I took the scenic way home from town yesterday and thought I would share these photos.
This is the house we grew up in. We moved from here when I was 14.
Our Dad built this garage. Or at least I think he did. I'm sure So will correct any mistakes that I make since my memory is seriously lacking in most areas.
If you enlarge this one you can barely see the treehouse that Dad built way in the back.
In the winter time when it snowed really good (as it did back then) sometimes the entire neighborhood would gather around this hill. The adults would set a big bonfire and all the kids and adults alike would sled down this hill. Sometimes we would go all the way to Caryngirl's house. Caryn was one of my best friends and her IhateheruntilthedayIdie mother called her Caryngirl.
This house belongs to our long time neighbors "The Martins". They had 3 kids, Rod, Yvonne and Nim. Nim was "special" to So.....he he
There used to be a place us kids called the graveyard. It was next to our other long time neighbors "The Nagels". They had 3 kids too, Geoff, Delane and damned if I can't remember the older boy's name.
Our neighborhood was a great place to grow up in. Everyone knew each other and visited, took food over when someone was sick. All the kids would play together, well except Jan Castleman who was a bit "touched". They lived next door to us and I was forced to be nice to her because my parents were good parents and did the right thing. I will never ever forget the time that she wandered into our house, which she did a lot, and lost her damn cowboy hat. Mother made ME find the frickin thing. But aside from that my memories of that neighborhood and growing up there are grand. It was there that I rode my beloved Luckypony around to my friend's house. We used to play "night games" and had such fun. It seemed like most times the kids would gather at our house be it summer or winter. Mother always had something for us to eat and/or drink. In the winter time Mom would take our mittens and scarves that were wet from the snow and throw them in the dryer. We would take off our boots and put them upside down on the registers to dry them out. Such wonderful memories that will last a lifetime.
7 comments:
Lisa, I loved the comment you left on Dave's blog. It reminded me very much of when my partner died. His mother and I were holding his hands, and we told him to let go. And - he did! It was a beautiful moment, and I know that you understand that because of that moment with your mother.
Your neighborhood, the neighbors, and the stories sound so similar to how I grew up. I like your old house; it looks friendly and welcoming. Your mom sounds like mine...always handy with iced tea and some type of snacks.
Happy Mother's Day to you, honey!
Thanks Bill. That house was for sale a few years ago. The house and the 13 acres with it was priced at $229,000! I asked Dad to buy it for me, kidding of course. I wanted it so badly but it was not to happen. I drove in the driveway to take some of those pictures yesterday and briefly thought about going inside. I have thought of that many times but I have decided that I want to remember it like I do now.
C,mon Scott. Enlighten us.
Well that house was on 13 acres of land, half of it wooded, the rest Dad had landscaped. The original house was less than half that size, and was asbestos shingled. We came home one day and they had started bricking the whole thing, and then the two remodelings took place, five years apart. The garage was cement block and must have been bricked later. By the time we moved away, there was a huge carport attached to the house, the garage would hold two cars but was filled with dental equipment, and there was a two car carport attached to it also. I don't remember if Dad built that garage, but I do not think he did. The original cost of the house and property was $12,000. We moved in right before So was born, in 1957.
Dad gave his parents an acre on one corner near the hill in that picture and they built a house on it. Pap Paw and Mam Maw had chickens, and we had goats in the woods to keep it eaten down, So had horses and ponies. There were cows next door at the Knotts. We had a couple cats and always Muggs, the Boxer.
Hunter Martin, Jr went on to become an interior designer, but he wasn't 'special' to me. There was someone else in the neighborhood that was, though.
The Steinkamps lived next door before the Castlemans. Corky, Susie and their brother. Mr Castleman was a cigarette salesman, which I thought was weird.
Mom and Mam Maw used to both take us in during those cold night when we were sledding. Both would dry our mittens and make us hot chocolate.
We had lots of property to run around on, ride bikes through numerous paths. Most everyone in the neighborhood had lots of property. The Martins had a Christmas tree farm. The Nagel's had a clay tennis court. And So, I can believe you forgot Alan Nagel.
The front door to our house is different a bit, there is that bench underneath the kitchen window, which replaced the shrubs. The maple tree was replaced with that red blooming tree. And there was no pine tree in the front yard.
Thanks for posting those pictures. Such memories.
Thanks for the shared memories. Great pictures.
I know where this is too...lol.....
I loved going down memory lane with you. Thanks for sharing.
Post a Comment