Yes, the boys had cooties.
Yes to tar bubbles…that’s how I managed to ruin a perfectly good pair of brand new white sandals…(mom was not pleased)
Yes to Weiss park & swimming.
Yes to Stockard & Sunset.
I was a Peabody kid–also Lida Hooe.
And yes, our world was so very small, as my mom used to say, it was very “uptown” to go shop on Jefferson and she never went without being dressed up, hat, heels & gloves.
Yes to electric streetcars, then buses, but our happy feet took us where we wanted to go without worry.

OC was the Pleasantville of our time.

Mary, I enjoyed reading your childhood story. We have many of the same experiences. I lived on W. Clarendon Drive, just two houses East from Weiss Park. I spent all of my days at Weiss Park, either in the building, or playing on the grounds, or in the swimming pool; however, mostly in the creeks, where the water was nice and cool to walk in on those hot days of summer.
I attended L. O. Donald elementary school from the second grade through the seventh grade, and I did attend school with Jimmie Vaughan.
I graduated in 1964 from the elementary school, and our graduation ceremony was held at the Community building at Martin Weiss Park. My first grade year was held at a private school known as, New Friends school, on Penrod and Gilpin Street.
I attended L. V. Stockard junior high school in 1965 and 1966. It was my 9th grade year at Stockard where I met my husband.
I attended Kimball high school my sophomore year. I decided to go to Sunset high school my junior and senior year, because that is where my husband attended, although we were just friends by this time, but I still had that school girl crush for him.
Graduated in 1969 from Sunset high school.
(Just a side note: I attended high school with the grandson of L. O. Donald; although, I didn’t discover this until years later).
I worked at Skillern’s drug store on the corner of Westmorland and Clarendon the summer before I became a junior in high school. I was only 15 years old going on sixteen, in the fall, so Christime Priutt hired me to work with her at the Soda fountain. That is where I learned how to be a “Short order cook.”
I could go on and on. I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed your childhood memories.

Steve I may have gone to school with you at L.O. Donald. I also saw the Blob at the Heights and hung out around Pages Drug. Lived on Western near Duncanville Road. Moved to Waco in 1958 but had many relatives & friends still in Oak Cliff.

Oh, Mary! Where to begin? I walked every word of the way with you in this captivating piece of heart and soul and home. I can’t begin to express my appreciation for your writing skills as well your memory. Because of the first, you awakened the second. From one Oak Cliff Girl to another, keep writing and telling our stories. You make us proud. ❤️

Steve, I remember Sivil’s very well, but purposely omitted the mention because the focus was on the years of my youth. Since I’m considerably older than you, there were no skateboards at Weiss Park. Rather, we had our balancing adventure by way of walking across the drainage pipes that went across Coombs Creek. “The Best of Times”