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REMINISCENCES
Our family- my parents, seven brothers and I came to Illinois in 1913. My dad worked at the National Stock Yards from then until he retired. They drove herds of cattle to St. Louis - no big trucks like today. They had one called the dead wagon they used to haul the dead animals to the rendering works. East Side or Hunter's Packing House at end of Second Street, Sheehan's big butcher shop on Winstanley, Froebel's School, Schwab's Saloon on Third Street, Barber Shop, Mission Church, Burian's Department Store on Exchange. Whiskey Shoot (most people say chute, but maybe she's right - Editor) from Black Bridge to Collinsville Avenue. Bridge named after race riots, so many killed. The iceman, who we kids would follow to get a chunk of ice; the ragman, who paid us a dime or quarter for the few rags and bottles we'd collect. The city park on Seventh Street, Kruta's Bakery, Kassly's nice new funeral home on Ninth Street, a vegetable wagon, old Gypsy woman with basket of rags, needles and things to sell. The day World War I ended everyone grabbed pans to beat on or anything to make noise and walked downtown to celebrate. My oldest brother came home, had served in the Marines. A big parade on Labor Day, everyone going to Jones Park for a picnic and ballgame. Salvations Army on Sixth and Missouri, then a new one on Sixteenth Street. Big three-story rooming on Eighth and Summit. Hailstorm in 1928. Quite a lot of damage. Fairmont racing, and Greyhounds too. Went to Horseman School on Ninth and Summit. Lived in rear of Earl Pollock's Tire Shop on Sixth and St. Clair, then on Ridge at Seventeenth. Daughter went to Monroe School, husband had barber shop and Sixteenth and Missouri. Majestic downtown, Waverly on Fourtieth, but we enjoyed going to Odeon on Ninth and St. Clair. Went to Arcade Building, got license, married at home. Moved to Washington Park. Manners School, St. Martin's. New Church of God. I helped get charter for Canteen Seniors, President three years. Times changed, so we left. Always will remember good friends. Mary E. Henson Worden, IL
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