 | Faye Graves, a native Wichitan, attended school at Friends and Wichita State, concluding at Midwestern Theological Seminary. He has been active in media for many years with Channel 12, KIRL, KFDI, KOOO AM & FM (Omaha), KFRM & KICT 95, as an owner, manager, producer, director and announcer. He has served as President of the Haysville Board of Education. He has also served on several national boards of the Southern Baptist Convention. Faye currently serves as Executive Pastor and Director of Administration and Education at Immanuel Baptist Church, 1415 S. Topeka, Wichita. You may contact Faye by e-mail fmgraves@amenibc.org, or by phone at (316) 262-1452. |
Nostalgia
2008-07-01 15:11:00
Remember
Question: Do you remember what it was like to be a child, growing up in the 40’s?
Answer: Yes I do. They are fond memories. I am going to take you back to the time I remember as a boy living on South Water St. School was out for the summer and I had a world of things to explore. My friends would peddle over in their metal fire truck and I would follow them on the sidewalk in my metal pedal car. We would go see our next door neighbor, Mrs. Divens. It seemed like every time we showed up, she would immediately make us some bread with brown sugar on it and give us a cold glass of Kool Aid. We would then look for some junk wheels and get some old tires and roll them down the sidewalk. Of course, because it was summer, we were always barefooted and had to watch for the sandburs and broken glass. We would look for the ice truck. All ice was delivered to the homes as electric refrigerators hadn’t been invented yet. I guess some things will never change. To this day I still refer to the refrigerator as the ice box. The reason we wanted to find the ice truck was because the driver would always chip the ice with his pick and make it fit the various sizes that he needed to deliver. We were after the chips that were left on the truck. Absolutely nothing tasted better than that ice on a hot August day. The only thing better was when your mother would go to the little neighborhood store and , if there was enough money left after groceries, would buy you a big bottle of ice cold pop. She would go over to the tub that was loaded with ice and water, pull out the bottle, wipe it off, get an opener from the grocer and pull off the cap. You would hear that tempting “hiss” and then that first really cold drink of liquid would flow down your throat. That was very satisfying. When I think how we would go “Ahhh”, it would have made for some great commercials.
In the afternoon, when it was really hot, Mom would get out the garden hose. We would dawn our bathing suits and she would squirt cool water on us as we would run through it.
When my Dad got home from work, we would have supper and, occasionally, he would take my mother and me to the Old Mill, now known as the Old Mill Tasty Shop, for ice cream or a chocolate malt. I remember how the marble tables and fountain front made a sound when you placed your glass down. I still haven’t found a sound that replicates that one! It always seemed to make your ice cream or drink taste better.
We then would do what many people did because there was very little money. We would park downtown and watch the people. I still like to “people-watch”at the malls.
In the evening, we would go home and listen to our big console radio. We listened to Major Bowles Amateur Hour, Mr. and Mrs. North, Dr. Christian, Inner Sanctum with Raymond and The Squeaking Door.
Then, out to the front porch to lay down on our army cots and enjoy the night breeze. There was no air conditioning.
Yes, that was a typical August summer day for a nine year old boy in the 40’s. Thanks for asking. These are great memories.
