Eighty-year-old Albert Fredrich and his 76-year-old brother, Carl, have lived In the family house up on Groove Ridge all their lives. They have lived by themselves since their mother died 20 years ago.
Yet, after years together under the same roof, they live very separate lives.
They rise In the morning at different times, eat and fix their meals at different times and wash their clothes individually. Even when they attend services at the nearby Church of God, they sit in different pews on opposite sides of the sanctuary.
They share a brotherly love and concern for each other. They Just lead very separate lives.
Albert is the talker of the two. A smile and a laugh come easily, brightening his crinkled face, pulling a twinkle in his pale blue eyes.
“I’ve worked just about every kind of Job there is.” Albert said, as he recounted a variety of jobs from painting and blacksmithing to working for the railroad.
These days whittling keeps Albert busy. He makes arrowheads from cedar chips and gives them to anyone who seems Interested. He also makes horseshoes and miniature tools from copper wire.
Albert also likes to sit and watch the traffic zoom by his white clapboard house. He sits In the kitchen, living room, on the front porch or back porch and Just watches, occasionally tapping his foot or drumming his fingers.
Carl is more outgoing. “He Just can ‘t sit still, always got to do something.” Albert said of his brother.
Carl enjoys helping his brother -in-law, Lewis Simms. with chores or his fox hounds. He loves to chop wood, so much so that he has cut a two-year supply of wood for himself and Albert. It is ricked In the back yard.
Neighbors often stop by the house to socialize and check on the brothers. “Every time there’s a ride comes by, Carl will go.” Albert said. “Doesn’t matter which way they’re going or where . He Just likes to go.”
The brothers do share an enjoyment of living in Casey County on the 22-acre farm their father bought for a dollar an acre from a timber company.
Carl said he couldn’t imagine living anywhere else and didn’t want to. “I was born and raised here. Don’t want to leave,” Carl said adamantly.
“I tell people that I like It here better than I thought I would,” Albert said. “They ask well, how long you been here? I say, all my life. They always laugh after I say that.”
”Yeah. once I went to Cincinnati to visit my brother,” Albert continued. “Stayed couple of weeks. I couldn’t wait to get back.”
“People are good to us up here on the ridge. Neighbors will bring us food every once In an while and visit.”
Neither of the brothers is married. “I’m too old to think about It.” Albert said. “I might marry when I get old enough,” Carl said with a grin. “I got to study on it a while though.”