Our Hangouts (growing up in the 50/60’s)

     In our neighborhood (Walnut Park) we had various gathering spots that you could likely find friends if there was nobody at their homes.  The Lot was always one of the first places you would check, which was just an empty lot on the corner of Mimika Avenue.  Maybe it was a parking lot but I don't remember seeing any cars parked there.  It had a big hill and in the summer we would get a big cardboard box and ride it down the hill.  During the winter we would throw snowballs at passing cars from the top of the hill.  That could be a little dicey since some people in the cars would stop and yell at us or chase us on foot.  Well, they probably only ran a few feet just to scare the crap out of us.  In any case we just took off running, only looking back after being a block away.

     Herzog’s school yard was another favorite hangout where we played whiffle ball, fuzz ball or basketball, but sometimes we just sat around and talked.

     Sometime throughout the day we would end up at the corner store on Mimika, (Shetterly’s), just sitting outside sharing a soda or splitting some penny candy that we bought trying to decide what to do next.

     We spent as most days outside but we also enjoyed playing games so you might find us over at O’Toole’s playing Monopoly, which in some cases would go on for a couple of days.  Playing poker was pretty common in those days as well and we frequently had card games in my basement, which also had a pinball game without a glass top.  We spent time in my garage building things (see my story on “Building a wood crate”) or having club meetings about nothing.

     We played a lot of ball and sometimes it was over at Calvary Cemetery to play or just roam around.  

     None of us every had much money so most of the time we just ran around outdoors but on occasion we would cobble together a few dollars and go bowling at Spencer’s Bowl or Northland Bowl. 

     As we got older we would go swimming at North Shore sometimes getting a ride but sometimes hitch hiking (not approved by parents), which was a way to get around town.  I hitch hiked occasional but for others it was a normal means of transportation.  You would frequently see people (kids or adults) hitch hiking when I grew up which I rarely see now.  It seemed we always had a big crowd when we were at the pool and when we went and we spent most of the day there goofing around, great times.

     There was also a small wooded area by the railroad tracks behind the Jennings hardware store that you might find some kids hanging out but they you might also run into a few unsavory characters there as well.  I didn’t go there very often.

     I don’t remember being fearful about any danger throughout my daily travels unless it was from kids from other neighborhoods but that was most likely an imagined fear.  Staying out of trouble with my parents was my big goal.