I grew up in the 60s on the SW side of Chicago. Believe it or not ... until 1968, we rarely locked our doors unless we were going away for more than a few hours. This was about three miles due east of the north end of Midway Airport.

Sigma40 be careful what you wish for.
After you exhuast your half dozen or so big ideas finding a new angle on an existing subject or subjects that are unique becomes a grind.
I know, I started a blog in 2007 and was on fire for a while, posting some pent up material. Then it became work. Much of my writing was just part of the blogosphere.
My insights on the auto industry during the government bail out did get reprinted on larger sites, which stands as my biggest accomplishment for all the work.
Though my blog still exists, the hosting site has fallen far behind in the blog site race and I seldom add to it now.

I grew up in the 4th ward in the mid 50's. At the time the 4th ward population was mostly GM workers with large families. My memories revolve around 4th ward park. In those days college students were assigned to parks and provided activities for kids all day (My mom had lots of pot holders).
If a couple of guys went down to 4th ward park with a bat and a ball and played catch within an hour or so enough kids would join them for a pick up game.
I also remember friends who's parents moved to the new neighborhoods forming in the area that would later house the Janesville Mall. When my parents went to visit them I was always amazed by the lack of green grass and trees.
Before they chopped those large 4th ward houses into apartments it was a great place to be a kid because there were lots of other kids.

I hear some people trash Janesville but it is largely unfounded. Among our peer cities we are the lowest in property taxes, we have a dedicated city staff in all areas, we do more with less than any city around, and, it is still a great place to live. Low crime rates, great pride in taking care of things, and we're growing. I am a lifer because of the ties that bind, the memories, and the familiar paths.

How does one get a blog at the gazette?

I grew up in the country. Capron Illinois. My "neighborhood" was about 9 square miles. I would ride my bike or my pony Cannonball wherever I needed to go. My varied interests accumulated alot of friends over those years. As I grow older I realize that some were good friends, and some were friends of convenience. We would play sports, go fishing, play video games (atari or Intellivision back then), just like kids today. Whenever we got a couple bucks, we would go to Johhny's fountain shop, downtown Capron (pop. 650 back then). It was a true old school fountain shop. No soft serve, everything from scratch. I never heard once of any kids toting guns, or killing anyone, or much violence at all. That feeling of safety is my fondest memory. The house door was never locked and the keys were always left in the car.

I couldn't agree with you more! I also
grew up on Beacon Hill Drive and loved it! It never seemed to be a problem that we didn't have sidewalks and I always felt safe. We were truly blessed:)

Grew up on Milton avenue in the fifties. Attended Adams school. Played with kids around that area. It has been said before, but it"s true. That it was a kinder, gentler time. Haven't been back in years. I am reminded of the last line of the old TV series "Wonder Years." "After all these years, I still look back with wonder."

kidlets- that was my point. There is bad stuff all over. People use that as an example "4th ward, south side, look west. They all have good spots and east west all have bad too.
Sorry I didn't clarify well.

steveknox
May 4, 2012 at 10:59 a.m.
Suggest removal

Unintended. It was supposed to be an email not comment.
First time on here.
SEND message- pretty simple
sure but maybe it is hannnah.

yea sweet guy huh-

I too, owned a home on the South side until I lost it to foreclosure, but there was a real sense of neighborhood there. A great experience that I miss. In the 12 years I lived in Janesville, I lived everywhere but the westside. It was at times bittersweet but I always felt I had good neighbors: Cotton Mills, Kennsington St, Margate Drive, Conde Street. Carosell Lane was probably the worst and that was my first place in Janesville, but I stayed. I will always be greatful to RK Smith Realty for finding me some great places to rent until I could buy a house. I live in Walworth County now, which is very different, and nice in it's own way, but I've not met a single neighbor....

So frogger what is wrong with the south side??? I live on the south side in a very nice neighborhood with nice neighbors and nice kids. The south side is not bad. No matter if you live on the east, west, north or south side of Janesville there are problems in each area.

Unintended. It was supposed to be an email not comment.

I have fond memories of growing up on a farm west of Janesville. We didn’t have much for entertainment, so we made our own fun. Now I live on the east side of Janesville in a neighborhood of retired folks, or at least empty nesters for the most part. Since the rash of foreclosures, we now have empty residences and drug houses. The people living in the house behind me have been busted at least twice since last fall for operating a drug house, but they are still there and not in jail. People also speed down our street in excess of 50 MPH, but the police say they can do nothing about it unless they catch them on radar. Fat chance! If there were any kids growing up on this street, I doubt they would have many fond memories.

I thought maybe you were notifying readers that I was in your area and you just missed the ':)

We always had lots of fun in our Eastside neighborhood. There were always kids to play with, a park to ride our bikes to, and imaginary games to play. We live in a nice neighborhood now, but mostly near retired people. They adore my kids, but I wish there were more young families in the area.

I grew up in the 4th Ward. My youngest brother still lives in the family home. Although, 2 of my brothers and I have moved from Janesville, it'll always be home. I talk to my youngest brother every week. When we talk, the "kids" in the neighborhood are always mentioned. They are still in our lives. Just like old times, when my brother (it used to be my mom) bakes cookies, he calls the "kids" (all in their 50's and 60's now) and they come over for cookies and milk, and they sometimes bring the milk. I know it sounds corny, but we did have a "Leave It to Beaver" existence and some of the folks in Janesville have kept part of that alive.

My kids (we moved away in 1977) still refer to Janesville (and our cabin "Up North") as home. Everytime my son visits my brother (he and his family live in Texas now), he calls me the minute he gets to the house to tell me he's "home".

This is part of the reason I'm trying to sell my house in the Inland Northwest so I can move back to Janesville (something I thought I'd never do). The truth of the matter is that the grass is not always greener somewhere else --- and there is no place like home and family.

I'll miss your blogs Steve - they've always been a touch of home to me.

June- last year, this year or next year. Seems I have heard these words before.
It sure is different now- I could buy crack a tthe apartment behind me pretty sure. If I got in trouble though jail isn't far away and neither is the lawyers office. Don't forget the white trash dropping the f bomb word after word. Seems it would take longer to tell somebody what you want them to know with so many f's in the sentences!! Nope I am not 4th ward either or South side. Guess the theft of the big pumpkin will aways be around though.
Other than that my neighborhood seems nice.
I agree more rentals now vs then but as a kid maybe we just didn't know who was renting. As a kid we didn't care.

Of course you lived in a perfect neighborhood when you were a kid.