"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.

General Manners: Feign Delight

Suburban Chicago, July 1962. There's a box from Madigan's, so it looks like someone brought a gift of clothing to my birthday party.

Waiting

Suburban Chicago, February 1972. Mom joins Gigi at the bay window.

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.

The Bay Window, from the Outside

Suburban Chicago, June 1962. The bay window stirs up many memories.

My paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, was 65 years old in 1962.

Waiting at the Bay Window

Suburban Chicago, December 24, 1965. Dad spots me again waiting at the window for Santa.

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.

Party Favors

Suburban Chicago, April 1961. My babysitter does a head count of the guests; she then helps my paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, prepare the party treats. I move from the kitchen into the living room to play with the toy piano and my friend's Slyvester-the-Cat doll.

Tatjana quickly adopted the American custom of birthday parties (in Lithuania, people celebrate name days, not birthdays). This clip also offers a glimpse of our dependable refrigerator, and it captures Tatjana tearing off sheets of waxed paper. She always relied on waxed paper. Waxed paper! Who uses that now? It was never really functional.

Oh: that vase with the carnations. It's still in use. 

Spring Coat

Suburban Chicago, April 1963. My paternal Grandmother, Tatjana, carried that pocketbook for many years. Here's a clip of Tatjana receiving the pocketbook as a Christmas gift.

Snowy Driveway

Suburban Chicago, December 1973. Mom's LeSabre will need a little cleaning.

Let's get a picture before we take down the tree.

Suburban Chicago, December 1964. The aluminum tree didn't get assembled every year, but it lasted for a while.

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.

Happy Anniversary!

Evanston, Illinois, January 13, 1979. My friend Kris and her husband today celebrate a wedding anniversary.

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Suburban Chicago, January 14, 1979. Chicago experienced a blizzard on the wedding day.

We've cleared the driveway.

Suburban Chicago, April 1970. Dad's Volvo is in the driveway.

Be the first to check out the gifts.

Suburban Chicago, December 1970. That unwrapped box from Marshall Field's must be for Mom.

Bedtime

Suburban Chicago, December 1963. Close the garage door before you go to sleep.

Gray

Suburban Chicago, 1959. Dad's in the living room, next to the bay window. This is the watercolor hanging behind the floor lamp.

Halloween Decorations

Suburban Chicago, October 1968. My Dad's cousin and her husband visited our home one autumn. I've looked at this snapshot many times; the image reminds me of how much I hated that velvet hat—and how much I loved my Mom's knitted coat. When I scanned the photo, I saw that there were Halloween decorations on the bay window and door. 

Dad took this photo as we were departing for Oakbrook Center.