Comments:
I look forward to hearing from those alumni of Pennyway Street and those who could see the Sears trains from their kitchen windows. (To this day I still enjoy hearing trains.)
To supplement this comment section and to add some additional thoughts it was suggested by another member of the website to put the following thoughts about Pennway Street in writing for everyone to share, to wit: (here goes)
I was rather young when my family left the area and moved away. (This was approx. 1962) but despite this being a long time ago and being very young (age 9) there were strong memories and impressions made upon me about Pennway Street (and the people/families who lived there.)
To me Pennway Street seemed like a college dormitory for our parents...who were like college students (with families) living in those dorms.
Although our parents were not in college this was sort of their college of life. WWII and the Korean War had virtually just ended. Our parents were all young and for the most part were all starting their lives. They started the baby boomer generation. Looking back on those days and hearing my parents speak about those times it seemed that they were all learning, comparing notes, hopeful and optimistic about the future. Like college I do not believe that most expected to remain on Pennway Street. It was their stepping stone to the future and like college all would soon disburse. All the families seemed to have young kids, awnings, lawn pools, they played half-ball or whiffle ball and they had a strong desire to socialize and keep up with the Jones'. (This is probably a nice way a saying being somewhat busy bodies.) After a hard day's work or on weekends the families would sit out on their steps or porches and watch their neighbors and the neighborhood. Everyone seemed to know everyone's business. They talked to each other and watched each other's children. They hoped for their future success. Today, my neighborhood is nothing like Pennway Street. I beleive that there is something missing for those who did not experience their Pennway Street. Hopefully, we did not disappoint our parents and the neighborhood. A reunion would be interesting. Howard Schmerin
P.S. Re: Children. My daughter Andrea is now married and has made me a Grandfather, again. Layne is now a high school senior and he made Eagle Scout...and of course he will not take any advice from me on any subject. He will be attending college next year and life will begin again.