When I was a young boy in the 1930s — growing up in Greenfield with my parents, brother and my father’s father — I can remember what my father did with his spare moments. His regular job was working for the Greenfield Tap and Die Plant 1 on Meridian Street in the hardening room. The hobby he was most proud of was making his grape wine in our back yard. He and my brother in-law would go searching the countryside to find wild grapes.
My father wasn’t that satisfied with his older vine press and later in life, he built a new one all handmade. It took at least three men to lift or move this beautiful press. Whenever there was a family gathering or during the holiday season, my father made sure that everyone who wanted some of his wine would get some. He also helped my mother make many loaves of Christmas bread.
My parents were hard working people and both of them left me with many memories that I still cherish to this day.
Robert Bitzer
Erving