Never a Dull Moment
Nov 10 – Describe your ancestor’s walk down the street
Each morning, George walks to the mine as the sun comes up. He can see the houses lining the streets. He hears the train approaching, and hears the whistle as it comes into the station. Other men are headed the same direction, the mine pulls them in from all over town. It is the primary employer.
After work, he sometimes walks downtown, past the Poli Theater where vaudeville acts entertain crowds and his daughter goes to see films when she saves up her pennies, or when her Grandma finds some for her. There are also a number of shops; he sometimes stops in to say hello or to pay a bill.
He passes the silk mill where his wife worked years ago and the lace factory, where some of his neighbors work. The young women exit in groups at the end of the workday, some head home, others go to Woolworth’s counter for a soda. As he approaches home, he passes the automobile shop where another neighbor works. At the end of the day, they are equally grimy, though the coal dust seems to get into the pores more. Home is a comfortable two-story house, similar to most on the block. Late in the afternoon, many of the neighborhood kids are playing outside, having done their chores and been sent out of the way while the women and older girls prepare dinner.
The city is a bustling place. You can find someone to stop and chat with almost any time of day. It is a nice place to live overall, though sometimes some fresh air and quiet would be nice. Those times he can head another direction and stroll through the park.