I remember duplex homes in old neighborhoods, in the Midwestern city where I was born. Duplexes with a good-sized front porch, a driveway along the side of the duplex, leading to a garage in the back, and, usually someone — or a whole family — occupying the first floor of the house, and someone else — or another family — occupying the second floor.
I remember small shops near residential neighborhoods, with vegetables for sale, and butcher shops and bakeries, and small restaurants. They were on the ground floor of two-story buildings, and there were other businesses, sometimes, or living quarters — like apartments — on the second floor.
I remember old streetcars and buses rolling down streets.
As I was growing up, I remember how things were changing…when vacant lots where neighbor kids and I dug foxholes when we were playing ‘army,’ and where we ran around, pretending we were wild horses, were dug up to become basements for new homes.
I remember many more homes being built on acres of land to the west and to the north of the old neighborhoods. And I remember hearing about suburbs.
I remember when a grocery store, much bigger than small shops, was built, and how carbon copies of that store were added to what would become a major chain of stores.
When I was a kid, I didn’t pay much attention to how much things were changing. I only knew that my friends and I would have to find another vacant lot to play on, when those foxholes we dug, battling pretend enemy soldiers, were about to become the basement for a new house.
I didn’t realize, as a kid, how wonderfully convenient those old neighborhoods were, with those old duplexes and shops, and buses and streetcars.
I can feel what’s at stake — what might be lost — in Pagosa Springs, reading Bill Hudson’s and Chuck Marohn’s articles in the Daily Post…
Harvey Radin is former senior vice president in charge of corporate communications and media relations, Bank of America Western Region. He makes his home in Redwood City, CA.