In the fall of 1957 our family moved from Dallas, Tx to 102 Chestnut Street. The day we moved in the snow began falling and we only had thin plastic galoshes on our feet. We knew we would need warmer clothes soon. Our tri-level home was bordered by the beautiful forest preserve where we played baseball in the mowed fields, and hiked the trails with abandon and no fear. Our father, Walter Mays, worked for Ford Motor Company in Chicago.
I walked to Hickory Hills School and had a crush on Mr. Brudnicki and enjoyed sledding on the hill behind the school. My best friends were Karla Yale and Debbie Scanlon. My sister, Diane, modeled for Marshall Fields and we would ride our bikes to the shopping center to scan the aisles at the 5 and 10 for baby clothes for our dolls. We swam at the Aqua Center and my brother Brian led the football team as quarterback to a championship. He was all state quarterback for Rich High School and went on to Iowa on a football scholarship. He also worked at the first McDonalds on Western Ave. IC pizza was the best and Charles Chips delivered fresh chips to our home. We attended Steger Central Jr. High School and I played clarinet for the Sailors in the band with Mr. Cizek as our director. My dad had the best garden and my mother prepared a wonderful home life for us inviting many friends into our home. I wonder where Freddy Larson is now? We attended Homewood Baptist Church where we met many lovely people. In 1962, after only a short year at Rich High School, we moved to Ohio. I will always remember the five years we lived there and the joy it was. My husband and I drove through the town several years ago and it looked a little rundown. Smaller, too. I hope it is refurbished into a lovely community again.
Julie (Mays) Frye