History of the Shopping Carts in the Tunungwant Creek
We once heard Jerry Clark of Westline, PA say that Tunungwant is Native American for "Shopping Cart in Creek". Perhaps this amusing illusory tale submitted by Zenrider via Mutant Mail on July 29, 2006 refutes that claim.
PLEASE NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in these articles are those of the author alone, and do not represent the official positions of the Mutant Beach Preservation Society. These articles have been included for archival purposes.
Many of the folks that migrated to Bradford were very poor before coming here. Most arrived without jobs or prospects of obtaining one. The shopping carts, or U-Haul, Jrs. as they are known, were used to move many into the welfare condo developments along Brookline Court and South Center Street. These immigrants would push the carts around to obtain curbside furniture or garage sale items to outfit their new residences. When the move was completed and they were finally issued a car and full benefits, they would hold a ceremony where they would cast off the shopping carts into the creek in front of their new free housing. This was something like the Christening of a new ship with all the fanfare. The "Casting of the Cart" ceremony was usually performed around the time of the spring thaw when most of the immigrants would emerge from winter hiding. The carts remained in the creek for many years. Each spring the rushing waters would push them a little farther downstream. The farthest I have ever seen one make it was about 300 feet above the Mill Street Bridge. Due to the reconstruction of the Barbour Street Bridge, many of the carts were removed from the area and fencing was erected along the bank to help prevent further loss of U-haul, Jrs.
[MBPS NOTE: This spring we saw two Wal-Mart shopping carts near South Center Street]
We photographed this Parkview Supermarket shopping cart at the corner of Hobson Place & Barbour Street at around noon on August 1, 2006 (and it was obviously in violation of the No Parking ordinance). Eight hours later it had moved 50 yards to the corner of Brookline Court and Barbour Street. It must be inching its way toward the Tuna Creek!
©2006 MBPS
