Memories of the Old Neighborhood sixty-five years later | Eastern North Carolina Now

What is was like to be raised in Atlanta in later 1940 through 1950s

    Most readers will find this boring because it talks about names and people you would not know. I hope that the post will remind some of their old neighborhood and childhood friends. After sixty-five years all the parents are gone but most of us kids still communicate and stay in touch either by email, Facebook or occasional phone calls. I would like to think that this narrative was typical of the Atlanta City neighborhoods in the south in the 40-50s. Sterling Street was barely 200 yards long but it was located surrounded by streets just like it. There are some repeats here and have been kept in intentionally as old people tend to repeat themselves and add additional memories.
The Boy of Sterling Street with their home made cart: Above.
    Barbara, Jim and Tony remember the old neighborhood. Barbara was our neighbor Jim and Tony are brothers. Most of this was done via email independently without corroboration but I have combined them into a narrative as if we were sitting around the coffee table. After the comments are the initials of each participant.

    Sterling Street was a wonderful place to grow up in the 1940-50s. About three miles from downtown Atlanta in the northeast quadrant, halfway between Little Five Points and Candler Park, our block was between McLendon Avenue and Iverson Street. This was a blue-collar neighborhood where our parents worked long, hard hours to supply the everyday needs of their families.--BARBARA

    Our street consisted of 12 houses, and most of them had children so we always had someone to play with. During the summertime we played outside. Sometimes we played cowboys and Indians, or Mother, May I?, or 1-2-3 Redlight. Some rode their bikes, scooters, homemade wagons, or Flexies. On rainy days there were always games of Monopoly played on the screened porches that most houses had. Often we could hear Bobby Biggers playing the piano-complicated and loud pieces. He especially enjoyed Chopin and Rachmanoff. Bobby was very smart and older than most of us. He was born in 1930 (died in 2005), earned his degree in chemistry from Emory University and his doctorate from Princeton in 1955. He worked at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and then was a flavor chemist for Coca-Cola. His father was a greengrocer, and Bobby had two sisters, Shirley and Ann. They lived next door to us but we didn't know them well because of our age difference.--BARBARA

    We also looked forward to hearing the tinkling ring of the ice cream man and his wagon. We would take our nickel and purchase a Hunkie (vanilla ice cream bar covered with chocolate) or a popsicle (usually grape, cherry or orange), a fudge bar, creamsicle or drumstick (which was a dime). We were especially hungry on certain days when Colonial Bakery, located about six blocks away, was baking their cinnamon buns! The aroma wafted all over northeast Atlanta! --BARBARA

    Another summertime activity, especially for the Vandiver children, was to have a Coca-Cola stand. These stands were delivered to whomever wanted to have one for a certain period of time, and the children could make a little extra money by selling Cokes (in 6-ounce bottle) to the neighbors. I doubt they made much money at a nickel each when one could purchase a carton of six for twenty-five cents! --BARBARA

    It seems strange now to realize that Jim and Tony had a pony that lived in their backyard, and they would often ride their pony in the woods across the street from the Vandivers, Dovers, Biggers and Guthries. Houses were built on that property, probably in the early 1960s.-BARBARA

    Another memory of those summer days was when the ice man would deliver large blocks of ice for the ice boxes. That's what we had before refrigerators. The ice man would deliver the ice, using large ice tongs to retrieve the ice from the back of his truck. Often a chunk of ice would break off, and we children would scramble to get that ice chunk. --BARBARA

    We played outside those summer days until the street lights came on. That was our signal to go inside for the night. We didn't want to because no one on our street had a television until the early 1950s so we knew that when we went in, our bath was followed by bedtime. --BARBARA

    We all had lots of mamas. Every woman on the street served as "mama" to each of the children. I remember one time I got a sliver of glass stuck in the bottom of my foot. My mother was at work (I think she was the only woman on the street that had a job outside the home), and Eda Adams came to my rescue. She pulled out the sliver of glass, put Mercurochrome on the wound and placed a Band-Aid on my foot. She wiped away my tears and gave me a hug. But each woman also had to right to discipline us if we needed it. We were raised to respect others and their property, and to respect ourselves and our family members. We didn't take what was not ours, and we took care of our possessions because if it was broken, it was not replaced. That's a large difference in the way we were reared and the ways things are today. We were living under the influence of our parents who lived through and survived the Great Depression of the 1930s. --BARBARA

    During the summers we would occasionally have a neighborhood ice cream social. Several of the ladies make cakes and others would mix up the custard and the husbands would crank the ice cream freezer until we had the most delicious ice cream ever! Then we would gather to enjoy these treasures. I don't recall where, but I remember us eating at difference locations. --BARBARA

    Another memory was going to the State Farmer's Market in southwest Atlanta. Dad didn't own an automobile until 1952 but when one of the neighbors went to the market, we were occasionally invited along. There was no seat belt law at that time so we could pile several adults and children into one car. The purchases were put in the trunk of the car until we arrived home and they were sorted out.--BARBARA

    My parents moved into their first home at 340 Sterling Street in August 1945. Mother recalls that it was the day of Kathleen Croxton's fifth birthday party. I recall that they paid $3,500 for the five-room house, built as a duplex-two front doors leading to two rooms on each side, with a common kitchen, bathroom, and back porch. Mother and Dad were creative in ways to making ends meet. They occasionally rented out two rooms. I remember Virginia Poole and her daughter Barbara living there at one time, and Al and Sue Newton at another time. Uncle Al, as I called him, taught me to drink coffee. I would go to their place, and they would give me a white ceramic coffee mug that was about three-fourths full of milk with a little coffee. But I had my morning cup of coffee with Uncle Al. After they moved away, my parents maintained their relationship with the Newtons. I remember as a child about seven years of age visiting Sue after her surgery for brain cancer. A white bandage covered her entire head, like a turban. She died shortly after our visit.--BARBARA

    Our neighborhood was primarily Protestant. Many who lived on Sterling Street would walk the three blocks to attend Sunday School and worship services at Edgewood Baptist Church, renamed later Candler Park Baptist. It was located on the corner of Mayson Avenue (later changed to Candler Park Drive) and Iverson Street. Those that I recall going to Candler Park were the Adams, the O'Shields and Aunt Eula Puckett, the Vandivers, the Guthries, and the Dovers. The Croxton family attended Epworth Methodist Church. I'm pretty sure the Alexander family went to the Greek church. I'm not sure about the other residents but we had several widows who lived on our street who may have been too old to walk the distance to church.--BARBARA

    The Vandiver family was our next-door neighbors and lived at 336 Sterling Street. Sanford was an electrician, and Hazel, an excellent cook and seamstress, had three children. Sandra was the oldest, born about 1937. Steve was born in 1939, and was my brother's age. Naomi was born December 11, 1944, and was my best friend for as long as we lived there. I am still in touch with all the children. I have special memories of all of them, and called Sanford and Hazel "Second Daddy and Second Mama." They loved me, and I knew it! --BARBARA

    At the age of two years, Naomi and I decided to walk to Little Five Points to trade our graham crackers for an ice cream cone at the Miss Georgia Ice Cream Parlor. We walked the length of the block to McLendon Avenue, turned left toward Little Five Points, walked the length of that block, crossed Candler Street, and got about half-way up the block when we were stopped by Mrs. Hodges. She took us inside and called our mothers to come and get us. They both thought we were playing in the back yard. Sandra remembers that her mother was giving her a home perm, and left her to get Naomi. I don't think Sandra ever forgave us for ruining her perm! Naomi said her mother spanked her all the way home, while my mother was so grateful that we hadn't gotten hurt (or kidnapped). Precious memories!--BARBARA

    I mentioned Bobby Biggers earlier. His family lived on the other side of us at 344 Sterling Street. His dad, Samuel, was a greengrocer, and I have no memory of his wife Hazel. There were three children listed in the 1940 U.S. Census, though they didn't live on Sterling Street at that time: Robert, 9; Patricia, 7; and Shirley, 4. They were actually known as Bobby, Ann and Joan.--BARBARA

    The next house had different families living in it. I don't know if perhaps it was a rental house. Bobby and Johnnie Guthrie lived there for several years with their parents. I recall that their dad died, I believe of a brain tumor. Aunt Eula Puckett, aunt of George O'Shields, lived in the next house. She was an old maid (never married) and was affectionately called Aunt Doodie.--BARBARA

    The Croxton family lived in the next house. I believe Alex was in insurance, and Ann Nell was a homemaker. Alex was the only daddy on the street that wore a white shirt to work. They had three children: Lewis, born about 1935; Ann Marie, born about 1937; and Kathleen, born in 1940. I remember coming Lewis home from high school each day, carrying his clarinet case. I remember Ann Marie being a very attractive young woman, and Kathleen and I were in high school together for a couple of years. I thought she was the prettiest girl I knew! She was a majorette in high school, and married a football player, so I knew they were popular! Ironically, she and her husband, Jack Thornton, are currently members of our church so I get to see her each week. Today at Hook & Needle she said, "Every child should grow up on a Sterling Street."--BARBARA

    Next to the Croxtons were the O'Shields. George and Ruth had two daughters, Cathy and Jan. George died at an early age, I believe from cancer. Ruth moved to another location, and died several years later of cancer. Cathy and Jan had lost both parents by the time they were in their twenties. Jan was the younger of the two and graduated from Briarcliff High School with a friend of mine from church (Lynne Waller).--BARBARA

    The next three houses were occupied by the Outcaults, Mrs. Hollis and her son, and Mrs. Ware. I don't recall anything about them because there were no children living in those houses. Across from the Outcaults were Loyd, Eda, Jim and Tony Adams. Loyd was a fireman, Eda was a homemaker, Jim was my brother's age, and Tony was a year younger than I. I get a Christmas letter each year from Jim and his wife, and I am Facebook friends with Tony.--BARBARA

    Next to the Adams were the Alexanders. I remember Mr. & Mrs., but don't recall anything about them. Their older son was Philip who was born about 1937, and Mike (Doodle) who was my brother's age.-BARBARA

    Our dad was a fireman and later in the 1950's his fire station #12 was only about two blocks from our house. Mr. Vandiver was an Electrician and Steve eventually became a union electrician. Otto Dover was a railroad man. Mr. O'shields worked at the car center for Sears Roebuck on Ponce De Leon mostly selling tires. Mr. Outcault was a retired tailor and had worked in a haberdashery. His full name was Walter P. Outcault (wife Elizabeth) and all the kids nicknamed him and called him P.P. My dad referred to him as Old Man Outcault. It was a term of respect and not derision. He had no children. Mr. Croxton was an insurance man. Jim Pless was a carpenter from the Blue Ridge Mountains and his wife Agnes was 1st Generation Greek. Hollis was a trolley driver but had a severe case of diabetes and drank heavily. He was home more often than he was at work. --Jimmy

    Mr. Alexander was an immigrant Greek and worked at the Municipal Farmers Market in downtown Atlanta. The area is now Sweet Auburn. We do not remember much about him, as he seemed to be at work 7 days a week. We both remember that late in the afternoon or early evening he would get off the trolley that went down McClendon and walk to his house. He always had a bag of groceries, which was the evening meal from the farmers market. He rode the trolley everywhere. --JIMMY

    It's easy to understand why Sterling Street was such a wonderful place to live because there were so many children who were compatible in age. Even those older than I had friends of the same age.--BARBARA

    Our entire world consisted of about a 2-5 mile circle around our house. Candler Park with a swimming pool, baseball diamond and plenty of woods was 1/2 mile from our house. Candler Park Golf Course was across the street from Mary Lin Elementary School where both Jim and I went. It was and still is a 9-hole golf course.--TONY

    Little Five Points (L5P) at 361 Sterling Street is where we were raised. McClendon Avenue broke Sterling Street. Our side of Sterling Street was only 200 yards long and had bout 12-14 houses. Up until about mid 1950's there were three vacant lots one door down from our house. We used to play ball in the lots. Only one side of the street was used for parking, as it was so small, short and narrow. Our phone number was DEarborn 0486.There were no zip codes yet--JIMMY

    Dr. Osborne had an office on the second floor of one of the buildings in L5P. His office was across the street from the drug store. He was the town doctor. Both of us have many scars from him stitching us up. After he completed his repairs on us, he would say "Go on over to the drug store and have an Ice Cream cone on me". We did.--TONY

    Our Aunt and Uncle were part owners in a drug store in L5P named Pendegrast and Pool. We think Selby spelled it Poole and his daughter Jean later changed it to Pool. Later after Mr. Pendegrast retired, our uncle bought him out and it became Pool & Pool. My first job there was as a soda jerk. TONY

    Later I worked in the back as a clerk. During college, he helped do the books. They had a huge machine on the second floor that to keep the charge accounts up to date. It was like a large typewriter except it was dedicated to keeping the ledger sheets. You would type in the date, RX number and the charges as well as any other items charged. When you received payment, you would insert the ledger in the machine and type in the payment and it would calculate the balance. Each customer had an individual ledger, which contained his or her Name, Address and history. Back in those days everything was hand entered as it was long before computers and such and the prescriptions were written in Latin as chemical formulas were not used yet.--TONY

    Those were definitely the olden golden days. George O'Shields sold tires in the Sears and Roebuck Store (called Sears and Roebuck in those days); automotive center on Ponce De Leon Avenue, which was a complete and separate entity from the main Sears and Roebuck store on Ponce De Leon Avenue. He was the manager and it was a salaried position, but he got a commission for selling tires; and was such a great tire salesman that his commissions allowed him to buy a new Chrysler every year. --JIMMY

    I well remember the old 1951 Henry J, the 1953 Willy's and I think the 1953 Studebaker station wagon we had. Grandpa (our father, forever referred to as Grandpa after our kids were born.) used to save silver dollars in those days and saved every penny he could earn with 2 or 3 full time and part time jobs to pay for all our needs and luxuries. He could build anything from scratch; as he so often did. As you refer to above, he built a concrete slab next to the Kalb's place so we could have a place to park, instead of on the street. He also graveled or tarred or concreted the deep driveway (half ass as I remember); down the steep driveway to the back of our house which is where his shop was in the basement. --JIMMY

    My memory of the side drive way was that dad had a buddy who drove a concrete truck. Every time he finished a job and had left over concrete, he would come by and dump it down the driveway. Here is Tony with Doodle's dog boots. The concrete driveway was hit and miss. -TONY

    The Kalb's, always referred to as old man Kalb. The Alexander's, old man called Paw-Paw. We called Mrs. Alexander Mrs. Alexander. Their sons were John Michael Alexander called Doodle and Philip who had no nickname. --JIMMY

    Sanford and Hazel Vandiver's children were Sandra, Steve and Naomi. Otto and Ellie Dover's children were Barbara and Jerome. We used to know their first names but mostly referred to as just the Biggers. The rental house was John Bagley was one of the renters, just referred to as The Bagley's. Eleanor Puckett referred to as Mrs. Puckett next to the (Croxton's). Alex & Annelle Croxton's children were and Lewis, Anne Marie and Kathleen. Next was Mr. and Mrs. Outcault. He was a retired tailor and had worked in a haberdashery and his full name was Walter P. Outcault, Lewis Croxton could not pronounce Outcault so nicknamed him P.P. and we always referred to him as P.P. or Mr. Outcault in polite company. Everyone always called her Mrs. Outcault. Don't think I ever heard Hollis first name (later memory as William B.) as everyone always just referred to him as Hollis; but his wife's name was Louise. Jim and Agnes Pless moved into the neighborhood in late 1950s.--JIMMY

    The surrounding streets were Sterling, Whiteford later changed to Oakdale, Ferguson, McClendon, Candler, Euclid, Iverson, DeKalb, etc.--JIMMY

    George O'Shields got a new Chrysler almost every year. Don't think at the time Hollis or Outcault had cars nor did Alexander's. We did have a car as did the Vandiver's, Dover's, Croxton's and Pless. Hardly anyone had a garage and either parked on the street on in their short driveway or on their property grass. Most houses had bigger back yards than front yards. Lots were not wide but deep.--JIMMY

    Those were definitely the olden golden days. George O'Shields sold tires in the Sears and Roebuck Store (called Sears and Roebuck in those days); automotive center on Ponce De Leon Avenue, which was a complete and separate entity from the main Sears and Roebuck store on Ponce De Leon Avenue. He was the manager and it was a salaried position, but he got a commission for selling tires; and was such a great tire salesman that his commissions allowed him to buy a new Chrysler every year. --JIMMY

    When Jim turned 16 and got his first car, Dad poured a slab at the end of our yard for Jim to Park. It was about 50 feet from the house next to the rental unit at the Kalb's house. Dad also paved a slab down our driveway to park the horse trailer that he built. His shop was in the basement and he would do most of his work in the shop unless he was building something too big to get out the normal size door. He had extra-long wires for his welder, which he would string out to the back slab for larger projects. TONY

    The longer I sit in my garage resting and worry chair and the more bourbon and cokes I have, the more I seem to remember. The old mind just seems to recall significant and insignificant events. Think I will start referring to my old garage resting and worry chair as my "memory chair."--Jimmy

    I remember sitting on Mr. Outcault's porch one day with him, and I asked him why they called him P.P. He said old Lewis Croxton could not pronounce Outcault, so called him P.P. He said I could refer to him as P.P. also but that he would prefer, considering my age, that I referred to him as Mr. Outcault. I asked him what the P. in his name stood for. He said Percival, but I never liked Percival or Percy or Walt or Walter so you can just refer to me as P.P; except in polite company, then you can call me Mr. Outcault; preferably with the emphasis on MISTER. He was highly educated, and his wife was even more highly educated, probably more so than anyone else on Sterling street.--JIMMY

    If this has brought back some of you own childhood memories, I would encourage you to tell your children or grandchildren some of the good memories. I am not one who believes that all the good times were in the past, many are yet to come. I was able to raise my kids in the same neighborhood environment. Now as a new Grandfather, I hope my son and his wife can do the same. For me Family and Friends is what it is all about and The best of the free life is still yet to come The good times ain't over for good --TONY

Are the Good Times Really Over