cilla46
87 posts
Feb 09, 2012
6:08 PM
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Howard Bryant was my grandfather.
We called him Pop.
From the day I was born until the day he died our family lived next door to him and my grandmother"Granny".We lived in a double house at 313 and 315 Illinois Ave in east Dayton.The house had one large front porch separated by a wrought iron railing between the two sides of the house.As children we would jump over the railing to visit.I don't know how it started but it was refered to as going "over home"!
Pop worked at the NCR for many years.When I was a child in the 50's there was still a steam whistle that signaled shift changes at the factory on Brown St.That whistle was loud enough to hear all the way to our house every morning,noon and each afternoon at four when the day was over for the workers.Pop took the number 4 Wayne Ave. bus to and from work every day.The bus stop was just a block from our house.When I was about eight or nine years old I would hear that whistle and know that Pop would be coming home soon.Sometimes my parents would let me walk up to the corner and wait for the bus.I would walk home with Pop feeling very special.
He loved to listen to the Cincinnati Reds baseball games on the radio.I remember many summer evenings sitting on the front porch with the radio turned up loud and Pop sitting in his chair with a cold bottle of beer and a bag of pretzles.Granny and I would sit on the glider and I would almost always fall to sleep to the sounds of the game.
About every two or three years he would buy a brand new Buick.It was a special treat to go for a ride with him and Granny.I can remember trips to the grocery at Dorthy Lane Market and to visit Granny's sister on Volusia Ave. in Oakwood.
Pop always kept a can of hardtack candy in the stand next to his chair in the living room.I would sometimes be allowed to go "over home" to watch TV with Granny and Pop.I remember watching "You Bet Your Life" and laughing like crazy when that silly duck dropped down if a contestant said the secret word! I would sit on the floor next to him and he would sneak me pieces of candy when Granny wasn't looking!Good times for me!
Pop had a very stern look about him but a heart of gold.He could break my heart with a harsh word and make me feel like a princess with a special smile.I loved him very much.
I remember very well the day he died.He came home from work not feeling well.I was told that he lay down on the couch and died of a heart attack shortly after.What I remember most is the sound of sirens.First the ambulance and then my father in his police cruiser screaming up the street.It was a terrible time for all of us but especially for my father.They took Pop out of the house on a stretcher and he was already gone!I can close my eyes to this day and see that scene.
I was blessed to have had a grandfather that even fifty odd years later still has an impact on my life.Even now I miss my Pop!
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Keugene48
203 posts
Feb 11, 2012
6:34 PM
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Cilla, that was a wonderful tribute to your grandfather. Grandparents are very special people to have in our lives growing up!
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maxed out
340 posts
Feb 19, 2012
11:42 AM
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cilla46....This is really wierd.....I have probably been in your house in the early 1970's. When I first hired on with DPL I was a meter reader. One of my routes included Illinois Ave. I maybe have even seen you. The other streets on that route were Indiana,Virginia,Buchanan, and Edgar. I was the cute little guy that hollered "Power and Light"......LOL
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cilla46
88 posts
Feb 20, 2012
1:02 PM
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maxed out~ Sorry to say I missed you! I was gone from there in 1964.I do remember vividly the DP&L man who did holler "power and light".Sometimes he would say "meter reader"too.
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hunt69
342 posts
Feb 22, 2012
10:14 AM
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cilla46... I know how certain events seem to really standout in one's mind.
This story was quite moving to me.I appreciate you sharing something so personal as this was for you.
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cilla46
89 posts
Feb 22, 2012
11:43 AM
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hunt69~ Thank you! I had been thinking of Pop all that day and just felt the need to put a few memories in writing.I don't want to lose those precious times of my life.Memories can become like wisps of smoke blowing on a breeze and slip away,out of reach.
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Syxpack
2 posts
Aug 23, 2012
10:01 AM
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Hi Cilla. I just found this post although I've seen it many times on here, but never clicked on it. Imagine my surprise when I did! My brother, sister-in-law and 2 nieces lived right next door to you for a time at 317 Illinois. In the early '50's. They were Harry and Mary Alice Traylor and their 2 daughters Diane and Susie. They are all gone now except Susie. I didn't remember your grandparents living on the other side of you. I remember Jack and Norma Hahn who lived at 311, because I went to Stivers with them. Norma's mother, Elizabeth Blackford lived on the other side of them at 309. I also slightly remember the Brodowski's who lived further down the hill. I remember talking with your mother when I would visit my brother. Mary Alice's mother lived on the other side of their double for awhile. Her name was Vera Moskewitz and her husband, Bernard (Brownie) died in that house of a heart attack, quite like your grandpa.He laid down on the couch not feeling well and rolled off dead of a heart attack. After that, Vera moved in with Harry and Mary Alice. After they moved to King Avenue, my ex-sister-in-law Margie Howell and her new husband Ken lived there awhile with my other brother's children Clay and Jeannie Traylor. It is a small world, isn't it?
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cilla46
110 posts
Aug 23, 2012
4:39 PM
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Syxpack~I remember every person you mentioned here.I also remember Jill Hahn,Jack and Norma's daughter.Jack was a Dayton Policeman for several years.
The only difference I can see in our memories is that I remember a granddaughter living with Mrs Blackford.I believe her name was Jeannie Homan.
Yes,it truly is a small world.
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Syxpack
5 posts
Aug 24, 2012
11:25 AM
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I didn't know Mrs. Blackford or anything about her, only that she was Norma's mother. I don't think I ever talked to her. What was your mother's name? At 82, there's a lot I can't remember. Also there was a woman who lived across the street who was always visiting Mary Alice and her mother. I think she was an Italian lady and maybe a war bride. Do you remember her name. I and my kids spent a lot of time at my brothers. Do you recall my daughter, Karen? She and Diane were about the same age and would stay overnight with each other. Karen still misses the closeness she and Diane shared before Diane passed away at the young age of 34. We would all pack a picnic and go to Walnut Hills and my kids and my brother's kids would go wading in the kiddie pool. Oh what fun days. Too bad we didn't know it then
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cilla46
112 posts
Aug 24, 2012
12:01 PM
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Syxpack~My mother was Helen Bryant.She died in 1960 when Margie lived at 317.
The lady you are thinking of was Maria Yarko who was married to Wayne.He was a professional race walker.They moved away in the late 50's and Marvin and Doris Leen moved into that house.They had two daughters named Judy and Barbara.
You can email me at priscillarowland@yahoo.com if you want.
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Keugene48
224 posts
Aug 26, 2012
7:59 PM
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Priscilla, thank you for posting this. I enjoyed reading it very much. I guess we hardly ever appreciate good times until much later. We were fortunate to have such memorable childhoods.
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