...you remember when the gorgeous architecture of two
Banks were across North H & Ocean from one another.
...you remember when the little Malt Shop was next to
the Lompoc Theater.
...you
remember when you went to your first Basketball Game in the
old high school on L Street in the night rain. Heard your
first joke that night. Walked to the Rice Bowl (which is now
east on Ocean Avenue a few buildings) hand in hand with your
new boyfriend, and all over town with no fear of a thing.
...you remember when Mrs. Delta staked her goat out in
weedy empty lots here and there on South J Street or South
I Street every day.
...you
went to Stadley's Market across from the old airport (where
the Penney's Shopping Center began) with your family.
When
Mr. Stadley came out to help put the groceries in the trunk
of the car, some of our chickens were still sitting on the
bumper, having ridden the 7 miles or so with us! They laughed,
put the chickens in bags, and we took them back home... laughter
filled the car!
...you remember when the little burger stand behind A &
B Market on South L Street sold hamburgers 4 or 5 for a dollar
and you sat there and ate them with a friend.
...you remember when A & W was on West Ocean Avenue.
...you can name all of the people in the mural behind the
police department... and you are related to about four of
them! And went to school with others.
...you dare not talk about many people because they may be
related!
...you wouldn't want to have been born and raised any other
place.
...you have a great memory and it brings smiles to your face
with all that comes pouring out!
...you remember using a telephone for the first time and not
knowing what to do when the operator came on!
...you remember the H Street Bridge collapsing into the swollen
river, taking with it a superb Lompoc native.
...you remember the Cab Company in the 100 block of East Ocean
Avenue... and Lind's cafe next to it... and then the camera
shop, and dime store, and drug store on the corner of H and
Ocean...
...you remember the wonderfully smooth and shiny maroon colored
tiles which were on the Johnson Brothers Drug Store outside
walls... and the slanted concrete walkway into their store.
...you remember when Walt Spanne put up the wagon wheel which
turned.
Walt mounted all of the neighbor's mailboxes
on it to make the postman's job easier. (Corner of Artesia
and Central Avenues.)
...you remember the steady stream of cars, with passengers
running out into the flower fields to pose for a photo or
pluck a small bouquet of sweet peas.
...you remember getting the punched cards from VAFB computers
and making Christmas wreaths out of them.
...you have wonderful memories of sitting on your father's
lap and learning how to drive the D-4 in his field on Floradale
Avenue... ah, what better for a kid than a parent and a lesson?
...you remember picking wild mustard greens, blackberries,
raspberries, and waiting until Mom could preserve or cook
them. Driving up canyons, alongside Ocean Avenue... so lovely.
...you remember the steady stream of cars, with passengers
running out into the flower fields to pose for a photo or
pluck a small bouquet of sweet peas.
...you remember the wonderfully gorgeous and huge field of
gladiola at the end of DeWolfe Avenue. My gosh! They were
beauts and well cared for by Mr. Mendez, if memory serves
me.
--
courtesy of Marian Huyck
