We moved around a lot as my Dad worked for a construction company that did government construction, primarily army and airforce bases around the country during the 40's, 50's and 60's. Mostly rental housing in the base vicinity. We lived in Rapid City, S.D. so spent the family off time in the Black Hills, mostly around Custer State Park. We still go back there every year to camp with the horses, fish, and do the numerous touristy things. Some years in the past we started out in Wyoming, Big Horn MTS., Black Hills near Sundance, and finished in CSP. The Black Hills have really changed since the early 50's, more people, less wild, but still attract us. Son and grandson meet us there every year, so continuing the family association with the Hills.☺
Ever go visit where you grew up and just...remembered?
- Thread starter Wyatt Burp
- Start date
bigwheelzip
Absent Comrade
I was present at a state "taking" decision once, and was dismayed at the casual attitude of the takers.
I was in charge of relocating a 24" high pressure gas transmission line along the route of a major state highway redesign. At one interchange, the line needed another foot of space than the plans showed was available. I spent a day walking the area looking for options, and discovered that a minor change to the new sound attenuation wall would provide the space required. At the next meeting with the DOT, I asked the project manager for the change. He looked at the plan for about ten seconds, then pronounced that he would "take" every home abutting the wall for four blocks, and I should put my line there.
I felt terrible. I had just spent a day admiring this neat turn-of-the-century, working-class neighborhood, to find an alternate route, and the state found it more expedient to wreck these peoples lives. I still remember what each house looked like, twenty years later.
I was in charge of relocating a 24" high pressure gas transmission line along the route of a major state highway redesign. At one interchange, the line needed another foot of space than the plans showed was available. I spent a day walking the area looking for options, and discovered that a minor change to the new sound attenuation wall would provide the space required. At the next meeting with the DOT, I asked the project manager for the change. He looked at the plan for about ten seconds, then pronounced that he would "take" every home abutting the wall for four blocks, and I should put my line there.
I felt terrible. I had just spent a day admiring this neat turn-of-the-century, working-class neighborhood, to find an alternate route, and the state found it more expedient to wreck these peoples lives. I still remember what each house looked like, twenty years later.
Ivan the Butcher
Member
In the early 60's, I lived in a nice neighbor hood on the north side of Columbus, Ohio. It is still there and still nice, being next to Riverside Hospital, it has a large medical staff occupation. But my parents dragged my older brother and I 20 miles outside of town to live on a nonfunctioning farm with nothing and no one around that interested a 4th and 9th graders. We survived and then thrived on fresh air and hard work (Building at dad's little company) After High School one day mom starts reading the paper out loud at the dinner table. Back in the day the Columbus Police Chief lived in our neighborhood and his son was my brother's best friend; The same boy was arrested by Columbus Narcotic Agents, after a four hour pursuit, ending with his arrest and the largest drug bust at that point in the towns history. My mom then explained that was the reason for our move, She felt SMUG, and she felt vindicated, and most of all- SHE WAS RIGHT. As an aside, My now father in law was a different chief's bodyguard, and had many details about the demise of my brother's friend. The move the sticks is one of the best things that could have happened to my brother!
Ivan
Ivan
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Bkreutz
US Veteran
I've gone back to the neighborhood where I grew up. There is some change, not much. The biggest difference is how much I've changed since then. I think the statement "You can't go home" means you'll never be "that" person again.
The farm home I grew up in is now the home of another growing Iowa farm family, the grandson & family of the neighbors I grew up with. It is a good feeling to drive by and see a new swingset and other kiddy toys in the yard.
The farm home my Mother grew up in during the 1920's is still in the family, belongs to and is lived in by my cousin.
My father's childhood farm home is no longer in the family but has been added onto and wonderfully maintained and lived in for well over 100 years.
It is a wonderful feeling to be able to show my grandkids where I grew up.
The farm home my Mother grew up in during the 1920's is still in the family, belongs to and is lived in by my cousin.
My father's childhood farm home is no longer in the family but has been added onto and wonderfully maintained and lived in for well over 100 years.
It is a wonderful feeling to be able to show my grandkids where I grew up.
My mom and dad built the house in 56. Mom still lives there I go back home a lot.
I live in the same town I grew up in. My son went to the same schools I did. The weird part he had the same teachers in the same classrooms I did for both 5th and 6th grade. Teacher parents conferences were a weird flash back.
I've visited numerous places I lived while growing up - there were many of them (10 different schools by the time I was in 9th grade).
None of them lived up to the old memories - even those that looked the same.
None of them lived up to the old memories - even those that looked the same.
hangnoose
Member
GOING HOME
I took my wife to show her where I grew up. Mrs owner came out and after I introduced ourselves she invited us in for a tour to show us the improvements & had some ?'s of her own. The first ? was about the "unusual" aquamarine color, which they kept, I had no idea just that my parents picked it out & felt it fit with being on the water. When I told them the original color was pink the husband couldn't believe it as that is what he wanted badly to paint the house & they battled for weeks over it. The other important ? was about a bucket we kept in the oil burner room full of kitty litter to spread on any oil leaks. They had it restored & it turned out to be an old fire department bucket complete with an emblem & such & looked pretty cool all painted up. Growing up we had no clue as it was dirty & there when Dad bought the house. It was a prized possession & conversation piece for them.
I took my wife to show her where I grew up. Mrs owner came out and after I introduced ourselves she invited us in for a tour to show us the improvements & had some ?'s of her own. The first ? was about the "unusual" aquamarine color, which they kept, I had no idea just that my parents picked it out & felt it fit with being on the water. When I told them the original color was pink the husband couldn't believe it as that is what he wanted badly to paint the house & they battled for weeks over it. The other important ? was about a bucket we kept in the oil burner room full of kitty litter to spread on any oil leaks. They had it restored & it turned out to be an old fire department bucket complete with an emblem & such & looked pretty cool all painted up. Growing up we had no clue as it was dirty & there when Dad bought the house. It was a prized possession & conversation piece for them.
carpriver
US Veteran
the town I grew up in was small, about 10,000 people. lots of farm land and small manufacturing companies, and a lot of men worked in Lansing at the Oldsmobile plant. After WWII there was a boom in building of single family housing.
My family didn't benefit from the building. We lived in many different homes in and around town. Dad had several jobs in the small factory's. Dad was a farm kid that didn't want to be a farmer, but was a good farmer so he did manage a couple of farms.
When I was 14 the family moved half way across the state. when I finished high school I left home by joining the Air Force. I have been back to the place of my birth several times driving around going to the old schools and parks driving by houses we lived in. lots of old memories some good and some bad. I have brothers the live in the town where I attended high school. You can visit the past, you just can't change it. The one thing the remains constant is change. those moves and small towns made me who I am today.
My family didn't benefit from the building. We lived in many different homes in and around town. Dad had several jobs in the small factory's. Dad was a farm kid that didn't want to be a farmer, but was a good farmer so he did manage a couple of farms.
When I was 14 the family moved half way across the state. when I finished high school I left home by joining the Air Force. I have been back to the place of my birth several times driving around going to the old schools and parks driving by houses we lived in. lots of old memories some good and some bad. I have brothers the live in the town where I attended high school. You can visit the past, you just can't change it. The one thing the remains constant is change. those moves and small towns made me who I am today.
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I was a Conecticut Yankee. In the spring of 1942 I moved from Connecticut to Jackson, Mississippi. Stayed there until the winter of 1943-4. I hated it. I was only 9 years old but as a northerner, I was not made welcome, and I saw segregation of the worst type for real. It left a bad taste in my mouth. I've never been back.
Mickey D
Member
Yes I do Matt. I grew up in NorCal also, Martinez was my home town for most of my years growing up.
What area are those pictures from?
What area are those pictures from?
ordy
US Veteran
The row home I was born in is now a slum. I still have great memories though. A kitchen so small that you could stand in the middle and reach the ice box, stove and sink without moving. The ice man who gave us chunks in the heat of summer, milk man and his horse drawn wagon, rag pickers and knife sharpeners pushing their carts and singing out their services. When I came of school age, we moved to the suburbs where I lived until entering the military. I still live close to there and pass the old house once in a while. The open fields and woodlands we used to play in are now overly developed which is a shame. A few years ago, there was a 'for sale/open house' sign on the lawn and I stopped and went in. Boy did that send me on a nostalgic trip. What really got me was seeing my initials carved in a support beam in the basement. I had forgotten I even did that.
Wow I easily could have wrote that (bolded) We also had what we called "jakey bums" that arrived in the middle of spring each year that would start at one end of the street and hit every house and ask for money or drink (usually drink) As I said in my first post we were on the wrong side of the tracks and these people rode the rails to get here.
We moved out along with most of the other people I knew ( I was age 11 at the time) and it got very dangerous there shortly after. If at all possible it even got more dangerous about 10-12 years ago
Memories are good but they still are memories! I have not been back there in over 20 years and doubt I will ever go back.
J. R. WEEMS
Member
I couldn't wait to get out and left in 1962 when I enlisted-- never had the urge to relive any of that. I would never choose to live in Illinois--
OP
Wyatt Burp
Member
I was raised in Castro Valley right on the Hayward border. The big creek you can't see is called Hayward's creek, I think. It got rip roaring big some winters. I have a book about the first sheriff of Oakland, Ca. When chasing outlaws towards Dublin/Livermore circa 1870 he mentions our creek. And his path would have to have been right past our house about 150 yards. Amazing our street is the same based on the prices out there now.
ChattanoogaPhil
Member
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I go back and visit. Not enough if you ask mom.
I particularly enjoy going up Mt Diablo (you Bay Area guys know) remembering the bikes, women and wild times.
From grade school through high school and mid 20s, I had a handful of honest to God friends. We all grew up together and lived a pretty wild and fast life for a few years. I moved and got away from it. They stayed and are all dead from not knowing when to slow down.
You will never know a man as well as the man you knew as a kid. In many ways they were "home" for me.
I particularly enjoy going up Mt Diablo (you Bay Area guys know) remembering the bikes, women and wild times.
From grade school through high school and mid 20s, I had a handful of honest to God friends. We all grew up together and lived a pretty wild and fast life for a few years. I moved and got away from it. They stayed and are all dead from not knowing when to slow down.
You will never know a man as well as the man you knew as a kid. In many ways they were "home" for me.
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Coldshooter
Member
So maybe this fits in with the old places.
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raWEDnyVnEs[/ame]
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raWEDnyVnEs[/ame]
Sounds like many old haunts have gone down hill for many folks. Wooded areas from my old neighborhood where we frequented are gone to development. Did not realize how lucky I was to have some nice woods where we would go to shoot pellet guns and spend the summer months. I have fond memories of the early 60s.
