Part III - Some Early Recollections of Living on 136th. Street

 

Picture taken around 1950

An early childhood picture in the backyard of our house on 136th. Street.  Directly behind me is the plot of yard dug up for the annual garden.  Behind the fence is the alley.

My dad made that hat for me out of felt.  It had points all the way around it - a sort of Jughead look from the days of Archie comic books.

The pants always lasted longer when Mom could sew knee patches in them.

The jacket was either a "hand-me-down" or who knows what.

Humble beginnings growing up in a blue collar neighborhood and family.  We may not have had much, but there was always food on the table (as my dad always put it).   Our first car was a used 1948 Oldsmobile which we drove to Scottsbluff NE in 1953 to see my Grandma Krikau, who unbeknownst to me was close to dying as most of her sons living near us made the same trip that summer. She died while we were out there, but was shipped back by rail to Chicago to be buried next to Grandpa Krikau (d. 1946) in Cedar Park Cemetery on 127th. and Halsted.

Our first TV was a 12" Admiral - with record player included in the console.  Of course it was black and white and we watched Howdy Doodie as one of the first programs.  That too occurred in the early 1950's.  

Our first and only dog became part of the family in the mid-50's as well.  We named her Snooper - long before the name Snoopy was even created.  She was part of Glimpy's litter from across the street.  Everyone figured the father was Duke - who kind of roamed the area unleashed.  Dad hated that dog.   A quick story.... 

One summer day we were sitting on lawn chairs in the backyard - under one of the shade trees.  My dad spotted Duke walking up and down the street - probably on the prowl.  He went inside the house and got out his pellet pistol.  As luck would have it, Duke decided to walk down the street next to our house.  As the dog nonchalantly strolled past our house, Dad pumped up the loaded pistol and let one fly direct into the rear end of the dog.  That was the last time we ever saw Duke walk by our house again.