The old lighthouse on Lake Michigan in my hometown. That is the city of Chicago sticking up across the lake. On a clear day, you can see Gary and Chicago.
Michigan City is a small town that borders on Lake Michigan, one of the Great Lakes. We have our own zoo and didn’t have a Mall until one was built. It was wonderful growing up there and I think about doing so with great fondness.
When I think about those days there are so many, one of a kind memories I got to experience while growing up Hoosier. I thought I’d share some of them with you.
1. Eating breakfast at Brownies Restaurant after church, filled with people who had been at Sunday services.
2. The view from our largest sand dune, Mount Baldy.
3. Summer concerts at the old band shell.
4. Going to the Moose Lodge for parties and functions with my family.
5. Riding the South Shore (electric train) to Chicago and back.
6. Franklin Street, (our main drag) filled with honking cars after the 1966 state basketball championship.
7. Seeing Santa at his little house that would magically appear at Christmas on the corner of 7th and Franklin street.
8. Watching men make railroad cars at Pullman Steel.
9. Going fishing at the crack of dawn on the pier by the lighthouse.
10. Walking along Lake Michigan searching for beautiful pieces of driftwood and other treasures that washed up on the shore.
11. Riding with my friends up and down the main drag after we all got our drivers license.
12. Going to the bakery for fresh Bear Claws.
13. Driving along the lake on Lakeshore Drive looking at all the beautiful homes and mansions on the lake.
14. Going to ‘sock hops’ at school and the YMCA.
15. Watching my dad wrestle at the Armory, state fairs, and Ames Field.
16. Ice skating and bobsledding in the Winter.
17. Going to Scholl’s Dairy for the best ice cream ever.
18. Horseback riding at the stables in Beverly Shores.
19. Ordering cherry cokes and fries at Woolworth's fountain.
20. Buying 45 records at Harvey’s Dime Store.
21. Going to the beach and swimming in Lake Michigan.
22. Going to the A & W on the way to the beach for hot dogs and root beer.
23. Penny candy and I have the fillings to prove it.
24. Standing outside at McDonald’s and buying 25 cent hamburgers.
25. Christmas decorations on Franklin Street.
26. The balcony at the Tivoli Theater.
27. The smell of the Smith Brothers cough drop factory.
28. Fish fries with fresh water perch (the best food ever) at M&M’s restaurant.
29. Three feet of snow in 1958.
30. Walking out to the lighthouse.
31. Climbing all the way up to the top of the observation tower by the zoo.
32. Going to the Washington Park Zoo to see Monkey Island.
33. Riding the bumper cars at Washington Park.
34. Going to the old amusement park on the beach by Lake Michigan.
35. Going to the lake to get a free truck full of sand for our sandbox.
36. Walking to school and back home every day all by ourselves.
37. Going to movies at the 212 outdoor theater.
38. Catching lightning bugs on warm summer nights.
37. Sunrises and sunsets on Lake Michigan.
Just a few of my favorite things about my home town.
Mount Baldy the biggest sand dune now a park.
The Armory where my father wrestled.
Carlson's Drive-in, the only one left now.
The lighthouse in winter.
Our Mall (we only had one) where we hung out and my mom taught me to drive in the parking lot when it was closed on Sundays.
I enjoyed growing up here and if I could make time stand still I would have done it before all the little changes that forever make our lives different. This place as I remember it is just a memory.
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