MOULTON MEMORIAL... REFLECTIONS FROM YESTERYEAR


Let's go back 60 years to 1949 and remember what it was like for a teenager, John Homan, who attended Moulton Memorial Baptist Church on William Street in the City Of Newburgh. Members of the church had been playing Dartball for years. This eighteen year old and son of future Hall of Famer, Charles Homan, begins playing in a league that he is still active in today.

His playing days get interrupted as he goes off to defend his nation during the Korean War. John remembers how the league was so popular that besides the Good Fellowship League there was the Harmony & the Senior Citizen League. Moulton even played their games in the boiler room of the church while having to navigate the pipes in order to play. Many of the players were elated when the team finally moved into the church hall.

John points out that the frame that Moulton uses to hold up the board is over 80 years old and like the league, has withstood the test of time. The board was once wired up with the light directly attached to the board. The wiring & light are long gone, but the board lives on.

The memories include some special teammates and opponents that made playing special. John Pollack, now deceased, was one of those players that John thinks of often. Also, the memory of Art Murray of Broadway Garage fame is vivid. The late Mr. Murray could be seen in the middle of January with his short sleeve shirts and bulging muscular arms as one of the classiest and well liked players in the league. Current teammate Jim Nelson started in the 40s as well. Another character of the past was Bill "Willie" Crossetta

who was the most notorious Base on Balls shooter in league history. Willie often needed just four darts and was the master of hitting the blue diamond with four straight darts. Crossetta was an original member of the HOF in 1977.

Homan also reflects on some other memorable teams and locations of years gone by with a nostalgic look back. Great locations were Vails Gate Fire House, Woodcock Auto in Blooming Grove, Broadway Garage, St. Patrick's Church, Grace Methodist Church and the Pastime Athletic Club.

Jumping to the present, Moulton now has two franchises because of the growing popularity within the church to support two teams. Now we have the original Moulton Memorial and the Moulton Memorial Crimson Knights to carry on the tradition of Moulton Dartball. Sixty years later Moulton has a 16 year old player named Josh Decker. Just like John Homan, his dad is also a member of the program. Perhaps sixty years from now, Josh will be reflecting on his memories of GoodFellowship Dartball.