For me it was the total freedom.  It all started for me as a toddler, when my parents got a telephone call from The Park Market, telling them that their 4 yr old was in the store, trying to charge candy.  From grade school thru high school, my parents trusted that their wandering daughter was OK out experiencing the world around her.  My Washington School buddies and I would head South to the Ravine for sliding down the clay hills, hiking on to a distant farm for swinging on the huge vines, stopping only for our lunch picnics or to avoid the big bull.  We all bought straw hats one summer at the carnival to wear when we went on our excusions.  When the school bus took us to the Shrine Circus in the 6th grade, our little band of gypsies decided we would walk home from the Auditorium instead of returning on the bus.  Somehow we escaped the notice of the teachers and, indeed, walked all the way home to Morningside.  Across the Viaduct (where Neal Cutler proudly walked the hand rails like a tight rope performer), up Dodge to Mside Avenue and all the way home to Peters Park and beyond.  I would have pulled this feat off, except for the fact that my older sister Joan was graduating from East High and performing in the Baccalaureat ceremony that very night.  I was in huge trouble, the least of which stemming from muddying my new shoes.  I had to take my punishment and get myself dressed up for the East High auditorium ceremony.  In junior high, we took the city bus downtown all the time, getting more and more confident in our navigational abilities and mobility.  By high school, I was traveling with Holli Hanson all the way to Lief Ericson pool every morning to teach little kids how to swim.  Later, Marilyn Scott and I would take the bus to Grandview Blvd. get out and WALK all the way to Stone Park Girl Scout Camp to teach the little girls day camp.  Amazing, compared to what kids are allowed to experience today.  Wouldn't trade those memories for all the world!

How true.  Both of my parents worked, so I was on my own.  I would get on my bike (in the summer) around 8 a.m.  My only rule was that I had to be home for supper.  I can remember when we were in the flood in 1952 (I think that was the year), Bobby Lovell's dad told me I had better get home because my house was probably under water. 

As a teen ager, I rode my bike to Lewis pool to go swimming.  We did not have parents drive us to school.  In fact, i walked most of the time because I was too embarrassed to have anyone see me ride the school bus.  Now kids cannot go anyplace by themselves.  Not even to the restroom when you are out to eat.  What has this world come to? 

I can remember playing with paper dolls and designing clothes for them.  Then my grandma used to get mad at me and cut off their heads!  How did we ever grow up to be decent human beings?

I remember walking to Peters Park to get a chocolate coke at the soda fountain inside Mikkelson's Drug Store.   Post Office was originally on the NE corner of Transit and S St Aubins.  I saw my first "Wanted" poster there and was sure I would remember the criminal's face.  I remember when the bank was just across the street from the Post Office.  Transit magically turned into Morningside Ave.  The Niesner's Dime Store was right next door to the bank.  I would buy my family members birthday and Christmas gifts there for 10 cents or 20 cents.  Mom gave us each a whole dollar to spend on 6 siblings and parents.  You could manage that at the dime store.  One year I got me Mom a tiny little glass with frosted grapes on the outside and a gold ring at the lip.  Little did I know at the time that it was a shot glass.  Mother never led on and acted truly pleased to have her 'little' glass.  The shoe repair shop was down the Ave, past Anderson's Bakery and Graham Drug and just around the corner.  Made many trips there, repairing shoes for a family of 9 !!  The Library was a special experience.  I longed to be able to go upstairs and explore the old Garretson Mansion, but it was always "off limits".  I loved the smell of the library.  I loved the sound of those wooded card file drawers as they closed.  I just loved being in the place.  Maybe it was the peace and quiet.   Saturdays meant Cowboy Movies at the Empire Theatre !  When we were older, we went on Friday nights to see the dramas and watch the 'older kids' antics.  One night I saw Mickey Sawyer pick up the arm pieces off the row seat and walk around in the dark with them.  The poor theatre manager!  He was busy keeping things in line!!  Kimball Sporting Goods provided access to all the tennis balls we could buy.  Can't imagine what we did with them all, except to bash them against the garage door!!  Never took a lesson in my life!  The night that Grace Methodist Church burned down was a tragedy for all of us!  I still remember standing on our front walk on 5th Avenue, watching the red glow in the sky!  Neighbors were crying and there was a sense of immense loss.  The bus was our ticket to the world back then.  I had the choice of "the Stock Yards Bus" or "the Morningside Avenue Bus".  Either bus would get me downtown and I just had to decide how far I wanted to walk to the bus stop - 1/2 block or 3 blocks.  25 cents got me whereever I wanted to go in Sioux City.  

Now, Tell Us All About Your Sweetest Things...

I also loved my years growing up in M'side. My Mom still lives in the same house they moved into 10 days before I was born. I also spent Saturdays at the movies. I remember going swimming at Lewis Pool and coming out and getting what seemed to be the greatest smell in the world. That of HOT POPCORN and only a dime. Loved that popcorn. I only lived 4blks from the DQ when it first came to M'side in the 50's. What a special occasional treat that was. And I also have fond memories of the library. I absolutely loved going to the library. It was such a neat place. When I was in about the 1st grade, I went to visit a school chum after school. Then when it was time to go home I got lost. A lady found me walking down the street crying. So when she called my Mom she was told to get me to the fire station and I would be okay and able to find the rest of the way. I can't imagine anything like that taking place today. We just always felt safe and walked everywhere! The greatest times ever.

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Remembering back then takes a little thinking. The one thing that stands out is the Grace Methodist church fire. We just had finished church basketball practice at old east junior. When we got out we went to the drug store across the street for something to drink. Someone came in and began to tell us what was going on. When we got to the church, only a little smoke was coming out of the basement . We stood there for along time watching the flames get bigger and spred throughout the church. The fire department helped the flames by breaking out the windows which allowed more oxygen  to fan the flames. They tried to save the bells but to no avail. MAN WAS IT COLD STANDING THERE.

We boys, known as the LEANERS, didn't do much but just hang out at Peters Park. Once in awhile there would be an idiot that did something stupid and all of us would scramble to get out of there as fast as we could. We would wait for about an hour and then come back to hang out again. What a life we had--cars,girls and very low costs for everything. PLEASE bring it back. If I remember correctly, the LEANERS, started about the early to mid 50's. My older brother (4 yrs. older) hung out at the park with the boys. Each year some of the guys would leave and some new guys would start. After we graduated, I and some of our classmates started hanging out at the park. I was there from 61 to 65 and then I got married. That was the end of freedom as us boys knew it.

Ahhh, the "Leaners".....Does anyone know how that name came into being?  It described the guys, leaning on their cars in the Library parking lot,  perfectly!!  I think I first heard it in Junior High.  Some of the guys in one of my older sister's class coined it, perhaps?  I know it started before the 1960 Class, because Roger Lorenger was a "Leaner".  He married Classmate Marj Ostapoff in 1964.  His "Leaner" name was "Toad", as I recall.  Can anyone remember some of the other names?  There were certain cars that passed down from upper class "Leaners" to lower class "Leaners", like Hank Glisar's car....what was it?....help me out here guys....a Hudson?