Mortgage Rates

Suburban Chicago, about 1957. Here are the rates the builder proposed for the subdivision in which my childhood home stood.

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

"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.

Sunday Snow

Suburban Chicago, February 1972. Dad's beloved Volvo stands in the driveway, and Gigi is in the window waiting for Dad to come back inside.

Disappointment

Suburban Chicago, January 1962. The snow doesn't stay white.

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.

Propane Tank

Suburban Chicago, November 1958. I don't remember propane tanks in the backyards of our subdivision. They must have put gas lines in shortly after I was born.

March Snow

Suburban Chicago, March 1976. We still have snow, but the days are getting longer.

Aftermath Reunion

Suburban Chicago, January 1979. Here's how things looked after a January blizzard.

The work goes quickly when we work together.

Suburban Chicago, January 1979. It's also more enjoyable when you share a joke.

Check out the "little spruce!"

Snowy Driveway

Suburban Chicago, January 1963. I slip around, and Mom departs for rounds.

I earlier posted a clip from this day here; you can get a better look at Mom's adorable hat here.

We clear the walkways.

Suburban Chicago, December 1961. Mom and Dad take turns shoveling the walkways while my Toronto Cousin pulls my sled.

I earlier posted some still photos from that day here.

Silver Creek's Edge

Suburban Chicago, December 1964. We take a walk behind the house to check out the creek.

Use the turn signal.

Suburban Chicago, November 1960. My Mom asserted the other day that her beloved Buick, "The Swan," did not feature turn signals. She remembers signaling a turn with her arm. Buick, however, was the first U.S. manufacturers to install turn signals in its automobiles. So: perhaps the turn signals in "The Swan" did not operate properly.

(Here's another clip, and here's a still image, from that same day.)

Moving Fast

Suburban Chicago, September 1959. I understand why my Parents installed a backyard fence.

Backyard Picnic

Suburban Chicago, July 1969. My Mom's best friend, Donna, and Donna's husband, Vytenis, host a barbeque. Mom brought her knitting bag.

Late-Winter Promenade

Suburban Chicago, March 1959. Mom and Dad air out the baby.

It's warm enough to take the baby outside.

Suburban Chicago, January 1959. My paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, takes me out.

This clip reminds me how people treated neighbors' driveways. We steered buggies—and rode bikes—as though driveways were part of the sidewalk, and therefore public space.

A Quick Spin

Suburban Chicago, January 1963. Dad tries to interest me in Skeleton, but I don't like fast speeds.