Movin' on up
Big City
Some time in 1944, we loaded up the conestoga wagon and headed north to the BIG city, Bawlmer, Merlin. Our new abode was a row house on Kimble Rd. in beautiful Ednor Gardens, 3 blocks north of the (really) old Memorial Stadium, at that time a totally wooden structure.
Our home was the standard for the time, two story brick with a full basement. Heat was provided by radiators fueled by a coal furnace, converted to oil burner by my big brother after he returned from the war.
All homes in Baltimore had allies in the rear, used mostly by the trash collectors and kids playing. Horse drawn carts came through at various seasons hawking the current crop of goods… “WaaaaaaTaaaaMeeeeelllllooooon!”, “Sooffff Craaaabs!)
Milk from Green Spring Dairy was delivered to our door, as was bread from Rice’s Bakery. Some in the neighborhood still didn’t have refrigerators and had ice delivered on a regular basis. The mail man was like a member of the family who stopped by every day. Spring began the anticipated return of the “Good Humor” man.
Summer brought the heat and humidity which meant many nights sleeping on the first floor to avoid the heat of “upstairs.” Kids would chase after the milk man’s truck to try to snatch a piece of loose ice. The only serious relief from the heat would come if you could afford to go to the “upscale” Boulevard movie house and relax in air conditioned comfort while watching the miracle of Technicolor films.
Saturdays at the Waverly theatre was reserved for cowboy movies with our heros, Red Rider, the Lone Ranger, Hopalong Cassidy, and the singing wranglers, Roy and Gene. The main event would be bolstered by one cartoon and the latest chapter of some serial adventure. The kids were given a quarter and told to bring home the change. (10 cents to get in, 5 for a soda and 5 for some treat like “Good and Plenties”)
Most of our fantasy games involved playing “cowboys” where we were heavily armed with “cap” pistols. Caps, which would make a small “bang” noise when set off by the gun were considered “fireworks” by the local authorities and therefore illegal. It was quite a coup when someone smuggled some in from a far away state, like Virginia.
The bigger kids had 2 wheel bikes, most of the young’uns made due with 3 wheelers or scooters. Our thrill ride was putting a telephone book on a roller skate, sitting on it and zooming down the walkways between the row house groups.
Life was simple, life was good. And then…“Mad Man Muntz” assaulted the airwaves with ads for the amazing new contraption that would change our lives forever : TV
Some time in 1944, we loaded up the conestoga wagon and headed north to the BIG city, Bawlmer, Merlin. Our new abode was a row house on Kimble Rd. in beautiful Ednor Gardens, 3 blocks north of the (really) old Memorial Stadium, at that time a totally wooden structure.
Our home was the standard for the time, two story brick with a full basement. Heat was provided by radiators fueled by a coal furnace, converted to oil burner by my big brother after he returned from the war.
All homes in Baltimore had allies in the rear, used mostly by the trash collectors and kids playing. Horse drawn carts came through at various seasons hawking the current crop of goods… “WaaaaaaTaaaaMeeeeelllllooooon!”, “Sooffff Craaaabs!)
Milk from Green Spring Dairy was delivered to our door, as was bread from Rice’s Bakery. Some in the neighborhood still didn’t have refrigerators and had ice delivered on a regular basis. The mail man was like a member of the family who stopped by every day. Spring began the anticipated return of the “Good Humor” man.
Summer brought the heat and humidity which meant many nights sleeping on the first floor to avoid the heat of “upstairs.” Kids would chase after the milk man’s truck to try to snatch a piece of loose ice. The only serious relief from the heat would come if you could afford to go to the “upscale” Boulevard movie house and relax in air conditioned comfort while watching the miracle of Technicolor films.
Saturdays at the Waverly theatre was reserved for cowboy movies with our heros, Red Rider, the Lone Ranger, Hopalong Cassidy, and the singing wranglers, Roy and Gene. The main event would be bolstered by one cartoon and the latest chapter of some serial adventure. The kids were given a quarter and told to bring home the change. (10 cents to get in, 5 for a soda and 5 for some treat like “Good and Plenties”)
Most of our fantasy games involved playing “cowboys” where we were heavily armed with “cap” pistols. Caps, which would make a small “bang” noise when set off by the gun were considered “fireworks” by the local authorities and therefore illegal. It was quite a coup when someone smuggled some in from a far away state, like Virginia.
The bigger kids had 2 wheel bikes, most of the young’uns made due with 3 wheelers or scooters. Our thrill ride was putting a telephone book on a roller skate, sitting on it and zooming down the walkways between the row house groups.
Life was simple, life was good. And then…“Mad Man Muntz” assaulted the airwaves with ads for the amazing new contraption that would change our lives forever : TV
posted by revsnodgrass | 3:44 PM
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