I began school in 1944 as an innocent kid who was awkwardly shy and didn’t care for those school days which brought about a lot of classroom pressure while making new friends.
However, those magical summer months of the 40’ were far from school, homework, teachers and those disturbing behavioral rules.
June – July – and August was ours to do as we wished while hanging out with the neighborhood kids even to after sunset occasionally.
How about a nice game of marbles?
I had my share of marbles, even 3 “steelies” which was my secret weapon when playing the guys from down on 10th street. Knuckles down was a call we used when we could to get the edge.
You must understand that back in the early 20th Century we didn’t have television yet, there was no internet, smart phones or even TicTok to occupy our time.
We had to devise ways to keep occupied amid those warm summer months. For some, there were nice vacations, reunions, and even family picnics.
For me, we did enjoy our Downtown movie theaters, namely – the Paramount, Alfon, Capital and Lyric.
I remember my grandmother giving me a quarter to cover my admission of 15 cents with a dime to spend – which meant I could buy two 5 cent candy bars.
I do remember trying to roller skate on the sidewalk and eventually fall. Hello knees. Never could get that skate key to work right.
There was a new Roller Rink that opened in the 40’s in the east end of town – Black’s Roller Rink. Only way I could have gotten there was to ride the bus. However, by my high school years of the mid 50’s, Blacks Roller Rink became a place to be because of the music and the great crowds.
However, the cowboy movies with cartoons and serials dominated. In fact, I remember going to a theater at around 9 a.m. and getting out about 11 a.m. and then going to a Saturday matinee at noon at another theater for the rest of the day.
YOUR CHILDHOOD FRIENDS – HOW MANY DO YOU REMEMBER?
OK, here I go as I remember these kids from our neighborhood of 1300 block of Carter Avenue, Ashland, GEORGE CARAWAY, CHARLES HOUSTON, SONIA EPPENSTEIN, DAVID SHIRE, NANCY MARTIN, SANDY AND PEGGY SAUNDERS, DON SHARP. The West End Kids of 9th and Carter Ave, Paul Thompson, Ted Sherman, Tim Simpson, Jim Huffman, Dick Kersey, Frances Coleman and Alice Lumley.
WHO WAS YOUR BEST FRIEND?
For me, every friend I had was very special to me. Moving to the early 50’s, it would have to be – JIM HUFFMAN. Jim and I became very close in our early teens all the way through our college years. You could say, – he was my “confidant”. Today, Jim would be 90.
On this Wednesday, May 13 during the mid-40’s you can be assured we couldn’t wait till we got our final report card and the school doors were locked for the summer. We had three months of liberation! Count them – 3 Big Ones for us to do whatever was fun.
Sure, there were a few of us who had family chores to complete, but for the most part, the summer was ours.
HOW ABOUT ENTERTAINMENT?
I remember Sonia Eppenstein had a crazy idea of burying a potato in the ground, then light a fire on top of it and bingo – we had our version of a “baked potato.” Sure, we did.
The C&O railroad was behind the homes on Carter Ave. So, I thought of a way to flatten out a penny. I put the penny on the track and waited for the train to go by. Bad idea – I never found my pennies after the train ran over them. You’re right…BORING.
Behind one of the garages near the tracks, there was a basketball goal. Today, it may be hard to believe, but the basketball we played with had LACES.
NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS’ GAMES
Here’s a list of a few games we played 75-80 years ago:
· ROVER – RED ROVER – CAN YOU COME OVER
· HIDE AND SEEK
· HOPSCOTCH
· RING AROUND ROSIE
· YOU’RE “IT”
· BLIND MAN’S BLUFF
THEN CAME THE SKATES AND BRUISES
We all caught on quickly on how to ride a bike, then came the aforementioned roller skates.It did take some time to learn how to keep our balance on those wheels and the price we paid was bruised knees. Those skate keys never worked right for me, but we did what we had to do while keeping up with everyone.
I never made it to the Roller Rink until my high school years, and even then, it was embarrassing to fall. I was always worried about breaking my hand or wrist. Nevertheless, skating to the music was a ton of fun.
SUMMER MEANT IT WAS POOL TIME
That is for most everyone except me. I never had the opportunity to learn to swim. Southside pool was on the other side of town and no one in my family cared for swimming – so it never happened. It would be the summer of 1956 before I took lessons at age 17 and loved what I had learned.
CHERISHED MEMORIES AND PLACES
Every neighborhood has its favorite people, places and lifetimes memories. For me, my home was in the middle of downtown, just a block over from the business district. I was within walking distance of everything that got my attention such as the theaters, 5 & dime stores, and places to hang out.
Here’s a short list of my favorites:
• Jack’s Auto Store that sold bicycles. I couldn’t afford one; but a beautiful Schwinn Monarch on the display floor always got my attention. I was there so much, the sales staff knew my name. I finally got a bike when I was 15.
My beloved grandmother eventually bought a used one for my birthday, paying just $5 for it. To me, it was that Schwinn Monarch I always wanted and was a great treasure to me. The first thing I did was to remove the rust and paint it.
• Neals Grocery at 14th and Carter Avenue which was just across the street from 341 14h street – the very house in which I was born.
Neal’s was my favorite neighborhood grocery store. I searched for empty pop bottles all over the alleys and after getting a few, I turned them in to Neals who paid me 3 cents a bottle. Mr. Neal was so nice. I remember one day he gave me an ice cream cone for FREE.
• Triplett Drugs – next door to the Paramount Theater when I spent a ton of time watching the movies of the 40’s such as “Key Largo” in 1948.
I loved Triplett’s because they were right across the alley from our house. I could get a “chocolate coke” for just a nickel while thumbing through the comic books.
So, how about it?
I bet you have so many memories of your neighborhood as well. Just take a moment today and remember those pleasant days of our childhood. I bet you will be smiling.
I really think most of us could take pen in hand and list dozens or people, places and memories of those years of your childhood.
Try doing that today. You’ll be glad you did!
Mike Tussey has “retired” from a 60-plus-year career as a legendary play-by-play announcer for over 2000 football, baseball, and basketball games, including most recently for ESPN+. His career also includes a stint in law enforcement, teaching and coaching, and writing books, including the “Touchdown Saints.” He grew up in Eastern Kentucky and now lives in Florence with his wife, Jo. He has opened another “Door of Opportunity” and is now a regular columnist for the NKyTribune.