Snow days haven’t changed much over the years. That’s me on the left, age 10, buried in our backyard during the 1967 blizzard and …
that’s my daughter, age 10, buried in our backyard during the 2011 blizzard.
My Chicago Blizzards
Moving to Albany Park in 1954 at eleven was like going to heaven. I had made the pilgrimage from Douglas Park, 13th Place and St. Louis, to Palmer Square, Palmer and Kedzie, to Lawrence and Monticello. Hot Dog stands everywhere, the friendliest people in the world and Lawrence Ave to walk down every day and night. Walk and meet your friends on every block; maybe at Morrie’s, or Archies, or Mitch’s, or Mutt & Jeff’s, or perhaps at the Bonfire or S & L or later at Smiling Sams. There were always people on the street to talk or do something with; like go to Rush Street or Old Town or a Cub Game sitting in the Bleachers or a visit to Hollywood Park. Bill and Paul, Jay and Jimmy, my cousins ronnie (fish) and cousin Jerry (lepricon) or cousin Bobbie. Even stores to go in and play pinnocle or gin or poker for the older guys. Jensen Park, Volta, Haugan, and Hibbard Schools not to mention Roosevelt and Von. If all else failed there was the Max Strauss Center and the Debora Boys club.The girls were plentiful and the morals as we roared into the 60’s were loose. Drugs were plentiful for those who cared for them and Harold and Shmutz would supply them for no charge especially if your brother was a local cop.
For those who died too young of either violence or drugs, I pray for your souls; Fish and Ronnie S and Louie, Jerry and the other Jerry, Al and Jeff and Bob and Little Jack and Angelo and Harold who both took one in the head along with AL Mozur, R.I.P.
Thanks, Bonnie.
how delightful! these pix are worth a 1000 words!
Thanks for visiting, Colleen. I had a little mountain in front of the apartment building where I lived during January 1979 blizzard as well. Unfortunately my little car was under the big mountain created by the city snow plows and I didn’t see that car until early March.
Those are great photos! I wasn’t around for the blizzard of ’67 but I have a great photo of me standing next to the one way street sign in front of our house from ’79. The city plowed all the snow for the block onto the grass in front of our house. I had my own little mountain. It was cool.
Oh to be a kid again and actually enjoy all the snow.
Carol, you must have looked so tiny in all that snow. I wish we had more photos as well, but apparently just that one. Since nothing’s ever been thrown away, I’m fairly sure of that!
Chris, it’s pure joy for a 10 year old, not so much for adults. But I made time to go play in the snow with her yesterday. I wonder if she cherish the memory of her “big snow” as much as we did.
Great pictures! I know there are photos of me and my sisters somewhere in 1967. I think blizzards are more fun when your a kid than when you are an adult!
Great photos! I remember my father saying that one of our neighbors took a picture of me as a toddler during the Blizzard of ’67, with a big wall of snow behind me reaching well above my head. I wish I had a copy of that!