Main Street Resident Shares The Rest Of The Story

Barack Obama waiting to greet supporters and well wishers at Parkesburg's west bound train station in May of 2008.  Picture taken by Sue Wilde

Earlier this week in a Parkesburg Yesterday article, I posted a video of then presidential candidate Barack Obama rolling through Parkesburg during the 2008 Pennsylvania primary.

Towards the end of the video Mr. Obama is heard carrying on a conversation with an anonymous resident.

Mr. Obama shouted to the unseen resident, 'So nice to see you.' followed a few seconds later by 'That's a big lawn to mow.'

At that point the video ends, the train moves on and Parkesburg's brush with greatness ends.

But wait, there's more to the story.

Turns out the Parkesburg resident Obama was shouting at was none other than Sue Wilde of Main Street.

Sue said her husband Bud urged her to snap a picture of the candidate as they saw the train pulled into town.  While the train paused for a few minutes before pulling through Parkesburg's westbound station, Sue grabbed her camera, ran across the street and into the backyard of the Wilde Funeral Home.

When Obama saw her he started the conversation captured on the video.

Sue reports only a portion of the exchange between her and the soon to be 44th President Of The United States is captured on the video however.

Obama also asked her who's house it was she was standing behind.  Sue responded it was her husband's funeral home. 

At the end of the conversation she wished him good luck and snapped a picture (above) of a relaxed Obama, open shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, hands on his hips, enjoying a warm Saturday afternoon train ride through the picturesque Chester and Lancaster countryside.

Note:  After posting this story Saturday morning, Kathi Rendall of 2nd Avenue in Parkesburg, updated her Facebook status that she too was there as Obama did his slow roll through the borough.  She posted the picture below with her status.  Thanks for sharing your picture Kathi!

Presidential candidate Barack Obama rolling through Parkesburg in May 2008 as captured by Kathi Rendall.  Senator Bob Casey is behind Obama.