion.” (Beneath the Shadow of the Mountains)

Of course, that is how I described these guys in Beneath the Shadow of the Mountains. And it’s just how the boys behaved. The old shanty had a small coal stove and these boys stayed in that shanty while they were hunting. Left – Buddy Buckland, Porter Jones and Robert Buckland. On the right was Uncle Robert’s son, Cecil Buckland, Jackie Jones and ?? maybe cousin Richard McHaffa. The bear was killed by Jackie, but for some reason, Dad had it dressed and the old black bear rug lived at our house for years.

Now you know trouble when you see it and I think this photo speaks for itself. The boys were known for their “carrying on” and this looks like there was a little “carrying on” that day. All railroaders (well except for the gal I don’t know) from the left-  Buddy Buckland, his brother Charles, cousin Richard McHaffa, – unknown pretty gal – youngest brother Walter and 2nd oldest brother Robert. All these boys worked hard on the railroad; All these boys played hard, too!

The Buckland Boys – Charles & Walter standing
Robert, L.W. Buckland, Sr. & L.W. Jr. Buddy

 Always take a good look at the pictures within pictures. From this photograph, I was able to track down the identity of my 2nd great grandparents, James Harrison Tabor and Nancy Moore Runyon. The framed picture of an unknown couple was hanging on the left back wall. It was difficult to discern and no one in the living family seemed to know who they were. I enlarged the print for a closer look and uploaded the image online.  A distant relative contacted me with the name and confirmation of their identity!

  

L.W. “Buddy” Buckland, Jr.               Robert Cecil Buckland                    Charles Nye Buckland
10/8/1915 – 11/6/1993                      4/4/1918 – 5/29/2011                      3/16/1924 – 6/29/1978

                      

            Walter Edward Buckland                       Nathaniel Richard McHaffa (cousin)
3/14/1926 – 4/20/2001                           9/27/1924 – 8/13/2012

      

The boys had toys. Buddy on his Harley with son, Larry Buckland and Walter on his bike. 1940’s

And the boys had Mama (Mary Jane Davidson Buckland) left, then Buddy, sister Nora Francis Buckland and brother Robert.