Long Ago - 1963-67

JJ asked how did I learn all this stuff on buildings. So I dug out some old pictures. I have live in Como most of my life. We moved here in 1963 and lived in an very old house until we built a better one, which we live in now. We have a double lot, it's about 3/4 of an acre on the corner of Front St. and Grove St. The Rock River runs just on the other side of Front St. and a line of houses. Its about 200 feet away I'd say.

The old house, my Gramma and nanny goat, May 1966

 

We have never had much money but we always made the best of things. Dad was running the Galt Garage in 1963 and went to work at GE in Morrison about 64. I remember moving to Como in the company car. I thought it was so cool because it had a fold down seat and a lot of rollers in the back. I don't know if I realized that it was made to haul dead people.

Galt Garage Company car and Roger?, 1963

We put in this big garden, which we had for may years. I think it was in the 80's that we stop the big garden.

Gordon (me), Tim and Tom my brothers, 1964

Similar angle in 2007, same house in back ground.

Looks primitive don't it, 1964

We need a new house and dad couldn't get a loan. He said he was going to build a house if he had to charge it as Sears and Robuck. So in 1966 we started by digging a hole, for a 32x36 basement. We used hand shovels.

Summer of 1966

We had a rain storm and I remember it filling with water and the sides caved in. More digging. I did help with the digging. It was fun but hard work for a six year old.

Dad laid all of the block himself, 1967

During the winter of 1965-66 we tore down a house in Sterling for the building materials. Dad was taking off the roof in freezing weather. I remember removing the plaster and lathe. It was freezing cold and mom brought hot chocolate.

Winter of 1965-66.

What seems strange now is that I was only 5 years old. "Helping" tear down a house, I must have scared the living daylights out of my parents at times.

To be continued