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This is for the challenge at Rockin' Scrappin Grams. We were to do a LO about or walk or ride to school. Here is my story?
I can't believe my mother let me walk to school by myself! I guess all the children did in 1953. For Kindergarten I attended Sherman Grade School. It was a public school. The parochial schools didn't offer Kindergarten classes at the time. I don't know how far it was in distance. The "blocks" weren't clear cut. There were no sidewalks. As I left 413 Dixon Street, I walked past an empty field while heading north. Then I passed Urbance's house (a neighbor). On I walked past one or two more houses. I turned the corner at Warwick's (neighbor) Then I walked past ...about 3 houses. Then I turned the corner. Here I always worried because they had a dog. It was a little chihuahua. It chased me one day and I hated that little dog. Then came the longest leg of the journey. I imagine it was about two blocks long. When I arrived at Main Street, there was a crossing guard. The walk wasn't over. I had to go a few more blocks to the school.

My walk to St. Stephan's was shorter. I had Vicki and Mike to walk with. They lived across the street. (they had a huge Buckeye tree in their fron yard. We played Boxcar Children in their OLD garage.) We starte walking to school by passing Mr. & Mrs. Weiss's house.( We loved Mrs. Weiss, she was like a Grandmother). We headed West on Lundy, crossing the RR tracks. We were always very careful. There was no gate or signal. Then we walked about a block past Uhren's grocer store. I don't think there were any sidewalks. After about 2 blocks we had to cross another RR track. At the corner of Lundy and Illinois St was the tavern. Kitty-corner from the tavern was St. Stephan's School - 807 Lundy
When I was in first grade, I ran away. I'd ask to go to the bathroom and slip out the back door. I remember getting to the second set of railroad tracks and someone caught me. I thought I was being kidnapped. My mother only found out because my uncle delivered milk to the school. She was upset that no one told her that this was happening. It wasn't that I didn't like school. I just wanted to be with my mother. Yet is was SO different than Kindergarten. My class had about 35 children in it. My teacher was Sister Ralph who was my dad's cousin. I do remember working in that book I am holding in the photo.

We move from Dixon St. to Vermillion St there were sidewalks. However I didn't have to walk very long. Mom started teaching at St. Stephan's. so my brothers and I got a ride. I do remember being scared of this one man who lived along the route. You'd see him downtown riding his bike, looking for money at the parking meters.
In high school I didn't live the required 1 1/2 miles from the school in order to ride a bus. Mom was teaching and didn't have time to take me. Dad was at work. I walked with my two neighbors, Linda and DeeDee. When DeeDee's brother got his licenses we rode with him. I remember walking to school in the snow in our white "Keds" tennis shoes.It was not "cool" to wear boots. We were freezing by the time we got to school I don't know how far it was - maybe a mile.


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