This house was a large two story, much roomier then the bungalow. As you entered, there was a vestibule with a tile floor,, closet, and a leaded glass inner door. You could walk straight through to the kitchen. An open stair case, with a wrought iron railing was to your left. You entered the living room to the right. We had a baby grand piano in the corner, sometimes in front of the window... mom liked to move the furniture. I took piano lessons and hated them. Mom made me play for our guests, which was often. I had to play at recitals! At one of these, Loretta fainted. Some one gave her 'The Evil Eye'. I was told. They called it an 'ooruck' (phonetic spelling). Some one licked her forehead three times, to get rid of the evil spirit!
Our side street Linville was a dirt road in 1937. Later it was paved with asphalt. The men who worked on the road worked for the W.P.A. (Works Progress Administration) The program put many men to work.
It was hot, and mom would send us over with lemon-ade and ice-water, we also did this when the voting booths were set up in the fall, except now it was hot coffee. The booths were dark green portables.
We loved skating on the new road. Our roller-skates were metal, and attached to the soles of our shoes. You could adjust the size with a key, on a bolt located on the bottom of the skate. Many a shoe sole was ripped off because I fastened the skate grips too tight.
There were a lot of vacant lots in our neighborhood. The lot next to us had a huge oak tree. We would
5905 Whittier Rd.
Every year we planted a garden in that lot. Until we had a neighbor build there. The most prolific plants were the gourds. There was an abundants of multi-colors, and shapes. In the fall, we would gather them up, and mom would make a table arrangement. We always kept some seeds from the best plants for next years garden.
With all the new construction, houses were springing up like mushrooms all over the place. A great game was to play in the unfinished ones. Rafters to climb, holes to crawl through. We would climb to the second story, and jump through a window, into a pile of sand. It was unlucky to miss! We never played in the basement. It smelled like wet mud and tar. Some times we got a little rowdy. The police would tell us to leave, we did, then when they left, we came back and played more quietly. I realize now how dangerous it was, but we were indestructible then.
Another favorite pastime was putting on plays in a garage, anyones garage, we weren't fussy. We would put sheets and blankets across a clothes line to make our stage. We'd make up stories, and preform for all
Sometimes, after school, a lot of kids would go to the local drug store. We would order a pitcher of Vemors ginger-ale. Mr. Ruthaford would set a foamy pitcher in front of us. When it settled, it was now HALF empty. When we complained, he said "Why didn't you drink it while it was FULL!"
My best friend Phyllis and I would go to Smiths market. Her order was always the same. A pound of ground round steak, and a piece of store cheese. The clerk would cut a wedge from a wheel of cheese. The store was filled with bins, all containing bulk foods. Super markets were begining to make their appearance, small by todays standards, so Smiths was "old fashioned". We liked to shop there. A large heat grate, about three foot square was cut in the floor. Heat rushed up, warming us completely. Later movies made a big deal of an actress, Marilyn Monroe standing on a grate, skirt whirling around. We did it for years.
We needed that heat after ice-skating. The field next to the church would flood, and when it froze, it made a wonderful ice pond, even better then Belle Isle. It
5905 Whittier Rd.
I failed to mention, we had a full basement, divided lenghtwise. There was a closet under the stairs. The white painted walls had a stucco finish. You entered on the left side, this was our recreation room. Plenty of space for large parties. Through a doorway to the right, were all the utilities. Mom's washing machine and a extra stove were at the far left. At the right end was the coal burning furnace, water heater, a coal bin and fruit celler. The fruit celler was lined with shelves.Here proudly stood all the jars of fruits and vegetables, jellies and juices mom had preserved for the winter months. We had to keep an eye on the furnace. Too large of a fire and it was too hot, too small, the house was too cool. The last person to bed at night, always checked and stoked the fire.
I'm not positive, but think Mom had a cleaning schedule. All the bed sheets were changed on Saturday, washing on Monday, ironing on Tuesday, ect. Washing took the major portion of the day. Mom had a wringer-washer. First the clothes were stacked in piles, separating light, dark, and whites, and washed in different temperatures. Then put through the wringer, into a first warm water rinse. Then you would swing the wringer between the two rinse tubs.
Then we carried the wash out to the yard, and hung it on the clothes line. Mom's clothes basket was a large wicker one with sturdy handles. It held a lot of wet wash and was heavy to carry up the stairs.
Mom was very partiular as to how the clothes were hung. You didn't hang underwear where passing neighbors would see it. This intimate apparel was hung in the center of the lines. No outsider ever saw our under things! In winter the clothes were hung in the basement. The walk was less, but mom was just as fussy about how it was hung!
August 7,1938 our youngest brother was born. The neighbors seeing diapers on the clothes line, asked who was visiting us. Mom said no one. They asked about the diapers!!! When she told them she had a new baby, they were astonished. They never knew she was pregnant. No one talked about personal matters out side the family. But the clothes line was definitely a means of communication.... Your inner most secrets were hung out to dry.
I myself was not above a little rascality! Loretta and
5905 Whittier Rd.
How mom put up with all our nonsense, is beyond me. At this time, she was trying to manage the store. Claire and Chet worked with her. Chet was nineteen and didn't like the meat trade. The work was very hard. After a time , mom hired a manager. This didn't work out. Later Mom decided to sell the store. This was the best for all concerned.
The first time I took the bus downtown, all alone, was to my mind a right of passage! I met ay Aunt Irene after work. She took me to dinner, and presented me with a turtle made of sugar! We went shopping, I recall the store was filled with the most wonderful things. After that we went to one of those marvelous movie palaces! They were opulent works of art, heavy carpets, huge open stair cases, and gilded appointments, all very impressive. This was the first time I attended a theater so luxurious, splendid, and lavish!