Parkersburg Local Customs

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No doubt you've heard Pete and Re-Pete jokes. Example: two men, Pete and Re-Pete went out fishing in a boat. Pete fell in. Who was left in the boat? Re-Pete. Well, Parkersburg is home to the real Pete and Re-Pete--John and Gerald Beckett. You may find yourself doing a double take if you encounter them. No need to get your eyes checked--or worry that you've had too much to drink--you aren't seeing double. No, you have just had an encounter with Parkersburg's two most famous eccentrics!

Pete and Re-Pete are two elderly, identical-looking men. They look alike, they dress alike--from their hats to their footwear. According to what I've heard, they are not even brothers, much less twins. According to what I've heard they are uncle and nephew.

That is not so unusual perhaps--two grown men who aren't twins dressing as if they are--but their behavior is the kicker. The two men do nothing but walk. All day long. All night long too, from what we can tell. I've encountered them walking around at 2 am. 6am. Middle of day. Late in the evening. All hours, all weathers.

And it isn't even that they dress like twins when they aren't, and spend all their time walking together. It's the way they walk. Not side by side, as you might expect. Nope. They are always walking the same way.... single file, one in front of the other. Not close together though. Not even within talking distance. Usually one of them is a quarter to half a block behind the other. They don't talk. Not even to coordinate where they are going.

If one of them gets too far ahead of the other, he stops for a bit and waits for the other to get closer--but not close enough to walk together. I've even seen them stop and lie down under a shade tree--one laid down on one side of the tree and one laid down on the opposite side. Keeping an eye out for Pete and Re-Pete is a local custom of sorts.

Update: John was struck by a car in August 2006 while walking at night. His leg was broken. His Gerald still walks around town...while pushing John in his wheelchair.

Update: Now that John has healed, they take turns pushing each other in the wheelchair.