I grew up in Racine during that period so it resonates. Author found! Friday night dances with Jim Frosethas band at the Y at 4th and Wisconsin after high school football and basketball games. Interurban from Kenosha to Milwaukee operating along Wisconsin Ave. Blue suede shoes or bucks, charcoal trousers pegged at 14 inches , pink shirt and blue sport coat. Water tower along Chicago NorthWestern tracks at 9th Street.
Friday night dances for junior high students at the Washington Park recreation center, admission 10 cents. Wisconsin Highway 42 re-named to Highway 32, three lanes wide passing lane was also called suicide lane. The cannon at Washington and 12th to keep the Danes in West Racine and the band shell for weekly concerts in the summer.
A kid with 50 cents could take the bus, see the show, buy popcorn Maybe jujubes or Blackjack gum? Metroliners gave you a transfer for Chicago and Milwaukee public transportation. I used to go to Milwaukee to see the Braves. If you had a boat, you could fish off the Reef Lighthouse when it was still manned by the Coast Guard. Trumbull was the curator. She knew the provenence of every best deposits item in the NW corner room on the 1st floor, just past the switchboard operator.
Free, too. Belle City Foundry…lots of work and pollution just south of Horlick Field. The Library moved from its old classic Carnegie building on Main and 7th to the lakefront location. You could go out on the terrace for a cig break.
Co-Rec sponsored swimming, games, dances when I was in high school. Hiking and day camping. The Guild Galleries in Porters was understaffed. That very nice place was The Loom of Denmark!!! Hansen Furniture — I remember going there as a kid and ordering hot chocolate. On a cold wintery day, it was so good! I grew up on Russet St. When it became Loom of Denmark, it was also spectacular. I have been trying to think of this name for years.
