THE FRONT PORCH

Welcome to the Front Porch. Glad you could join me as we continue to discuss growing up in the 40’s. I grew up in Wicker Park on Chicago’s Northwest Side. Wicker Park was originally a well to-do Jewish neighborhood. When I was growing up it was primarily Polish with a mix of Jewish, Italian and Irish families. There were also a few Black families in the neighborhood.

Most of the buildings were two or three story; some were split with a house in the front and one in the back. There were a number of six flats were you had 3 apartments in the front and 3 in the rear, Most of the Jewish families lived in large apartment buildings normally with 9-12 apartments. It was not unusual to find families living together in the same building. We had several related families living across from us and they also worked together in the same factory.

I lived on the 2100 block of Evergreen Avenue. The area was bounded by Damen Avenue on the East, Western Ave. on the West, North Ave. on the North and Division Street on the South. This was my corner of the world. Mostly everything that I would need could be found within this area.: school, stores, friends, shopping, and playgrounds. Wicker Park Grammar School was down the block and Tuley High School was within walking distance on Claremont Avenue. There was no need to bus, buy or take a lunch when schools were so close In the area you could find candy stores, where you could buy candy for a penny. Grocery stores were on both ends of Evergreen Avenue. I remember Blackstone because of their Bud Bowman and Oscar Mayer promotions. The companies would send out their mascots to sell their products. Drug stores could easily be found, and they had soda fountains. Of course there where taverns which sold beer by the pitcher. We had a number of fruit stores, a couple of shoemakers, and bakeries. In those days the milkman would deliver the milk to your doorstep. During the day junkmen traveled and sang out “Rag Ze Ly” along the streets by horse and wagon. I always waited for the peddler who would come with his horse and wagon selling fresh fruits and vegetables. A number of barns remained in the area to house the horses. The iceman delivered ice in the summer and the coal or oil men delivered coal or oil for the winter. For your special needs the knife sharpener would periodically come by to sharpen knifes. You knew everyone and had personalized service. This was entreunship at its best.

It’s getting late and time to say so-long for now. I hope you can come back next week and join me on The Front Porch as we continue to discuss growing up in the 40”s.


Sasiad

THE FRONT PORCH

Thanks for stopping by. Welcome to my Front Porch. Many of you are too young to have experienced the value of a front porch while growing up. I grew up in the 40’s and still remember it as the meeting place. Neighbors would come by to chat and enjoy the Summer Evenings. In those days there was a lot of camaraderie and friendship. Everyone seemed to know each other, and this provided a feeling of family.

My front porch was located on the Northwest Side of Chicago. I lived in a three story brick building and the porch was impressive. As you approached the house you would find a wooden fence with a gate. As you go thru the gate you walk up five wooden steps, as you reach the top there were two doors. The door on the left was for the first floor apartment and the door on the right led to the inside stairs for the second and third floor apartments. As you reach the top of the porch you notice benches on the left and right. Steel railings were on each side of the stairs. On the sides of the doors were mail boxes. There was a stoop that led to each door. The porch was painted red, to match the red brick, and the railings black. This porch differed from other structures that were attached to frame homes or brick houses with brick stairs. Each was unique, but still provided the comfort to meet and talk.

Most front porches had benches where you could sit, for overflows there were the stairs, stoops or railings. I can still feel the freshness of those warm summer evenings. Sometimes the mosquitoes would be a nuisance and we’d buy punks to keep them away. Neighbors would come out around 7PM and stay out until 8:30 or 9. Most people worked in factories and had to be up by 6AM and at work by 8AM. It wasn’t unusual to hear the factory horns or whistles each weekday to signal the start or end of work.

During the summer months you could smell the city’s stockyards. It seemed to cover the City and would last for hours. Speaking of odors, there were plenty of smokers in those days. They would light up their Luckies or Camels and sometime a cigar. In July you could hear the fireworks from the different festivals. The one that was the loudest was the Italian (Dago) Fest. In those days people weren’t politically correct and used their adjectives freely to express themselves.

In my opinion the 40’s was the era of the front porch. After the 40’s we saw different styles of homes built that didn’t have front porches. Older homes were knocked down and fewer front porches remain. Neighborhoods changed and it even became dangerous to sit outside. I feel lucky to have experienced this time in history and cherish the remaining front porches.

I invite you back next week, to My Front Porch, to discuss the neighborhood and its people.


Your Sasaid – (Shun-Shad) Neighbor in Polish

FROM THE FRONT PORCH

WELCOME TO MY FRONT PORCH. I created this blog to reminisce about the past and at times to get serious about current events. I selected Front Porch as my theme because during the 40's it was the place people would meet and discuss the happenings of the day. The kids would play "it" or "hide and seek". It was an important part of the neighborhood.



My approach will be to seek out your memories, ideas and feelings on a number of topics. Feel free to join me each week as we choose a different topic. My first topic will be "The Front Porch". I would appreciate hearing from you on what role the front porch played in your neighborhood.



I'll be looking for you next week on "MY FRONT PORCH