The neighborhood was called Daytons Bluff or The Bluff. Perched, northeast of downtown St. Paul, on the cliffs overlooking the Mississippi, the downtown airport and the busy railroad tracks heading east to Chicago. 
We played on those dangerous cliffs, unbeknownst to the mothers, and also in Indian Mounds Park. 
I attended Mounds Park elementary school. The same place my father, uncles and aunts had gone to school. 
That's me back row 3rd from the left in second grade.
Looking back now it was all rather idylic. How idylic? Well, my mom could safely put me, alone, on the streetcar, to go downtown to meet my Aunt Pearl at the First National Bank, where she worked. Then it was a walk over to The Childrens Room of the St. Paul Public Library. Then a stop a Bridgemans for a malt. It's not too likely a mom would send an 8 year old into the city alone today.
Year round, Indian Mounds Park was the neighborhood playground.
In winter, we climbed up to the top of a hill upon which stood, The Beacon Light. Then sledded down two blocks to the bottom. It is the last of its kind still flashing its light every 5 seconds. No longer guiding planes and visitors into the city, it serves as a remember of a bygone era. In memory, I can still see it lighting up my darkened bedroom. 
Year round, Indian Mounds Park was the neighborhood playground.
In winter, we climbed up to the top of a hill upon which stood, The Beacon Light. Then sledded down two blocks to the bottom. It is the last of its kind still flashing its light every 5 seconds. No longer guiding planes and visitors into the city, it serves as a remember of a bygone era. In memory, I can still see it lighting up my darkened bedroom. 
There was a special structure called the Pavilion in the park. When there weren't enough kids for a ball game, we climbed all over it. I don't recall ever seeing people picnic in it but then perhaps I wasn't there during rainstorms. In any case, a neaby fountain provided the water for the waterfights that usually ensued in the pavilion. 
Today, respectful signs and fences remind people not to climb the burial mounds as we did. Progress in the realm of cultural sensitivity for sure. But then we were kids in a different age and "Cowboys and Indians" ranked with "Robin Hood" in our list of games.
I ran across the following picture recently of my beloved pavillion. Time marches on........
I'm sure you had lots of fun climbing those cliffs. I know I would have!!
ReplyDeleteThat last picture is so sad... yes, time does march on, but I enjoyed seeing that second grade picture. There were so many good moments during that era, and the picture helps to capture it for me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the journey into the past.
Sometimes we never had any fear, the cliffs look fun still to me.
ReplyDeleteTroutbirder- Your nice essay reminded me of Willa Cather's short story "The Enchanted Bluff". If you have not read it , you must!
ReplyDeleteWhere does the time go? This is such an interesting post. It's sad the old pavilion is being torn down. One more piece of history lost.
ReplyDeletea simpler, safer time...
ReplyDeleteJust great! I love memory journeys into the past, especially with illustrations.
ReplyDeleteYou did a grand job of creating the scenes.
'Progress' can often be bitter-sweet. It's sad when progress removes many of the objects from our childhood, but at least we still have the memories. Thanks for the glimpse into your past through this wonderful post.
ReplyDeleteHappy times. Kids were allowed to be Just Kids (well, the more fortunate of us were I suppose), back in the day and playing outside was the greatest thing in the world.
ReplyDeleteSad about the pavillion being torn down.
Your childhood, like mine, was idyllic compared to how things are today. Anyway, that is my opinion. I would not have wanted to grow-up during any other time.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great post.
P.S. Thank you as always for your comments on my blog. You are so right. Mental illness does not get the dollars it needs to help others. Doctors treating it should many times not be the ones treating the one with the illness. Pills are prescribed that should not be, or ones that should be prescribed are not.
Those were indeed the best days. I shudder to think of all the very dangerous things we did. In summer we left the house just after breakfast, took a sandwich to have for lunch and came back home in time for supper. I guess the good Lord was watching over us. Of course the neighbors were as well and were known to tattle on some of our escapades.
ReplyDeleteoh that last picture is very sad. but yes times change. I love the mountains though!
ReplyDeleteThanks and i'm so glad to hear your wife is doing ok!
Leontien
Thanks for sharing your memories with us. Back in the day, we would have climed those Indian mounds with you and certainly would have run along those ciffs. I was told there was an Indian mound in a field behind Granddaddys house, but by the time I came along, it had been plowed and farmed too much. There is just a slight higher area in that one field. WOW, your post made me remember old times as well.
ReplyDelete(the verification word is "ingingns" LOL )
What's that saying? "Everybody loves progress, but nobody likes change." I imagine each generation defines their own memories of halcyon days of youth, especially for those of us lucky enough to have had childhoods untouched by the effects of war, poverty, or disasters. A grade school friend and I were reminiscing about what a great little town we grew up in, even though by the time we were teenagers all we wanted to do was leave for bigger, more exciting places. Now, her 16-year-old daughter refuses to ride the city bus to school, because she is afraid. Do you know what will replace the pavilion?
ReplyDeleteI am a CA transplant who has made MN hone for the past 24 years. It is a great place to raise kids, which we did in Mankato. We have only been in Minneapolis for 8 years so much to learn of the Twin City's history. I have been to dayton's Bluff elementary many times to work with teachers. Now I know a little more of the history of that area. thanks for this post, Michele
ReplyDeleteI would never have been brave enough to play on those cliffs. I enjoyed your old photos..a great glimpse into times gone by:)
ReplyDeleteIt's sad when progress chips away at our childhood memories. Sweet walk down memory lane!
ReplyDeletexo Catherine
You brought back memories of my own childhood with this post. We lived between Clarkston and Stone Mountain (one county over from Atlanta). We had our little 'grand canyon' where the water had washed out the hillside. We climbed all over those, and back in little cave like areas. Our parents never knew we did this. They later filled it in and built an A&P, which is now gone. We also crossed the 2 lane highway to go to the old drug store with soda fountain. That 2 lane is now 4 lanes in each direction with a center turn lane. Drugstore is long gone.
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking me down memory lane.
Does US Highway 12 go near where you grew up?
ReplyDeleteWe live right off that road here in Illinois near the Wisconsin line.
Hey, Troutbirder, I spent my first five years of life on Dayton's Bluff. I could look out my window and see the big 1 on top of the 1st National Bank, flashing through the night.
ReplyDeleteHello, Troutbirder - thanks for stopping by our blog & for your comments. Finding time today to swing by yours, too.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post, I appreciate when people share stories of the times that have led us to where we are.
Fond memories, too bad about that pavillion.
And you're right - I have an 8 year old boy who can build a fire & hunt birds for dinner, but I don't think I'd let him more than a few ft. from me in the metro area these days.