Sunday Paper: New-Year Edition

Suburban Chicago, January 1962. Mom's in the Master Bedroom.

Grab a Book: Calm Edition

Suburban Chicago, September 1961. Mom still wears that brooch.

"Luxury Features Galore"

Suburban Chicago, about 1957. The developer of the subdivision in which I grew up lists the modern features of the split-level homes. That Roper wall oven (and those birch cabinets) served our family for 34 years.

Thanks to my friend Mary for making this document available to us.

Nap

Suburban Chicago, April 1971. Gigi has found her spot.

"War and Peace" returns.

Parts of the new movie were filmed in Lithuania.

My Mom and I watched the 1972 version in the weeks after my Dad died. We rented the VHS tapes of the production and did a 1980s-version of binge watching. We played the tapes on the small television in Mom and Dad's bedroom. I don't remember why, but we started watching the series installments late each night. Sometimes we didn't finish an episode until after 1:00 am.

Shopping Fatigue

Suburban Chicago, 1971. I don't recall from which store Mom's bag originated, but it might be Madigan's in Winston Plaza.

Dad pays bills.

Suburban Chicago, June 1972. It's weekend work.

Floor Plan

Suburban Chicago, about 1957. Here's the floor plan of my childhood home. I noted earlier that these homes usually housed families consisting of five or six members.

Thanks to my friend Mary for making this document available to me.

The Ashley

My Best Friend grew up in the "Ashley" model of homes in our subdivision.

My Best Friend and I once had a sale in that garage.

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"[G]rease proof asphalt tile." The tile in our kitchen—and in my Best Friend's kitchen—was pink.

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Hmm. I thought the upstairs bath had a double sink.

Thanks to my friend Mary for sending this document to me.

"Luxury living at its best"

My Parents bought their home in a new development. They had hoped to settle in nearby Elmhurst, but they couldn't afford houses in that suburb. Mom and Dad chose the middle of the three models offered for sale, the "Beverly." The house measured about 1,725 square feet. Most "Beverly" homes housed five- to six-person families.

Here are some images from the promotional brochure created for the development:

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I think the definition of "walk-in closets" was a bit different in the 1950s.

Thanks to my friend Mary for sending this document to me. I'll post more from the piece later.

Testing the self-timer.

Suburban Chicago, 1961. Dad experiments with the new device.

The project continues.

Suburban Chicago, January 1962. Mom keeps working on the straight-needle project. She's in the Master Bedroom.

An Understanding

Suburban Chicago, December 1973. My paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, learned to admire Gigi.

Related by Marriage: Welcome Home

Suburban Chicago, January 1959. Mr. Irene's Dad introduces Mr. Irene to the Master Bedroom.

Weary

Suburban Chicago, April 1964. My Paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, has put in a day of housework.

Medicine Dropper

Suburban Chicago, December 1980. Gigi is in not a compliant patient.

Organizing

Suburban Chicago, November 1962. Has Mom just returned from shopping, or is she sorting yarn?

Favorite Color

Suburban Chicago, December 1962. People who know Mom and me know we love the color beige.

Straight Needles

Suburban Chicago, January 1962. This is from the time before Mom switched to circular needles. It looks like she's working on this sweater.

Reach

Suburban Chicago, January 1972. We allowed Gigi to jump on the bed.