tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post7055729146499126860..comments2023-10-31T10:59:03.023-04:00Comments on INKSPOT Crime Fiction Blog | A Place for Mystery, Mayhem, Writing and Life: SUMMER IN THE CITYLinda O. Johnstonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512430135042480450noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-33478336061253016442012-06-21T12:44:58.917-04:002012-06-21T12:44:58.917-04:00Lita, I don't think the Newark library was air...Lita, I don't think the Newark library was air-conditioned, but it was brick with marble floors and huge windows. So it seemed cooler, especially when there was a breeze blowing through those windows.<br /><br />Kathleen, I only remember the supermarket and movie theaters being air-conditioned when I was younger.<br /><br />Irene, that ride up to Lake Hopatcong in cars without air-conditioning must have been sweltering!Lois Winstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01866423986250423199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-16010344418114688062012-06-21T08:15:34.168-04:002012-06-21T08:15:34.168-04:00My grandfather worked with canvas. He made us a w...My grandfather worked with canvas. He made us a wading pool out of scrap material. If you got down on your belly, the water would just about cover you. Despite the grass clippings and crowding from other kids in the neighborhood, we all managed to at least get wet and cool.<br />On weekends, my parents took us to Lake Hopatcong. I only got out of the water when pulled out by an adult. And, oh, that hour's wait after lunch was endless!Irenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02684465134160083369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-73894153328063191872012-06-20T22:22:53.551-04:002012-06-20T22:22:53.551-04:00Lois, Summer in the City has been playing in my he...Lois, <i>Summer in the City</i> has been playing in my head all day. I grew up in Elizabeth and we didn't have any community pools either. The only relief we had was running through the neighbors garden sprinklers. Some neighbors were nice, others not so much.<br /><br />I spent so much time in the library anyway and I don't remember if there was air-conditioning or not. Our libraries were very old and always seemed cool because they were made of stone.<br /><br />I do remember going to the library up the street when it was cold and venturing up to the main library during the warmer months. The main library was always so much more fun because they had FLOORS of books and microfilm of the old newspapers. Ah, now I am yearning to read a copy of the Daily Journal.Lita Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02448014402956082359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-91808357747960100802012-06-20T21:41:26.475-04:002012-06-20T21:41:26.475-04:00I grew up in the burbs of Baltimore, way before AC...I grew up in the burbs of Baltimore, way before AC, and remember sweltering nights. I also remember trips to the library or bookmobile, always a huge, huge treat!Kathleen Ernsthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07009876100214388898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-57865065074432712032012-06-20T20:28:55.077-04:002012-06-20T20:28:55.077-04:00Thelma, that's such a shame about the Y closin...Thelma, that's such a shame about the Y closing their library.<br /><br />Sally, I'm usually the shortest person in a crowd. No one knows I'm there!<br /><br />Shelley, I think the bugs are worse than the heat in summer, especially when you keep hearing a mosquito buzzing around your head at night but can't find it.<br /><br />Vicki, I think drive-ins have gone the way of the dinosaurs. Are there any left anywhere in the country?Lois Winstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01866423986250423199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-64935764814574559822012-06-20T19:28:46.041-04:002012-06-20T19:28:46.041-04:00I too, read a TON in the summer but my fondest mem...I too, read a TON in the summer but my fondest memories are of slumber parties in the huge wall tents my friends and I all had in our backyards and also our trips to the drive-in. We would all crowd in some Mom's Country Squire Station wagon and see the double feature. So much fun!<br /><br />Thanks for the memories, Lois! (PS I went to kindergarten outside of Newark...)Vicki Douderahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12683468231378487388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-52296739450510981362012-06-20T18:58:03.801-04:002012-06-20T18:58:03.801-04:00I grew up in Georgia, summers were hot, sticky and...I grew up in Georgia, summers were hot, sticky and there were bugs. I lived at the library, or if it got too busy with adults (I refused to use the children's section, precocious little brat that I was)I went downstairs to the local museum (Yes they were in the same building and they were small). the museum had a Cherokee exhibit, several costumes, a canoe and a diorama of the Trail of Tears, and a mummy case (Egyptian) and a few other odd relics.Shelley Freydonthttp://shelleyfreydont.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-72489096614858623272012-06-20T17:53:57.931-04:002012-06-20T17:53:57.931-04:00In the summer when my brother and I were home from...In the summer when my brother and I were home from school, mom dropped us off at the library while she went shopping. In eight grade I won the library's summer reading contest by reading the most books! And I wasn't even trying to win. The newspaper ran a photo of the two runners-up (both boys) and myself. I stood a whole head taller than both of them. I always stand out in a crowd.<br />Sally CarpenterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-60441223786418661832012-06-20T16:52:52.553-04:002012-06-20T16:52:52.553-04:00If I may talk about being an adult in the city!!! ...If I may talk about being an adult in the city!!! Manhattan can be a sweltering jungle in the summer and I live one block from the 92 Y - and for many years would beat the heat by doing my writing in their wonderful library! Then, just two years ago, they closed the library! We were just devastated! It was cool in all the meanings of the word!! Thelma StrawAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-89017232443286821652012-06-20T13:33:22.930-04:002012-06-20T13:33:22.930-04:00We certainly didn't have all the other stuff v...We certainly didn't have all the other stuff vying for our attention that kids have today, Beth!Lois Winstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01866423986250423199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-35754849344705913672012-06-20T11:23:56.794-04:002012-06-20T11:23:56.794-04:00I definitely think those long summers of reading l...I definitely think those long summers of reading led to you becoming an author, Lois! I, too, participated in summer reading programs as a child, at the library of whatever USAF base my family was living on each year. And, I, too, was a voracious reader.Beth Groundwaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13999372882748655834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-49085921482549686592012-06-20T10:15:02.159-04:002012-06-20T10:15:02.159-04:00Jeff. confession time -- the picture is an old pos...Jeff. confession time -- the picture is an old postcard of the main library in Newark. I couldn't find a photo online of the branch I walked to all those summers ago. It may no longer exist.Lois Winstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01866423986250423199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-79630085552268405732012-06-20T09:48:39.131-04:002012-06-20T09:48:39.131-04:00Loved reading your library memory.
My small-town l...Loved reading your library memory.<br />My small-town library memories are treasures to me.<br />Public libraries also have a special place in my heart because i was a professional librarian for nearly 30 years. In fact, the library HQ bldg --in Shreveport, LA -- where I spent some 26 years resembled the one in your picture here. Though it was built at a post office and court house and remodeled (inside only) as a library during the 1970s. Italian Rennaissance.jeff7salterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00530506418169450704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-69181441377809413862012-06-20T09:38:16.761-04:002012-06-20T09:38:16.761-04:00Shannon, what I remember is how it always seemed s...Shannon, what I remember is how it always seemed so long before summer vacation started. Why is it the older we get, the faster time flies?<br /><br />Caridad, we lived across the street from a private city swim club. It was sheer hell knowing that pool was so close yet so unattainable.<br /><br />Kathleen, we had the Good Humor man driving around the neighborhood every day but were only allowed to buy one Dixie Cup once a week. :-(Lois Winstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01866423986250423199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-48807851814422237022012-06-20T09:11:53.950-04:002012-06-20T09:11:53.950-04:00Thanks for bringing back those summer memories for...Thanks for bringing back those summer memories for me. Growing up in a small Texas town, the only thing to do was hang out at the swimming pool from morning to night and eat peach ice cream. But, I also remember the coolness of libraries, literally and figuratively.Kathleen Kaskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16500241341014235792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-55475642392864848112012-06-20T09:04:43.688-04:002012-06-20T09:04:43.688-04:00I lived in Levittown and we were lucky to have com...I lived in Levittown and we were lucky to have community pools and also Jones Beach right nearby. We would spend the summer months between the two and between an assortment of street games on our quiet blocks. We'd also spend lots of time at the library, picking up books to read or just hanging out!Caridad Pineirohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00566003222826223859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3529128955266044151.post-6728933640850771662012-06-20T08:11:04.155-04:002012-06-20T08:11:04.155-04:00Remember when summers seemed endless? Ah, for that...Remember when summers seemed endless? Ah, for that freedom now!Shannon Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10540336783142324746noreply@blogger.com