Rick Bava on Baby Boom Generation: One Bathroom.......

On the South side of Chicago in the early 1960's in an area known as Bridgeport families lived in harmony before they pursued the suburbs. On Wells street across from Armour Square Park and in the immediate shadow of Comisky Park, buildings known as three flats dawned the landscape. Armour Square Park, was a place for the community to gather, Comisky Park was home to the Chicago White Sox, the major league team that the people in this close knit neighborhood rooted for, and followed religiously. This area was part of the eleventh ward, made famous by its most prominent resident, Mayor of Chicago, Richard J. Daley. In fact many of the people who lived in the community worked for the city, in the city that worked. Meaning garbage got picked up, the streets were plowed when it snowed and a climate to do business existed..............................People all knew each other in what they called the neighborhood. They helped one another. They went to the same church on Sunday, they brought home made food to a friend not because they thought they needed it but because they would enjoy the treat. On warm summer nights people sat outside on the steps, people from down the block would come over and visit. It was social, culture was similar and enjoyment was derived from a cadre of people not just in your circle, or your club, but from the shared experience. But all played a factor, many were of the same heritage,? on Wells Street for example were Italians and part of Santa Lucia church. Over by St Davids where the Daley's lived mostly Irish were on those blocks. That is the way it was for when people came from Europe and settled, they moved into areas where they knew people and there was a comfort zone.............................People in this time frame were fans of Sinatra, but were excited when this new group from England, The Beatles played Sox Park as Comisky was referred too. At 3247 So. Wells lived a family, in a three story building. On the second floor the family that owned the building was raising three sons. The mother of those three sons, well her parents lived on the third floor, while close family friends with two daughters lived on the first floor. All three apartments had one bathroom. Somehow everyone survived. In fact the better term is everyone thrived. Of the five children just mentioned, only one the youngest born in 1955, is a actual Baby Boomer. He being one of the three sons. He was like a mascot to the older brothers, and a novelty to the two girls on the first floor. But he had a ring side seat to the times. That one bathroom, where his middle brother got ready for a dance at St. Rita High school, by taking the longest shower one could imagine. Where a radio was plugged in during the shower as Connie Francis, Nat King Cole and The Lettermen came through the receiver. It was an easy time, a happy time,when getting a pizza from Ricobene's after midnight on Friday was a must. You see as Catholics you could not eat meat on Friday. Most of the time for a cheeseburger, or a piece of custard pie, you went to David's at 31st and Halsted, a institution for the people of Bridgeport, who of course, just called it Dave's............................Many who lived in the neighborhood raised families, and generation to generation remained a part of the fabric. But by 1965, like much of America, many families sought bigger homes, grass , a yard, new schools, and multiple bathrooms, perhaps in a nice brick ranch home in the suburbs. That was America after, but before people just lived in the neighborhood. It is interesting many Baby Boomers remember childhood as described above. They remember when they moved, started at a new school. Many families can trace higher education to the move to the suburbs. But it is very romantic somehow to think of the early 1960's and think about a different life, vinyl records, Dick Clark, Mickey Mouse, more specifically, the Mickey Mouse Club. These were the Ozzie and Harriet days, where many named Richard became Ricky's because of Rick Nelson. The early 1960's living life with one bathroom, and being content.

Source: http://rickbavaonbabyboomers.blogspot.com/2012/02/one-bathroom.html

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