My boss at Englewood Electric, Art, assigned me to handle the new Lionel Train line. I traveled all around the Chicago area signing up dealers. The model train sets were becoming one of the hottest items around— especially at Christmas.
Art's wife passed away, so he became a frequent guest for dinner at Dot's mom and dad's on Normal Blvd., where we were still living. Art loved Dorothy's cooking, and he loved the company. [Dot's specialty: Potato Pancakes. —D.]
Dave, Dot, and the new arrival
Things were going well. I was ambitious, and soon decided to team up with another employee to open our own, small applicance and electrical goods store, just down the street, with Art's blessing. We had only a station wagon at the start, but the business grew quickly.
About 1953, Dorothy and I were able to finally buy a house of our own, in the Mount Greenwood neighborhood on the far southwest side of Chicago. A two-story, brick Georgian, with two bedrooms, a basement and a garage. The price: $15,000, with $2,000 down and the balance financed on the G.I. Bill at 3% for 30 years.
We liked to travel. We flew [Dorothy's first flight] to Washington, D.C., in 1951, and then to California, and of course we'd often drive to Winamac. We'd also discovered Daytona Beach, Florida, and made it an annual, springtime destination, sometimes with Dot's mom. And, as with many Chicagoans, Wisconsin Dells was another favorite spot of ours.
Dot & me, Winamac, Indiana, 1951?
Sis and Vertus lived near us and now had two sons—Dan and Ken— who were about the same age as Dave, and the cousins became best buddies. [They're cousins in name only—they've always been my brothers. —D.]
We had lots of parties— at our house, Sis and Vert's, Dot's parents, Sunny and Bob's. They were a mix of music, dancing, pinochle, highballs, and mainly lots of uncontrollable laughter.
We spent lots of summer days at Rainbow Beach, 71st and the lakefront. This is Dot, Sis and Sunny, about 1955.
Dorothy and I enjoyed many nights dancing to the music at the Boulevard Ballroom, too. And we'd often go out to movies, downtown or at the local theatres, like the Beverly, Capitol, Hi-Way, Marquette and, of course, the Southtown. [We'd go to the drive-ins a lot, too, with me in tow in the back seat. —D.] All in all, in the 1950s we were getting ahead, building, and having good times.
About 1956
