Reintroducing Myself

Our family lived in a small row home at 33 Willow Avenue. My parents are James W. Gardner (Co-Owner of Sheets & Gardner) and Arlene (Scherer) Gardner. I have six siblings: Pat, Jim (Whitey), Bill, Jackie, Terry and Laurie. I was the fifth child and I was born in 1953. Back then there were three girls and three boys. Our home had two bedrooms, one shared by the girls and one shared by the boys. My parents slept on a sofa bed in the living room. We had coal heat and no bathroom. This might be a bit too much information but I remember keeping a milk bottle under my bed to use at night so I wouldn't have to go outside in the dark to use the outhouse. We had a shower in the basement but the basement had a dirt floor so when taking a shower you had to set newspaper down on the floor before taking your shower and you would pick it up as you worked your way back to the old spiral wooden stairs after your shower. Initially there was no telephone yet it was the greatest thing when we did get one even though it was a party line. Those were the good old days.

Bloomsbury was a unique little town especially since you basically knew everyone in the entire town and I have many fond memories that I will share on here little by little as time permits. I hope you enjoy my memories as they are posted.