Saturday, November 17, 2007

Where We Used to Live

Hi, Everybody,
 
I thought this would be an interesting thread to start—where we used to live.
 
I lived with my foster parents at 1032 Melrose Avenue, between Bannantyne and Champlain, until I married at 25, in 1967, the year of Expo.
 
Some of the senior members here in VC might remember my older foster brothers and sisters—Fred Penny; and the Attanasoff family: Nick, Jeanne, Mary, and Mona.
 
Melrose was a terrific street to live on.  Woodland Public School was down at one end and Verdun High School at the other.  I had a great bunch of childhood friends; and the neighbours were warm and friendly, often looking out for each other but without interfering.
 
Below, here is where I used to call home, on the flat above the bicycle.
 
Fond memories, indeed . . .
 
Jack
 
 

23 comments:

wendythepool MSN said...

Hi Jack, I lived at 1076 Melrose from birth to 1974. I'm somewhat younger than you, so I don't recall your name. You must've lived not far from the Yetmans, and the Borlands. Do you recall the big collie, (Baron). Teddie Legettes dad was badly injured when a mail box bomb exploded during the FLQ days, they lived nearby also. Melrose was a great street to live on. Me and Lynn Yetman lived at Melrose Park, summer or winter. I went to both of those schools. Walked home for lunch everyday. Wendy

winnie3ave MSN said...

835 3rd Avenue Winston Allison

shirleyb-h MSN said...

I am almost certain that my daughter lives on the ground floor to the right of that bycycle 1036.

johnmelinvin2 MSN said...

pictures are always real nice to look at...a lot of history is behind every picture.   John

phil-792 MSN said...

I grew up at 492 3'rd Avenue and it was a great neighbourhood to be a kid.  We then moved to 792 Egan and I stayed there until I got married in 1970.   Went to St, Willibroads and then to VCCH.   Phil Sheen

cookie3261 MSN said...

Hi Jack,   Not sure if it's the correct person, but would Nick Attanasoff be around 65 yrs old,and drove a convertable (red,I think) he had black hair, and would drive up and down wellington street and hang out at the Prince of Wales restaurant back in the 60's ?  Might not be him.not sure..but his name sounds familiar........   cookie

sandy19465 MSN said...

This message has been deleted by the author.

waynefeb2940 MSN said...

My early years were spent at 443 Melrose Ave.  Later we  moved to 984 6th Ave, just above Bannantyne

theomer MSN said...

Good morning, Everyone . . .   and thank you all for responding.   Wendy:  Wow, we're like next-door neighbours!  If my calculations are correct, you must've lived five blocks of flats north of me.  The Borlands lived just beside us.  Bill and Dave are a little younger than I am, as you are.  I remember their parents as being kind and quiet.  Really nice neighbours.  Walter Leja was permanently maimed in 1963 by an FLQ bomb he was trying to diffuse.  I believe his son, Ted, later joined the army.  Baron, a Scottish Collie, was my dog.  He is in my "TheoMer's Photos" under PICTURES, Page 1.  The Yetman name rings a bell, but I can't put any faces to the family.  Sorry.   Shirley:  Isn't that something!  Small world, isn't it?   John:  I agree . . . photos propel us right back into the past.  Do you have any photos of where you used to live?   Cookie:  I don't know about the convertible, but Nick left the house, oh, it must have beeen sometime in the early 50s.  He would be in his 70s now.  I haven't seen him since our foster father died in the early 80s.  I am in touch, though, with his sister Jeanne, who lives in California.  Mary, the oldest of the Attanasoffs, died a few years ago.  Mona lives in Greenfield Park.   Sandy:  Hey, good to see you here!  And, yes, I will post a photo of my grandson.  Hope everything is well.   Wayne and Phil:  I'm sure if we all bumped into each other, we could put the names to the faces, or the other way around ... I forget how the expression goes.   Have a good day, dear members,   Jack             

the lad MSN said...

Hi Theo   686 6th  and then 461 Willibrord Woodland School and Bannantyne School... Short time at the apts on Gordon and Bannanytne..then Willibrord. Hard to pick my favorite..different times and ages I guess..   Lad

theomer MSN said...

Hi, Lad,   Looks like you moved around a bit.  Well, at least you got to know Verdun better that way.   Warm regards,   Jack

margo MSN said...

Margo Allen, 775 then 777 Third Ave, have a brother Bob Allen.

wendythepool MSN said...

Hi Jack, just checked out your pics. Your Dad looks familiar, I remember him walking Baron all the time and I know there was a young man who used to walk the dog. I guess that was you, but I sorry to say your face doesn't ring a bell. Do you remember the Neilsons, and the Carriers that lived on the other side of you? We lived right next door to the LaFramboises and Carolyn Mundy lived upstairs. Wendy

theomer MSN said...

Hi, Wendy,   You're certainly bringing back memories.  To our right lived the Borlands; and on our left, the Faithfuls, who moved sometime in the 50s, I think.  Then another family moved in, and I'm sorry I can't recall their name.  The Neilsons I don't remember.   Beneath me lived the Savages.  After they moved, the Chiasson family moved in . . . really nice people from either the Gaspé or ÃŽles-de-la-Madeleine.   The Mundy family sounds familiar; my foster mother mentioned the name a few times.  I think my mother my have occasionally babysat a young boy, if they had one.  Let me rummage through some old photos.  I remember one of my mum with a blonde-haired child.    Laframbroise . . . yes, I remember that name.  A Linda, faintly.   For sure I was that young man walking the dog.  I've just posted a Grade 8 VHS class photo.  Maybe you'll recognize me—just look for the halo.  Ha!  I drew that in a long, long time ago.  It's been kinda tarnished from . . . well . . . how about just living?   My father, a big man, walked with crutches in the 60s and thereafter, after falling down the stairs and breaking his hip, because of Baron, who had bolted in front of him.    Do you have any old photos of yourself, Wendy?   Have a good evening,   Jack

wendythepool MSN said...

Hey Jack, I'm also enjoying this thread you started. I don't have any pics of me. They are somewhere at my brother's house in boxes (Steve Rinder). I live in Florida. The Mundy's only had one child,Carolyn. Spoiled rotten. Do you remember Beverly Brisco who lived across the street from you, and also Ian McGregor? I believe the Borlands had a boxer named Nipper. Not a very friendly dog. I'll check out the VHS pic., when I get a chance, now I'm fighting for time on the pc with my kids. There turn now. Wendy

gorderic MSN said...

Hi Wendy:   I talk to Ian McGregor fairly regularly. He lives in Mississauga (Toronto), has two children and three grandchildren.   Gord Gibbons Brampton, Ontario

theomer MSN said...

So am I, Wendy . . .   enjoying this thread.  Immensely.  No, Carolyn I don't know, so that will go for the Mundy family, too; but, geez, the name is familiar . . . or could it be Grundy?  Anyway, I know that my mum babysat a young, blond-haired boy, after I had married.  He had to be between seven and ten years old.    Beverly Brisco.  I didn't know her, but someone I know does—Norman Bussey, an old childhood friend.  He and his older brother must've lived just across the street from you.  His mother was a television actress.    I've been in touch with Norman for nearly two years now after we hooked up together; I think it was in the VHS site.  Norman's not a member here, but I will e-mail him this thread, as he would be interested to learn more of Beverly if anyone has any info on her whereabouts.   Ian McGregor . . . ?  Could I have been searching for the wrong Ian?  I've been looking for an Ian Macdonald (or McDonald or MacDonald).  Did he live in the corner house on Bannantyne and Melrose, third floor?    We all used to hang out with each other—David Saunders, John Gibb, Gary Marshall, Gary Halbert.  What a great bunch of friends they were!  I feel blessed.   Have a Super day!   Jack

theomer MSN said...

Sorry, Gord, sometimes I read too quickly.  I just saw your post below Wendy's.  Could you find out for me, please, if that's Ian who lived on Bannantyne?   Thanks so much,   Jack

the lad MSN said...

Theo   Dave Saunders last I knew live in LaSalle. That was years ago. I used to hang around his younger brother. Kent.  They actually lived next door to Wendy.   Lad

theomer MSN said...

Hi, Lad,   Dave used to live at 1084 Melrose.  The last time I saw him—and that's years ago for me, too—was in LaSalle, sometime in the 70s; I'm not sure exactly when.   By then, he had come out of the navy.  Much later, I heard that he had become a teacher.    Jack  

gorderic MSN said...

Hi Jack:   Ian McGregor lived at 981 Melrose (bottom floor), just north of Bannantyne and adjacent to the lane.   Gord Gibbons Brampton, Ontario 

theomer MSN said...

Thanks, Gord,   But I was mistaken in Ian's last name.  It wasn't Macdonald or McGregor—it was Grier ... Ian Grier, and he did live on Bannantyne, third floor, corner of Melrose.  He had a sister two or three years older than he was.   Jack

winterhater MSN said...

Hi Cookie, Was just looking at pics of 3rd. ave. reunion and saw one of the names was a woman named Greer.  Would that be Greer Nowlan.  If so, could you confirm and maybe let me know if she is on VC.  I know she lived on 3rd. between Verdun/Bannantyne and I went to school with her.  I would love to get in touch with her.   Kay