Do You Remember ?

[Jerry Huzzie]

Sitting here, thinking back to my highschool days and thinking of all the places we had to go and just "hang-out". Ahhhh, the good old days, we can't go back but we'll never forget, well... we made need a boost on the memory thing and that's what this blog is about. Let's add to this list and shake some cobwebs loose as we remember people, places and/or things we did or visited after a day in the dungeon we called Roosevelt High School... Dixon's Delicatessen, Chef Toni's Pizza, Hot Dog John's, Angelo's, Dunkenburger, Christine's Poolroom, the Vogue theatre, Red Top cabs, East Chicago Bowling Lanes, or Candiano's Supermarket. That's a start, someone else dig deep for some and I'll add more later. I'm sure I won't be able to let this go from my mind now that I'm on this track... Oh.. the word "track" reminded me of the South Shore when it went right down the middle of Chicago Ave. Ok, enough from me, your turn.

[Larry Polovich]

I wasn't going to do this - but, I remember the older kids having cub scout meetings in my basement...Huzzie, McLemore, Edwards, and who lived on the corner of 144th and Olcott?

Okay - the Hammond Times, the East Chicago Globe (why did they hate Roosevelt teams?) Norman Marsh's back room. Taking short cuts through the alleys and not worrying about being out after dark.
Dixon's, Lewin's, Nassau & Thompson's, Christine's, H.D. Johns, Newberrty's, Walgreen's before they moved the first time.

Stojanovich catching a game in Kiwanas baseball. Football games and wrestling meets. When did we ever have time for school?

[Jerry Huzzie]

Hey Larry, we weren't that much older. Good to hear from you and yes I remember well my first "Den Mother" and one afternoon per week in your basement, after school. How lucky you were living right across the street from City Hall Park, I remember climbing inside the Army tank, playing in the old band shell and visiting the firehouse where if we were lucky, they'd let us slide down the pole. I also remember running around the rim of the water tank and Don Titus trying to ride his bike around it nearly breaking his neck.
Oh, I remember who lived on the southwest corner of 144th & Olcott... Ronnie Hatcher.

[ANGEL]

DO YOU REMEMBER GOING TO THE LAKE FRONT AND HOW ABOUT KING CASTLE WERE MC DONALDS IS NOW ON INDIANOPLIS BLVD OR GOING TO THE CROATION HALL OR THE U B M OR CAL PARK OR MAYBE BOBBY BEACH .

[Bob Foster]

A lot of great memories.. Surprised no one mentioned Big Bens where we used to get our cardboard shoes at ;) Also Angel mentioned the King Castle, That used to be College Inn. EC has changed a lot over the years. Reading this thread and remembering how much territory we covered growing up and no one ever had to worry about us. Now days parents don't want to let their kids out of there site. (Shame)
I grew up across the street from St. Stanislaus church (4930 Magoun) on the south side. We used to roam from Todd Ave to the toll road and from Roxanna to Whiting. On foot most of the time ;) That store across from St. Stans was Al's and they were still open up until a few years ago. They didn't have much penny candy left though. How about the A&P on magoun across from the Jockey Club. Or the Park Store across from Kosciuszko Park. I still drive through town there from time to time just for the memories.
Sure miss those old days..

[Jerry Huzzie]

Right Bob, you brought up many good spots there and sparked my memory of a few more places hidden somewhere in my mind. There was a bicycle shop on the south side near where you lived, I bought plenty of goodies for my bikes there... streamers that popped into the handle grips ( if you hadn't worn them away by scraping your bike up against asphalt shingles while riding between houses.) new pedals, inner tubes, mirrors and patch kits to name a few. Like an old shoe repair shop, I loved the aroma of that place.
I sometimes wonder what would be the value today of all the baseball cards I chewed up by "clothespinning" them to my bicycle fender so they'd make a motor-like noise as the spokes tore through them. We'd ride our bikes everywhere, even to Hammond where you had more shows to chose from, the "Vogue" didn't always have what you wanted to see, besides that, Hammond had Wayne's Trick Shop. Other memories of bike riding include following the misquitoe sprayer down the street staying in the cloud of who-knows-what that lingered behind him, no wonder our children aren't quite as cool as us. (hehehe) One more then I'll give someone else a chance... remember when the Lake County Fair time was approaching and they'd hand out placards that we could place over our rear bicyle fenders to help advertise the fair?? anyone? Did anyone else deliver "The Globe" ? how many did you throw into the canal after you'd get tired? shhh, don't tell.

[Bob Foster]

That Bicycle shop was there, also the HO Race track one the cornet there. There was also Maduras clothing store the no one went into as well as the Hardware store and all betweens Al’s and the Corner there. Also Ray's barber shop where he used to sit out front all day and kill caterpillars with his carnival stick. I'm thinking about stuff I have not thought about in over 40 years probably. I didn't deliver the Globe but I did work for Nassau Thompsons delivering the Times as well as Larson’s grocery store delivering sales flyers. How did we survive driving around behind the mosquito abatement truck? It's a miracle that we are still here today ;)
This is good stuff folks let's keep it going. I’m sure I’ve forgotten more than I remember ;)

[Jerry Huzzie]

Did anyone mention Ray Boomba's hot dog cart ? Always parked outside of Smitty's Tavern and always a line of cars pulled over waiting. mmmmm

[Bob Laskowski]

Are you related to Bill Huzzie??
Bob Laskowski

[Jerry Huzzie]

Yes I am, he was my big brother... sorry to say he passed away a year ago Sept. 5th.